WEST/EAST transition training classes

[Travelpro72]

Laid back? YES. Very hard to change and tame? Absolutely. The micromanaging and crap comming this way from West management will be met with some strong opposition I'm sure. I know that the service stuff was not covered or the "A" going past the wing but I would LOVE to see that one go over. Telling Sally or Linda on Int'l that they can't go over the wing. Holy cow.

 

[IMisstheAladdinTrays]

I went yesterday. I will hold all comments. I don't wanna spoil the fun for you! A few things make sense...but a lot of things got a Big old eye roll from most of us!

 

[JMM]

I went to training on Monday. We spent half of the day on the door procedure. It's just as goofy as everyone has said. We could not stop laughing. However, if our ISD numbers lower after merger than it will be okay. I still think that the low incidence of ISDs out West is due to the fear of being immediately terminated. The rest of the class was similar to recurrent; flipping though the manual and hands-on training. We were told that the West F/As have 4 whole days of integration. My!

Actually we have two whole days in class, a huge couple hundred page booklet and a couple of CBT's with over 500 slides. So, yes, we have a lot more. Question, did they tell you to not go overwing if you are the first? We were hoping to dump that rule and I can no longer find it in the manual.......

 

[flytchick]

Non-revenue coach attire. No open toe shoes or shorts.

Why was he fired?

A few months back he helped a competitive 121 carrier (charter primarily but still 121) with their flight attendant manual.... got into some hot water for that and am not sure if that was part of the decision. He was the one that started the dress code for recurrent.

 

[IMisstheAladdinTrays]

A few months back he helped a competitive 121 carrier (charter primarily but still 121) with their flight attendant manual.... got into some hot water for that and am not sure if that was part of the decision. He was the one that started the dress code for recurrent.

When I was in PHX for a Class I met him. I was not really impressed. But then we only talked for a few minutes. Come to think of it though...that was long enough!

 

[flytchick]

When I was in PHX for a Class I met him. I was not really impressed. But then we only talked for a few minutes. Come to think of it though...that was long enough!

Absolutely....... the one that replaced him on West side is Maureen Mack and she is really good. Tim will not be missed by most of us - the management thing went to his head.

 

[l8rd8r]

[It just might say Delta one day too! How you gonna feel about losing the US name then?
[/quote]


So be it...you missed the point. It may be Delta or what ever but, AWA name is gone. Besides its about the people not the name.

 

[l8rd8r]

Are the West F/As doing international training? I heard in the future if we ever had new hires they would only be trained on the A319/20/21, 737 and 757 and domestic. If you were to be based in an east base you would later be trained on the A330 767 and E190 and transatlantic training.

Thats hard to believe since once integration is over and we become one cert then no seperation of east or west. Training will be all the same for any new hire.

However, I did hear that bringing back the division is in the making which may validate your statement. The division was the int'l side v/ domestic. You would bid to only work the division for a set amount of time (say 6mos) then your training was specific to int'l standards.
Working the Int'l now we hear from the old timers that the standard has fallen since the fence (division) was removed. Any F/A can fly anything now.
Also, I believe training for division is elective and not paid (not sure on this).

 

[Travelpro72]

I have heard from more than one person that the division is comming back as well. What I don't understand though is in the past only the f/a's on int'l could be used as nobody else was trained. Now the whole PHL base is int'l trained (quickly trained but trained) so if they were short on any given day what would prevent scheduling from going to the domestic reserves to utilize? If everyone is trained they could technically use anyone then whether you were in the division or not. Though the int'l flights are more senior now the division comming back might junior it a bit since you'd be locked in. Many including myself don't really care to be locked in. I missed many a summer overnight by the pool. Ya don't get many of those on int'l.

 

[EMBFA]

Thats hard to believe since once integration is over and we become one cert then no seperation of east or west. Training will be all the same for any new hire.

However, I did hear that bringing back the division is in the making which may validate your statement. The division was the int'l side v/ domestic. You would bid to only work the division for a set amount of time (say 6mos) then your training was specific to int'l standards.
Working the Int'l now we hear from the old timers that the standard has fallen since the fence (division) was removed. Any F/A can fly anything now.
Also, I believe training for division is elective and not paid (not sure on this).

Only the PHL base (and CLT PIT intl when they had them) is trained on the A330, and as of now only PHL will be trained on the Embraer. So this is the way they do things now... same goes for international service training.

When there were two divisions you just bid which one you want each year then you were locked in, couldnt be used for the other. Training was paid. Total stupidity for such a small airline with so few intl routes. Complete waste of money and resources... just like having hundreds of qualified F/As sitting around in the "Embraer division" a few years ago during the Xmas meltdown. I seriously doubt they would ever bring it back to seperate ops much as the Aeroboutique bag crowd would like it.

Its nice to have variety, I started to miss the regular layovers when on "the duvision".

 

[PHX-F/A]

My paycheck still says America West, as does my aircraft..says on the door...Owned and operated by America West airlines!

Does not, look again. "Operated by America West Airlines Inc."

no ownership mentioned at all, if it did, it would say Owned by UsAirways Group.

 

[Zarah]

Does not, look again. "Operated by America West Airlines Inc."

no ownership mentioned at all, if it did, it would say Owned by UsAirways Group.

Taining is base specefic I think. If the A330 is not based in your base you are not required to train on it. Same with international.

What will they do with the new hires *shrug* dunno what the new plan is. Maybe they will have a basic training and then you would be required to do additional days based on your base assignment. When I was a new hire in 2000 those that were accepted into the Lodo program were assigned an additional day of international training at the end of training. At that time internation was its own division.

 

[iheartairbus]

Does not, look again. "Operated by America West Airlines Inc."

no ownership mentioned at all, if it did, it would say Owned by UsAirways Group.

You are correct!! They only thing that really remains truley of the AWA name is on the op. certificate, AWA is owned now by US Airways Group, INC. Just like US Airways Group, INC owns US Airways itself,PSA and Piedmont subsidaries. It's just operated by America West... infact I hate flying w/ crews(mainly pilots) that still use just the AWA in there announcements when the customers have seen nothing else referencing AWA since they checked-in, very confusing for them as a passenger/customer. After all were trying to re-brand the new US Airways! 🙂 r.i.p. AWA

 

[USAirwaysFA99-11]

That would make sense, no? I don't think that they are planning on putting 767/330 time in PHX, so why waste the time?

Yeah but for initial training, I'd think you'd have to learn every aircraft in the fleet. When I went through training, I still had to be qualified on the MD-80 and DC-9. I got based in CLT, and neither plane had trip pairings in the CLT base. Airbus was just coming to our fleet, so we didn't learn it in training, but had to go back to training a month or two after being on the line. So even though an aircraft is not assigned to your base, I think it's necessary for EVERYONE to be qualified on ALL aircraft.

I have integration training on Feb. 6, so hopefully all the kinks will be worked out of the lesson plans by then. Clearly not everyone is up for the changes that are going on around us...some of the comments here are taken so personal. It's ok to vent and get it out, but I'm most concerned about a new contract than learning the new way to arm/disarm my door!

So are we getting rid of using seniority to choose positions on the plane? Posts were indicating A f/a would go junior due to new thru pax changes?? Most senior f/a fly A position for the extra $$. I heard that on the West once Scheduling gives you a position, then it's yours, no changing!!??!!??

Also, I heard the fence may go back up here in PHL (domestic/transatlantic division), but I also heard that INT'L PAY is out the door! Transatlantic may go junior after all!!!!!!!!!

 

[USCREW]

I think it's necessary for EVERYONE to be qualified on ALL aircraft.

Nope. Many F/As in DCA are only qualified to work on 737-200/300/400, DC-9/30-80, AB 319/320/321. Most have never had initial training on F100/28, 757-200, 727-200, AB330, 767-200. This is why when you are in training, instructors will ask if you are qualified on a particular aircraft.

Yeah but for initial training, I'd think you'd have to learn every aircraft in the fleet.

If your initial training was in 1957, ahem...Ms. Betty N. 😛h34r: , then there weren't that many!!!!