Live from DFW: A Plane Pull with @AmericanAir and US Airways

American Airlines and US Airways #PullTogether Jet Pull at DFW

American and US Airways got together today at DFW to host a “Let Us Compete, Together” rally for employees of both airlines.

The main event was a plane pulling competition: 20 teams of 20 American Airlines and US Airways employees and guests competed to see who could pull a 50 ton Airbus A319 a total of 15 feet the fastest.

The @AmericanAir social team invited me to come out and have lunch with the Twitter team and watch the jet pull contest. They even invited me join their team and help pull the plane!

The jet pull contest is a 10 year tradition at US Airways. Each year employee teams from across the airline get together in Charlotte, Philadelphia, and Phoenix to compete and raise money for United Way.

The communications folks at both airlines thought it would be a great idea to bring employees from both companies together and have a joint plane pull to highlight the advantages of a merger. A member of the @AmericanAir team described it as “a great example of sharing traditions”.

As it turned out, it was also an opportunity to demonstrate that when working together their employees become stronger competitors: a joint team of American and US Airways ramp employees won the jet pull contest.

The Festivities

The South end of Terminal C was shut down at Gate 35 and turned into a ‘midway’.  Booths were set up to allow visitors to learn about employee groups and organizations, to highlight charitable giving and philanthropic opportunities, and to give away prizes in raffles and drawings.

American Airlines and US Airways #PullTogether Jet Pull at DFW

American Airlines and US Airways #PullTogether Jet Pull at DFW

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Outside on the tarmac, a tent was set up and employees and guests were served hamburgers and hotdogs.

American Airlines and US Airways #PullTogether Jet Pull at DFW

American Airlines and US Airways #PullTogether Jet Pull at DFW

American Airlines and US Airways #PullTogether Jet Pull at DFW

 

The Merger Burger was tasty!

American Airlines and US Airways #PullTogether Jet Pull at DFW

 

Obligatory cookie photo!

American Airlines and US Airways #PullTogether Jet Pull at DFW

 

Beverage of Champions: lots of water and Red Bull on hand!

American Airlines and US Airways #PullTogether Jet Pull at DFW

 

I ran into oneworld RTW award expert, and blogger, Destination David!

American Airlines and US Airways #PullTogether Jet Pull at DFW

 

The Competition

Here are several members of the @AmericanAir team posing for a photo before their turn to pull the plane.

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Here they are pulling the A-319. They managed to do it in a respectable 5.9 seconds!

American Airlines and US Airways #PullTogether Jet Pull at DFW

 

Here’s the winning team of American and US Airways employees pulling together (I would have suspected it was rigged if I hadn’t been on a pull team myself. I can tell you that the AA/US combo team won fair and square!)

American Airlines and US Airways #PullTogether Jet Pull at DFW

American Airlines and US Airways #PullTogether Jet Pull at DFW

 

They won with 4.464 seconds!

American Airlines and US Airways #PullTogether Jet Pull at DFW

American Airlines and US Airways #PullTogether Jet Pull at DFW

 

Here’s John McDonald, the Vice President of Corporate Communications at US Airways, awarding the trophy.

American Airlines and US Airways #PullTogether Jet Pull at DFW

American Airlines and US Airways #PullTogether Jet Pull at DFW

 

The winners: a photo of the team pulling for a #newAmerican.

American Airlines and US Airways #PullTogether Jet Pull at DFW

 

My hope is that after pulling a plane 15 feet, 0.284090909091 percent of an AAdvantage Mile will post to my account.

Thanks to the @AmericanAir team for inviting me to today’s event!

American Airlines and US Airways #PullTogether Jet Pull at DFW

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