US Airways Dividend Miles (Pre-FlightFund Merger) - Is Friday REALLY the end?

Folks,
This is looking bad.

I can only imagine the hundreds of thousands of people travelling over the holidays who may get "stuck." How do you get home? Do you pay a ridiculously high fare? Will another airline put you on for free?

I have spent so much $$$$ and time into flying this airline (as have all of you). If it all goes down in flames, I'll truly be sad. (and upset, too, at my 500,000 miles becoming worthless)

The usair.com website is starting to really gather steam. The e-upgrade program is beginning to actually work. For it all to come crashing down now would be a total, ****, shame.

I completely agree with you nawlinsdoc!

If I only did not have two more final exams before catching what might be my last US flight home Thursday night, I would write “‘Twas the night before Christmas” in reference to US.

I must have missed something. What is happening on Friday? I have several flights booked on USAir.

U has given the unions until friday to accept the latest round of cuts or they will shut down on Christmas Eve.

Somewhat of a negotiation tactic - but so much is outside of their control

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by phillyguy:
U has given the unions until friday to accept the latest round of cuts or they will shut down on Christmas Eve.

Somewhat of a negotiation tactic - but so much is outside of their control</font>

The stuff posted on the union web sites and usaviation is the union interpretation of what they claim management said -- so far I haven't seen anything direct from management that makes that threat (although they may very well have done so...) Bronner made a comment to that effect as well -- but he isn't in direct control (yet).

Can you think of a better way to get your way, right away?

"You will accept our terms - or you will lose your jobs, period." (Right before X-mas, too, it's a smart but inherently cruel plan that could backfare.)

USAirway's lawyers obviously made it past their 1st year of law school...

Well, this won't be too horrible.

The wife and I have two F class award tickets to SAN over the weekend.

If the airline shuts down, we'll be stuck for a couple extra days in SAN. Worse things have happened.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">
USAirway's lawyers obviously made it past their 1st year of law school...
</font>
Actually, nothing so sensible would ever be taught in law school. Instead, this is the product of years of legal experience. A less seasoned lawyer would instead be armed with the sorts of arguments that have gotten US to where it is today.

(written by a lawyer not so far removed from that first year)

[This message has been edited by chalf (edited 12-18-2002).]

Looks like the clouds of doom may be lifting slightly. Apparently, the CWA has reached a tentative agreement with US, so now, they just need to get the IAM and AFA on board.

CWA's statement is available on their website: http://www.cwa.net

Of course, the IAM is going to be tougher, and given the tenor of some of their posts on USAviation.com - they seem to be willing to shut down the airline out of spite.

That's good news for sure - I'm flying my son & his family home on award tix for the holidays - they fly in on the 21st, so that should be safe, but their return is the 4th. I had fears of having to drive them back to TX, since award tix aren't likely to be honored under any scenario if they park the planes..

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by CLTFlyer:
Looks like the clouds of doom may be lifting slightly. Apparently, the CWA has reached a tentative agreement with US, so now, they just need to get the IAM and AFA on board.

CWA's statement is available on their website: http://www.cwa.net

Of course, the IAM is going to be tougher, and given the tenor of some of their posts on USAviation.com - they seem to be willing to shut down the airline out of spite. </font>

FA told me that tha AFA will not put the vote out to the rank and file. The negotiating committee will decide what to do. I see this as a positive step.

I am worried about the IAM. They are the ones that will be hit hard.

I told a friend of mine who is a Silver about the potential problems and he decided to take JetBlue to the West Coast for Christmas.

I wonder how many others are booking away from US due to the potential fiasco. I know that the one business trip I have left to make this year is going to AA.

Employee News Line stated that U shall file the final POR with the court on Friday, December 20th, as planned. Sounds promising.

It's Friday......they're still here!

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by HPTunco:
It's Friday......they're still here!</font>

I'd give it to COB Monday before getting excited. Supposedly, RSA can elect a hearing with the Court on Monday.

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Saving the world, one clue at a time.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by biggs:
I told a friend of mine who is a Silver about the potential problems and he decided to take JetBlue to the West Coast for Christmas.

I wonder how many others are booking away from US due to the potential fiasco. I know that the one business trip I have left to make this year is going to AA.</font>


Unfortunately I already ticketed my Christmas travel (12/24-12/25) but I also booked JetBlue for a Florida trip in January. If nothing else - I'll at least get a glimpse into my other options.

For now though, I feel rather confident in booking US for future travel. Hopefully I don't get scr**ed by them later.

I have to stop reading usaviation because just when I thought it was safe to go into the water, I read all kinds of debates on voting "NO" and what the consequences will be and what is being set up with financing or the lack thereof if any union says no.

Management is focused on cutting costs and breaking the unions but the revenue side seems unaddressed. In checking for my trips, AA seems to be beating US, nothing to encourage FFers to fly even if they are cockroach fares. I just hope I do not have to use awardguard this year.

I was hoping for a happier new year for US and us http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/frown.gif.

I couldnt have said it better myself. I have a $1000 plus ticket this weekend with a return midweek. The evening I bought it I read USAVIATION and almost puked. Im still not well with it. Im also waiting for a call from my travel agent to get in touch with their AA sales person. Time to be more proactive. Im going to get some options for the rest of the year now.

I agree reading usaviation is depressing. I just went ahead and bought some Priceline hotels to go along with future USAirways plans. Ugh, I know that's going to be a pain to sort out if US goes under..

The rhetoric on USAviation, I believe, represents a small majority of the rank and file.

It's become a griping forum for the employees. I thought the AOL Airline boards were bad....

Of course, they have good reason to be ticked off after what they've been through. Nobody likes to see their wages and benefits slashed to pre-historic levels. But it seems more of the postings are selfish and not indicative of long-term thinking, or for the fellow union 'brothers and sisters'.

They have to accept and properly comprehend that there are millions of NON-unionized Americans in other job sectors who have experienced salary and benefit reductions. It all comes down to economics, and they are far different now than 4 years ago. I sympathize with all the employees going through this, but at the same time I wish they would answer the clue phone.

My personal feeling is the cuts will be achieved, and US will eventually get out of Chapter 11.

Part of me wonders if US Airways (the company management)will use that Sec. 1113 (I believe) of the bankruptcy code and thus will force the new contract terms onto unions whose voting results do not ratify the most recent agreements.

With all the GE financing in place after they emerge from Ch. 11, they've come too far to have it unravel now.

I tend to agree that USAviation is a small segment of the employees. If my experience with employees were anything like the tone of USAviation I would have given up.

Just this morning at 5am they found my cell phone in Vermont while cleaning the plane. I received a voicemail on that phone saying the phone had been retrieved and what did I went them to do with it. When I asked if I could have it flown to me in Ft Myers, FL the employee at the other end said she wasn't really supposed to, but she would see what she could do. Guess what? The cell phone is on it's way to me now, and I'm going to pick it up tomorrow AM.

Customer service like that doesn't come from people all upset like the folks on USAviation.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Heinrich:
I tend to agree that USAviation is a small segment of the employees. If my experience with employees were anything like the tone of USAviation I would have given up.

Just this morning at 5am they found my cell phone in Vermont while cleaning the plane. I received a voicemail on that phone saying the phone had been retrieved and what did I went them to do with it. When I asked if I could have it flown to me in Ft Myers, FL the employee at the other end said she wasn't really supposed to, but she would see what she could do. Guess what? The cell phone is on it's way to me now, and I'm going to pick it up tomorrow AM.

Customer service like that doesn't come from people all upset like the folks on USAviation.</font>

Actually, I do think usaviation.com has some of the employees who care and who DO try to provide good service. That's one reason they are upset...they work hard and try to please us, but no reward, just more cuts.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Heinrich:

Just this morning at 5am they found my cell phone in Vermont while cleaning the plane. I received a voicemail on that phone saying the phone had been retrieved and what did I went them to do with it. </font>

I experienced a similar customer service gem - I left my pager in the front bathroom of a 737. I didn't even realize it until I got a call the next day - on my mobile phone - from a flight attendant who did some research. She was able to ask around and learned that I was the last one to use the bathroom. Another F/A remembered which seat I was in(2F). She got my name from the manifest and was able to get my number from the DM profile. She left it at the baggage services desk at PHL where I picked it up on my next trip a few days later (I don't particularly rely on the pager, anyway, so I didn't miss it for those few days).

I fully appreciated her 'going above and beyond' the call of duty and wrote a very nice letter about it to USAirways. I got a reply saying she would be commended, and her supervisor would be aware of her performance.