Yes, but while I don't have time to pull the quotes from Aviation Week I think it is fair to say AAI put a lot of pressure on DAL. This is a hunch on my part but I bet they're probably the #1 LLC that ran a hub and spoke. I don't think you could have been much cheaper than AAI and yes while their A's made about what an 88 A at DAL makes on Chapter 11 rates their FO pay was almost punitive in nature.

So just as this thread alludes to by saying AAI pilots will get a windfall on pay increases the truth is our #1 competition in ATL and probably our #1 thorn in our side when it comes to pay are all about to increase substantially. That to me is a good thing. And it's a great thing for AAI FO's especially and congratulations.

And sure it means competition will come in stronger than AAI, or at least louder. But by every account DAL management is salivating over the opportunities that lay ahead and as an employee I want to be at the #1 airline, not just the largest, and I think SWA will push DAL to be better.

So to me, it's a good thing. I think the only people this is a bad thing for is SWA FO's. Already facing a bit of seniority stagnation due to decreased growth and way too many young Captains they're about to get merged with cultural outsiders. I could see how that would be frustrating. All of this really is not for this thread but rather the eventual SWA vs DAL in the A-T-L thread.

But a staple isn't going to happen. Go back to the DAL-Alaska vs DAL-Hawaii merger SLI scenarios. One is apples to oranges in operational scope (DAL and Alaska) and one isn't although DAL is 19 times the size of Hawaii.

But in either case, your company is making a move that it see's not as charitable rescue in nature but rather an important business move and thus to an arbitrator there will never be a reason for nor would our pilot group advocate a staple of any type. Management thinks it needs the other airline to succeed thus the middle ground between straight ratio or DOH and a staple will be found.

 

Nope. I'm just your everyday red-blooded American.

 

What about during SLI discovery when it comes out that all AAI pilots are Mongos? What is the weighting of that when integrating with hammers?

 

FTB, maybe we can just go ahead and start the SWA vs. DAL thread in the A-T-L so all of this posturing has a home?

I'm posting it first.

 

Do you realize what you've done LJ?

 

Didn't take long over there did it?

 

So...why are the SWA FO's all bent out of shape? Did they actually believe that they would upgrade in 5 years after their left seat counterparts were lobbying aggressively for age 65 during their IOE?

Looking at most junior CA at AAI according to APC: 2004 hire. SWA: 2001 hire. Looks like it would be a fair relative seniority SLI. I guess it may hurt a few egos when some of these 27 y/o (2004) AAI CA's are barking orders to a 2002 SWA FO..but this scenario is probably not going to happen that often.

BTW...SWA guys could benefit from learning the ropes around ATL from the AAI guys...maybe that should be figured into the SLI equation too...sounds about as stupid as a W2 argument doesn't it!

 

Land;

There is no reasoning with some people. Precedent is what it is - denying reality only sets a person up for unneccesary disappointment.

 

From the sound of it.. he would like that very much!

 

DAL.. is the bunny.... stay out of OUR cave...