Media Watch

[EyeInTheSky]

I watched the news last night and this morning; you'd barely know two of the country's biggest carriers went bk last night. Here's how the coverage on most networks (even CNBC) is going:

Big Stories

Hurricane Ophelia
Katrina Recovery
Judge Roberts Hearing
Car Bombing In Baghdad
Britney Spears Has A Baby
Oh...and Delta & Northwest Bankrupt

Gosh, Britiney Spears is more important than the possibility of thousands losing their jobs. What a country!

 

[EyeInTheSky]

P.S.
Frank Lorenzo was just on CNBC...says Delta is going to have to get their costs down to AirTran levels. 🙄

 

[JAXPax]

"Airline Bloodbath" was the top graphic and headline on cnn.com last night for about 90 minutes.... I think around 6:30pm.

 

[PITbull]

As you know...Some of our VPs have already left and gone to BK other companies.

Siegel: Gate Gourmet
Cohen and Dave Davis: NW
McKeen: Air Alaska
Glass: AWA (with his Consulting firm)


I suspect Glass will do his best to merge the two f/a and ALPA contracts, but I doubt there will be ratification from the f/as this time if there are no improvements.

I won't be there to ensure no ratification without major improvements, but I'll be around the block with my own noise.

 

[700UW]

Don't forget Davis is now at NWA also.

 

[Bear96]

Unfortunately, it is no longer "news" when an airline files for Chapter 11. It doesn't really affect the public at all as long as the airline keeps operating.

 

[PITbull]

Bear,

I have to say you are incorrect on that one.

Big news in PA.


Pittsburgh media including TV, newspapers, radio harped on the issues daily that effect US Airways and its employees, and the public just as well fly other carriers and not give their business to US Airways where there is a choice.

Every where I go folks would be so compelled to say they feel so sorry for us to be working for such a horrific managment team.

Why USAirways stayed in business as long as it did was because of the VF programs, ERI incentives to retire and VFLR programs.

Many many employees left this profession. In this process, many f/as have become emotionally sick and are facing termination as we speak.

US Airways should have not stayed in business. The ATSB and RSA money along with all the cut-throat concessions kept this train wreck on the tracks.


And of course, none of this could be possible without the biggest "trump card".. BK protection. Lots of folks to screw over in BK.

 

[rjh]

Unfortunately, it is no longer "news" when an airline files for Chapter 11. It doesn't really affect the public at all as long as the airline keeps operating.

[post="301056"][/post]​

I agree ..however, I think it's the same for most bankruptcies, regardless of the industry.

 

[LD3]

Unfortunately, it is no longer "news" when an airline files for Chapter 11. It doesn't really affect the public at all as long as the airline keeps operating.

[post="301056"][/post]​

I also agree, only makes the news in hub cities.....

 

[Bear96]

Bear,

I have to say you are incorrect on that one.

Big news in PA.
[/b][/size] Lots of folks to screw over in BK.

[post="301061"][/post]​

Let's see how much coverage it gets in 48 hours.

 

[US1YFARE]

Unfortunately, it is no longer "news" when an airline files for Chapter 11. It doesn't really affect the public at all as long as the airline keeps operating.

[post="301056"][/post]​

This is just my opinion, but I think much of the public doesn't have much sympathy for the airlines. Most were charged astronomical fares at one time or another. Business travelers, pre-WN, at least in PHL paid $2200 to go to SFO or LAX in Y last minute. We paid over $1000 to go to IND or BOS last minute. Many people think that the blame for the current problems in the airline industry lies with the airlines. Unfortunately, that sentiment extends to the workers and not just the execs. Most people don't see the face of the airline like your VFF's do. We see who is hurt by these bankruptcies. We see who is suffering and how execs are stuffing their pockets with boatloads of money. The public doesn't see that. Instead, the public sees articles in the Philadelphia Inquirer telling them how US F/A's can't buy Starbucks coffee anymore because of paycuts. What about those that can't pay rent? The public doesn't see the face of the people who are being hurt, so they don't have sympathy and they don't care--they care about their FF miles and whether they can get to MCO, but they don't care that an airline went bankrupt--lots of companies go bankrupt. So, yes, I can see that people would like to hear about Britney's baby boy and how she had a planned C-Section because she was afraid to give birth--not that I follow it, but :unsure: anyway, i think that is part of it. Plus, with all this depressing news recently, and oil prices through the roof, who wants to hear about more companies not being able to pay their bills--who can pay their bills right now?

 

[FWAAA]

Yesterday afternoon, at the end of the Ellen Degeneres Show, our LA local news at 5:00 pm did it news teasers and just as the video of an AA 777 (AA is a big sponsor of Ellen), the announcers proclaimed that two of the world's bigget airlines filed for bankruptcy protection. 😀

THAT musta made people at AA really happy. Show an AA 777 and do a voiceover of new airline bankruptcies. B)

 

[Bear96]

This is just my opinion, but I think much of the public doesn't have much sympathy for the airlines.

[post="301092"][/post]​

I agree.

 

[MarkMyWords]

I agree. I think that so many large corporations have goone bankrupt that the news of another one is nearly a non-event unless it ieffects you directly. So the people that would be the most concerned would be those with FF miles and those with trips in the near term. How it will effect future booking remains to be seen. After each of our filings, booking levels dropped noitceably in the short term, but did recover in a couple months.

It will be interesting to see the capacity reductions that will happen.

 

[LD3]

I agree. I think that so many large corporations have goone bankrupt that the news of another one is nearly a non-event unless it ieffects you directly. So the people that would be the most concerned would be those with FF miles and those with trips in the near term. How it will effect future booking remains to be seen. After each of our filings, booking levels dropped noitceably in the short term, but did recover in a couple months.

It will be interesting to see the capacity reductions that will happen.

[post="301102"][/post]​

I think everyone agrees that capacity reductions are in order except WN, as soon as other airlines reduce flights, WN will add them...And they are the ones complaining about too much lift..