This has to be one of the most interesting career progressions we’ve ever seen at a US airline. Over the course of two months, an executive has gone from working for JetBlue, to working for Delta, to working for American. This latest move was rumored last week, but has now been officially confirmed by American.
Continue reading: Executive Moves From JetBlue, To Delta, To American… In Just Two Months!
Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.
Perhaps some sort of noncompete clause preventing him from going from JetBlue to AA during a time when their new partnership is being investigated. Going from DL to AA might circumvent that
Are you ever going to share why you were at the AA IOC? You said you'd explain in a later post but nothing yet. Would love to hear what took you there!
In before Tim Dunn, who'll tell us that whatever this was (and he may have some nonsense narrative about it), it was genius on Delta's part.
The bottom line regardless of whatever theory you believe is that Scott Laurence not only no longer has any control over JetBlue's network but also of any other airline's.
Delta succeeded at pulling him away from JetBlue just as the latter airline is preparing its defense of the Northeast Alliance.
As noted below:
- nonsense narrative (check!)
- Delta clearly made the right move (check!)
Tim Dunn, so predictable.
In any other industry gadfly behaviour such as this would seriously compromise your CV for future employment prospects.
Well - on the plus side, he can't hit rock bottom. The only airline worse than AA I can think is Air Koryo, but the latter is still aspirational. He should join Iyer 😉
He's probably one of only a few who have worked in all 3 major alliance + a non-alliance and not because of a merger.
Achievement unlocked!!!!!!
By the way, since he was Ex-US Airways, maybe he get to continue his seniority at AA
just admit that he doesn't work for JBLU anymore and he WAS the primary network guru at JBLU. And he left JBLU for Delta.
Is it so hard for you to admit those basic facts?
Um… Glenn T, please meet finance and politics, finance and politics please meet Glenn t…
Off topic…apologies.
American Airlines sent me the most interesting email (I’m a very frequent flyer).
They asked so many questions regarding their long-haul premium cabin catering…with the obvious effort to catch up with Qatar, and maybe world-leading.
Endless questions about how to improve their catering.
Shocking and great.
As such a frequent flyer, I’ve noticed that AA tries to match their partners. In some cases, it’s actually a lower standard, but as of today, AA seems to be trying for a higher standard.
Is it possible that Delta poached him from jetBlue, and American just poached him from Delta for even more money?
@LCFA
I'd be interested in the questions asked, as well as your responses. But this sounds like the usual AA cheapskate method of sending out an email questionnaire. An airline of substance (which clearly rules out AA) would have invited select frequent fliers to a 'tasting event' to sample proposed new/improved catering; and then conducted on-the-spot feedback sessions. Using that instantaneous input, refinements and other changes would be done. It's all a very 'hands-on' and involved process. But the results are worthwhile. I can't imagine north American carriers doing this, at least not on a meaningful or sustained basis. And certainly not the likes of AA. Oh, well. Back to the packaged junk food then....
Sorry to ruin a good rant with facts but... all of the majors invite top tier flyers to test new menus/seats etc. Probably put on hold during covid however. I
Tim Dunn -- "Passport Plum is glorious somehow even when they got played by Scott Laurence -- Blessed be Delta""
Not necessarily.
It depends on his skill set and quality of work, both of which sound top tier.
When you are in that position you can write your own ticket.
I've flown Polaris a countless number of times and United sent me a similar email about the onboard product, except it went to depth on more aspects than just the catering. Seat, service elements, bedding, cutlery/crockery/drinkware, etc. Not that I dislike Polaris at all but I wonder what enhancements may be coming.
I'd bet that, due to the JetBlue work with AA, he had been forced to sign some kind of NDA or non compete where AA was concerned and the only way out was to secure employment at another airline first. It seems that his endgame was to work for AA with Delta being an unwitting pawn in the process
Seems the more likely scenario was AA quickly got wind of his appointment at Delta, and proactively sought/poached/stole (whatever term you want to use) him away from Delta before he could do any real damage to the AA/B6 lovefest. Money talks...BS walks.
Either this guy is in flagrant violation of multiple NDAs, or airline legal departments are asleep at the wheel.