Non-Rev Boarding priority poll

[Dea Certe]

Fly with US ---- You say the commuter is the most important non-rev. I think not. In crew skd they are loathed for all the late shows, no shows and delays they cause. Live in your base and check in 4 hours prior when non-reving.

soc,

Believe it or not, there are plenty of responsible commuters out here. I doubt anyone commutes for the sheer joy of taking a plane ride to work. Many of us have been through multiple base closures. Some of us can't afford to live where we are based.

Commuting is a choice, sure. But sometimes it's the choice between lesser hardships.

People who no-show, get late check-ins or commuting failures get terminated fast enough. I understand it's the biggest reason for terminations at this time.

Dea

 

[USstew23]

Dude:

That is an excellent analogy. Flight benefits are just that, benefits, and should be treated as such. They are not a god-given right, nor is the idea of seniority. Union seniority is a concept that is to be used within the framework of the contract, in other words, union members have negotiated the concept for their members to determine schedules, vacation time, and other contract stipulations. To my knowledge, flight benefits have never been guaranteed by a union contract, and the company reserves the right to determine the boarding priority, based on any criteria they want.

Personally, in 9 years of service, I have been bumped off a flight only once due to a seniority issue, and I fly somewhere about once a month. I plan accordingly and study the loads. If I see that my seniority will not hold, I make other transportation arrangements, or change my travel plans altogether. Proper planning goes a long way toward ensuring a successful NRSA experience.

If we want to be fair to everyone, which I believe is the best way to go, then all NRSA travel should be based on check-in time, and all connecting NRSA should have priority over originating NRSA. But hey, it's only my opinion.

Couldn't have said it better!!

 

[USstew23]

Seniority a failed idea? Haha, I think not. Just look at all the things that are related to seniority.

Hey, I never said that commuters were popoular. But what non-rev does the company care about most, the commuter, or the person going flying for the fun of it?

USstew23, I am just going to guess here and saw you have no family that lives with you. How would you feel if you had to move every 5 years? Is that fair? Commuting has long been a privilege of the airlines, so why all of sudden are they looked down upon. Plus, you can't expect every crew member to live on base. At CO in EWR, 70-80% of the pilots commute.

Actually I live on my own and am VERY close with my family, I fly to see them once every two weeks and sometimes I go every week. I on average have moved just about every year since 1997 with the exception of when I lived in Philly for 5 years. I CHOSE to live where I am based just the same as i CHOSE to commute. However commuting has the potential to be a complete disaster (with the situation in PHL and the fact that they sell seats for $99.00)I can understand your point about being displaced and such, however (with the exception of the base in MIA) how do you explain the amount of commuters that come out of TPA, MCO, and FLL? By CHOICE!! I can understand the plight of the California commuters but they are pretty savvy and know exactly how to work it. With that being said I'm not sure if you are a pilot or not and if you are I think the commuting issue may be a little different because you guys (and gals) have the opportunity to ride another airline's jumpseat. Sorry for the ramble but just trying to make my point (not that it really matters..lol) I think we should save the seniority issue for contractual issues, pay and bidding, not flight privilages.

 

[allegheny37]

:

That is an excellent analogy. Flight benefits are just that, benefits, and should be treated as such. They are not a god-given right, nor is the idea of seniority. Union seniority is a concept that is to be used within the framework of the contract, in other words, union members have negotiated the concept for their members to determine schedules, vacation time, and other contract stipulations. To my knowledge, flight benefits have never been guaranteed by a union contract, and the company reserves the right to determine the boarding priority, based on any criteria they want.

Not quite true below is an portion of the revised retiree's benefit

"Effective in early '06, retirees will board following active employees with the exception of a group of flight attendant retirees who have a specific contractual right to board like active employees"

 

[allegheny37]

On the topic of retirees boarding priority here is what the IAM posted in December. Not a word since.


December 22, 2005
File: USA-18
2005-172



US AIRWAYS SPECIAL BULLETIN PASS POLICY CHANGE


To All US Airways Mechanics and Related Employees:

The Union is in receipt of a publication put out by the company to all employees announcing changes in the company’s pass policy and boarding priorities for retirees. The union was not notified of this intended change, nor was the matter discussed with the Union. We demand a meeting with the company to discuss this matter. We believe the change in policy is a violation of the seniority rights’ of our members and a serious breech of our collective bargaining agreement. We request the company maintain the status quo regarding pass policy until the issue is resolved.

We will keep you advised of future developments.

Wishing you a happy holiday season.


I guess they are still celebrating the Holiday <_<

 

[Geek]

That is the key issue in this meger. The culture of HP employees is very different than US. In general, US employees view their jobs as a career, where at HP, because of the very low pay, it's viewed either as a stepping stone to something else, or as a job to get free flights and insurance. The amount of trades and giving away of hours in the Customer Service ranks at HP is tremendous, because to a lot of people this isn't how they make a living. So, to a lot of employees at HP, they could care less about seniority because the majorty aren't going to be their long enough. So for them first come /first serve is a lot better propostion. The Seniority culture at HP is very minimal.

This is so totally true. When hiring HP pushes the fact that the flight benifits make up the difference in pay that you do not recieve. In many areas where senority doesn't count at all, such as the IT dept, this can be $10-20,000 a year!
I am sure that alot of people will leave for better pay if they suddenly can't get on flights. Also they will have to up the starting pay on alot of jobs if that BENEFIT goes away.

Senority is not the way things go in many depts. It is job performance.
It seems a lot of the senority pushers do not understand or are not willing to look at the other side of the coin because of being so ingrained in the mindset.
They can have senority in their job area, but shouldn't push it on those of us who do not use it in ours.
Geek

 

[allegheny37]

When hiring HP pushes the fact that the flight benifits make up the difference in pay that you do not recieve. In many areas where senority doesn't count at all, such as the IT dept, this can be $10-20,000 a year!


Geek

If you take your job based on benefits you receive over your pay, medical yes, flying benefits no. That not a wise decission to me.
If in fact HP does push flying benefits over pay "which I find hard to believe". What guarantee do you have that you'll even have the chance to use them as much as you think you will. With fares today it,s harder and harder to even non-rev on flts anymore.
Plus at US every employee that workes for the company has a DOH no matter what department you are in. Union, non-union. Yes there are many jobs within the company where you advance do to merit, but you still have a DOH.
I,am not saying DOH sould be the only way to determine boarding priority but a combination of two systems might be fine. But I do think that the retirees should be boarded in the same priority as all employees, They have earned it.

 

[PhxMama]

Yes, in fact HP does push flight benefits, big time! You may find it hard to believe but guess what, its the truth. There is no guarantee you will be able to use them as much as you think you will. Many employees start with HP and no nothing about the industry or fares in the market. All they know is that they and their families will be able to trvl for free. Most PHX employees are not first generation and have migrated from other parts of the country which makes free trvl very enticing. Especially when they have children and grandparents can come and vist. Some are divorced and send children to visit with the other parent and some have children in college. Flight benfits may not be as great as they are made out to be but that is why anyone would start working for a company at 7.65/hr. I also think retirees will continue to board after active employees and continue to have free trvl.

 

[allegheny37]

Yes, in fact HP does push flight benefits, big time! You may find it hard to believe but guess what, its the truth. There is no guarantee you will be able to use them as much as you think you will. Many employees start with HP and no nothing about the industry or fares in the market. All they know is that they and their families will be able to trvl for free. Most PHX employees are not first generation and have migrated from other parts of the country which makes free trvl very enticing. Especially when they have children and grandparents can come and vist. Some are divorced and send children to visit with the other parent and some have children in college. Flight benfits may not be as great as they are made out to be but that is why anyone would start working for a company at 7.65/hr. I also think retirees will continue to board after active employees and continue to have free trvl.

First I don't understand your part about PHX employees not being first generation and have migrated from other parts of the country.
Second the part of your statement about 7.65 hourly pay, that wont help get anyone into college.
And last your part about retirees US gave all employees free travel after 25 years retired or not so they should travel free and they should board with all employees.

 

[BoeingBoy]

If I may...

1 - 1st generation means born in the PHX area - most moved there from somewhere else.

2 - Just because someone's making $7.65 an hour doesn't mean they don't have children in college - two income families, divorced spouse paying/sharing the cost, scholarships, loans, etc.

3 - It's already been said that retirees will be 1 level below active in boarding priority.

Jim

 

[allegheny37]

If I may...

1 - 1st generation means born in the PHX area - most moved there from somewhere else.

2 - Just because someone's making $7.65 an hour doesn't mean they don't have children in college - two income families, divorced spouse paying/sharing the cost, scholarships, loans, etc.

3 - It's already been said that retirees will be 1 level below active in boarding priority.

Jim

Thank you just wasn,t sure what 1st generation meant. But I don,t think thats unique to PHX only.

Your correct about two incomes, I stand corrected

But when it comes to retirees boarding 1 level below active, my own opinion is that all should be equal. Again this is only my personel opinion.
If there is a segment of retired flt attendents that can board the same level as active employees, all retiree's should be given that also.
Plus Mr Parker didn,t rule out that the issue would not be addressed again. He said unlikely to change but IT,s still open.
Retirees can only hope. 🙄

 

[PhxMama]

If I may...

1 - 1st generation means born in the PHX area - most moved there from somewhere else.

2 - Just because someone's making $7.65 an hour doesn't mean they don't have children in college - two income families, divorced spouse paying/sharing the cost, scholarships, loans, etc.

3 - It's already been said that retirees will be 1 level below active in boarding priority.

Jim

Thank you for clarifying my post. I thought migrating from different parts of the country was clear(I didnt say world.) It may not be unique to PHX but if you have never been here or experienced the boom you wouldnt believe the number of people who move here every month. When the average percentage increase of the value of your home in 1 year is above 40 perecent you have major growth. If some of the f/a s have retiree priority boarding in their contract, good for them! Someone was thinking way ahead of their time or they just got plain lucky. If you want to believe that DP will change the boarding for retirees go ahead but if they go with DOH enough HP's will get screwed and there is NO way DP would add retirees to the mix and have active HPs board totally at the bottom. Many east have posted their preference and some of us on the west have also but in the end Tempe will make the decision.

 

[Charlie_Tuna]

IT'S NOT OUR SURVEY!
Yesterday, a rogue survey made its way around offices
and airports asking employees to vote on first-come,
first-served boarding vs. seniority. This survey is
not company-sponsored. We want to be very clear that
it isn't our survey and it's not official. More
importantly, it won't have any bearing on the final
boarding policy.

Yes, we're taking feedback, but this isn't an issue
that will be decided by a popular vote. Take some
time to try both boarding systems and relax; you've
got all year to try both methods. After you've tried
them, send your feedback to
row23middle@usairways.com. We want your thoughtful,
insightful feedback, not your vote.

 

[Doc]

Most companies give you a gold watch a pension or some other gift before you leave maybe even a thank you for you years of sevice.

Now USAiways wants to kick your a#$ to the curb with nothing .

How insulting is this I am not even retired and I feel they are just craped on.

retireing with yuor S3 travel is your gold watch and you deserve it.

I would be happy to travel behind you any day.

Traveling with you senority is the only way way.

 

[allegheny37]

Most companies give you a gold watch a pension or some other gift before you leave maybe even a thank you for you years of sevice.

Now USAiways wants to kick your a#$ to the curb with nothing .

How insulting is this I am not even retired and I feel they are just craped on.

retireing with yuor S3 travel is your gold watch and you deserve it.

I would be happy to travel behind you any day.

Traveling with you senority is the only way way.

Thanks Doc
I appreciate your comment, unfortuately you will probably receive alot of negitive feed back over it.
I retired last March after over 36 years with the company. There were four of us that left on the same day. No one from management even had the courtesy to say good-bye and thank us for all of our years of service. We were told to leave all ID'S in administration on our way out. Our co-workers gave us a nice send off which was very nice. We all were from different departments and they all got together for us.
On the day I left I asked for my 35 year service pin that was sitting in the managers office for almost two years.
I really didn't care about the pin it was the point I wanted to make that they should haven given it to me when it was due.
I agree that after all the years we gave to the company and all we gave back so that the current employees have an airline to work and travel on. We should a least have kept our boarding priority.
But the retiree's are a minority and are of no use to the company anymore.
THANKS AGAIN FOR YOUR KIND WORDS