I think FTB is about right with his SNL analogy. I’ve also been thinking about it some since I’ve moved into a southie base.

As some background, I’ve watched a few other mergers across a couple other industries. I’m not trying to sound like the dude from the mentalist, but it seems to me that some things are just natural when people go through this.

My sister is a big wig in the Wells Fargo fraud department and they did the merger with Wachovia. I’ve also got a buddy who went to work for a high end security company after he retired as a senior USAF security guy. His company did high end intel work with such groups as LA SWAT/PD and others around the country. His company was bought out by a Washington beltway bandit company when it’s founder cashed out and headed for beaches in the south Pacific. All he would ever say (never complains about anything) is the new guys went out of their way to be good $hits but they never let you forget who was who. My sister now works for a woman from Wachovia and readily admits that their fraud program was more involved/mature than Wells Fargo’s but also complains how Wachovia people are always whining about things.

So, here is my observation. I think it’s natural that the absorber is grateful that they are the survivor to the point that they feel it must have been because they really were better. The absorber slides along a continuum between superiority to downright arrogance. The absorbed slides along a line between nostalgia/feeling like an orphan to downright disregard of anything and everything new company.

I normally just keep my mouth shut anymore and smile and wave. Every captain I’ve flown with on the south side has been fun to fly with, but there is that air of superiority that can wear one down after many days. For sure, I’m tired of “proving myself” for the first couple of legs. But, I’ll tell ya the flight attendants are the worst. I can’t tell ya how many “aren’t you glad you’re here now”? I’ve gotten to how “you guys” (maybe not me personally) are screwing me over (worst I’ve had was a exWestern dude that was our lead to LHI last trip).

I think the best way to put it we all used to complain about our pre merger companies, lord knows NWA inc was not a nice company to work for. As guys have pointed out, Delta under your last two CEOs wasn’t a nice company either. But, “DON’T TALK BAD ABOUT MY MOMMA! I CAN TALK BAD ABOUT MY MOMMA BUT YOU CANT!”

So, everyone (me included) need to lighten up. Probably not human nature but........
Especially the HATERS, on both sides.