Poll: The day you realized this industry was messed up was?

[fly with US]

Come on, you know you had that day.

- fly with US

 

[jimntx]

The day a Customer Service Rep gave a first class upgrade to a screaming harridan to ease her emotional distress brought on by my asking her to put her giant tote bag in the overhead bin--she was sitting in a bulkhead row.

 

[diogenes]

Aug 15, 1989 - we just didn't know it at the time.

US Air purchased Piedmont in 1987, and had two years to plan the operational merger.

Prior to 1989, there were two successful carriers. After, one dysfunctional one.

We did our best to stick it out and make it work (look at the DOT stats over those years), but came up short.

A great opportunity to create a valuable companyc missed. 🙁

 

[N965VJ]

The day I read the email about the sizer boxes being eliminated from the gate areas because many of them had become “damaged and unusableâ€￾.

Baloney.

Someone actually thought we were that stupid. Why not just admit that Wolfe didn’t like them?

I think there’s still one in one of the secret smoking areas in PIT if you want see how sturdy they were.

 

[UPNAWAY]

My first day in reservations training, when I saw 30 year old equipment and software. I was shocked that somehow a company had missed the entire tech revolution of the 80's and 90's! I soon learned it wasn't just our airline but all airlines. A good thing Y2K came along or they would all still be using 1960's technologies. Before I get bombarded I know there is still some systems out there 30+ years old! 😛

 

[2BorNot2B]

Not a Day .... but a period of time, late 80's-early 90's, when Pay Rates skyrocketed across the board, Gate Agents treated paying Pax like PITA's, F/A's ignored boarding passengers while they chatted in the fwd galley, skilled Mechanics sat on Tugs reading magazines for 20 min. awaiting push-back, Ramp rooms filled with relaxing workers while flights took bag delays, and everyone thought this was one swell job! Big Pensions .... guaranteed Health Benefits!

Well ..... here we are!!

Suprised?? Not me! Disappointed?? Yes!

2B

 

[N965VJ]

Not a Day .... but a period of time, late 80's-early 90's, when Pay Rates skyrocketed across the board, Gate Agents treated paying Pax like PITA's, F/A's ignored boarding passengers while they chatted in the fwd galley,

US F/A's got the B-Scale in the 80's.

 

[2BorNot2B]

US F/A's got the B-Scale in the 80's.

... but they & others still took the job at that pay scale!! That is a dead issue! To this day a job is offered at a given pay scale. If you do not like it, do not take it! Do not accept the job and then refuse to do it!

So here we are 15+ years later and thousands have lost their jobs, Unions have taken 40% paycuts, Retirees have lost most of what they relied upon to be there in their later years.

What is your point??

As I said ... this was the beginning of the inevitable!

2B

 

[barbeetantrums]

"The day you realized this industry was messed up was?"

That would be the day I interviewed at America West at the HQ in Tempe. The interviewer asked me a few simple questions and then offered me a position then and there. Mind you, I grew up around old Allegheny Airlines and US Air and your dad or uncle had to help you get a job there. Airline jobs didn't come to anyone easily. You had to know someone. Then I knew something was seriously wrong.

 

[UPNAWAY]

I grew up around old Allegheny Airlines and US Air and your dad or uncle had to help you get a job there. Airline jobs didn't come to anyone easily. You had to know someone. Then I knew something was seriously wrong.
[/quote]

:down: Yea like the good Old Boy corrupt union way was bad for bussiness and wrong for prospective employees to boot! It is still that way in the Longshoreman unions, many of the trade unions and certianly the Hollywood/Broadway arts unions. Try getting a stage hand gig no mater how qualified you are!

 

[gonzo]

The day I received my "pink slip" in the mail stating that I no longer had a job. We were doing "C" checks fast, safe and reliably in less than 10 days. The reward was "see ya". 🙂

 

[speedbird86]

Aug 15, 1989 - we just didn't know it at the time.

Ditto. Except I think it was August 5, 1989.

 

[diogenes]

You are correct, Speedbird!

Drat my fat fingers and lousy editing!

 

[Smartest Loser]

The day I found out...

Blaming the Christmas shortage on the employee's..!!

I knew at that point…. It was doomed…!!!

SL