We are talking about AMR Corporation, aren't we? Need you even ask your own question?
Let me tell you MY pass privilege story.
I was interviewed in June, 2000, and was invited on the spot to begin training in late July, 2000. At the interview we were all given a "fact" sheet with info like, you have to pay for your first set of uniforms and replacement pieces are free. You will be based wherever the company needs you to be. Training is unpaid, but the company provides hotel and meals (eaten at the training facility), etc. Yada, yada, yada. A couple of the "facts" on the sheet were that we would have travel privileges after 3 months on the payroll, we would be able to give passes to friends and family after 6 months (or a year, I don't remember).
In the middle of August after I had been in training for about 3 weeks (of the 6.5 weeks of training), the class manager walked in one day and made the announcement that there had been a change in corporate travel policy. Beginning 01Sept, new hires would not get travel privileges for 6 months (upon completion of probation), and passes for friends and family (other than spouse, children, domestic partner or registered companion) would not be available until completion of
2 years of service. Coincidentally, my class was the first scheduled to graduate and go on the payroll after 01Sept. (The class ahead of me graduated 31Aug, and got travel after 3 months).
I found out a year later that the company knew in
January of 2000 that the travel policy was going to change on September 1st. When people in the class objected, the class manager invited them to leave training if the issue was that important to them. She also implied that she didn't see the big deal because she had to fly 7 years before she got her first free pass (she had over 30 years with AA) and at that time, she got 1 space available pass per year.
For whatever reason, AMR has evidently always considered non-rev travel by employees more of a nuisance than an important benefit useful in recruiting and retention of good employees.