No more camp Kids makeing connections

[jimntx]

I suspect that AWA still provides free headsets to UM's who have paid the UM fee. That was a perk they used to get for their $30.00.

Well, for our $75.00 UM fee, they get a $2 headset which they can keep for use on future AA flights AND a BOB box. YUM!

Except, of course, most of our fleet is MD-80s; so, headsets are not an issue. And, BOB is offered only on flights of 3 hours or more.

 

[US Express-PSA Agent]

http://www.goupstate.com/apps/pbcs.dll/art...332/1051/NEWS01
U.S. Airways began its merger with American West in September, and along the way absorbed American's policy on unattended children. Anyone age 5 to 14 can now only fly on
The airline hasn't yet determined if the policy is causing a loss of customers, but it does plan to track that.
U.S. Airways' new policy went into effect in October. Such a policy helps keep costs down and ticket prices lower, Durrant said.
An estimated 8,000 campers are expected to travel through GSP between now and August, a majority of the total that area camps typically draw. In the past, Greenville-Spartanburg saw only between 2,000 and 3,000 campers each summer.
Camp representatives and airport officials say they have made several attempts to get U.S. Airways' policy changed, or to have an exception made, but have not been successful.
The first time in years at least 30. No camp kids making connections I always put up with the good and bad over the many years because it was a cash generator I GUESS WE WERE WRONG.Will someone fill the void?

I wonder if it may be an issue of insurance liability costs vs. proffit. As a ticketing/gate agent, I'll tell you it has been a major relief on our already thined out staion crews.

 

[flyingcat]

Stories like this do not help those seeking a reversal in policy.

Airline mixes up 2 boys headed in different directions

 

[Prince of PAWOBs]

This thread has a lot of good posts!

As a parent and a former (very) kid who traveled as a UM about a million years ago, I can safely make the following statements:

1) Mom and Dad didn't arbitrarily decide to let me fly on my own. They believed I was mature enough to make it to my destination with or without help, and they gave me the tools to do it (i.e., phone numbers, spending money, something to pass the time and explicit instructions on how to get there and how to conduct myself.

2) A lot of parents today believe that for the cost of a ticket, Junior and Muffy are provided with not only a trip on the plane but free babysitting service as well. This is simply not the case. FA's, gate agents and even the odd ramper do not have the ability to handle their flight and make sure that the kid(s) is/are behaving themselves and/or keeping on task to get to camp or Grandma's house. We can't count on parents sending their kids on flights as the parents in 1).

3) For the GSP crowd, a possible solution is cutting a deal with US to place camp-employed escorts on the connecting flights out of CLT. Give them a group rate for travel to and from GSP. The UM's can still fly one leg into CLT, then it's the camp escort(s) responsibility to get them to GSP. US still makes money and the kids get to camp. Do it in reverse at the end of the summer.

Once again, as I have stated in posts during previous US administrations in CCY, you folks in Tempe can use my ideas to solve problems. I give them freely with the one caveat that the next time you cherry pick ideas off of the Internet that you give posters credit for their ideas, including myself.

 

[whatkindoffreshhell]

Interesting and sad thread. Reflection of the breakup of nuclear families in our country.

If I was running an airline......there would not be UMs on connecting flights for the same reason pax carriers don't carry oxidizers --- the revenue does not justify the distraction and risk.

I am running a family. Ain't no way I would send any of my kids via plane to a camp. I don't care if its camp-garden-of-eden.

Any airline exec who is a proponent of UM fares should be required to work a few legs with the kids. Let's see how good and qualified they are as a child-care provider in an uncertain environment.

 

[hp_fa]

I am running a family. Ain't no way I would send any of my kids via plane to a camp. I don't care if its camp-garden-of-eden.

Just to let you know that you aren't alone, I have seen plenty of parents fly a turn with us. In other words, they fly on the plane with the kid(s) and return immediately on the same plane with us. Unfortunately, the not as caring parents are in the majority.

 

[N965VJ]

Interesting and sad thread. Reflection of the breakup of nuclear families in our country.

Many UMs are FFs. Divorced parents.

At least they know what the drill is when it comes to flying.

 

[FWAAA]

3) For the GSP crowd, a possible solution is cutting a deal with US to place camp-employed escorts on the connecting flights out of CLT. Give them a group rate for travel to and from GSP. The UM's can still fly one leg into CLT, then it's the camp escort(s) responsibility to get them to GSP. US still makes money and the kids get to camp. Do it in reverse at the end of the summer.

I think that's an excellent idea. The airline ditches the responsibility it does not want but facilitates others who don't mind acting as these kids' parents (and the camp's whole purpose is to act in the parents' stead during the summer).

 

[CLTBWIDAYSYR]

I am running a family. Ain't no way I would send any of my kids via plane to a camp. I don't care if its camp-garden-of-eden.

While I understand your sentiment and agree somewhat, these are not boy/girl scout camps. Mondamin, Rockmont, and all the others between AVL and GSP cost upwards of $2,000+ per week. These are the pampered children of wealthy people who are more than likely our most frequent flyers. Western North Carolina is populated by the offspring of rich New Yorkers, Bostonians, and Philadelphians every summer.

 

[Prince of PAWOBs]

I think that's an excellent idea. The airline ditches the responsibility it does not want but facilitates others who don't mind acting as these kids' parents (and the camp's whole purpose is to act in the parents' stead during the summer).

Thank you, FWAAA!

I honestly believe US can win travellers by coming up with solutions that do not impact the company's bottom line and make air travelers feel like the company cares.

It borders on charter service, but if US could get the biggest slice of the pie which is kids traveling to camp in the summer, that equates into $$$. That's more than just profit. That's almost a guarantee that repeat business from some of those parents would be coming to the airline. Repeat business, for me at least, equals job security.

 

[Prince of PAWOBs]

While I understand your sentiment and agree somewhat, these are not boy/girl scout camps. Mondamin, Rockmont, and all the others between AVL and GSP cost upwards of $2,000+ per week. These are the pampered children of wealthy people who are more than likely our most frequent flyers. Western North Carolina is populated by the offspring of rich New Yorkers, Bostonians, and Philadelphians every summer.

Aha! I bet Mumsie and Daddie would be willing to shell out for chaperoned service, too.

Here's a thought: I know that agents are asked to volunteer seasonally at stations such as ACK and MVY to help with the flights, and they are compensated accordingly. Why not ask agents if they would be willing to act as chaperones/escorts for UM's? You could fly systemwide for, say, a week at a time, maybe a total of twice a year. Have the agent bonded and given a background check (such as the Act 33 & 34 provisions here in Pennsylvania) to make sure they aren't going to do something sick like molesting or abusing the UM. You get space positive travel to escort the UM through their connecting flight(s), then perhaps you escort another UM at the station to yet another destination. Parents could determine the gender of the escort for their child or children.

If such a plan were in place, not only would the UM have someone looking out for them during irregular ops, but they would also have someone who could handle a potential panic situation. Parents and the airline would feel better knowing some is watching the UM, and agents would get to have a really good feel for a lot of system airports over time. That would help with making connections, finding eateries and bookstores with things for the kids to do, transportation, RESTROOMS!, information and so on.

What do you all think?

 

[PhxMama]

Aha! I bet Mumsie and Daddie would be willing to shell out for chaperoned service, too.

Here's a thought: I know that agents are asked to volunteer seasonally at stations such as ACK and MVY to help with the flights, and they are compensated accordingly. Why not ask agents if they would be willing to act as chaperones/escorts for UM's? You could fly systemwide for, say, a week at a time, maybe a total of twice a year. Have the agent bonded and given a background check (such as the Act 33 & 34 provisions here in Pennsylvania) to make sure they aren't going to do something sick like molesting or abusing the UM. You get space positive travel to escort the UM through their connecting flight(s), then perhaps you escort another UM at the station to yet another destination. Parents could determine the gender of the escort for their child or children.

If such a plan were in place, not only would the UM have someone looking out for them during irregular ops, but they would also have someone who could handle a potential panic situation. Parents and the airline would feel better knowing some is watching the UM, and agents would get to have a really good feel for a lot of system airports over time. That would help with making connections, finding eateries and bookstores with things for the kids to do, transportation, RESTROOMS!, information and so on.

What do you all think?

Im a westie amd we havent done the um's on connecting flights. Because it has been a service many have requested some of us have joked for years that we should start our own business and have the parents pay for the extra tkt and a service fee. If someone can run a business checking in WN pax for a fee(for better boarding-hence better seat) why not have this service? Could cater to the financially high end or someone who would rather pay than take vacation time. Could even pick um up at home via shuttle and deliver door to door. Any takers? We could advertise with all the airlines and run our own escort service!!!

 

[BoeingBoy]

run our own escort service!!!

Better not call it an escort service - might get the wrong kind of "kiddies" (and maybe some pilots ).

Jim

 

[PhxMama]

Better not call it an escort service - might get the wrong kind of "kiddies" (and maybe some pilots ).

Jim

How much do you think they would be willing to pay? LOL Do you need a job when you retire?

 

[BoeingBoy]

You'd probably make more than pilot's do. But I'd have to be one of those "loss leaders"......

Jim