Hi Everybody,
As a former F/A with US Airways I would like to say that I am sorry to hear that even more of my friends and former co-workers will be getting furloughed. I just want to say that when I jumped ship back in 1995 it was the hardest decision I had ever made at that point in my life. I had invested 8 years in the company and moved to a new city, left family and friends, etc..
Even back then the writing was on the wall for me.......I never really felt like the company ever had their act together. All the mergers handled so poorly, the clueless decisions by management (hot breakfast from PHL-PIT, MD-80, 3 FA's, block time 55 minutes). I could go on and on but I will spare everybody the walk down memory lane.
When I started to see all of the nonsense and dumb mistakes start repeating themselves over and over again I knew I needed to hit the road. The constant aircraft reconfigurations, marketing gimmicks, brand "re-launching", reinventing, pulling out of markets, rentering markets, grounding this fleet type, etc.., all for naught.
I remember how management said the 727 was so costly to operate......if we park them we will make money; that didn't work. We are going to sell all the 767s....ooops......never mind; they can stay. The new terminal in PIT is the future of the company.....really?
I have heard it all before and here it is, post chapter 11 and still clueless, with no light at the end of the tunnel.
It is frustrating for me now to watch my friends have to keep going through all of this, even after all of these years.
As scared as I was when I left the company I am glad I made the leap. It was a rough year or two but I settled into a good job and don't regret leaving. I remember the enormous relief I felt after turning in all keys, my wings, luggage. What took me for surprise though was the attitude that day in FA services....kind of like "don't let the door hit you in the ass on the way out". After 8 years nobody could even muster a pat on the back or good luck.....oh well.
I remember walking outside the terminal, knowing I had given it a good shot and realizedI was ready to move on.
Evaluate your situation, and ask yourself if you want to invest any more time in the company. Have faith in yourselves and know you have a lot to offer the "outside world"! There is a life after that place, and I really mean that.
take care everybody, and peace.