Station Mgmt Question

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[BLOCKQUOTE][BR]----------------[BR]On 10/16/2002 1:30:48 AM gilbertguy wrote:
[P]Sorry.....keyboard problem...... [/P]----------------[/BLOCKQUOTE]
[P][FONT size=1]Reason number one for Not putting your coffee cup near the keyboard.
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On 10/16/2002 3:28:27 AM JFK Fleet Service wrote:



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On 10/16/2002 1:30:48 AM gilbertguy wrote:


Sorry.....keyboard problem...... [/P]----------------[/BLOCKQUOTE]


[FONT size=1]Reason number one for Not putting your coffee cup near the keyboard. [/FONT][/P]
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Who says it was coffee!!![img src='http://www.usaviation.com/idealbb/images/smilies/9.gif'] [img src='http://www.usaviation.com/idealbb/images/smilies/9.gif'] [img src='http://www.usaviation.com/idealbb/images/smilies/9.gif']
 
Actually I wanted to ask station mgnmt how they determine staffing levels in regards to the addition of a flt(s) to their schedules....over the years I've seen many mgrs request 4,5,6 agts from CCY and then be lucky to get 1,2 approved......is there a formula to how many agts are needed to work the additional flt(s)....eventually US will begin additional service back into stations....as well as open new markets....for example, if PHX adds just one flt and they are at or below staffing levels, how many new agts would be requested, if any.....if SAT re-opened,with 3 flts daily,how many agts needed to open that city.....you get the picture...if expansion is in US future, furloughees would probably like to know these numbers....
 
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On 10/16/2002 2:38:55 AM Ramp Rogue wrote:

[FONT face="Comic Sans MS"]The previous seven questions were as empty as the answers that are given when management [STRONG]IS [/STRONG]asked a question![/FONT]
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Well RR.....that wasn't my intentions but now that you mention it.....
 
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[P][BR]----------------[BR]On 10/16/2002 11:00:32 AM gilbertguy wrote:[/P]
[P]Who says it was coffee!!! [IMG src=http://www.usaviation.com/idealbb/images/smilies/9.gif] [IMG src=http://www.usaviation.com/idealbb/images/smilies/9.gif] [/P]
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[P]OK....Reason number one for not putting your hot cocoa near the keyboard.[/P]
 
I would suppose that each airline handles it differently. I know that at UA, a computer manpower planning model is used that bases manpower needs on numerous sources of historical data. But I would imagine that the individual station manager would look at things like historical demand at that particular time of year for that flight to see what kind of passenger volume they might expect, expected aircraft type. The timing of the flight will have a lot to do with it also. If it's right on top of another flight, you'll probably need another ramp/CS crew to handle it. It may also mean simply re-bidding the station and moving manpower around, although I'm sure the labor contracts have provisions for that that must be followed.
 
Actually, fleet/CWA contracts have no provisions regarding staffing - it's what management says it is. The only constraint is safety.

Some years ago, a manager showed me a staffing formula that took into account vacation, agents per 'event' (flight), etc. He said it was too complicated - guess that's why he was in management, as it was eighth grade arithmetic. After I ran the numbers, lo and behold, we were understaffed. We didn't get any additional help, and it's pretty sad when management won't play by their own rules.
 
[P]I'm not sure there is a formula other than who can beg for the most or who owes whom favors? [/P]
[P]Case in point. We were supposed to lose 2 FT and 2 PT agents in Oct (along with 3 Ft retirements and 3 part time retirements). We ended up with all packages being rescinded with no flight changes. [/P]
[P]Now in Nov, we arent losing any more mainline flights and are actually adding Express gates (19 flights) to the mix. We are now losing 6 FT agents and 1 PT agent. Can anyone explain this? Are we just that OVERSTAFFED right now? Our gates will now have to be manned 3 hours later at night to accommodate the Express flights, but we're overstaffed. [/P]
[P]We did get 8 kiosk machine last Apr so maybe thats where the extra manpower is coming from. Granny loves to use the kiosk machines, although she has to actually get out of her wheelchair to reach the screen. [/P]
[P]We also staff all 8 machines in the early am with 1 agent from 430-6am (or 930am if the supvr doozies up the skd.) [/P]
[P]Anyway, I've given up trying to figure out how many agents per flight, etc since every time I've been told something, it changes the next month or the numbers dont quite add up. Maybe sales and pricing is in charge of staffing levels too? Seems like one of their formulas being used to get the numbers. [/P][img src='http://www.usaviation.com/idealbb/images/smilies/3.gif'] [img src='http://www.usaviation.com/idealbb/images/smilies/2.gif']
 
Hey, we have a whole department within Cus Svc in Washington that determines staffing levels. In fact the Manger of Customer Service Manpower position is available-seems like the last person got a better offer and left. They use a computerized staffing model from SABRE. The November layoffs reflect a decrease in anticpated system load factor. So, less passengers, less airport staff needed. Just could be selfuling.
 
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On 10/16/2002 4:21:37 PM REACC1 wrote:

Ahhh sabre, that explains some of it.
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As the old saying goes: Garbage in...garbage out.