We can still tell the America West flight attendants

Your front-page story on America West Airlines features clips on many of the employees and leaders who started the airline in 1983. Nothing about those of us who flew as passengers and paid the fares to keep the airline flying.

My wife and I began flying on America West in 1983. Our first flight was to Las Vegas at a time when you bought your ticket onboard the plane. We joined the frequent flyer program in 1985 and became life members of the Phoenix Club. Turned out to be a great investment.

Over the years I became a million miler and stayed with the airline through ups and downs. After America West acquired U.S. Air things changed. We could always tell if the flight attendants were America West or U.S. Air. The America West folks were the friendly ones.

Now it is American Airlines and headquarters has moved to Texas. We can still tell when we have a crew of long-time America West employees. Still the friendliest.

The future of the Phoenix hub remains a concern. My hope is that we don't go the way of St. Louis after TWA left, Pittsburgh after U.S. Air left or Memphis after Northwest left. The only thing constant is change and, as Yogi said, "Predicting is hard, especially when you are talking about the future."

— Leonard Kirschner MD, Litchfield Park