A look back at Piedmont

[WCT]

Are you kidding? :unsure: :huh: :blink: You are still paid and treated terribly and, I hate to break it to you, but you are still the "last of the majors" and a pittiful [sic] airline

You are right US1. But, my post has nothing to do with US suxing again.

 

[LongTimeF/A]

Me thinks your mistaken, ask the Empire pilots about getting DOH and we were wearing US uniforms for several months before the merger and still getting PI pay.

And the worst thing US ever did to PI was mirror image.

as a former empire fa, I agree.. NO WHERE were we treated with any kind of respect or "Southern Hospitality"

 

[N965VJ]

<SNIP> Not trying to be a snot just pointing out what pisses off a lot of original USAir employees. We welcomed you and you SPIT on us!!

Yinz have to remember I’m a rusthead, but honestly the only thing that I recall post-merger with PI employees was not getting crew meals in CLT, and a big part of that was the PI catering trucks not lining up with the DC-9 2L doors very well.

If I had to choose a base to live in now it would be CLT.

What I do remember in many, many instances is apologizing to customers for not doing things the way PI did.

 

[StewGuy86]

THANK YOU!

All the Piedmont employees got DOH, pay raises, better benefits, better work schedules, better duty rigs, more vacation, better fleet, better uniforms, and USAir sucked the BIG O. Not trying to be a snot just pointing out what pisses off a lot of original USAir employees. We welcomed you and you SPIT on us!! Literally. Saw two PIT flight attendant trainers spit on in CLT -- for no reason other than they were from the "North"! It was just hostile from the crews, agents, it was unbelievable. I cannot make this crap up! Sadly, to this day, I cannot stand a southern accent. It brings bad memories and nightmares.

Later,
Eye

The bitterness of so many original US people over the fact that the press, Wall Street and - more importantly - the flying public loved Piedmont and hated Y'UnsAir always amazed me. Still does. And to this day, I still can't stand a western Pennsyltucky accent, myself. "Yuns goin' aht to da Eat n'Park in Moon Taahhnship an' 'at?" It brings back bad memories and nightmares of poor customer service, an arrogant and clueless management team that totally dismissed the customer base of the airline they purchased, and a "we-saved-your-butt-so-you-should-be-grateful" attitude. Oh wait, that sounds familiar!

Later!
StewGuy

 

[hula-flyguy]

The bitterness of so many original US people over the fact that the press, Wall Street and - more importantly - the flying public loved Piedmont and hated Y'UnsAir always amazed me. Still does. And to this day, I still can't stand a western Pennsyltucky accent, myself. "Yuns goin' aht to da Eat n'Park in Moon Taahhnship an' 'at?" It brings back bad memories and nightmares of poor customer service, an arrogant and clueless management team that totally dismissed the customer base of the airline they purchased, and a "we-saved-your-butt-so-you-should-be-grateful" attitude. Oh wait, that sounds familiar!

Later!
StewGuy

Oh my goodness! Yer so right, n at! to a degree. Again, what goes around comes around!
We were lead to believe that PI DID NOT want to be purchased by the railroad.

What boggles my mind is, how can a person dislike another person based on former or current employer or region they are from... There are enough a$$wholes out there to dislike based on personality and lack of work ethic As for "my management is/was better than your management" crap, come on! The chances of haveing a management team that you agree with is slim to none. And for those of you who are going to rehash the good old days of Uncle Ed and TD, be honest with yourselves. You had plenty to betch about when they were running the respective shows.

 

[Coffee_Tea_Or_Me]

I recall hearing that PI had in the works to BUY some of TWA's routes and aircraft. I also remember a lot of buzz about EWR being an international gateway. When US bought PI, they had an agreement with CO to abandon EWR plans in favor of LGA. Isn't that correct? PI had like 20 options on the 76, but Colodony, in all of his brilliance, did not think they were necessary.

I still think it was one of the darkest days in aviation history when US bought PI. The wonderful management team at PI went on to executive positons at WN and CO -- they had talent and foresight into future trends. Had the debacle never happened, I do believe PI would have survived and would have probably been the airline to acquire assets from Eastern and Pan Am. Who's to say because you never really know, but it is a concrete statement to claim that US Air ruined one of the best and most promising airlines this industry will ever see. Sad, and disgusting... I get a churning in my stomach thinking about this -- much like the same churning I get when I fly Repugnant 175s and wonder how it is not a mainline aircraft. Sigh.

 

[EyeInTheSky]

Memo to Delta and Northwest -
Don't merge a north and south airline -- it won't work! This PI crap happened 18 years ago and they still bee-yoch. Hey, whatever PI people. What do they say in the CLT crew room -- I hate that for you.

Later,
Eye

 

[StewGuy86]

Memo to Delta and Northwest -
Don't merge a north and south airline -- it won't work! This PI crap happened 18 years ago and they still bee-yoch. Hey, whatever PI people. What do they say in the CLT crew room -- I hate that for you.

Later,
Eye

It will work if the surviving airline's management doesn't totally screw things up like US did with PI and PSA. Otherwise, 19 (yes, it's 19)years down the road you're going to have employees from the surviving carrier that are still in denial that their company screwed up AND still bee-yoch every time someone reminds them of how much better things would've been if the merger had taken place the other way around.

And I do hate that for y'uns.

Later,
StewGuy

 

[DHG750R]

THANK YOU!

All the Piedmont employees got DOH, pay raises, better benefits, better work schedules, better duty rigs, more vacation, better fleet, better uniforms, and USAir sucked the BIG O. Not trying to be a snot just pointing out what pisses off a lot of original USAir employees. We welcomed you and you SPIT on us!! Literally. Saw two PIT flight attendant trainers spit on in CLT -- for no reason other than they were from the "North"! It was just hostile from the crews, agents, it was unbelievable. I cannot make this crap up! Sadly, to this day, I cannot stand a southern accent. It brings bad memories and nightmares.

Later,
Eye

As a former PI and now former US employee. I can say one of the places rumored to be soo bad was actually a very nice place to work ( in spite of some of the crappy facilities ) . I worked at both NYC stations and met some of the hardest working and nicest people. That went for the for employees from each carrier . We've all heard of bad blood amongst some , but I can say overall , people in the stations I worked all generally liked each other.

 

[Travelpro72]

North, South, East, West....who cares. It really doesn't matter as long as the next one we have doesn't include the Yahoo Crackers "running" the joint now. The US/PI merger was a mess as you can see to this day. PI was obviously having some troubles and US was ran by leaders with TRUE lack of vision. A perfect marriage. This will someday be but a tiny thought as we merge with a big carrier.

And to think we were only reading East vs. West threads. To all of those former America West HP folks....Take notice. Let it go people. It's management not YOU and ME.

 

[Coffee_Tea_Or_Me]

THANK YOU!

All the Piedmont employees got DOH, pay raises, better benefits, better work schedules, better duty rigs, more vacation, better fleet, better uniforms, and USAir sucked the BIG O. Not trying to be a snot just pointing out what pisses off a lot of original USAir employees. We welcomed you and you SPIT on us!! Literally. Saw two PIT flight attendant trainers spit on in CLT -- for no reason other than they were from the "North"! It was just hostile from the crews, agents, it was unbelievable. I cannot make this crap up! Sadly, to this day, I cannot stand a southern accent. It brings bad memories and nightmares.

Later,
Eye

How in GOD'S NAME can you claim that a better fleet was gained from this merger? PI flew the 767 and had the youngest Boeing fleet in the industry. PI had first class, and US only adopted first class AFTER purchasing PI. I suppose a better fleet means the BAC-111, BAE-146, or the DC-9?

I don't disupute the pay raises. PI had very low cost of living bases and were paid well considering that. You ask ANY PI employee if they would have rather remained PI or became UselessAir and made more money -- the answer is a loud scream to remain PI. I can totally relate to the Delta employee's reaction to the laughable takeover bid from US...

Regarding the hostility, Useless Air management spit on the PI employees and stirred the hostility kettle when Colodny, third greatest airline executive idiot ever (behind Ichan and Lorenzo - even worse than Parker) talked his game about cool northern efficiency replacing southern hospitality. And the attitude of the PIT gals was that PI should be so grateful. Puh-leeze. You sound like someone still carrying torch for a silver jet with tacky rust colors...

 

[EyeInTheSky]

How in GOD'S NAME can you claim that a better fleet was gained from this merger? PI flew the 767 and had the youngest Boeing fleet in the industry. PI had first class, and US only adopted first class AFTER purchasing PI. I suppose a better fleet means the BAC-111, BAE-146, or the DC-9?

I don't disupute the pay raises. PI had very low cost of living bases and were paid well considering that. You ask ANY PI employee if they would have rather remained PI or became UselessAir and made more money -- the answer is a loud scream to remain PI. I can totally relate to the Delta employee's reaction to the laughable takeover bid from US...

Regarding the hostility, Useless Air management spit on the PI employees and stirred the hostility kettle when Colodny, third greatest airline executive idiot ever (behind Ichan and Lorenzo - even worse than Parker) talked his game about cool northern efficiency replacing southern hospitality. And the attitude of the PIT gals was that PI should be so grateful. Puh-leeze. You sound like someone still carrying torch for a silver jet with tacky rust colors...

Coffee_Tea_Or_Moonshine,
That post of yours is delusional. Other than the new 737-300/400 and 767s the PI fleet was a disaster. They were in horrible condition, especially the 727s and old 737s -- holes in the galley floors, toilets that didn't work, puh-leese. Here's a clue, a good fantasy life can do wonders except in the work place. PI wasn't all that -- if it was so bloody spectacular they would not have been acquired by another airline? Really, be logical here. Besides, you should have been thrilled with the navy uniforms over the tan hee-haw ones -- you know for the slimming effects. Alas, I doubt it's so slimming these days, aye...

Later y'all,
Eye

 

[dariencc]

How in GOD'S NAME can you claim that a better fleet was gained from this merger? PI flew the 767 and had the youngest Boeing fleet in the industry. PI had first class, and US only adopted first class AFTER purchasing PI. I suppose a better fleet means the BAC-111, BAE-146, or the DC-9?

Don't think so, honey. The PI fleet was loaded with old junker 72s and 3s. Before the merger, PI's pilots had a nickname, the "Delta Dogs," for the old 72s with the small engines that came from Delta. Funny how they stopped calling them that as soon as the merger was announced. The first 40 or so aircraft that were parked in the years after the merger were all from PI. And let's not even go there about your fine F-28s.

I don't disupute the pay raises. PI had very low cost of living bases and were paid well considering that. You ask ANY PI employee if they would have rather remained PI or became UselessAir and made more money -- the answer is a loud scream to remain PI.

Another way of saying that is that the bases were in the deep south, land of the developed world's most disfunctional school systems. After many years of enduring the insipid banter of gals who know more about Jerry Springer than who is running for President, I would agree that this was not a match made in heaven. :down:

You sound like someone still carrying torch for a silver jet with tacky rust colors...

Tacky, Sweetie, is that uniform fake bottle-blond hairdo still being sported by about 75% of those classy CLT "belles."

 

[StewGuy86]

PI was obviously having some troubles and US was ran by leaders with TRUE lack of vision.

Troubles, such as? Having been a PI employee in those days, I don't recall any troubles - quite the opposite, in fact. A lot of great things were going on at Piedmont at the time. We were making large profits, had just purchased our first 767s and launched service to London, begun system-wide first class service, purchased Empire Airlines, had the Florida Shuttle up and running, had won service awards, etc.

 

[Travelpro72]

See the last few posts. US may not have been the greatest but Piedmont wasn't all that either. It is what it is. The bottle blonde comment is DEAD on though. Sorry....DEAD ON.