Just finishing a 4 day trip today. Of the 14 flights I have worked only 1 had less than 100 people on it. Of course I was working up and down the East Coast and it is Spring Break. Things are pretty quiet, everbody just doing their job and praying for our troops overseas. A few of our own Pilots and Flight Crews are over there doing their part. Anyway, to stir some stuff up maybe here are a few things I have heard and read lately.
The Flight Attendant Contract is progressing slowly. The 13 hour duty day requested by Managment died a quick death.
No new cities this year.
Colleen said at the Message to the Field in Chicago that there are no plans to add onboard entertainment systems and said "Thats what the Flight Attendants are for".
We will re-start Flight Attendant training in August, a small class, probably less than 100.
The new terminals in HOU and MDW are almost done. We have started using new gates at both airports already. FLL is done and we LUV the new gates. We started using gate 104 at MCO. MCI will be the next big remodeling project. All the Ticket Counters and Gate Podiums are getting a face lift in the new colors.
We are getting new snacks in April. The AM Mid-Range flights will be Chips Ahoy Cookies and the PM snack will be Air Crisp Crackers. The new Long-Haul snack packs have Ritz Crackers and Cherry Fruit Snacks. It seems, no matter what anybody says, Coors Light and Bud Light will not be coming back. So, now we run out of Miller Light ever other flight.
Some of the Male Flight Attendants have started a letter writing campaign to Management, to allow Facial Hair. It seems managment thinks that "Facial Hair does not look professional". ( I guess sweat suits are ok, ie Colleen outfit of choice)
The long hauls are a big success. Seems that flights over 90 minutes now account for 26% of all our flights. Rumor in MCO, is that we are getting a non stop to LAS and LAX this summer.
To conserve fuel, we are shutting down the APU''s at the gates. They plan on using Ground Services instead.
Safe Flying!