The Changes to Come

[N965VJ]

<SNIP> Some points about selling soda.

How does anyone suppose consumption by the crew will be handled?

 

[Glucose Intolerant]

"The biggest reason: The airline is restricted on how much it can cut back flying under labor agreements made after the US Airways/America West merger.

They dictate a minimum fleet size and flight hours for pilots and flight attendants." End quote. . .

Other airlines are cutting back where USAirways cannot due to old labor agreements.

From Jerry Glass's: "My Way" Chapter 2

Repeat after me: "blame it on labor"

It is due in large part due to the fact that our aircraft are all LEASED (means we don't own them)and there are lease restrictions. That's how they mitigated our long term debt with leases and balloon payments. Looks good now.....well it did until FUEL went up. Try taking your leased 2007 4x4 F250 Diesel truck back to the dealership when you get laid off and see how much "relief" you get. After all the termination penalties and fees....it's not cost effective and you are still stuck with a vehicle you don't need or can afford.

The "braintrust" did low ball some of the 757 lease holders. The result: we lose 8 757s to FedEx when we needed these A/C the most. "The high cost of cheap" strikes again, FedEx was more than willing to step up and pay the going market value.

Citing the "Transition Agreement" and "Min Fleet" count are the reason US Airways now finds itself in peril is absolute bullocks.

Labor has been more than willing to give relief regarding these issues. How do I know? Because we ALWAYS have. ....ALWAYS. The question is: Will they now? Doubtful. Whats the old saying "Screw us once, shame on you" Screw us twice (and to infinity) shame on US".

Heck we are fighting over what call sign to use, and trying to rationalize why someone with 6 years seniority should go before someone with 20 years seniority because a senile arbi-traitor said so. Our airline has been transformed into BUS SERVICE and we have alienated our highest yield BUSINESS TRAVELERS. Meanwhile Tempe is laughing at and exploiting all of us, and we are letting them. Why? What has the management team accomplished in three years? Been there and done that and have the T-Shirt....we don't need to go there now.

Our management team can't even seem to take control of of the simple things: two geriatric shareholders at an annual meeting. Why would one expect they could manage the "merged operation" or handle a real crisis?

If the "leadership" had been working proactively with the labor groups and earnestly trying to merge the airlines instead of trying to extract blood from a turnip, exploiting the EAST. Yeah that's the reason we had such a good cash position.

What they forgot to mention in the press release it was because the EAST was working under draconian work rules and pay rates for the past 4 years and that CASH came directly out of the EAST'S back pocket. Our high yield BUSINESS TRAVELERS, high yield EAST COAST, and INTERNATIONAL ROUTES didn't hurt either ......not $89 leisure fares to LAS.

TEMPE is trying say: SWA is making money because they painted their airplane's orange and blue......not the fact their LEADERSHIP ran a good operation, they hedged fuel through 2013, and they treat their employees like an asset not a liability. The latter point is probably the reason they were able to hedge fuel so far out. The employees and leadership are the business.....not management. We prove that fact everyday.

What astonishes me on this thread: more than the anti-semetic ramblings and the comments regarding geriatric shareholders that obviously skipped their daily medications, is that Parker (and Lakefield) were both given another three year term. Lakefield is definitely the money guy. What we need as CEO is an AIRLINE GUY. God Help US. The two initiatives before the BOD requesting transparency, were quashed. Why am I the only one that finds that disturbing?

 

[jets_2573]

.......................... don't make the mistake of assuminig that all of your pax are stupid cattle. We vote with our dollars.

Barry
[/quote]

i agree 100% with all you said....especially the above line..........and here is a novel idea........a great cost cutting idea that starts from the top and would allow the customer a free drink......


Continental Chief Executive Larry Kellner and President Jeff Smisek have declined to take their salaries for the rest of the year.

Are you listening DP and SK????.....and any other exec not earning their pay right now!!!!!!


There are many ways the airline industry execs could cut costs by looking in their own pockets instead of always in the passengers'/employees' pockets, this would be a start.

 

[4merresrat]

Bunch of idiots. When no one follows we will be left with egg on our face as usual. Some points about selling soda.

* Just like liquor, headsets, meals and anything else we've ever sold, half of them will be given away for free to non-revs, hot guys, children, and dissatified customers (hint to mgmt- it's called service recovery and we are good at it because you're so bad at your job).

* Again, just like anything else we've sold, about two thirds of the $$, if cash is used, will end up in the pockets of employees. Spare the moral debate, it's fact that people are not paying bills on $1200 a month.

This is truly sickening. So in your mind stealing is justified because of what you perceive as low pay? No better than a bank robber or shoplifter. If you can't make ends meet on this job get one that you can or get an EDUCATION.

You are actually stating that 2/3 of the money collected is stolen by employees. I say FIRE those employees. Maybe this is the problem all along. . . lack of ethics. . . lack of morals. And thiefs for employees.

 

[N965VJ]

Has anybody seen that German dude recently?

 

[Dog Wonder]

Maybe this is the problem all along. . . lack of ethics. . . lack of morals.

You may be on to something. Corporate execs and their disposable employee mindset, obscene pay, and lack of personal responsibility for any screw-up (no matter how large) will certainly bring a company down.

 

[4merresrat]

You may be on to something. Corporate execs and their disposable employee mindset, obscene pay, and lack of personal responsibility for any screw-up (no matter how large) will certainly bring a company down.

Maybe you are right. So now, in your mind since the top dogs are doing wrong, and offering what you deem "obscene pay" it is ok for the front line to steal? Nice. Way to justify.

Again, if you feel your pay is "obscene" find a job that pays what you are worth (or at least believe you are worth-hey maybe that's the REAL problem). Hmm. makes one wonder. . .

 

[UPNAWAY]

They can charge for anything and it does not bother me at all as long as we still have jobs.
But I guess the vast majority here would rather we had "style & class' and laidoff 50% of the work force!

 

[galley princess]

No one is saying that charging for sodas is about class vs no class. I think most of us would agree that any class US had was lost after 9/11.

The thing is, this is typical PHX thinking. They do not, nor ever have understood the East coast customer. You shrink the cup to nothing, eliminate choice of soda, but you don't charge for it.

Embfa is right, it won't be worth it and it will cost more than it brings. The East coast customer is a demanding one, and they note crappy stuff like this and talk about it. Not only will US have the "worst airline in the world" moniker, but now it will be chatter worse: "that lousy airline charges for a lcoke!" Which is far more compelling to Joe Schmo, who by the way is Tempe's customer of choice.

They chased away our FFs.

Now you want to chase away your Kettles?

As for the plane cap, again, reasonable people TALK to eachother and work around it.

 

[USwestGUY]

If you can't make ends meet on this job get one that you can or get an EDUCATION.

Some of us have educations, thank you.

 

[N903AW]

They can charge for anything and it does not bother me at all as long as we still have jobs.
But I guess the vast majority here would rather we had "style & class' and laidoff 50% of the work force!

This airline lost "style and class" a long time ago. What I am concerned about is that Doug and Scott are considering adopting a business plan that is destined for only one thing - failure.

One only has to look at airlines like PeoplExpress, Skybus, Laker SkyTrain to see that this logic does not work. Those airlines all disappeared into the abyss of failed air carriers, Skybus being the most recent. What it all boils down to is what the consumer, when provided a choice, is willing to spend their hard earned greenbacks on. If Continental, American, Delta, Northwest, United and Southwest are charging the same fare (even if those fares are doubled) and offering the basic onboard amenities without fees, guess what airline the consumer is going to fly? I can assure you it will NOT be US Airways. As a matter of fact, if this idea is adopted, US Airways will not even enter into the equation because this airline will be history like the others I mentioned.

Doug, Scott and whoever else is pondering these STUPID ideas need to take a moment and review why those other airlines mentioned did not last and remember that if one does not take history into account then you are doomed to cause history to repeat itself.

When PeoplExpress first debuted in the mid-Eighties, it and the CEO Donald Burr were considered the darlings of the recently deregulated industry. When all of the other major airlines matched the low fares of PE and did not charge the consumer for this and that, PE began flying almost empty airplanes. That, combined with overexpansion, did not give PeoplExpress a fighting chance.

US Airways, if taking on this business model, is destined for the same fate.

 

[4merresrat]

This airline lost "style and class" a long time ago. What I am concerned about is that Doug and Scott are considering adopting a business plan that is destined for only one thing - failure.

US Airways, if taking on this business model, is destined for the same fate.

Doug's hands are tied =labor.

 

[sharktooth]

You are actually stating that 2/3 of the money collected is stolen by employees. I say FIRE those employees. Maybe this is the problem all along. . . lack of ethics. . . lack of morals. And thiefs for employees.

A fish always rots from the head.

Not saying it is right but them's the facts of life.

 

[Glucose Intolerant]

They can charge for anything and it does not bother me at all as long as we still have jobs.
But I guess the vast majority here would rather we had "style & class' and laidoff 50% of the work force!

I definitely would take style and class any day over what we have now become. With that said, I say lay off off the 50% of the workforce if they are the 50% percent making 100% percent of the idiotic decisions and are hindering the operation. You can add those willing to sell their soul and would work for free just for the "privilege" of working for the airline.

But alas....those pesky unions

 

[flybynite]

I do believe I hear the sharpening of knives.