Non-Rev Boarding priority poll

[tadjr]

Unfair is when you merge with a company that has employees with years of service that are greater than the age of the company you worked for prior. yeah, thats fair.

So how many employees have an 83 date? Thats the first date that a former HP employee can have, right? What about all those who have 86, 90, 95? Why did they wait to get hired when they could have an 83 date? What about those agents who werent even old enough to work back in 83 or 86, 90, etc? I'm working with people that were just hired in 05 and are 20 years old. They werent even born when I started.
I understand everyone worried about having lots of people over you on seniority, but we're not ALL going to be trying to get on the same flight. I've seen a CWA list and there are lots of newbies on both sides, plus all the rez hiring that will be junior. I think something like 800 people hired in CS since 2005 on the East side alone. This is in addition to all the ramp newhires. Overall, its a given that the HP people are going to have everyone before 83 senior to them (number 1 agent), but after that, its anyones game depending on when you actually started your airline career. If you waited until late to get hired (or werent old enough to work until recently), then how upset can you be that there were older people hired ahead of you? I started when I was 20, so I couldnt have had a much higher seniority date than I do, but I wouldnt begrudge someone getting on ahead of me with more seniority because I waited a couple of months to put in my resume to get called and I wasnt old enough to work much before then.
I personally dont care which way it goes. I'll do ok with seniority MOST of the time (even with 21 years its iffy at times, but I dont travel unless its open usually) or I can get up and check in at the time limit.

 

[PhxMama]

Again we will wait and see what happens. Apparently if this was so cut and dry, a decision would have been announced by now. One thing that they might be considering is that flight benefits on the west side has always been the enticement to higher on with HP. Due to low wages and other companies offering more many may decide to part ways with the company. Obviously, seniority boarding hurts the west side. Still dont know what Tempe is thinking but I wouldnt want to be the one having to deal with the aftermath of the final decision!

 

[fly with US]

I have another reason why Check-in time wouldn't be fair. Let's say a pilot is based in PHL, but lives in DFW. He is on the last day of a four day trip, with a 5:00 am flight the next morning. His flight to DFW leaves at 2 pm. Do you think it is fair for the pilot, who has to get up really early and needs his sleep, to get up at 2 am to check-in just to get a seat to go home?

 

[PhxMama]

So how many employees have an 83 date? Thats the first date that a former HP employee can have, right? What about all those who have 86, 90, 95? Why did they wait to get hired when they could have an 83 date? What about those agents who werent even old enough to work back in 83 or 86, 90, etc? I'm working with people that were just hired in 05 and are 20 years old. They werent even born when I started.
I understand everyone worried about having lots of people over you on seniority, but we're not ALL going to be trying to get on the same flight. I've seen a CWA list and there are lots of newbies on both sides, plus all the rez hiring that will be junior. I think something like 800 people hired in CS since 2005 on the East side alone. This is in addition to all the ramp newhires. Overall, its a given that the HP people are going to have everyone before 83 senior to them (number 1 agent), but after that, its anyones game depending on when you actually started your airline career. If you waited until late to get hired (or werent old enough to work until recently), then how upset can you be that there were older people hired ahead of you? I started when I was 20, so I couldnt have had a much higher seniority date than I do, but I wouldnt begrudge someone getting on ahead of me with more seniority because I waited a couple of months to put in my resume to get called and I wasnt old enough to work much before then.
I personally dont care which way it goes. I'll do ok with seniority MOST of the time (even with 21 years its iffy at times, but I dont travel unless its open usually) or I can get up and check in at the time limit.

tadjr, I appreciate your years of service and dont know if you're still sane after all of it but with 21 yrs and I will repeat that 21 yrs and it can be iffy? That will send shivers down the back of many. It will be what it will be!

 

[fly with US]

PhxMama, it isn't like US employees are rolling in bags of money here. 😉

 

[tadjr]

I will repeat that 21 yrs and it can be iffy? That will send shivers down the back of many.

Yea, once Spring Break starts, it doesnt matter how much time you have or how early you check in on some days, you arent going anywhere if you live/work in certain cities. Try nonreving on a cruise day too. 😛 Of course if you want to travel from Knoxville to Ithaca, have at it! 😉

 

[NCYankee]

😱

Yea, once Spring Break starts, it doesnt matter how much time you have or how early you check in on some days, you arent going anywhere if you live/work in certain cities. Try nonreving on a cruise day too. 😛 Of course if you want to travel from Knoxville to Ithaca, have at it! 😉

I don't know....I had a heckuva time getting out of SYR last summer! Thankfully, one of the gate agents a friend from way back (21 years ago we were new-hires together) and handed me the kews to her car so the kids and I could go to the mall for a few hours.

 

[soc-hpjester]

I have to agree with rjh. Can you imagine gate agents trying to go through a list trying to figure up seniority, talk about delays. And FLT WITH US -- commuters you can't plan any better with senority check in either. Commuters chose to live in a city other than where the company is based.

 

[PhxMama]

I have another reason why Check-in time wouldn't be fair. Let's say a pilot is based in PHL, but lives in DFW. He is on the last day of a four day trip, with a 5:00 am flight the next morning. His flight to DFW leaves at 2 pm. Do you think it is fair for the pilot, who has to get up really early and needs his sleep, to get up at 2 am to check-in just to get a seat to go home?

Why does he live in DFW? He can jumpseat.

 

[PhxMama]

PhxMama, it isn't like US employees are rolling in bags of money here. 😉

I know you are not rolling in the dough! You have to understand that when this company offers info sessions to rampers, f/as, rez and gat agents they push the flight benefits as something glorious. Many work for flight benefits or medical benefits because the pay has been much lower for HP than other jobs, expecially here in PHX. For example, it will take 2 years to get gat, rez agents up to pay parity with US east agents. Some have been with HP for 4 years and do not make 8.75 an hour. Its always been the flight bennies(or medical). Make it harder to board and you will have a mass exodus. We are already losing enough agents due to the merger. Work loads and info has increased tremendously. Amex Trvl is hiring at almost double the pay giving 3 weeks vacation and 1 week is mandatory of vacation in a location away, with all accoms paid and positive seats. I know another good 5 agents walking over there. HR for Amex told a recent applicant, the merger was the best thing that ever happened to them! They are getting good motivated employees who appreciated their new work environment and love the $ 3000 sign on bonus. Just showing how this may affect staffing. Again,JMO.

 

[tadjr]

I have to agree with rjh. Can you imagine gate agents trying to go through a list trying to figure up seniority, talk about delays.

It wouldnt be that hard to get the seniority right in the computer. The current US system requires you to list through the employee data base which automatically puts you on the list with the correct seniority. The current HP system for checking if someone is pass eligible also has the employee seniority listed. All they would have to do would be to program the computer to extract this data when listing and the computer should automatically put everyone in order once they check in. QIK can do a lot of stranger things, this one should be easy for them to figure out.

 

[Flufdriver]

How about the flight crew member that is on the last day of a trip, jumpseats already taken, your to be in at 3 PM. You plan on taking a 4:30PM flight home and now your delayed outbound on your final leg back to your base. Now you get back to base at 4:15, run over to your gate, only to find out that your 22 years senority doesn't mean crap because 10 others got to the gate an hour before, they FILLED the airplane full and you find out they ALL had less senority. You get hosed because of the air traffic delay outbound on that last leg. Senority is the ONLY way to go..can't see it any other way! Any other way will get ughly, and quickly!

 

[PhxMama]

I think the computers can be programmed to figure out seniority and get it posted properly for the gate agents. That is not really the issue. Everyone has their point of view and because most of this board are east employees you have not heard much from west employees. I feel like the defender of the underdog. When this topic has been brought up at work most are shocked that first come, first served has been objected to.(I need to work on grammar.LOL)

 

[allegheny37]

Someone else said that using seniority helps plan better. How? When using first come/first serve, you plan your flights based on how many employees are already listed on the flight. If there are more non-revs than seats available--you know you need to check in early.

With senioirity--you would have to pull up the PNR for every employee, type in their badge # into DRS, determine their seniority date, and then compare their seniority to everyone else on the list.

Not so when listing for a flight you list with employee number. When the gate agent pulls the standby list it has them listed by seniority and sorted by standby priority.
This way you can aways check to see if the agent is not putting their friends on ahead of everyone else. I know it,s rare but it does happen.

 

[Flufdriver]

"First Come, First Served" works great if you live from where your trying to leave from...or you work at the airpot and you can check in at your liesure after getting a bite to eat while the crew member that's running late inbound is going crazy. I can't burn enough paint off the nose to beat someone that's been camping out at the gate to asure a seat. I can't believe "Westies" have been doing this way and commuters are happy getting aced out by someone with one month SENORITY!