AMERICAN // US AIRWAYS MERGER...

• hebrewman
  
  Posts: 1367
  
  
  Feb 14, 2013 6:34 PM GMT

  well guys, (and fellow flying partners), looks like my world, and yours, got a whole lot bigger today. enjoy the video.... (i wonder how long corporate communications has been sitting on this one :shock
  and yes, as a flight crew member of the minnow swallowing the whale, the size and scope of this terrifies me. this will be my 5th merger thus far. hopefully the last. i only hope i live long enough to see it through to the other side.
  http://newamericanarriving.com/
  
  AAron
  
  

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• studflyboy87
  
  Posts: 194
  
  
  Feb 15, 2013 1:04 PM GMT

  A good news article on the merger:
  
  American Airlines, US Airways Merge To Form World's Largest Inconvenience
  
  FORT WORTH, TX—American Airlines and US Airways stunned the aviation industry Thursday upon announcing the two air travel titans have combined in an $11 billion merger that sources say will unite the industry powerhouses into the world’s largest and most complete pain in the ass. “Today we embark upon a bold and unprecedented new venture into customer frustration,” American CEO Tom Horton said of the historic alliance, which analysts predict will pose an immediate threat to rivals United and Delta in the air travel industry’s key areas of flight delays, lost luggage, and useless customer service. “When you take our general administrative incompetence and integrate it with our new partner’s long-proven inability to meet flyers’ needs in any capacity, you’ve got a brilliant new model in passenger aggravation and travel plan disruption. This truly will be the leading entity in the hassle industry.” Horton also confirmed the new multi-billion-dollar headache hopes to fuck up more than 4,000 flights a day.
  
  From the Onion of course.

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• tckrguys
  
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  Feb 15, 2013 1:23 PM GMT

  It is amazing how many times The Onion tells the truth and gets it right.

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  Feb 15, 2013 1:40 PM GMT

  studflyboy87 saidA good news article on the merger:
  
  American Airlines, US Airways Merge To Form World's Largest Inconvenience
  
  FORT WORTH, TX—American Airlines and US Airways stunned the aviation industry Thursday upon announcing the two air travel titans have combined in an $11 billion merger that sources say will unite the industry powerhouses into the world’s largest and most complete pain in the ass. “Today we embark upon a bold and unprecedented new venture into customer frustration,” American CEO Tom Horton said of the historic alliance, which analysts predict will pose an immediate threat to rivals United and Delta in the air travel industry’s key areas of flight delays, lost luggage, and useless customer service. “When you take our general administrative incompetence and integrate it with our new partner’s long-proven inability to meet flyers’ needs in any capacity, you’ve got a brilliant new model in passenger aggravation and travel plan disruption. This truly will be the leading entity in the hassle industry.” Horton also confirmed the new multi-billion-dollar headache hopes to fuck up more than 4,000 flights a day.
  
  From the Onion of course.

  
  
  **Applause**

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• SkyMiles
  
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  Feb 15, 2013 2:07 PM GMT

  studflyboy87 saidA good news article on the merger:
  
  American Airlines, US Airways Merge To Form World's Largest Inconvenience
  
  FORT WORTH, TX—American Airlines and US Airways stunned the aviation industry Thursday upon announcing the two air travel titans have combined in an $11 billion merger that sources say will unite the industry powerhouses into the world’s largest and most complete pain in the ass. “Today we embark upon a bold and unprecedented new venture into customer frustration,” American CEO Tom Horton said of the historic alliance, which analysts predict will pose an immediate threat to rivals United and Delta in the air travel industry’s key areas of flight delays, lost luggage, and useless customer service. “When you take our general administrative incompetence and integrate it with our new partner’s long-proven inability to meet flyers’ needs in any capacity, you’ve got a brilliant new model in passenger aggravation and travel plan disruption. This truly will be the leading entity in the hassle industry.” Horton also confirmed the new multi-billion-dollar headache hopes to fuck up more than 4,000 flights a day.
  
  From the Onion of course.

  
  
  Lol! And BOOM goes the dynamite

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• hebrewman
  
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  Feb 15, 2013 2:15 PM GMT

  just remember fellas, there is a human factor here, and those of us on the front lines will have to pick up the pieces of whatever upper level management fucks up. we do not have any say in the policies that are dictated to us, it's just up to us to make it work and hope we don't get our asses shit canned because 'we were not following proper policy and procedure'. just be patient with us.

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  Feb 15, 2013 3:52 PM GMT

  As a long time American frequent flyer, I have mixed feelings.
  
  I live in DC so since US has a mini-hub at National, I'll have a whole heck of a lot more flight options without changing planes in Dallas or Miami.
  
  However, US (sorry, hebrewman) is a vastly inferior airline from a customer service perspective. Combine that with the inevitable merger fuckups (look how badly Continental bungled the United acquisition) and it's probably going to get ugly. I am especially not looking forward to how frequent flyer benefits are sure to be diluted.
  
  I don't know how US is going to handle this - they still haven't fully digested the America West merger from years ago.
  
  I do feel for the people on the front line. This merger became a fait accompli when Doug Parker snookered the AA pilots (including at least one friend of mine - we don't discuss it) into thinking things were going to be better for them afterwards. I highly, highly doubt that in the long term.

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  Feb 15, 2013 3:57 PM GMT

  Great! One less choice!
  
  
  
  
  (even though I think US Airways really sucks ass)

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  Feb 15, 2013 4:01 PM GMT

  Boy I'm going avoid getting on a us based airline....

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  Feb 15, 2013 4:02 PM GMT

  Fivealive saidBoy I'm going avoid getting on a us based airline....

  
  
  As often as they've been merging, pretty soon they'll all be one airline

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  Feb 15, 2013 5:36 PM GMT

  As an airline steward , I bloody feel for you mate !! . You are going to need a fair bit of patience , and i hope that the passengers will show some understanding and consideration to all flight crew members involved in this merger !!
  
  
  
  

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• groundcombat
  
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  Feb 15, 2013 5:39 PM GMT

  People complain about air travel way too much. As my parents used to say when me and my siblings would start getting restless in the car, "Just sit back and ride."

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• Zinc
  
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  Feb 15, 2013 5:45 PM GMT

  I fear a devaluation of my AAdvantage miles and program.

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• groundcombat
  
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  Feb 15, 2013 5:49 PM GMT

  Zinc saidI fear a devaluation of my AAdvantage miles and program.

  
  
  Also interesting in that US Air is Star Alliance and AA is OneWorld. Whatever comes out of this, I hope it's Star Alliance but I doubt it since it's going with the AA branding.

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• hebrewman
  
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  Feb 15, 2013 6:21 PM GMT

  groundcombat said

  Zinc saidI fear a devaluation of my AAdvantage miles and program.

  
  
  Also interesting in that US Air is Star Alliance and AA is OneWorld. Whatever comes out of this, I hope it's Star Alliance but I doubt it since it's going with the AA branding.

  
  
  it's going to be oneworld, which, i think is an inferior alliance product. AA was one of the founding airlines, and doug made it clear on the webcast last evening from phx that we will continue to be part of oneworld. i feel for my workmates thought. when they have pass ridden on any star member, they were treated really well and they allow domestic partners to non rev too. oneworld does not, at least not yet. i'm sure doug will make it a point to change that nasty ass policy. as for you folks that are worried about the dismantling of your frequent flyer accounts, i suggest you go to either the AA or US websites and click on merger information. i know for a fact that there is a q and a about just that.

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• hebrewman
  
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  Feb 15, 2013 6:24 PM GMT

  BlackCat90 saidGreat! One less choice!
  
  
  
  
  (even though I think US Airways really sucks ass)

  
  
  i'm sorry you have had a bad experience. i understand your frustration as we go through it too on a daily basis. however, you really need to get your anger on this issue under control buddy. if not, i strongly recommend that you seek other modes of transportation. i just think you are dwelling this longer than is really necessary. oh, and have a nice day.

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• hebrewman
  
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  Feb 15, 2013 6:25 PM GMT

  neffa saidAs an airline steward , I bloody feel for you mate !! . You are going to need a fair bit of patience , and i hope that the passengers will show some understanding and consideration to all flight crew members involved in this merger !!
  
  
  
  

  
  
  not if blackcat90 is onboard.

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  Feb 15, 2013 6:37 PM GMT

  The Onion is so funny.

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• hebrewman
  
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  Feb 15, 2013 6:41 PM GMT

  showme saidAs a long time American frequent flyer, I have mixed feelings.
  
  believe me, the massive scope of this has me terrified at the thought of absorbing an airline the size of the current AA.
  
  I live in DC so since US has a mini-hub at National, I'll have a whole heck of a lot more flight options without changing planes in Dallas or Miami.
  
  that's true. unless the justice dept makes the AA side divest some DCA slots.
  
  
  However, US (sorry, hebrewman) is a vastly inferior airline from a customer service perspective. Combine that with the inevitable merger fuckups (look how badly Continental bungled the United acquisition) and it's probably going to get ugly. I am especially not looking forward to how frequent flyer benefits are sure to be diluted.
  
  we try. but we can only do what we can with the tools that are given to us. we are redesigning the inflight product for spring with new china, flatware, stemware and snack options. our vp of inflight is given a very strict budget, and, hopefully, with the larger airline, the budget will grow so he can do what he feels is necessary to enhance the product further. the UA/CO merger is having some real growing pains and i think that doug has learned a thing or two from past experiences.
  
  I don't know how US is going to handle this - they still haven't fully digested the America West merger from years ago.
  
  the pilots are bickering about seniority integration. STILL. to this day!! that's why the flight deck crews are not merged. the f/a's will hopefully be one group by the end of the month as this is the 3rd tentative agreement that is out for ratification. the talks for the last 5 years between management and afa had been protracted and unproductive as mgt demands were worse that what we had in the ch. 11 agreements. our first tentative came out last march and tanked by 86%. the last one, missed ratification by only 300 votes out of 6,700 total. so that's why east and west from a flight attendant perspective have not merged. the operations did long ago as did the IT side. not the flight crew side.
  
  I do feel for the people on the front line. This merger became a fait accompli when Doug Parker snookered the AA pilots (including at least one friend of mine - we don't discuss it) into thinking things were going to be better for them afterwards. I highly, highly doubt that in the long term.
  
  only time will tell. let's let the ink dry on the announcement and see where this settles. at least that's how i'm trying to handle this.
  
  

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• SomeSiciliano...
  
  Posts: 543
  
  
  Feb 15, 2013 6:42 PM GMT

  hebrewman saidjust remember fellas, there is a human factor here, and those of us on the front lines will have to pick up the pieces of whatever upper level management fucks up. we do not have any say in the policies that are dictated to us, it's just up to us to make it work and hope we don't get our asses shit canned because 'we were not following proper policy and procedure'. just be patient with us.

  
  
  ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ THIS ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
  
  In my merger, integration has been a mess but that's to be expected. Some of the "friendlier" policies from one division are being applied to mine (and vise versa) and that helps from a QOWL standpoint. For our customers...it will be a mixed bag. There will be (more) headaches in the near term...but hopefully Doug has seen how NOT to do things to minimize disruption. IMHO mega consolidation will prove to be consumer unfriendly down the road, but it is what it is.
  
  FIVE mergers?? Just curious...were you original PSA or Empire??

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  Feb 15, 2013 6:49 PM GMT

  hebrewman said

  BlackCat90 saidGreat! One less choice!
  
  
  
  
  (even though I think US Airways really sucks ass)

  
  
  i'm sorry you have had a bad experience. i understand your frustration as we go through it too on a daily basis. however, you really need to get your anger on this issue under control buddy. if not, i strongly recommend that you seek other modes of transportation. i just think you are dwelling this longer than is really necessary. oh, and have a nice day.

  
  
  lol who's angry? That's just my opinion ^_^

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  Feb 15, 2013 6:50 PM GMT

  hebrewman said

  neffa saidAs an airline steward , I bloody feel for you mate !! . You are going to need a fair bit of patience , and i hope that the passengers will show some understanding and consideration to all flight crew members involved in this merger !!
  
  
  
  

  
  
  not if blackcat90 is onboard.

  
  
  Trust me, you won't have to worry about that!

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• hebrewman
  
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  Feb 15, 2013 7:03 PM GMT

  SomeSicilianoGuy said

  hebrewman saidjust remember fellas, there is a human factor here, and those of us on the front lines will have to pick up the pieces of whatever upper level management fucks up. we do not have any say in the policies that are dictated to us, it's just up to us to make it work and hope we don't get our asses shit canned because 'we were not following proper policy and procedure'. just be patient with us.

  
  
  ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ THIS ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
  
  In my merger, integration has been a mess but that's to be expected. Some of the "friendlier" policies from one division are being applied to mine (and vise versa) and that helps from a QOWL standpoint. For our customers...it will be a mixed bag. There will be (more) headaches in the near term...but hopefully Doug has seen how NOT to do things to minimize disruption. IMHO mega consolidation will prove to be consumer unfriendly down the road, but it is what it is.
  
  FIVE mergers?? Just curious...were you original PSA or Empire??

  
  
  the webcast was really great last evening as someone posed the question about how the annual halloween party in DFW will play out. as you may remember, the old 'east' us airways was pretty stuffy thanks to misters wolf and gangwall. they were really formal and the HQ in crystal city, va was a sea of cut glass, original paintings on the walls and chrome. and it was required to wear a coat and tie anywhere on the property. AA is pretty much the same way. however, doug's remark last evening sort of told us where he wants to go with this... his quote was, ''well, we will certainly open some eyes at our party in texas''. (halloween at the phx hq is a really fun informal event.) when our new uniform came out a few years ago, men's ties were optional except for transatlantic crews. i'm cool with that as i HATE wearing ties, especially in the summer on hot airplanes. doug is going to be, at least we all hope, introducing a more informal, relaxed, less rigid way of doing things. and, from the AA crews that i have interacted with, they want the less formal way of doing things. they crave it. in fact, they want to see all of the old AA mgt booted out so that we may start new. doug has gone about this in a very slow methodical way. he's gone about it by getting the creditors and employees onboard first, then making sure all the ducks were in a row. he learned from the US/HP merger and the failed attempts at UA and DL.
  
  as for me, i started out with NEW YORK AIR and was part of the 'big bang' on 1 feb 87 when texas air corp folded in NYA, CO, FL (the original), PE.
  from there i migrated over to EA then WORLD AIRWAYS as a flight service director and helped with the non merger merger with PRESIDENTIAL AIRWAYS (remember them?). after that, i migrated over to HENSON, the piedmont regional airline and was part of the PI/US merger as well as the merging of PENN COMMUTER with SUBURBAN AIRLINES d/b/a allegheny commuter then us air/us airways express. in 1998 i rejoined my EA pals at the 'shuttle division' of us airways then to be folded into the mainline operation in sept of 2000. so yeah, i've seen a great deal in this big whole mess we call commercial aviation. some good, some not so good. but hey, i actually like what i do. most of the time.....

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  Feb 15, 2013 11:48 PM GMT

  hebrewman saidjust remember fellas, there is a human factor here, and those of us on the front lines will have to pick up the pieces of whatever upper level management fucks up. we do not have any say in the policies that are dictated to us, it's just up to us to make it work and hope we don't get our asses shit canned because 'we were not following proper policy and procedure'. just be patient with us.

  
  
  Yeah, plus now the pool of "seniority" just got rougher for the flight crews. The crew that are lower in seniority may lose their lines and possibly their jobs.
  
  Why couldn't US Airways have just stayed independent (and in the Star Alliance).
  
  It's going to be harder for me to make 1k this year.
  
  But I will. I will.

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  Feb 15, 2013 11:51 PM GMT

  groundcombat said

  Zinc saidI fear a devaluation of my AAdvantage miles and program.

  
  
  Also interesting in that US Air is Star Alliance and AA is OneWorld. Whatever comes out of this, I hope it's Star Alliance but I doubt it since it's going with the AA branding.

  
  
  I've already heard rumor from The Points Guy that US Airways will be going Oneworld. And, I just switched to Star Alliance last year.

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