SWAjet

Just found this on Google Video. Worth watching. http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...&q=twa&pl=true

BoynamedSue

yes- very nice. the song says enough.

sue

RockBottom

Trans World had terrific employees. It's a shame the airline went the way of Pan Am and Eastern.

deceptibum

i hate to say it, but judging from the bios on the video, it seems most found more rewarding $$$ jobs elsewhere even after 20+ years as a dedicated employee group. As a former Eagle pilot flying with TWA flowbacks and as an Allegiant pilot flying with TWA FOs, I really have to say from my experience, this group has the most integrity and well-rounded "human character" i have ever seen in all our pilot ranks! Good luck to all TWAers!

BIGBROWNDC8

TWA was the finest Airline I ever Interviewed with as a Pilot. I was placed in their pool before AA purchased them. That being said...

I think it naive for anyone at TWA to think that AA was the ones who did them in. Do you really think TWA had a snowballs Chance in he11 of surviving in a post 9/11 world? I mean really. TWA was hanging on by a string in 99-00 and if it were not for AA, the doors would have came down sooner. I don't like saying this, but its what I believe to be true. I know its an emotional issue for many, but I think the faultier of the airline could be traced back to mismanagement by Carl Ichan and then those that followed there after. If AA did anything, it gave a year's more life to an airline that was destine (by not part if its truly GREAT employees) to fail. Not that it matters, but another point that i think may be significant is that if AA had not have bought TWA, all its employees would be on the street outright, at least now, having a furlough number could (and that a long shot) be rights to recall and work in their old job capacities.

I know I'm going to take a lot of flame for this. I respect TWA and what it stood for but I feel as if most the TWA Employees are more emotional than sensible regarding the demise of their airline...


JMO
BBDC8

IntheBiz

It isnt so much that the airlines' employees we're naive, it was that they were more or less consoling each other over the loss of a family member.
Just as when a relative dies, or a relationship ends, you feel that loss, and the idea that the effort you put in would be something that could have lived on...kinda like our children.

TWA, I believe, failed because of its debt, and where it was based at - St. Louis. A little south-midwestern city that doesnt travel, and when it does it isnt out of the US. I think that might be the place with the most trailer parks I've ever seen. Lets not forget that pension burdens dragged it down too.

You have'nt had to feel that stress because theres really only two cargo airlines like yours, and you all get paid extremely large amounts of money and have security. Yet you all ***** about how life is so hard for you there and you always have to fight management because theyre out to get you!

14 years later, watching this video, I felt the same pain in my throat and my heart as I did the day I pushed my toolbox out of Hanger 19 at Pan AM.
The thought that some of those who have never experienced that sort of loss dissing us is, well, alot like ****ing on their grave. Like, hey, I know you just got divorced, but did you know your wife was balling the neighbor?

Thanks BIGBROWNTURD for telling us that our beloved first jobs at prestigious airlines were doomed to fail. Something that like death, is bound to happen. You made us feel so much better by reminding us.

BIGBROWNDC8

Like I said before, this tends to be an emotional subject for the TWA people. I'm not trying to sh1t on anyones grave, If you go back and read my comments and check your emotions at the door, you'd see, I'm not being insensitive or uncaring. I simply made the point that most TWA people think AA was the reason that the airline didn't make it, even the video states that. IMO, you should be glad that AA bought TWA, if they hadn't, the great dynasty of TWA would have been gone sooner than it did... Airlines come and go, Yes, TWA was the last of the classy organizations, but blame Ichan and the ones who followed, not AA.

Also, I don't like the assumptions you make regarding my job. You assume that because I work at UPS, that my life and everything that lead up to me getting here was a walk in the park. Your wrong!!! Another thing, when I came to UPS prior to 9/11, EVERYONE told me I was crazy. So, just because UPS and FedEx appear to be the place to be today, doesn't mean they are great orgs to work at. Yes, my checks are signed every two weeks, but this place is still the same place that 99% of my fellow pilots told me not to come to pre 9/11. Don't get me wrong, I am very lucky and I count my blessings everyday...

Best of luck to you all and believe it or not, I have the greatest amount of respect and admiration for TWA and its awesome workforce...

BBturd as you put it...

Pilotpip

TWA died because of Karl Icahn. The Caribou ticket deal was done in 01. They had a choice, die sooner or take a chance and renew their fleet. They purchased a bunch of 717s and MD-80s to bring the age of the fleet down and create a new image. Because Icahn sold all of the company's assets off to himself he basically destroyed any capital that TWA had. As a result their lease rates sucked.

As far as STL, I don't think this was as much of a disadvantage as everybody thinks. While places like ORD were snarled with delays we had it pretty easy down here because only one airline was hubbed here.

TWA's customer service numbers were high, their on-time numbers were good too. I think it was just a matter of too little, too late.

DufusMcDufe

TWA is really what got me into flying. I remember taking the trips across the US, across the pond to Paris, and even to Riyadh and Cairo. Maybe I should have taken the hint when they went down before I even started my training. *Sigh* they really did have great customer service (IMHO, semi-FF speaking).

flyerNy

I think that deep down - All of us in aviation are saddened at the loss of such a great company with such deep roots in the industry. and to me it signals the end of an era when flying was more fun and luxurious than todays "bus ride".