Originally Posted by
Mink
Yes, chock me up as anti-AA. I think I have good reasons for my bias.
But, attempting to put that aside, there's no denying that the TWA/AA combo was a mess, and now you're jumping right back into a similar briar patch with USA East/West. Good luck.
APA is dysfunctional. Period.
AA management, and yes I know it's all going to change soon (hopefully for the better, but does anybody really know?), has been abysmal. The company has not competed in any sense of the word. Even if the new management team is The Second Coming, they are starting from a competitive position far behind the others.
I know the poll question was about 1st year pay. I think all the majors (as was pointed out by somebody else) have similarly rosy prospects in terms of potential seniority gains due to the currently ancient pilot corps. I'm trying to point out that the work environment ought to be considered (beyond pay and projected seniority), and on that score I think AA has a lot to be desired.
I appreciate others' ability to view everything in a positive light, but in the case of AA I think that kind of viewpoint ignores recent history.
I understand why you'd be biased. You make many good points. I, like most, am cautiously optimistic and treading very carefully: I just happen to think that if Delta could pull off what they did, what's stopping AA? Delta didn't exactly have the world's most motivated pilots back during their BK, but boy that changed when they realized they had decent new management. If we get the same (and I'm not saying for sure Parker & Co are all that), I think we could see the same situation at AA: a previously bitter pilot force does an about-face and rises to the occasion under inspiring management willing to go out, compete, and come out ahead.
I certainly hope that's the outcome, and I have reason to believe it's very possible. But you can't look at AA's recent history and use that to judge the future, simply because AA's recent history still falls under the old management/pilot hate-fest. Looking forward, it's basically a clean slate.
Mink, I hope if you decide to come back, that this place will bear no resemblance to the train wreck you left.