Originally Posted by
turbojet28
I know a guy who was given a class date at a legacy airline, and so happened to receive the call while operating a turn into the city from where he commutes. He went up to the gate, left his ID and walked straight to his car and never looked back. This was more than a decade ago.
This happened to a friend of mine in 2001. Lived in PHX, less than 1 yr on with AA based in MIA. Lots of "talk" about furloughs post 9/11 but nothing "official" from CPO and/or company.
Many were not showing for trips because they thought they were going to be furloughed anyway so take one last sick callout etc, he shows up and flys trip in MIA. When he finishes, AA rep meets him at the gate with a letter informing him that he is furloughed effective immediately and takes his AA ID, thereby blocking any JS back to his home.
Had to beg a buddy pass on another airline to get back to PHX.
AA was a very harsh company back in 2001. Many considered their treatment of furlughees unnecessarily rude. They used to charge their own pilots a fee to ride their own JS if a seat was vacant in the back to/from work.