Merger

[PhxMama]

It seems we are well under way with the merger of the two companies and although many flights are still operated by America West, it seems to me like we are all becoming US. After taking time to reflect on several fronts, I know we still have a long way to go but I feel we are transitioning into one company. Yes, there is still a long way to go but personally, I feel more of a unity between the two companies employees than when the merger was first announced. Yes, we have website issues(to say the least), we have DM issues with the new program and the reservations systems still need serious help but... I feel many of the employees have really tried to make the best of it and I think that says alot about who they are. Just rambling on but what does everyone else think? Are you more positive than before or do you think you will be saying I told you so in the future? Just wanted a general idea of how you feel.

 

[UPNAWAY]

I am still overall positive but also a little disappointed. Disappointed that instead of looking at "Best Practices" we really are just going to do most things the east way and I feel this is being done because they have more people to complain and management thinks they will complain loudly! I think this dilutes some of the west culture that was a big positive in this merger. One interesting observation, my initial though was "God those JFK, BOS & PHL people are going to be tough to work with" to my surprise they have been great and also to my surprise the PIT people have been a challenge.
One thing I don't get about US Airways is that it was head-quartered in CCY and the biggest hubs where PHL & CLT but PIT thinks it ran the show and now it is run from Tempe with the biggest Hubs PHL, CLT, PHX, LAS and PIT still thinks they should run the show?

 

[ringmaruf]

instead of looking at "Best Practices" we really are just going to do most things the east way

Y'all must be smoking some really good crack out there in Tempe, I'm jealous. :blink:

One interesting observation, my initial though was "God those JFK, BOS & PHL people are going to be tough to work with"

Pre-merger US didn't fly to JFK.

now it is run from Tempe with the biggest Hubs PHL, CLT, PHX, LAS and PIT still thinks they should run the show?

PIT is still twice the size of LAS, dear. 😛

LAS is the SEVENTH largest station for this airline, not that you'd know it listening to Tempe. :down:

 

[Dorf]

Disappointed that instead of looking at "Best Practices" we really are just going to do most things the east way

Funny, the westies complain they are being forced to do things the east way, and the easties complain they are being forced to do things the west way. I guess when the merger is complete, maybe people will see it was a little of both...or not.

....and I feel this is being done because they have more people to complain and management thinks they will complain loudly!

But, as has been pointed out, Parker(westie) is running the show and making the decisions on how things will be done. If he is true to form, he will do things the cheapest way....it is more cost effective to train the fewest amount of people (west), not because of who complains the loudest.

Over all, It seems as though most people (with a few exceptions on this board)just want to move on and get down to business.

 

[ChrisUS]

Funny, the westies complain they are being forced to do things the east way, and the easties complain they are being forced to do things the west way. I guess when the merger is complete, maybe people will see it was a little of both...or not.

LOL! I was going to say the same thing! How do westies think things are being done the east way?

 

[etops1]

if anything, things are being done the west way. recurrent is being changed to the west way, service procedures are being done the west way. the "cactus" call sign will remain. (which i think should be "HERITAGE")unacompanied minor procedures are being done the west way. the way we carry animals, the west way. a/c & cabin configuration will be configured to the west way. our aniversary pins look exactly like the old hp pins . the only thing is that its silver. boarding video the west way. buy on board now being done the west way. commercials look exactly like the old hp commercials. employee incentive programs are being done the west way. my parents have to pay for travel, the west way. retirees come before active employees , the west way. our inflight magazine looks exactly like the old hp magazine. shall i go on?

 

[ringmaruf]

if anything, things are being done the west way. recurrent is being changed to the west way, service procedures are being done the west way. the "cactus" call sign will remain. (which i think should be "HERITAGE")unacompanied minor procedures are being done the west way. the way we carry animals, the west way. a/c & cabin configuration will be configured to the west way. our aniversary pins look exactly like the old hp pins . the only thing is that its silver. boarding video the west way. buy on board now being done the west way. commercials look exactly like the old hp commercials. employee incentive programs are being done the west way. my parents have to pay for travel, the west way. retirees come before active employees , the west way. our inflight magazine looks exactly like the old hp magazine. shall i go on?

Allow me...we've got no hazmats, the west way; ads on tray tables, the west way; glassware in First, the west way; cabin oxygen, the west way; SHARES instead of SABRE, the west way; no off-peak frequent flyer awards, the west way; 25%/50% bonus for US2/US3, the west way; 2 movies per month, the west way...who's next?

 

[flyguy121]

I am still overall positive but also a little disappointed. Disappointed that instead of looking at "Best Practices" we really are just going to do most things the east way and I feel this is being done because they have more people to complain and management thinks they will complain loudly! I think this dilutes some of the west culture that was a big positive in this merger.

Funny, I have had the same thought in recent months, but more to the tune of moving toward the "HOW THE WEST HAS DONE" things without regard for "Best Practices" from the East. I think the merger would be more successful and foster more of a sense of unity if it were more clearly demonstrated that the "new US Airways" was truly taking the best of BOTH former airlines to create the new one.

 

[flynomore]

Just to be a contrarian:

Flight Operations procedures-the east way. That includes manuals and training programs for pilots, FAs and dispatchers. Maintenance manuals are mostly cut and paste from east. Since I am not a wrencher, I guess that the programs and procedures there are also east.

 

[ChrisUS]

if anything, things are being done the west way.

FOR sure! The only thing I can think of they chose the east way was to eliminate the Flexipasses. We never had those.

retirees come before active employees , the west way.

You mean active come BEFORE retirees, the west way dont you?
Im sure they will also go with First come first served for boarding priority no matter how they make it sound like "we havent decied yet". 😉

 

[AIRWOMAN]

East way or west way.........depends on your job at the airline. One of the biggest that sticks in my mind is unionizing......the east way.

I'm still on the fence about how I feel the merger has gone so far.....too early to tell for a lot of things because there are still so many policies and procedures that are not cemented.........not where I am and that is all I can honestly give my opinion on.

Good luck to all of us.

 

[ChrisUS]

Funny, I have had the same thought in recent months, but more to the tune of moving toward the "HOW THE WEST HAS DONE" things without regard for "Best Practices" from the East.

LOL!!! VERY CLEVER!

Just to be a contrarian:

Flight Operations procedures-the east way. That includes manuals and training programs for pilots, FAs and dispatchers. Maintenance manuals are mostly cut and paste from east.

Then they HAD to be better since for everything else, it's the WEST way regardless.

 

[etops1]

You mean active come BEFORE retirees, the west way dont you?
Im sure they will also go with First come first served for boarding priority no matter how they make it sound like "we havent decied yet". 😉

yes chris , that's exactly what i meant. and thanks for adding to my list.

 

[ChrisUS]

Overall though, I think things are going well and apparently investors agree. That's most inportant.

yes chris , that's exactly what i meant. and thanks for adding to my list.

And what a LIST that is! How can Westies really think everything is being done the East way? Thw east had a better website but West had the cool interactive map! So they took the lesser website and dumped the map. CRAP! Can't say I've agreed with a lot of the choices but I dont "SEE THE BIG PICTURE." We used to hear that a LOT in the East. I'm sure the map cost a lot and to have to add all the new routes woumd have been very costly.

 

[USCREW]

peanuts (for a minute!) west way