Employee Travel

[Hope777]

Employees and Dependants can still check TWO bags free up to 50 pounds each.

Over Weight /Over Sized $90.00

Bags 3-9 $125.00 Each

 

[crazystnic]

Employees still can check TWO bags free up to 50 pounds.

Over Weight /Over Sized $90.00

Bags 3-9 $125.00 Each

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do skis count as a second bag? If I check skis can I check 1 or 2 bags free?

 

[hp-csr-phx]

Great more bags at the gate.

 

[Jester]

Employees and Dependants can still check TWO bags free up to 50 pounds each.

Over Weight /Over Sized $90.00

Bags 3-9 $125.00 Each

That's a real shame, especially for those employees who were furloughed and were moving a dozen boxes at a time to their new station. I have loaded a portable fan stuffed in a kitchen trash can, garbage bags filled with clothes, cardboard boxes loaded with books, pots and pans rattling around in containers, etc., all going to the same city. I never complained about moving furloughed employees' stuff, as I was happy not to be in their position having to make that move.

So Regrets Jester.

 

[BoeingBoy]

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do skis count as a second bag? If I check skis can I check 1 or 2 bags free?

Ii know that for revenue passengers they count as 1 checked bag (that's skies, bindings, boots, poles) so I assume it's the same for non-revs.

Jim

 

[Ritzy53]

Great more bags at the gate.

That was my first thought also.

 

[Black Magic]

There really is no end to the greed with this managment team. I got the memo in the US daily and it states that this is going to be implemented to releive the strain on the baggage system and put our travel benefits more inline with other airlines. Complete BS!! US Airways loves to compare itself to other airlines only when they want too..In my opinion they can compare our benefits, ect to other carriers when they bring our payscale up to the same levels as the other guys!! Just another slap in the face to make more money from the employess. The amount of nonrev bags in the system is so miniscule its downright silly.

 

[WorldTraveler]

forgive me but why is it so bad for airline employees to have to pay for overweight or specially handled bags? I don't know of too many ramp workers who would say "oh wow, an overweight bag from a coworker so I'll make sure I don't have a hernia on it".

If US employees receive two free bags, that is more than most of US' passengers receive.

SO far as I know, MOST airline employees have some baggage limits already.

 

[Black Magic]

Because it was a nice benefit that is now like others gone. MOST airlines also let their employees fly in first class for free, but not US airways🙄 MOST airlines pay their employee groups on average more. You know its all about staying in-line with other carriers according to US. Uh huh..sure. I work the ramp and believe me we don't care about a few nonrev bags, its all a blur after awhile. Myself I just like to check/travel 1 bag only instead of dealing with 2 and it does sometimes go over 50 pounds a bit. Just for once I want to see them leave the positives in place, and quit thinking of ways to jack the employees!

 

[Hope777]

I am on the same page here. I would rather travel with one bag instead of two when I travell with my family. And at times, has weighed about 55lbs... which would now cost me $90.00. Like everything else, they just take and take and take. The Front line Employees have gone thru enough already, just leave things alone. If it's not broke, dont fix it !

 

[john john]

So the compay will charge the employees $90.00 but charge the military noting for over weight bags.That is nice of them

 

[robbedagain]

aggredd there wt.

 

[Airline Employee]

I think the airline is in deep financial trouble. They have been laying off a lot of people and coming up with all of these fees and are starting to hit employees. With all of the layoffs people will be bringing 3-5 boxes/luggage with them when they move just to be able to keep a job and stay with the company. It is rare to see nonrevs with luggage but when you are forced to relocate you have to bring what you can and Tempe shouldn't penalize employees like this.

It is a shame that Tempe always makes things WORSE for employees but them tries to remind us that "two airlines charge their employees same way" or "Another airline doesn't have XYZ. How about they compare everything that other airlines have, including free buddy passes like to give away to your friends and family while the company pays the imputed taxes. There's at least 2 airlinse that doesn't charge parents anything to fly. There's an airline that allows employees free first class and another airline that gives employees free first class if they have 20 years seniority. Tempe needs to compare the whole pie and not one slice of the pie.
BTW, these fees on employees suck!

 

[WorldTraveler]

I think the airline is in deep financial trouble. They have been laying off a lot of people and coming up with all of these fees and are starting to hit employees. With all of the layoffs people will be bringing 3-5 boxes/luggage with them when they move just to be able to keep a job and stay with the company. It is rare to see nonrevs with luggage but when you are forced to relocate you have to bring what you can and Tempe shouldn't penalize employees like this.

It is a shame that Tempe always makes things WORSE for employees but them tries to remind us that "two airlines charge their employees same way" or "Another airline doesn't have XYZ. How about they compare everything that other airlines have, including free buddy passes like to give away to your friends and family while the company pays the imputed taxes. There's at least 2 airlinse that doesn't charge parents anything to fly. There's an airline that allows employees free first class and another airline that gives employees free first class if they have 20 years seniority. Tempe needs to compare the whole pie and not one slice of the pie.
BTW, these fees on employees suck!

that is valid... but if the primary reason for overweight/excess bags is because USAirways is used by its employees as a moving company, then it probably is fair for them to crack down on non-rev luggage.
I know US employees have taken a big hit on alot of items but I'm not sure that singling out one benefit which is so rarely used (according to you) and only for purposes of relocation (do these people also have cars that they expect US to transport?) that it is as big of a deal as you make it out to be.
I agree you should have some of the other benefits - esp. travel that are richer at other airlines but that is what your unions should tell the company is a priority - if it is.
Given the collective bargaining process, I suspect most employees would not take more travel INSTEAD of other more direct financial benefits - and that is how the collective bargaining process works.
Likewise, if free non-rev bags are important, bring it up in contract negotiations.

 

[Jester]

that is valid... but if the primary reason for overweight/excess bags is because USAirways is used by its employees as a moving company, then it probably is fair for them to crack down on non-rev luggage.

Given they are displaced workers, and many times low seniority people with lower pay, allowing these involuntary employees to move a few dozen boxes over the course of several trips, hardly strikes me as some horrible abuse in need of a solution.

I know US employees have taken a big hit on alot of items but I'm not sure that singling out one benefit which is so rarely used (according to you) and only for purposes of relocation (do these people also have cars that they expect US to transport?) that it is as big of a deal as you make it out to be.

It is a big deal if you are the one being furloughed and forced to move to a new city. Surprising numbers of FSA's cannot afford a car and do not own a car or they are attempting to keep a residence in their home city while commuting between cities on opposite sides of the country. Some do own motorcycles as a cheaper alternative, but try to move even three boxes on the back of one.

I agree you should have some of the other benefits - esp. travel that are richer at other airlines but that is what your unions should tell the company is a priority - if it is.
Given the collective bargaining process, I suspect most employees would not take more travel INSTEAD of other more direct financial benefits - and that is how the collective bargaining process works.
Likewise, if free non-rev bags are important, bring it up in contract negotiations.

In fairness, the company does provide some moving expense allowance for those involuntarily furloughed, but it is only for full-time people, and part-time people receive no benefit. Often times the definition of "part-time" or "full-time" can become such a misnomer that I know "part-time" people who average 70 hours a week and "full-time" people who disappear for two months at time, but that's irrevalant as the label is what counts, not the amount of hours worked. Furthermore the re-imbursement after cash out of pocket has been spent, but too often the furloughed FSA's lives paycheck to paycheck, so that's not really an option either.

You are right that it is a benefit which can be negotiated, but people don't think they will ever be furloughed (and the majority of them are right), especially in the larger hubs, but why make it an issue to be negotiated as it is such a relatively rarely used benefit which cannot be costing the company all that much money in the first place?

So Ponders Jester.