at least 300, maybe 400 course level!

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It's very easy to get around Bond-McCaskill... Just get both sides to agree!

Here's what Southwest says about operating AirTran as a subsidiary ie. not integrating the operations. From the SEC filing Form 10-Q on 10/22/10.

" If the acquisition is completed, any failure to effectively integrate AirTran’s business could delay or prevent Southwest’s ability to achieve the anticipated benefits of transaction."

On the other hand; perhaps they'll decide to forgo the profits and risk being sued by the shareholders .... To stop you whining.

Allowing the company to run two different operations would be a huge mistake. The SWA pilots are not going to make that mistake even if they have to go to arbitration for the SLI.

Are we saying the AAI contract allows for two separate operations?

The answer is "no".

This merger will be just like the other recent mergers. SW will integrate the operations as quickly as possible. The seniority list will go to binding arbitration. End of story.

I'll assume you're correct, which makes the theory of running separate companies nothing more than a quaint fantasy. It's not easy to merge with another group, but at some point one has to get beyond anger and denial. Then you can move on to bigger and better things, like understanding the fact each side brings equity to the table. Regardless of whether the individual pilot manages to make the mental leap, the arbitrator will find a way.

My compliments to my Northwest brothers from another mother, that defended their interests as much as we defended ours, but for the most part are looking forward. It's not so bad when we're busy arguing about IT systems.

And good luck to the LUV/AAI group in finding some common ground, and moving past the "lottery" b.s.

Its should not be relevant what the AAI contract does or doesn't allow. Particularly a contract that started as an agreement in principle in which Gary Kelly himself (at the NMB in DC) urged both sides to agree on. IF SWA were to violate the 18-month limit on seperate ops, and ATN ALPA were to seek a court injunction (as the ATN ALPA VC has said will happen), do you think a judge will enforce the language of the acquired pilot groups' brand new contract?

If the 737's (which will very soon become the property of SWA) were to come to the SWA side, AT would strictly be a 717 operator. By nature of this fact, it would be seperate in an operational sense.

While I appreciate the 400 points for advanced flaming, I'm just trying to point out some realities. Guadalupe Holdings and the structure of the acquisition seem to allow for alternate avenues should anything threaten to deteriorate the strong culture SWA is built on.