This is an excellent point, and something I've struggled with over the years.

My Dad was with USAir, (via Mohawk and Allegheny) so I grew up with that company. He was always so proud of the company. We had USAir shirts, and hats, and decals on our cars. Even a cassette tape with the USAir Begins With You tv commercial song that he played in the car. The company was almost like a member of the family.

When I went to work there it was the only company I ever truly considered. The only place I wanted to work for. I could not have been more proud than I was to follow in my father's footsteps. When I was furloughed it hit me hard. I felt betrayed.

Then when the recall notice finally came 7 years later, I struggled with the decision. Even after everything that had happened I felt this obligation - this emotional connection to that company.

When I finally turned down the recall I second guessed my decision every day. I still do. Those emotional connections are hard to break.

Now I find myself feeling the same way here. Maybe a Stockholm syndrome kind of thing?

The fact is that for a lot of people (not Whack) this is in fact the brass ring. It is the culmination of a lifetime of work and sacrifice to get here. So the notion that it can be taken away through no fault of their own IS emotional. We all want our team to win and, to some extent would be willing to sacrifice to make that happen. But there has to be a limit to that sacrifice. We can't work for free, obviously. So any concession must come with restitution.

At the end of the day, if they choose to furlough it will lift the veil on this notion that there is a unique culture and help people to realize that it is just another airline, no better or worse than any other. Once you realize that, it's cathartic. Because you can then make business decisions during your furlough.

If the prom Queen says maybe she'll dance with you later, do you sit around and wait? Or go find someone else to dance with?

USAir was my prom Queen and I still think of her fondly, but I found someone else to dance with. And if SWA decides to leave me, well there are other fish in the sea and accepting recall is not a foregone conclusion.

Our careers are no less perishable than bananas in a grocery store. Every day is one day closer to age 65. I don't intend to waste them waiting for a recall that may not come for another lost decade.

When you think about furloughs and recalls like that, you break the hold they have on you.

And there is a silver lining. Maybe some of the arrogance displayed by some of our guys will be tempered by the reality that we have no control over where this career takes us. That's all in the hands of the gods of aviation misfortune.


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Most of the pilots that "buy into it" aren't on APC. They don't read SWAPA emails. They don't know the contract.

They are the guys and girls that vote yes on middling contracts and don't care to understand the issues with LTD, STD, and travel if you go out sick. "The Chief Pilot's office will take care of you."

They are the guys and girls that don't know that out of the legacies, only American has furloughed. They know zero details about the agreements made at United and Delta, and how that could affect us. "My neighbor was furloughed from United from 2001 until 20XX."

They are the guys and girls that refuse to see that having larger aircraft with longer range flying has certain advantages. Even if it's not for you, you can enjoy elevated seniority on the narrow-body as the pilots ahead of move on. "I don't want to fly legs over 2 hours."

They are the guys and girls that when you tell them you should have done Fedex tell you "I don't want to fly at night" while riding the van to the airport at 3am body-clock time.

They are the guys and girls that don't see an issue with paying for uniforms and parking.

They are the guys and girls that say that JW is too abrasive.

I somewhat bought into in hype when I was hired. I never believed that we would not furlough...this is a business...but I figured I had enhanced job security over our peers. However, I never thought the company would negotiate so heavy handed with furlough threats, with an uncreative ask, and offer the union basically nothing in exchange. It shows very little understanding of what would win over the pilot group.

You complete me man! Fingers crossed that this group will finally wake up from it's Kool Aid induced coma, but I will not be holding my breath.

That’s the labor relations equivalent of shooting a prisoner to get the rest to talk. Nice way for him to treat “co-hearts”. I’m totally disgusted with the way it’s being handled and will remember this anytime the “take one for the team” talk comes up in the future.

Also about the time like 6 months ago when people who had been offered jobs and classs dates had their job offers rescinded and told to try again?

If they’re going to furlough they need to man up and say so. These BS money grab games are complete BS. A furlough is a BFD to most so some transparency is really appreciated instead of adding undue stress during stressful times.

I agree 100%. It’s more proof that they really don’t care about the people, and that to them we’re really just pawns.

Delta didn’t furlough in its first 65 yrs of existence either. Legacy airlines have legacy problems and benefits.

This is just to let the other groups know that they are serious and don’t care about never furloughing

It would be very ironic if we would be the only airline other than AA that furloughs pilots. The "LUV" and "never furlough/we are one big family" will unvail itself as what it really is (and many already knew for a while) - one big BS.