YVINTERN
Veteran
This is an normal mess during Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter's Day...I have several CSA Friends there and they were some mandated to work that morning even on their off days and some came in later in the afternoon for open time.
Video of meltdown at DCA
- Thread starter US AIRWAYS FAN
- Start date
This is an normal mess during Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter's Day...I have several CSA Friends there and they were some mandated to work that morning even on their off days and some came in later in the afternoon for open time.
tahitigirl
Senior
- Joined
- Aug 19, 2005
- Messages
- 416
- Reaction score
- 0
Speaking of huge mess.. What was worse, the Washington Mall plagued by revelers or the Washington National Airport?
The video of trash
On a day that everyone talks and acts like it's the proudest day of their lives and yet they treat their country like a trash can. If you can bring it with you, you can take it with you!
I seriously hope this was a joke. Violence against airline frontline staff is not funny at all. I've seen to many of my friends working CS position get hurt(one having golf clubs thrown at him) from angry customers to laugh at such a suggestion like yours.
I believe it is also against federal law to threaten or get physical with any airline employee no matter where they work (ie CSA, Fleet, FA, Flight Deck). CLT has signs in their baggage service office explaining this. I believe anyone that threatens or attacks an airline employee looks at some pretty hefty Federal Prison time as well as a fine.
http://airconsumer.dot.gov/rules/Unruly.htm
All passengers and airport visitors should be aware of the following provision of title 49, section 46503 of the United States Code:
"An individual in an area within a commercial service airport in the United States who, by assaulting a Federal, airport, or air carrier employee who has security duties within the airport, interferes with the performance of the duties of the employee or lessens the ability of the employee to perform those duties, shall be fined under title 18, imprisoned for not more than 10 years, or both. If the individual used a dangerous weapon in committing the assault or interference, the individual may be imprisoned for any term of years or life imprisonment."
ClueByFour
Veteran
- Joined
- Aug 20, 2002
- Messages
- 3,566
- Reaction score
- 37
It's entirely reasonable to show up with the maximum allowance of baggage (which you have to PAY to check) and expect that the airline will be able to process one's check-in in a timely manner.
To suggest otherwise is being just as arrogant as Tempe. Bob, I know you are not that arrogant.
From what I hear about DCA on the date in question (flew in last night, kicked it around with a few folks), using a Kiosk was damn near impossible. Only people who had carry-ons only and who checked-in online had a prayer of making it.
US' staffing levels are not the customer's problem.
The words in green above are really the crux of this. Who defines "security duties" and what are they? Taking a baggage claim at baggage services is not a "security duty." Nor is pushing a wheelchair, announcing a delay or working at special services. Could it be argued that checking in a customer at the ticket counter is security related (checking ID, verifying against system for watchlist match, calling a GSC, etc.)? I don't know the answer to that. I suppose so. But other ticket counter duties have nothing to do with security.
USA9195, I don't think it's safe to make the blanket statement that "I believe anyone that threatens or attacks an airline employee looks at some pretty hefty Federal Prison time as well as a fine."
Read the law, its true. If you read the part of the law that says " interferes with the performance of the duties of the employee or lessens the ability of the employee to perform those duties, shall be fined under title 18, imprisoned for not more than 10 years, or both." That is any performance of a CSA's duties.
And threatening any airline employee I believe falls under that law.
And please remember the words "I believe" that means I don't have a law degree but that is my interpretation of it.
Agents are responsible for critical security measures, These procedures include: physically guarding all bag belt and bag room access; physically guarding access to the secure jetway and ramp areas; screening persons for bag checks and matches; determining whether individuals will be disruptive aboard the flight; and notifying ramp and airline personnel when someone who has checked bags fails to board the plane.
http://cwa-union.org/search.jsp?query=airp...it=Submit+Query
CWA won a big victory in its drive to gain federal protections for airline passenger service agents who are increasingly threatened by passengers and “airport rage†as they carry out their security duties.
“Airport rage is the weak link in our air travel security and passenger safety system and is a widespread and serious danger to the traveling public,†CWA President Morton Bahr said. He thanked the Senate for its prompt action and especially acknowledged the active support of Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.), “who made this happen.†The CWA-sponsored measure parallels existing laws that make the intimidation of flight crews a federal offense.
CWA and US Airways management are continuing their joint campaign to alert passengers, airport security and airport management to the federal law prohibiting assaults and attacks on passenger service agents, and the tough penalties that law requires.
The Communications Workers of America is fighting for real protections for US Airways agents in the wake of an assault on a gate agent in Charlotte, N.C., the fifth serious incident at the Charlotte airport in six months.
CWA has been pressing US Airways to take action in light of the growing levels of airport rage directed at ticket and gate agents by frustrated passengers.
Careful,as I have said before sarcasm is wasted on the "dumb masses".
US AIRWAYS FAN
Senior
A member named: romadaro explained this on another board....Probably this was the reason.... He writes:
***********************************
The problem here was that large numbers of people came to the airport around hotel checkout times, although their flights weren't scheduled for several hours, creating the lines and delaying passengers who had early flights out. That created problems with using the kiosks because the kiosks won't allow a passenger to check in more than 4 hours before their flight is scheduled. Then, the rumor spread that the kiosks weren't working, but, in actuality they were-it was just that the wrong passengers (flights more than 4 hours out) were trying to use them.
I was at the airport seeing a friend off and we saw the lines and I immediately went to the kiosks, which were empty, and as soon as we walked up a few people in line told us they weren't working, but I tried anyway and got my friend's boarding pass. Then they all asked me how I did that and a couple jumped out of line and tried to get their's, while I stood there, and couldn't. Then, I tried and couldn't. Finally, I asked them what times their flights were and one said 4pm and the other said 6pm. It was 11am at the time. So, I told them they couldn't use the kiosk to check in until 4 hours before their flights, but they said they were going to try to go standby on earlier flights because the hotels had kicked them out and they were tired and wanted to get home. I certainly understand that, but considering the lines and loads on every flight that day, what were the chances?
So, this is what created the problem....
***********************************
To me it sounds like US needs to change the 4 hour rule so that people can check in earlier at the Kiosks if possible.
***********************************
The problem here was that large numbers of people came to the airport around hotel checkout times, although their flights weren't scheduled for several hours, creating the lines and delaying passengers who had early flights out. That created problems with using the kiosks because the kiosks won't allow a passenger to check in more than 4 hours before their flight is scheduled. Then, the rumor spread that the kiosks weren't working, but, in actuality they were-it was just that the wrong passengers (flights more than 4 hours out) were trying to use them.
I was at the airport seeing a friend off and we saw the lines and I immediately went to the kiosks, which were empty, and as soon as we walked up a few people in line told us they weren't working, but I tried anyway and got my friend's boarding pass. Then they all asked me how I did that and a couple jumped out of line and tried to get their's, while I stood there, and couldn't. Then, I tried and couldn't. Finally, I asked them what times their flights were and one said 4pm and the other said 6pm. It was 11am at the time. So, I told them they couldn't use the kiosk to check in until 4 hours before their flights, but they said they were going to try to go standby on earlier flights because the hotels had kicked them out and they were tired and wanted to get home. I certainly understand that, but considering the lines and loads on every flight that day, what were the chances?
So, this is what created the problem....
***********************************
To me it sounds like US needs to change the 4 hour rule so that people can check in earlier at the Kiosks if possible.
nycbusdriver
Veteran
Or, proactively get some paper, pen and scotch tape and stick a sign to each kiosk saying that the kiosk cannot check you in earlier than 4 hours before your flight. Twelve kiosks? The whole process might have taken one agent about 15 minutes to accomplish.
One of passengers' biggest complaints with airline service is lack of information. Most people would rather hear honest bad news than lies or nothing at all.
