No intent to suggest that the government should bail out AAL. Just pointing out that the GM recovery was not the result of brilliant/innovative management but ridiculous amounts of money and therefore is not an example for AAL.

On the other hand I think Gailen is a standup guy for visiting this board and is positive, polite, and at least partially rational in his responses. I also think the unions are blocking the kind of "innovative" ( everybody else is doing it so that really doesn't apply) things that AAL needs to progress. In particular I am talking about scope rules.

I generally fly internationally or between large domestic cities so the CRJ-700 rules don't impact me. But on occasion of flying to secondary airports ( Sioux Falls, SD most recently ) I have taken another carrier because of the Eagle minni's. AAL is clearly at a disadvantage in markets like Chicago and NY on this basis.

Similar the hostility to code sharing with Alaska and Jet Blue hurts the ability of the airline to compete.

Finally the hostility shown in opposing the Hong Kong route and the pride taken by pilots in pointing out that AAL does not have an agreement to fly 787's and therefore would not have anyone to pilot them speaks of obstruction of obvious moves that even a mediocre mgmt should be capable of executing.

I am a captive of DFW. As my flying becomes more and more international I am dismayed by the international retrenchment. Pulling destinations to fly more planes to LHR is not encouraging. Other airlines are not a clean alternative for a DFW customer. But I will be exploring Emirates as I have a trip planned to India. Flying through Abu Dubai for other destinations does not seem like a good alternative, but who know. I admire Gailen's positive attitude but doubt that AAL will ever compete with the Middle Eastern and Asian airlines in the cabin.