US Airways Dividend Miles (Pre-FlightFund Merger) - Special Press bulletin by US AIRWAYS

http://www.usairways.com/about/press/nw_04_1225.htm



US AIRWAYS SPECIAL BULLETIN REGARDING HOLIDAY TRAVEL
We sincerely apologize for the operational disruptions that have impacted holiday travel. Our efforts to recover from the severe weather on Thursday were complicated when some of our employees chose to call in sick at record numbers over the weekend. We are embarrassed by the situation, especially given the holidays and how important travel is to our customers at this time of the year.

We're addressing this by operating extra flights to transport customer's baggage to Charlotte where we have additional staff. We have also deployed additional managers to Philadelphia to handle baggage, and qualified managers are working as Flight Attendants. Other frontline employees are volunteering to work on their day off to help resolve our staffing issues.

Please be advised that our call centers are experiencing long waits for customers to get through, especially regarding baggage. Customers will be contacted by our delivery companies once they have the customer's bags in hand, to coordinate delivery.

We have kept officials at the Transportation Department briefed regarding the situation and our
efforts to help our customers.

Lots of discussion on usaviation.com. Mostly of the "it's management's fault that people called in sick" variety.

How badly will this hurt them in their bid to avoid liquidation? tls

It's another big, shiny, nine-inch nail in their coffin. The airline's total incompetence has become a national press story -- and the subject of inquiries by the U.S. Department of Transportation:

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20041225/ap_on_re_us/lost_luggage

In the short term, who's going to gamble on US for dicretionary travel after this? And the short term is all they've got. :(

Keep in mind I'm a USAirways fan & generally support labor actions where people aren't hurt (ie: it is made public, sales drop, point is made with minimal damage to customers).

BUT

After today, I hope that the employees that called in sick today have the pleasure of having next Christmas off with no pay.

My wife's flight was cancelled this morning in CLT due to lack of crew she was just connecting there from DTW. There was no one in the terminal that would help the stranded passengers, you couldn't get through to the 800#, and after she wasn't able to get on standby to AUA on the last flight of the day she was directed to go out front. After 5+ hours (I'm not kidding) in line, she was rebooked to ATL tonight, put up in a Red Roof Inn, then ATL to MIA on AA tomorrow, then 5 hrs. in MIA, then finally AUA by 9:30pm on AA (a day and a half past her original arrival).

MERRY CHRISTMAS faithful USAirways customers!

Keep in mind I'm a USAirways fan & generally support labor actions where people aren't hurt (ie: it is made public, sales drop, point is made with minimal damage to customers).

BUT

After today, I hope that the employees that called in sick today have the pleasure of having next Christmas off with no pay.

My wife's flight was cancelled this morning in CLT due to lack of crew she was just connecting there from DTW. There was no one in the terminal that would help the stranded passengers, you couldn't get through to the 800#, and after she wasn't able to get on standby to AUA on the last flight of the day she was directed to go out front. After 5+ hours (I'm not kidding) in line, she was rebooked to ATL tonight, put up in a Red Roof Inn, then ATL to MIA on AA tomorrow, then 5 hrs. in MIA, then finally AUA by 9:30pm on AA (a day and a half past her original arrival).

MERRY CHRISTMAS faithful USAirways customers!

Keep in mind I'm a USAirways fan & generally support labor actions where people aren't hurt (ie: it is made public, sales drop, point is made with minimal damage to customers).

BUT

After today, I hope that the employees that called in sick today have the pleasure of having next Christmas off with no pay.

My wife's flight was cancelled this morning in CLT due to lack of crew she was just connecting there from DTW. There was no one in the terminal that would help the stranded passengers, you couldn't get through to the 800#, and after she wasn't able to get on standby to AUA on the last flight of the day she was directed to go out front. After 5+ hours (I'm not kidding) in line, she was rebooked to ATL tonight, put up in a Red Roof Inn, then ATL to MIA on AA tomorrow, then 5 hrs. in MIA, then finally AUA by 9:30pm on AA (a day and a half past her original arrival).

MERRY CHRISTMAS faithful USAirways customers!

I hope every passsenger who flies from today forward greets every US Air employee as follows:

Hi, thanks for showing up for work today. Because of you, your peers, or your suboridnates I am late, missed, had to cancel, (insert your own event) and I will not cry a tear when you are unemployed. Your selfish attitude lost you your biggest supporter, me, your customer. Without me you are nothing and that was a choice YOU made. :mad:

Keep in mind I'm a USAirways fan & generally support labor actions where people aren't hurt (ie: it is made public, sales drop, point is made with minimal damage to customers).

BUT

After today, I hope that the employees that called in sick today have the pleasure of having next Christmas off with no pay.

My wife's flight was cancelled this morning in CLT due to lack of crew she was just connecting there from DTW. There was no one in the terminal that would help the stranded passengers, you couldn't get through to the 800#, and after she wasn't able to get on standby to AUA on the last flight of the day she was directed to go out front. After 5+ hours (I'm not kidding) in line, she was rebooked to ATL tonight, put up in a Red Roof Inn, then ATL to MIA on AA tomorrow, then 5 hrs. in MIA, then finally AUA by 9:30pm on AA (a day and a half past her original arrival).

MERRY CHRISTMAS faithful USAirways customers!

Keep in mind I'm a USAirways fan & generally support labor actions where people aren't hurt (ie: it is made public, sales drop, point is made with minimal damage to customers).

BUT

After today, I hope that the employees that called in sick today have the pleasure of having next Christmas off with no pay.

My wife's flight was cancelled this morning in CLT due to lack of crew she was just connecting there from DTW. There was no one in the terminal that would help the stranded passengers, you couldn't get through to the 800#, and after she wasn't able to get on standby to AUA on the last flight of the day she was directed to go out front. After 5+ hours (I'm not kidding) in line, she was rebooked to ATL tonight, put up in a Red Roof Inn, then ATL to MIA on AA tomorrow, then 5 hrs. in MIA, then finally AUA by 9:30pm on AA (a day and a half past her original arrival).

MERRY CHRISTMAS faithful USAirways customers!

Bad weather advisory for atl 12/26/04 expecting freezing rain snow mix hope wife gets out of atl.

I hope every passsenger who flies from today forward greets every US Air employee as follows:

Hi, thanks for showing up for work today. Because of you, your peers, or your suboridnates I am late, missed, had to cancel, (insert your own event) and I will not cry a tear when you are unemployed. Your selfish attitude lost you your biggest supporter, me, your customer. Without me you are nothing and that was a choice YOU made. :mad:

Well--I am certainly one of those customers ready to say bye bye--I am in the process of requesting a credit at usairways.com for a last minute first class ticket that I purchased to visit PIT for a couple of days over Christmas.

But it was not meant to be with all the sickouts, missing bags, cancelled flights, etc...

What exactly is US in business for these days anyway? They can't argue it is to transport pax safely and with a minimum amount of hassle to their destinations, not after the past couple of days.

I don't hear any horror stories from Southwest about weather problems or sick outs or the need to fly empty planes full of baggage to try and rectify an untenable situation......

Sad...

..

I don't hear any horror stories from Southwest about weather problems or sick outs or the need to fly empty planes full of baggage to try and rectify an untenable situation......

Sad...

..

Yeah, they just get the drunks and old ladies who fall asleep at the gate... that is if you believe what is shown on the A&E show "Airline". ;)

I can see the baggage handlers and mechanics doing an Eastern Airlines
deja view. However the FA's union, even Teddy have agreed to necessary
give backs.

The real point IMHO is PHL. Shipping baggage to CLT to be resent? 75 minute waits for gates?

Why did SWA ever think of going there? Does anybody have the statistics
on their PHL flites over the last couple of days?

Maybe USAir should just subcontract out the baggage handling to SWA.

Yeah, they just get the drunks and old ladies who fall asleep at the gate... that is if you believe what is shown on the A&E show "Airline". ;)

I have only watched that show a couple of times, but it does seem like they have a high number of alcohol related confrontations. I do think that some of that is for the consumption of the viewing audience though.

At least SW is doing a good job of keeping them off the planes. With the legacy carriers, the drunk would probably make it through all the security checks and boarding and half way through the flight, the crew would finally figure out the guy was drunk. Time to divert the plane to some god forsaken airport (along with the sober pax) to dump the drunk into local law enforcements lap. Maybe the pax will reach their original destination somewhere within the same week as originally scheduled...

..

I hope every passsenger who flies from today forward greets every US Air employee as follows:

Hi, thanks for showing up for work today. Because of you, your peers, or your suboridnates I am late, missed, had to cancel, (insert your own event) and I will not cry a tear when you are unemployed. Your selfish attitude lost you your biggest supporter, me, your customer. Without me you are nothing and that was a choice YOU made. :mad:

I am an employee of USAirways and have been for over 4 years. In those 4 years, I have had bronchitis, and the flu and through that have used 1 sick day. The only reason I didn't was because they told me to stay home for fear of catching the flu, I kept calling to see if they needed me to come in. Most people that work for USAirways came to work today. Believe me, I understand your frustration, it is frustrating for us trying to comprehend why bags have yet to come. ALso on rebooking, I will take as long as I have to in order to find you a way to get where you need to go as soon as possible. Luckily the latest it has ever taken is the next day. Especially during the holidays I want people to be able to spend time with their families. I work hard as does everyone else I work with. So because of a few bad apples, of which is not me or my coworker, you are going to thank me for a selfish attitude I do not possess? You are going to wish unemployment on those of us that do what we can? I would never ever wish unemployment on a group that consists of over 30,000. Okay you didn't wish it, you just wouldn't give a thought to us. I just want to say I appreciate that. Also to all those that can't wait for us to liquidate because they haven't yet received their luggage, thank you also. I try not to usually take things personally but this I did. I am working/have worked every holiday and even my birthday this year, and haven't used a sick day. So to ask people to be that disrespectful, I take offense. Most of us are trying and we do appreciate our passengers, and realize without you we have no jobs.

I will never wish unemployment on a company or industry, especially when my family has a furloughed airline employee. Still, whatever happened is making US look really bad in the press today. The saving grace is that a Delta Express carrier had to shut down for the day and had no flights today, and that became the leading story on my newscast.

I am an employee of USAirways and have been for over 4 years. In those 4 years, I have had bronchitis, and the flu and through that have used 1 sick day. The only reason I didn't was because they told me to stay home for fear of catching the flu, I kept calling to see if they needed me to come in. Most people that work for USAirways came to work today. Believe me, I understand your frustration, it is frustrating for us trying to comprehend why bags have yet to come. ALso on rebooking, I will take as long as I have to in order to find you a way to get where you need to go as soon as possible. Luckily the latest it has ever taken is the next day. Especially during the holidays I want people to be able to spend time with their families. I work hard as does everyone else I work with. So because of a few bad apples, of which is not me or my coworker, you are going to thank me for a selfish attitude I do not possess? You are going to wish unemployment on those of us that do what we can? I would never ever wish unemployment on a group that consists of over 30,000. Okay you didn't wish it, you just wouldn't give a thought to us. I just want to say I appreciate that. Also to all those that can't wait for us to liquidate because they haven't yet received their luggage, thank you also. I try not to usually take things personally but this I did. I am working/have worked every holiday and even my birthday this year, and haven't used a sick day. So to ask people to be that disrespectful, I take offense. Most of us are trying and we do appreciate our passengers, and realize without you we have no jobs.

I wouldn't worry too much about DallaStarwooDelta - they don't seem to be flying USAirways this weekend (or ever) from looking at his other posts and is just taking the opportunity to dump on this airline. Maybe they want them out of buisness so their favorite gets the job.... that said - there is something upsetting about the way the news is coming out. Why did the Teddy X. from the union blame management for not knowing that employees always call in sick for the holidays? Doesn't the union think it's own members are honorable? Management wins the sympathy battle in this one, but the airline needs to not have battles amongst itself if it hopes to win the war.

I will never wish unemployment on a company or industry, especially when my family has a furloughed airline employee. Still, whatever happened is making US look really bad in the press today. The saving grace is that a Delta Express carrier had to shut down for the day and had no flights today, and that became the leading story on my newscast.


Thank you for that. And I agree, I am tired of telling people I have no idea where your bag is at this moment. I don't know. Honestly I wish that they would enlist the help from outstations to come and help sort bags. I don't know how many would actually volunteer, but even one or ten would do soemthing. It's terribly embarrassing, but I still love my job and luckily I know it's not always like this. Poor Comair though, I feel for there employees and passengers, I can tell you after trying to rebook people today, there are so few seats out there.

I am an employee of USAirways and have been for over 4 years. In those 4 years, I have had bronchitis, and the flu and through that have used 1 sick day. The only reason I didn't was because they told me to stay home for fear of catching the flu, I kept calling to see if they needed me to come in. Most people that work for USAirways came to work today. Believe me, I understand your frustration, it is frustrating for us trying to comprehend why bags have yet to come. ALso on rebooking, I will take as long as I have to in order to find you a way to get where you need to go as soon as possible. Luckily the latest it has ever taken is the next day. Especially during the holidays I want people to be able to spend time with their families. I work hard as does everyone else I work with. So because of a few bad apples, of which is not me or my coworker, you are going to thank me for a selfish attitude I do not possess? You are going to wish unemployment on those of us that do what we can? I would never ever wish unemployment on a group that consists of over 30,000. Okay you didn't wish it, you just wouldn't give a thought to us. I just want to say I appreciate that. Also to all those that can't wait for us to liquidate because they haven't yet received their luggage, thank you also. I try not to usually take things personally but this I did. I am working/have worked every holiday and even my birthday this year, and haven't used a sick day. So to ask people to be that disrespectful, I take offense. Most of us are trying and we do appreciate our passengers, and realize without you we have no jobs.

I am glad to hear that you are one of those who is volunteering above and beyond to help out. I'll only speak for myself that I want this airline to survive. Granted - US can irritate me and has on many occasions but it is better than the alternatives. It is good to hear that you recognize the need to take care of your passengers. What I ask is that you try to convey that attitude to those at US who are taking their frustrations with management and with the industry environment out on the passengers. It alienates them, chases them away and if US liquidates, then effects us the passengers and the 30000 workers. Do what you can to get those who understand the importance of treating passengers well to bring the others along. Best of luck over the next few weeks. Thanks for helping the airline out and happy holidays.

I am glad to hear that you are one of those who is volunteering above and beyond to help out. I'll only speak for myself that I want this airline to survive. Granted - US can irritate me and has on many occasions but it is better than the alternatives. It is good to hear that you recognize the need to take care of your passengers. What I ask is that you try to convey that attitude to those at US who are taking their frustrations with management and with the industry environment out on the passengers. It alienates them, chases them away and if US liquidates, then effects us the passengers and the 30000 workers. Do what you can to get those who understand the importance of treating passengers well to bring the others along. Best of luck over the next few weeks. Thanks for helping the airline out and happy holidays.

There are lots of GREAT people working for US... and it sounds like evprincess is one of them. I did not have to fly this holiday as I stayed home, nonetheless, I understand the frustration on both sides that people have been under these last few days.

As a loyal US flyer and FFOCUS member, THANK YOU for your hard work, evprincess!!! I hope you have had a happy holiday, even under the circumstances.

And for any other US employee who worked the last few days, THANK YOU too for your hard work... I hope it pays off in the long run.

The US employees who come out to do their job deserve our thanks. This situation will only cause those who are not loyal to US to shun them more. I guess those of us who know avoid PHL if at all possible. I guess I lucked out by booking AA in part to avoid PHL for the annual trip up north for the kids to see their cousins.

Still it was very disheartening to see the news reports and realzing this may be the flat spin for US.

The entire staff on board, especially Kelly, did what they could to make the best of a bad situation. Identify and address those that caused the problem, not evryone at US. Thanks to those who pitched in to help. ^

As with many of us who post on these threads, mostly griping, our friends in the media are rarely looking for good news. For one thing, they have discovered "misery" sells. In Philly, the last couple of days, they didn't have to go far to look. Bad weather at a bad time, in conjunction with a locatoin that is poorly managed, was a no brainer for them. That aside, while there were probably some employees who took the opportunity to manifest their unhappiness, I am guessing the majority did the best they could with what they had. You gotta be nuts to travel December 24-25, any year, and I'll bet, with loads as weak as they have been, those flights were so oversold anyway, it would have been tough, even if the weather had cooperated. While Philly will be prominent in the epitaph for this joint, I'd bet there's plenty of lost luggage to go around for all the carriers. Might be a good opportunity for some of those TSA morons, who have constructed new careers from the untimely demise of a couple of thousand people in the wrong place that September day, to help find bags, as opposed to going in them for lno reason, half the time.

At the risk of being slightly off message, let me quickly amplify the TSA remark. I am continually amazed at the number of times these people go in my checked baggage, which,(a) has nothing provocative in it, and (b) has been delivered directly by the carrier, who has attached a "Priority" reference on the tag, printed, or otherwise, meaning they know exactly who it belongs to, and that they have copious amounts of data on that individual in their system. Such inspection can't be a good use of limited resources.

As a very vocal member of FFOCUS I would like to add my thanks to all of the loyal and hardworking employees of U who tried to pick up the slack created by those deadbeats (only those who called in sick without being sick). It infuriates me that less than 1 % of a group who as a whole are the best employees in the airline business today can cause so much damage. I firmly believe that those found responsible should not only be terminated, but should be held civilly (or criminally) liable for the damages caused.

Yes there is a percentage who call in sick every holiday--but this appears to be a greater number, and coupled with the fact that they are shortstaffed to begin with, created a chain of events which snowballed into a crisis.

Between the added costs of customers being rebooked on other carriers, the delivery of delinquent bags, and the number of customers who will now book away, I fear the fat lady is about to be hoisted onto the stage..

I feel terrible not only for the customers affected, but for the other 99% of U's employees who ALWAYS rise to the occasion and do a wonderful job in the face of much adversity--I salute you...

The only good news in all this is that we are not COMAIR......


My best to you all....

I just wonder how much the "bad publicity" will hurt US.

How many of these people are flying US for the only time this year? Will they even remember what happened 365 days from now when they book their next trip? And if US is the cheapest, will they even care?

How many US frequent fliers are going to say "welp, that's it!"? FTers can be quite vocal in abandoning an airline over a single incident of poor service, but were talking scores of people, where as scores of thousands will keep flying US because they either have no choice (they're the local carrier) or they have a large investment in the airline in miles that they can't easily break away from.

I tend to think that this time next week, most people won't even remember the event, much less have it actively color their future travel plans - especially travel plans a year from now.

Just returned from a Xmas day MR to renew my CP status - lots of unhappy people at PHL.

My first impression was how crowded the airport was on Xmas day - in previous years there was never that many people around - realized they were all holdovers from the previous day's cancelled flights. Talked to many of the passengers who swear they will never fly US again - their vacations were ruined. Spoke to a number of divorced fathers who have their kids for Xmas week and were hoping to take them away (Orlando, the Islands), and have spent the past 48 hours at the airport going nowhere.

Also noticed that the special service desks were not manned - where was management during this fiasco?

All of my flights were oversold and asked for volunteers - no cash vouchers, only r/t vouchers.

My flight to SFO was delayed due to lack of one flight attendant - finally found one who worked first class. After serving the meal, he was never seen again, no drinks, no warm cookie, no snack basket, no nothing.

On my return flight, the plane was not serviced - no paper towels, tissues or water to wash hands in the lavatory in first class

While waiting for my connection in PHL this morning, very disturbing to see about six baggage handlers sitting at a table, drinking coffee and laughing at the cover story on the New York Times - I have not yet seen the paper but appears to be a picture of all the stranded luggage at PHL - this six clowns thought it was the funniest thing they had ever seen and even made a comment "they ain't seen nothing yet"

I was one of the biggest fans of US - they have treated me well over the years but I am afraid that this past weekend will prove to be the nail in the coffin - the negative publicity not only from the news media but from the thousands of families whose holidays were ruined will have a damaging effect on any future reservations - hey, I am CP and am hesitant to make reservations for 2005.

Believe me, I understand your frustration....

Thanks for your hard work, evprincess. Unfortunately you are part of a company that would rather strangle itself to death in public. Your work is overshadowed by damage done by others.

Especially during the holidays I want people to be able to spend time with their families. I work hard as does everyone else I work with... You are going to wish unemployment on those of us that do what we can? I would never ever wish unemployment on a group that consists of over 30,000.

You ask customers to make a distinction between hard workers like you and bad apples who create chaos. The many US Airways employees who destroyed this holiday for thousands of (now ex-) customers made no such distinction. They didn't care if it was your last Christmas with a dying relative, or if you had toddlers and babies sleeping on the airport floor, or if you were only able to take 36 hours away from your job. The chaos drivers didn't see individual customers or their circumstances. They saw a big faceless blob of pax and a chance to make a point. They were pleased to wreck everyone's Christmas, thinking that somehow this helps them "beat" management. As far as most passengers are concerned, US Airways did this to them -- not Vinnie or Joey on the ramp. This will stick with US Airways and all its employees for the (I believe) short time the airline has left.

...to all those that can't wait for us to liquidate because they haven't yet received their luggage, thank you also... Most of us are trying and we do appreciate our passengers, and realize without you we have no jobs.

I would take this more seriously if unionized US workers called a press conference or took out a Monday newspaper ad calling for the termination of all those "union brothers and sisters" who brought the airline to its knees at Christmas. But you won't. In fact, no US employee on this board has called out these saboteurs for running the company into the ground... all they've done is ask customers to see that "we're not all like that, etc."

Why should any paying customer reward performance like we've seen the past 72 hours? They shouldn't, and I wouldn't (thank God I moved west, away from D.C., some years ago, my DM account is cleaned out and my US flying days are behind me).

But you might have a shot if unionized employees themselves highlighted and isolated the virus. Identify and turn in the people who are destroying all your livelihoods, and this company, right now.

But I bet you won't. So, evprincess, I'm glad you work hard and all and even come in on your birthday ( :confused: ), but you know something? After this weekend, it's perfectly logical for customers to abandon all of US for good. Even if you do take offense. When the shoe was on the other foot Christmas Eve and innocent paying customers needed the airline to work for them, the airline as a corporate entity turned its back. Sorry if it doesn't feel so good when it happens to the company in return.

This is just unbelievable. To think I just booked 5 RT for a bonus run the first weekend in january. I have been gold for years and have joined the USAirways club. I have a sinking feeling I have thrown away my money for the upcoming year, and am actually now thinking about not taking my bonus runs in 2 weeks - just letting the tickets slide and use my time elsewhere. It has been fun for me to fly on USAirways, but I am thinking I will just need to get used to another airline, and start building miles and status elsewhere. I certainly will wait a week before booking new travel.

I am really upset that the baggage employees think ruining other peoples lives is a laughable game. They should be fired outright, and if the union has any honor at all they should back up the terminations. They say there was no work action, so those wildcat workers who acted on their own destroy the credibility of management working with the union and their contracts should be dumped - or the union has to do something to make this right. Where is the union statement on USAirways.com reassuring the passengers that everything is being done by the USAirways "team". The negative publicity mandates a union statement to the public.

I guess I was one of the lucky ones, since I arrived the same day I left. I was scheduled on the first flight out BOS-PIT yesterday. My flight was cancelled because of a "missing crew member". If this was legitimate or planned, I don't know and I don't care. In an unbelievable display of desperation, the GA agent at BOS made an announcement that "you might as well go home, you aren't going anywhere today in this airline", and "I have no idea what you should do, just go home."

The monitors at the terminal were mysteriously turned off, so there was no way to find out what was going on, and the wait at the 1-800 number was 37 minutes. So, I walk down the terminal, find a plane boarding, and ask where it was going. The agent said PHL, so I said, I'll get on, worst case I'll drive from PHL to PIT. He put me on the BOS-PHL, then onwards PHL-PIT. The printer was broken at the gate in BOS, so I get on the plane without any BP. It was the 7:00 AM BOS-PHL, which didn't leave until 8:30 or so. I then miss the 9:45 PHL-PIT, so I wait around for the 11:30, which eventually left at around 12:30, arriving in PIT at 1:30 PM or so.

My original BOS-PIT flight was full (overbooked, apparently from spillover chaos from the last two days due to "weather"). Now, all of those people will need to be re-scheduled and worked through the system, adding untold hours of work for US Airways (time that the airline could use to do other things, like run the airline), backing up the system for a while, and generating a fair amount of ill-will that US Airways really can't afford. All due to the actions of a single missing FA. Beautiful.

In my business, I analyze companies and industries for a living, and will make recommendations, sometimes without touching my heart. My suggestion for US Airways is this: Deep six yourselves, and do the world a favor. This situation is beyond hopeless, and a liquidation, followed by an infusion of capital to rebuild a smaller, more efficient, better run airline, is in order.

Your labor relations are miserable, your flight ops suck, and your hubs blow, to equalize the pressure. De-emphasizing PIT (an excellent airport) as a hub, and doubling up on PHL, an airport that gives DEL a good name (and I've been there) didn't help things when the system is strained.

Yea, yea, 30,000 people will be out of work, and the East Coast will have reduced capacity until someone steps into the breach. So what. US Airways is a marginal player in a crappy industry, and all they are doing is making life miserable for themselves, the rest of the airline industry, their passengers, and their employees. Sometimes vegetative patients need to euthanized if nothing can be done.

On the bright side, the reborn airline (Phoenix Airlines?) will rehire many of those 30,000 who choose to work for less in a better work environment. The rest, they can go open beauty salons or whatever.

I analyze companies and industries for a living... My suggestion for US Airways is this: Deep six yourselves, and do the world a favor. This situation is beyond hopeless... all they are doing is making life miserable for themselves, the rest of the airline industry, their passengers, and their employees. Sometimes vegetative patients need to euthanized...

Pickles, reading and watching all the meltdown stories in the media this morning, I was just thinking the same thing... what a stylish and dramatic gesture it would be if some passenger, or group of passengers, were to talk out a large ad in the Philadelphia Inquirer urging US Airways to voluntarily kill itself and stop tormenting its customers and the industry... if you took up a collection for this at PHL today I bet you'd have the ad paid for before you hit ten gates.

Your story out of BOS proves this isn't just a media-loves-misery phenomenon, it's the real deal. Seeing the GA throw up his arms and tell pax to just go home must've been like something out of a movie.

This is just unbelievable. To think I just booked 5 RT for a bonus run the first weekend in january. I have a sinking feeling I have thrown away my money for the upcoming year, and am actually now thinking about not taking my bonus runs in 2 weeks - just letting the tickets slide and use my time elsewhere. It has been fun for me to fly on USAirways, but I am thinking I will just need to get used to another airline, and start building miles and status elsewhere.

Well, you can always credit the miles to UA or, if you feel they are as unsafe a long-term bet, another Star Alliance carrier (though take care with fare basis/miles earned issues).

While waiting for my connection in PHL this morning, very disturbing to see about six baggage handlers sitting at a table, drinking coffee and laughing at the cover story on the New York Times - I have not yet seen the paper but appears to be a picture of all the stranded luggage at PHL .

New York Times front page with photo here (http://www.nytimes.com/pages/pageone/scan/index.html)

Pickles, reading and watching all the meltdown stories in the media this morning, I was just thinking the same thing... what a stylish and dramatic gesture it would be if some passenger, or group of passengers, were to talk out a large ad in the Philadelphia Inquirer urging US Airways to voluntarily kill itself and stop tormenting its customers and the industry... if you took up a collection for this at PHL today I bet you'd have the ad paid for before you hit ten gates.

Your story out of BOS proves this isn't just a media-loves-misery phenomenon, it's the real deal. Seeing the GA throw up his arms and tell pax to just go home must've been like something out of a movie.


Please count me in. I'll contribute whatever it takes to run this ad! I'm tired of the shoddy operation, getting rid of these incompetents will eventually open the door for something much better. I'd rather be a last row pax on JetBlue than a CP on US anyway.

Being a "white collar" type, I haven't worked in a unionized workplace since my first full-time job after college. So, I don't have a lot of first-hand knowledge of what it's like to have a negotiated set of work rules, etc.

That said, I've worked in several large (multi-thousand employee) companies, all of which are smaller than airlines. We always knew who the "trouble makers" were -- the people who would not lift a finger to help someone else; who did their job exactly as required, but not a bit more; who learned the rules to use them as a tool against the company. We knew never to let those people train new employees - and even to try not to let them work closely with new employees. Most of all: we knew never to let staffing at a critical time be made up solely of the trouble makers.

I'm not offering the following as an argument of what happened at PHL the past few days. But, it didn't take me long to come up with this theory, and as I said, I don't know the system from the inside.

Imagine if you were a "full pay til the last day" advocate, who thought that with CHAOS-type actions you could bring the airline to its knees and protect the economics of your job. You would know others in your work group who feel like you do.

How hard would it be for a few dozen such people to get together and agree to take shifts over Christmas? If I had to guess, pretty easy; lots of folks want these days off, and would easily switch shifts. The union doesn't have to be in on it. Now, you're in a situation where 10-20% of the PHL ramp are "co-conspirators" (a strong term, I know). What happens if these few dozen people all "get sick" at the same time?

Or, if a few dozen FAs - knowing that mgmt has cut staffing levels to FAA minimums and reduced reserves - "get sick"? 1 FA short of minimum throws a whole bunch of flights out of whack.

Or a few pilots - knowing how thin the reserves are and how stretched most pilots' hours are this time of month/year?

Like any other situation, success requires everything to go right; failure requires any one of a whole bunch of things to go wrong. Could US have managed around this risk? Sure - at a price. In hindisght, they should have paid the price for extra staffing, reserves, etc. Maybe if management had, then the perceived "weak spot" wouldn't have been there to exploit.

But it's too late for that now.

As a very vocal member of FFOCUS I would like to add my thanks to all of the loyal and hardworking employees of U who tried to pick up the slack created by those deadbeats (only those who called in sick without being sick). It infuriates me that less than 1 % of a group who as a whole are the best employees in the airline business today can cause so much damage. I firmly believe that those found responsible should not only be terminated, but should be held civilly (or criminally) liable for the damages caused.

Yes there is a percentage who call in sick every holiday--but this appears to be a greater number, and coupled with the fact that they are shortstaffed to begin with, created a chain of events which snowballed into a crisis.



The thing I noticed in the press release was that they jumped right over the weather problems and started bashing their employees. When there are problems with the weather, it's not the airlines fault, as the carriers and Rule 240 tell us. It's a shame when the planes are full on a holiday and the weather is bad and plans are wrecked, but no one ever said air travel was automatic or guaranteed. And US could have emphasized this in the press release. BUT, they went right to work slamming a few of their employees who may have called in sick on the holiday when they were not actually ill.
And, as we see from the reaction, this released a flood of vitriolic responses that focus on what US DOESN'T want: "unemployed workers" and "never flying US again".
IMHO, whoever wrote this release and approved it, deserves some discipline. Indeed, US needs to stop whining to the public, because as you can see, no one in this post is reacting by stating how they are going to run right out and buy more US tickets. US should be focusing on running a better airline and if 40% pay cuts aren't enough they shouldn't be blasting their employees in public like this. This is the management equivalent of FA's complaining in the galley when they should be greeting pax or serving drinks.

Buy low, sell high.

That January mileage run is starting to look more attractive every day ;)

I wouldn't worry too much about DallaStarwooDelta - they don't seem to be flying USAirways this weekend (or ever) from looking at his other posts and is just taking the opportunity to dump on this airline. Maybe they want them out of buisness so their favorite gets the job.... that said - there is something upsetting about the way the news is coming out. Why did the Teddy X. from the union blame management for not knowing that employees always call in sick for the holidays? Doesn't the union think it's own members are honorable? Management wins the sympathy battle in this one, but the airline needs to not have battles amongst itself if it hopes to win the war.


I'm not dumping on this airline. I'm dumping on a workforce who thinks these types of actions are acceptable. Evprincess your loyalty is commendable, however your peers are not. The best thing you can do is confront your peers, friends or not, who participated in this sickout and let them know that they may have cost you your job. You anger and frustration should be clarely communicated to the, the responsible parties.

Another OT post, but after having flown LY numerous times, in my eyes, the TSA is a dog & pony show. I don't feel any more secure than before 9/11. Your tax dollars at work... errr... waste. Now if the TSA would have the type of security that LY has, I would retract my previous statement.

At the risk of being slightly off message, let me quickly amplify the TSA remark. I am continually amazed at the number of times these people go in my checked baggage, which,(a) has nothing provocative in it, and (b) has been delivered directly by the carrier, who has attached a "Priority" reference on the tag, printed, or otherwise, meaning they know exactly who it belongs to, and that they have copious amounts of data on that individual in their system. Such inspection can't be a good use of limited resources.

Please count me in. I'll contribute whatever it takes to run this ad! I'm tired of the shoddy operation, getting rid of these incompetents will eventually open the door for something much better. I'd rather be a last row pax on JetBlue than a CP on US anyway.


Upgrade For U I am shocked your still flying US. I just did a search on your posts. You said you were going to stop flying US back in 2002 and your still here. What gives?

New York Times front page with photo here (http://www.nytimes.com/pages/pageone/scan/index.html)


Wow--a front page photo like that on the NY Times reverses millions spent on advdertising. I was really hopeful U would turn it around. But this has me very worried. Don't know if U can recover from all this. Let's hope our worst fears aren't realized.

Gosh, imagine that -- the horror! the horror! Perhaps that attitude explains some of US's problems.

An update on my wife, and a few comments...

1) She got to ATL on US last night, and AA was able to get her to AUA tonight with no glitches.

2) evprincess, I specifically didn't call for the termination of all US employees. However, those that decided not to show when they were supposed to -just to cause the most chaos possible, those people don't deserve their jobs... I don't care how long they've worked there and what they feel they are owed.

3) Daze, the problem I outlined at CLT was not weather related, nor was the other described in another situation at BOS. These were employees who didn't show when they were scheduled, causing mass cancellations -and chaos in airports like CLT where my wife had to wait in line for 5+ hours to get rebooked (and those agents weren't usually manning that counter -according to them).

4) I don't just post on FlyerTalk when I have a bad experience, I have had several good things about FLYi and Spirit and maybe even NW.

I will also say this: The US employees that my wife interacted with on X-mas (and that I interacted with at DTW) were in large part helpful and courteous. I feel for them, these are the ones trying to right this ship, and having to deal with the chaos that their colleagues created -not a fun thing. They are trying to save their jobs and their airline.

5) I have really wanted US to succeed... I have always had a big soft spot for them since my sister was dying of cancer in MKE. I needed cheap and flexible compassion fares that would allow me to travel DCA-MKE with sometimes only a day's notice and sometimes completely changing my return. US charged me about $250 r/t for those flights. Midwest and NW and UA all wanted from $350-$500 -not compassionate, and not affordable to me at the time. I flew US repeatedly that year until she passed away and every flight from DCA-PIT-MKE was on time and everyone was friendly and kind (even though sometimes I was changing my flights just hours before departure). You never forget that and it builds a loyalty. But this really doesn't look good for the future of US and it seems like a certain percentage of US's employees are throwing water in the boat as others are trying to bail it out... I just don't think it will work -and that is too bad.

I don't want USAir to fail. I really like them as an airline and I just reached Chairman's status and am loving it!

However I had the opportunity to work in a "professional" union environment, meaning we were professionals, however someone back in 1965 decided to unionize the dept, and therefore from then on, ALL jobs in that dept were union, whether you wanted to be union or not.

So here I am working for this company and someone in management pissed off the union. So what happened? We were told to "work slowly". And for those of us who did not share this mentality? Well, screw you...you'd better start working slower or get out.

I chose to get out. I live in Philadelphia and there are MANY people in this area who would love to get a job at the Philadelphia Airport. It is thought of as a "safe haven" for the uneducated workforce. You get good pay and it's a pretty reliable job.

WIth that I say: Fire every last one of those baggage handlers. EVERY LAST ONE. They know what the economy is like in Philadelphia! They know the public transportation system is doubling it's fares, they know the wage tax is high and insurance is almost unafforadable. So what do you do in these trying times? You stage a slow-down so that your employer will simply go bankrupt! Good going idiots! I know a slew of people who would take that job and be grateful they had it! And all the other employeess that are going to lose out because of this? What a great service these people are. Let's hear them complain all the way to the unemployment line.

I don't want USAir to fail. I really like them as an airline and I just reached Chairman's status and am loving it!

However I had the opportunity to work in a "professional" union environment, meaning we were professionals, however someone back in 1965 decided to unionize the dept, and therefore from then on, ALL jobs in that dept were union, whether you wanted to be union or not.

So here I am working for this company and someone in management pissed off the union. So what happened? We were told to "work slowly". And for those of us who did not share this mentality? Well, screw you...you'd better start working slower or get out.

I chose to get out. I live in Philadelphia and there are MANY people in this area who would love to get a job at the Philadelphia Airport. It is thought of as a "safe haven" for the uneducated workforce. You get good pay and it's a pretty reliable job.

WIth that I say: Fire every last one of those baggage handlers. EVERY LAST ONE. They know what the economy is like in Philadelphia! They know the public transportation system is doubling it's fares, they know the wage tax is high and insurance is almost unafforadable. So what do you do in these trying times? You stage a slow-down so that your employer will simply go bankrupt! Good going idiots! I know a slew of people who would take that job and be grateful they had it! And all the other employeess that are going to lose out because of this? What a great service these people are. Let's hear them complain all the way to the unemployment line.


Welcome to FlyerTalk Rina120!!! Great 1st Post.

Sorry to all USAIR employees ..this fiasco will the kiss of death for USAIR.The cold winter will drain too much cash to make US be around for long.
Where will the formerly highest paid employees ( remember the highest industry pay -plus 1 % more ) work ? So sad....

WIth that I say: Fire every last one of those baggage handlers. EVERY LAST ONE. They know what the economy is like in Philadelphia! They know the public transportation system is doubling it's fares, they know the wage tax is high and insurance is almost unafforadable. So what do you do in these trying times? You stage a slow-down so that your employer will simply go bankrupt! Good going idiots! I know a slew of people who would take that job and be grateful they had it! And all the other employeess that are going to lose out because of this? What a great service these people are. Let's hear them complain all the way to the unemployment line.

Rina120:

1. Welcome!
2. Welcome to the ranks of CP
3. I agree: fire every last one of those b*stards.

Gosh, imagine that -- the horror! the horror! Perhaps that attitude explains some of US's problems.

This post is completely unnecessary, not contributing to the conversation, personal in its attack, and mean-spirited.

I call on the author to go in and have the humanity and courage to remove it.

Upgrade For U I am shocked your still flying US. I just did a search on your posts. You said you were going to stop flying US back in 2002 and your still here. What gives?

It is "you're", not your, you would think someone in the US communications dept. would know better, on second thought, NOT.

Are my flying habits that important to you? I guess you are wondering how inept management, pitiful operational policies, a stupid business strategy and a broad spectrum of front line employees (ranging from absolutely outstanding to absolutely pitiful) haven't managed to run me off yet?

To be honest, I just wanted some status to try and burn off my 1/2 million miles I am still stuck with, but these miles will definitely go down with the ship, now.

Hope you are happy, Nero.

It is "you're", not your, you would think someone is the US communications dept. would know better, on second thought, NOT.

I assume that you mean "someone IN the US communications dept." instead of "someone IS the US communications dept"....

It's hell without that grammar checker, isn't it.....

..

Dear Gentlepersons:

Excuse me but I believe it is my job to monitor the literacy skills of posters in this forum. Please keep to your own expertise. Thank you kindly.

A.

I assume that you mean "someone IN the US communications dept." instead of "someone IS the US communications dept"....

It's hell without that grammar checker, isn't it.....

..


I edited my post, so now no one will know I am an idiot (unless they read my previous posts, of course)!

I edited my post, so now no one will know I am an idiot (unless they read my previous posts, of course)!


Ahh--yes--but unlike Orwell's 1984 or the Stalin ordered retouching of photographs to remove those enemies of the state he had liquidated, your grammatical error lives on forever since it was caught before being retouched.

Therefore, people can still judge fairly your criticisms of another using the same yardstick which you apply to others.....

..

Ahh--yes--but unlike Orwell's 1984 or the Stalin ordered retouching of photographs to remove those enemies of the state he had liquidated, your grammatical error lives on forever since it was caught before being retouched.

Therefore, people can still judge fairly your criticisms of another using the same yardstick which you apply to others.....

..

Will you take to edit YOUR post! :)

Will you take to edit YOUR post! :)


LOL---selling my integrity ....?

Absolutely not will I retract my opinion. I have been flying for over 40 years, and while I do not fly a great deal (perhaps 6-8 times per year), I cannot begin to describe the degradation I have seen in f/a's, ground personnel, gate agents, etc. Our airlines are a sad parody of what they once were, and in my opinion much of the problem is due to the "gimme, gimme" attitude of the employees. To complain about working holidays and birthdays is, in my opinion, the height (or perhaps depth) of hubris.

I just wonder how much the "bad publicity" will hurt US.

How many of these people are flying US for the only time this year? Will they even remember what happened 365 days from now when they book their next trip? And if US is the cheapest, will they even care?

How many US frequent fliers are going to say "welp, that's it!"? FTers can be quite vocal in abandoning an airline over a single incident of poor service, but were talking scores of people, where as scores of thousands will keep flying US because they either have no choice (they're the local carrier) or they have a large investment in the airline in miles that they can't easily break away from.

I tend to think that this time next week, most people won't even remember the event, much less have it actively color their future travel plans - especially travel plans a year from now.


You are correct in your observation; however, it only goes so far, because it is not the once a year flying public who holds US Air's future in its hands, nor, unfortunately, is it those loyal US Air FFers anymore.

Take it from me, those who hold US Air's life in their hands do not, and will not look favorably on this episode next year when hard decisions are to be made about US Air's future and its overall viability.

You might ask who are these people who hold US Air's future in their hands, although most know the answer, as I am sure that you do, as well, it is not those whom I have identified above, nor is it even the unions and their membership.

Simply put, it is the decisionmakers at the ATSB who have this power, and I think that they will take an extremely dim view of this current situation and will remember it when it comes time to review US Air's plans for the future.

Wildcat srike or not, I think that those employees who called in sick -- for whatever the reason -- have doomed this airline. The once a year flyer will likely not have the choice of a US Air next year, whatever may be their inclination. I think that the jig is up.

I've been loyal to US for about ten years, but no longer.

Even though for the past several years my career has not involved heavy travel and I have lived in a spoke city with limited flights... even when they pared down flights to DFW... even when they almost decimated the FC cabin, hell even when I was barely making any money at all... I went out of my way to patronize US....whether I had to make a bad connection or even spend more money.

I give up.

1) When I read a large news article spanning several pages on Sunday in the Dallas Morning News (I believe front section) with three or four photos and the words "US Airways" all over the text, I was embarassed for our airline, for the employees, for the management. US is not the only airline facing major cuts, mankruptcy, and potential dissolution, but they're the only mainline that failed this weekend, and I'm willing to bet that most of the customers that experienced failure this weekend won't travel again on US unless they've made an investment (tickets, FF, club...) -

2) The article had such a focus on US and their failures, that initially I even thought the Comair fiasco was actually related to US, and I should know better, many don't.

3) For months now there has been conjecture that US might run out of cash by mid-year or mid-February. Today there are references in the press that the dates are mid-January. If this is a bargaining tool it is backfiring because such statements never inspire confidence in the traveling public.

4) I call the US1 desk somewhat infrequently and sparely. However, I can say that it seems that 8 out of 10 times I get transferred and queued to another line or over to a standard recording. I won't be US1 in March, but if this is how the airline treats top fliers I'd hate to think what its like below that.

5) Even as a US1 - stupid policies... like the fact that the online booking engine won't let me create an open jaw discount award ticket so I must either lose 10,000 miles or pay a $50 change fee to a res agent to make my itinerary open jaw is silly, especially for a US1.

6) For years now the planes have been filthy, though some A319 and newer twin jets are not as unclean but if they acutally do have cleaners in DFW they should be fired and replaced immediately. I've found all sorts of crap in my seats, yes in FC too.

7) The FC product sucks and I've come to the point that E+ on our friends at United is preferred because at least the planes are clean and I can listen to air traffic control.

8) After all the sweat and blood and effort to redesign the network, it seems that instead of moving forward and putting forth best efforts enough of the employee base would rather contribute to failure than success.

I have many fond memories of US Airways - heck, even the Envoy service from PHL to LGW years ago (thanks for double vision double vison double vision double vision oops) was an experience I'll never forget, since I've never travelled abroad aside from coach. Envoy demonstrated US had a capability to deliver a great product and cheerful service.

I consider you an old friend, and will never wish you the fate that many of your employees and stakeholders have ensured will follow. All I ask is that you leave my final memories positive as I intend to fly your fleet over the next week, and if you'd be so kind as to ensure that my mother has a way to visit me in February when her tickets are scheduled, I'd be grateful for the courtesy. Thanks for all the memories.

Might be a good opportunity for some of those TSA morons, who have constructed new careers from the untimely demise of a couple of thousand people in the wrong place that September day, to help find bags, as opposed to going in them for no reason half the time.

Half the time? I'd wager it's a lot closer to 99.999%.

Is it the attitude of people in that area? It's not just USairways I have had poor service at hotels and rental car agencies also.

And now it appears that PHL is becoming "more" of a hub than PIT? When trying to burn some miles all flights for ELM are going through PHL.

I switched most of my business to CO as soon as they started the CLE-ELM route. My recent experience with USAirways is that I can spend a minimum of 30 minutes on hold prior to speaking to a customer service rep. I am hoping they survive, but, this publicity does not help at all. Other than reward tickets I will only use them as a last resort.

However, everytime I have needed assistance (at the counter or after being on hold for an eternity) the employee has always been helpful, knowledgeable and courteous.

Hope everyone has a safe, cheerful and profitable New Year!

Is it the attitude of people in that area? It's not just USairways I have had poor service at hotels and rental car agencies also.


Welcome to the City of Brotherly Love. :rolleyes: Remember folks, this is the city where they booed Santa Claus at an Eagles' game. I used to work in center city, thank God I've now been exiled to the 'burbs.

I have a lot of sympathy for employees such as evprincess at US. However, I have much more sympathy for those innocent passengers who had their holiday ruined by those few bad apples working for US. If they think creating chaos (organized or not) would benefit them in any shape or form, I think they should reconsider--perhaps it's too late now. What they have done over the last few days is drive every last US-bound customers to other carriers (who would even consider flying US after this mess--many were scared enough to stay away after only threats of such chaos?). Quite fortunately, I was not "victimized" by this chaos because I did not need to travel this past holiday. However, I would have chosen other carriers if I needed to even though I am currently based in PHL. In fact, I started booking alternative carriers for fears of what exactly happened the last few days. It is definitely a sad time for those US employees who work hard on a daily basis to save their job and their airline. Although I don't have much expertise in airline analysis, I would venture a guess that US will be gone before the next holiday season (maybe sooner). Good luck to those hard-working US employees.

LAX

I guess I was one of the lucky ones, since I arrived the same day I left. I was scheduled on the first flight out BOS-PIT yesterday. My flight was cancelled because of a "missing crew member". If this was legitimate or planned, I don't know and I don't care. In an unbelievable display of desperation, the GA agent at BOS made an announcement that "you might as well go home, you aren't going anywhere today in this airline", and "I have no idea what you should do, just go home."

The monitors at the terminal were mysteriously turned off, so there was no way to find out what was going on, and the wait at the 1-800 number was 37 minutes. So, I walk down the terminal, find a plane boarding, and ask where it was going. The agent said PHL, so I said, I'll get on, worst case I'll drive from PHL to PIT. He put me on the BOS-PHL, then onwards PHL-PIT. The printer was broken at the gate in BOS, so I get on the plane without any BP. It was the 7:00 AM BOS-PHL, which didn't leave until 8:30 or so. I then miss the 9:45 PHL-PIT, so I wait around for the 11:30, which eventually left at around 12:30, arriving in PIT at 1:30 PM or so.

My original BOS-PIT flight was full (overbooked, apparently from spillover chaos from the last two days due to "weather"). Now, all of those people will need to be re-scheduled and worked through the system, adding untold hours of work for US Airways (time that the airline could use to do other things, like run the airline), backing up the system for a while, and generating a fair amount of ill-will that US Airways really can't afford. All due to the actions of a single missing FA. Beautiful.

In my business, I analyze companies and industries for a living, and will make recommendations, sometimes without touching my heart. My suggestion for US Airways is this: Deep six yourselves, and do the world a favor. This situation is beyond hopeless, and a liquidation, followed by an infusion of capital to rebuild a smaller, more efficient, better run airline, is in order.

Your labor relations are miserable, your flight ops suck, and your hubs blow, to equalize the pressure. De-emphasizing PIT (an excellent airport) as a hub, and doubling up on PHL, an airport that gives DEL a good name (and I've been there) didn't help things when the system is strained.

Yea, yea, 30,000 people will be out of work, and the East Coast will have reduced capacity until someone steps into the breach. So what. US Airways is a marginal player in a crappy industry, and all they are doing is making life miserable for themselves, the rest of the airline industry, their passengers, and their employees. Sometimes vegetative patients need to euthanized if nothing can be done.

On the bright side, the reborn airline (Phoenix Airlines?) will rehire many of those 30,000 who choose to work for less in a better work environment. The rest, they can go open beauty salons or whatever.

Yeah, and what's wrong with beauty salons??

This is probably my first post here so excuse the intrusion but I have to chime in my 2 cents here. It seems that most of you are just blaming labor for what happened on Christmas. I agree that the workers who called in "sick" were just thinking of themselves and the ones who came are commedable... but how come I don't hear anyone blaming management for these problems?? Think about it - You've worked for an airline your entire life, you are continously told to take paycut after paycut but you agree since you need the job. Then you are told that the one thing you thought would never be taken from you is being taking from you - Retirement. And after all that, what incentive do you have to miss your biggest holiday and be away from your family? You all are complaining that you missed your holiday but what about those employees who got pay cuts, lost retirement benefits and are being told to miss THEIR holiday? Trust me, from personally working in the private sector, I know how people b*tch when they don't get raises or have to work on holidays. How would you feel if you got a pay cut, lost your retirement and are being told to work on Christmas? Again, I commend those who inspite of all that actually showed up to work that day.

Isn't this management blackmail that they tell you that if you want your job, you have to take paycut after paycut? Isn't it management problems in the first place that US Airways is doing so bad? (Worse that most majors). Wouldn't it be better for the airline to just go out if business and let the workers get re-trained and find better paying jobs or atleast similair jobs in other airlines that are doing better? For those of you who might say: Well that's easy for you to say but what about that single mother who lives paycheck to paycheck.. well to them I would reply that it's a result of US Airways pay cuts after paycuts that they are reduced to living paycheck to paycheck and if you continue to go down this route, you won't have any retirement to look forward to either...

Just read some of these articles and let me know what you would do in this situation:

http://www.usatoday.com/travel/news/2004-12-06-usair-retiree_x.htm?csp=34

http://www.forbes.com/work/feeds/ap/2004/10/16/ap1594072.html

If you dont get retirement, the least you can do is make enough money to save up for your own retirment. IMHO, the greater good is for 1-2 of these airlines to go under and then we can have a re-consolidation of the industry as a whole.

A US Airways spokesman appeared on the TODAY show (NBC) this morning. He confirmed that hundreds of employees had called in sick unexpectedly and simultaneously, but denied that there was a "mass sickout" going on ( :confused: ).

He was asked directly if he could assure the flying public that this same thing wouldn't happen again next weekend, when New Year's travelers will be out in force. He could not. He mumbled something about how many US employees are hard-working and there to serve you.

The poor guy looked completely defeated. Maybe today was his birthday and he didn't like having to work.

How would you feel if you got a pay cut, lost your retirement and are being told to work on Christmas?

I certainly wouldn't try to destroy my company while continuing to draw a check. I would quit and do something else.

Please note it is not evil managers who are deciding that airline labor is worth less. It is the marketplace. Veteran airline workers must face the fact that their labor is worth less, not more, as time passes -- and accept the macro trend or get out of the business.

Nobody is entitled to employment security and steadily rising income regardless of the effort they put in or the health of their industry.

I say again -- when the unions flush out the brothers and sisters whose sabotage sank US Airways this week and back their termination, then we'll be getting somewhere.

This is probably my first post here so excuse the intrusion but I have to chime in my 2 cents here. It seems that most of you are just blaming labor for what happened on Christmas. I agree that the workers who called in "sick" were just thinking of themselves and the ones who came are commedable... but how come I don't hear anyone blaming management for these problems?? Think about it - You've worked for an airline your entire life, you are continously told to take paycut after paycut but you agree since you need the job. Then you are told that the one thing you thought would never be taken from you is being taking from you - Retirement. And after all that, what incentive do you have to miss your biggest holiday and be away from your family? You all are complaining that you missed your holiday but what about those employees who got pay cuts, lost retirement benefits and are being told to miss THEIR holiday? Trust me, from personally working in the private sector, I know how people b*tch when they don't get raises or have to work on holidays. How would you feel if you got a pay cut, lost your retirement and are being told to work on Christmas? Again, I commend those who inspite of all that actually showed up to work that day.

Isn't this management blackmail that they tell you that if you want your job, you have to take paycut after paycut? Isn't it management problems in the first place that US Airways is doing so bad? (Worse that most majors). Wouldn't it be better for the airline to just go out if business and let the workers get re-trained and find better paying jobs or atleast similair jobs in other airlines that are doing better? For those of you who might say: Well that's easy for you to say but what about that single mother who lives paycheck to paycheck.. well to them I would reply that it's a result of US Airways pay cuts after paycuts that they are reduced to living paycheck to paycheck and if you continue to go down this route, you won't have any retirement to look forward to either...

I have to disagree with your assessment to some degree. If you are not happy with your current job, you are free to seek other employment else where. Why take your frustrations out on a third, innocent party? Besides, the management is asking for paycuts to save the thousands of jobs that would have been lost with liquidation. I do sympathsize for those who have to work for less pay since we all have bills to pay and mouths to feed. However, the bottom line is that the entire industry is currently in shambles because revenue is way down. How else can a company survive if it continues to lose money? Who is going to subsidize the losses? You?? I work in the health-care industry and if my employer tells me my pay will be cut, I would either accept the cut temporarily and find myself a new job in the mean time or take the cut if it's not substantial, but I will NEVER do anything to jeopardize the well being of my patients. Can you imagine your grandmother receiving inadequate care at a local hospital because it has just announced a wage cut on its employees??

LAX

And I agree with you but I don't think (and this is just my opinion) that a whole bunch of workers got together and said "Let's take off tomorrow and screw the company". Rather, individual workers who are disgruntled by all these cuts and didn't get their biggest holiday off decided to call in "sick" to be with their families or whatever. It was a simple "call in sick" that I'm sure many of us are guilty of at the workplace. It was unfortunate that a lot of workers seems to have the same idea for the day and it resulted in everything that happened. Many of you think there was a malicious intent here and while the result may make it seem so, I am just opening the possibility of it being an "innocent" sick call that coincidently many people ended up doing due to the holiday. And while not excusable, it was probably more of a "What difference does it make if I (one person) calls in sick". I haven't seen any information to the contrary as of yet....

(By the way, I was also a victim of a flight cancelation -my flight was also canceled this weekend).

I certainly wouldn't try to destroy my company while continuing to draw a check. I would quit and do something else.

Please note it is not evil managers who are deciding that airline labor is worth less. It is the marketplace. Veteran airline workers must face the fact that their labor is worth less, not more, as time passes -- and accept the macro trend or get out of the business.

Nobody is entitled to employment security and steadily rising income regardless of the effort they put in or the health of their industry.

I say again -- when the unions flush out the brothers and sisters whose sabotage sank US Airways this week and back their termination, then we'll be getting somewhere.

I couldn't agree more! Unless the general public is willing to pay more to fly, wages for airline workers will remain low. It's all about economics of the market. I have no intention to start any controversy or devalue any profession, but if the airline pilots who supposed have more education and a specific expertise (flying airplanes) are getting squeezed, how then would the less educated with little to no expertise airline workers not get squeezed? It's a harsh world out there--you will make a lot of money if you have valuable skills no other possesses (ie: professional althletes), but if you are easily replaceable, then the job goes to whoever is willing to work the hardest while costing the least amount (that's why many companies are outsourcing to cheap labors abroad). Life is not fair and sometimes sucks, but that's life!

LAX

Many of you think there was a malicious intent here and while the result may make it seem so, I am just opening the possibility of it being an "innocent" sick call....

Unfortunately, several FTers reported seeing US employees (apparently ramp people) at PHL laughing over the front-page New York Times coverage while on their coffee break, congratulating each other, and saying things like "They ain't seen nothing yet...". That sounds pretty malicious to me.

[[[[["[QUOTE=PrivatePilot]This is probably my first post here so excuse the intrusion but I have to chime in my 2 cents here. It seems that most of you are just blaming labor for what happened on Christmas. I agree that the workers who called in "sick" were just thinking of themselves and the ones who came are commedable... but how come I don't hear anyone blaming management for these problems?? Think about it - You've worked for an airline your entire life, you are continously told to take paycut after paycut but you agree since you need the job. Then you are told that the one thing you thought would never be taken from you is being taking from you - Retirement. And after all that, what incentive do you have to miss your biggest holiday and be away from your family? You all are complaining that you missed your holiday but what about those employees who got pay cuts, lost retirement benefits and are being told to miss THEIR holiday? Trust me, from personally working in the private sector, I know how people b*tch when they don't get raises or have to work on holidays. How would you feel if you got a pay cut, lost your retirement and are being told to work on Christmas? Again, I commend those who inspite of all that actually showed up to work that day.

Isn't this management blackmail that they tell you that if you want your job, you have to take paycut after paycut? Isn't it management problems in the first place that US Airways is doing so bad? (Worse that most majors). Wouldn't it be better for the airline to just go out if business and let the workers get re-trained and find better paying jobs or atleast similair jobs in other airlines that are doing better? For those of you who might say: Well that's easy for you to say but what about that single mother who lives paycheck to paycheck.. well to them I would reply that it's a result of US Airways pay cuts after paycuts that they are reduced to living paycheck to paycheck and if you continue to go down this route, you won't have any retirement to look forward to either..."]]]]]]]


I have to agree with LAX. You need to be completely inconsiderate of other people to say you will show up to work, and then not show up and ruin innocent peoples lives. The health care industry is a good example, if my hospital cut employees pay I wouldn't even consider the employees taking it out on the patients - it would be unethical if not illegal. Yet that is exactly what the PHL employees did. And if you don't think that spending time with family during a few precious days off, saving to get to see your parents for the holidays before they pass on, seeing your child after a divorce, and many other reasons people may travel over the holidays isn't important to your health then you wont really understand why everyone is upset here.

Unless the general public is willing to pay more to fly, wages for airline workers will remain low. It's all about economics of the market... Life is not fair and sometimes sucks, but that's life!

Yup. In the last few decades this has happened to Americans who make cars, televisions, computers, software and bicycles. Now it is happening to airline people. As a product commoditizes, whether it's a Schwinn or a ticket to Buffalo, the people who make it have to do it for less or make room for others who will.

I'm sure numerous airline people shop at Wal-Mart on Saturday, cheer the low prices, then go to work on Monday and complain about their shrunken paychecks. How do they think Wal-Mart prices got so low?

Unfortunately, several FTers reported seeing US employees (apparently ramp people) at PHL laughing over the front-page New York Times coverage while on their coffee break, congratulating each other, and saying things like "They ain't seen nothing yet...". That sounds pretty malicious to me.

If you don't fly them anymore, you don't have to "see nothing".

I stopped flying US months ago. And just used the last of my US miles last week. Will I fly them ever again after this past week? Highly unlikely.

If I had my pay cut 13%, I would be pretty darned upset myself, but I wouldn't take it out on hapless passengers who had nothing to do with the paycuts. I myself would have cut upper managment's pay long before the worker bees' pay got cut. How does ruining someone else's Xmas make things better for you and your co-workers? Just gets you faster to liquidation IMHO.

I agree with LAX, if you don't like the way things are going, either take your business elsewhere, or quit.

Well if there was truly a malicious intent than that is wrong and I AM NOT DEFENDING THAT. But it is wrong (as stating in my first post) to take away retirement benefits due to market conditions. These benefits are earned over time and should not taken away due to conditions in the market place now. It's like saying "Hey, we are doing bad now so how about returning the salary we gave you 5 years ago". The whole point was that if that's what the industry has been reduced to that then it's better for an airline to liquidate rather than stay in business under those conditions. It's easy to say I don't like my pay cut so I'll quit but what do you say to the 62 year old retiree who was guaranteed a retirement based on his/her terms of employment and is now told "sorry, no retirement anymore". Where is that person suppose to go? Work 40 years again to get a new retirement? All I was trying to say is that if a situation is that bad - it's better to fulfill your existing commitments and liquidate so that something better can emerge from your ashes rather than to bleed the workers out. It was a result of that that people get disgruntled and you have situations like you did this weekend (whether intentional or not).. I was not trying to defend them per say, just trying to establish the cause of it. Peace!

Yeah, and what's wrong with beauty salons??

Nothing, really. If you are a FA, it might appear that you are a "skilled worker", but those skills are not transferable. So, go do something else that you might enjoy, which wouldn't require much skill either, like running a beauty salon.

Well if there was truly a malicious intent than that is wrong and I AM NOT DEFENDING THAT. But it is wrong (as stating in my first post) to take away retirement benefits due to market conditions. These benefits are earned over time and should not taken away due to conditions in the market place now. It's like saying "Hey, we are doing bad now so how about returning the salary we gave you 5 years ago". The whole point was that if that's what the industry has been reduced to that then it's better for an airline to liquidate rather than stay in business under those conditions. It's easy to say I don't like my pay cut so I'll quit but what do you say to the 62 year old retiree who was guaranteed a retirement based on his/her terms of employment and is now told "sorry, no retirement anymore". Where is that person suppose to go? Work 40 years again to get a new retirement? All I was trying to say is that if a situation is that bad - it's better to fulfill your existing commitments and liquidate so that something better can emerge from your ashes rather than to bleed the workers out. It was a result of that that people get disgruntled and you have situations like you did this weekend (whether intentional or not).. I was not trying to defend them per say, just trying to establish the cause of it. Peace!

Well--I am not a lawyer, but the retirement plans that US wants to terminate do have some value attached with them. What happens to those plans at termination? Do employees get their share of benefits or value of the plan in proportion to the time they had accrued up until the time of plan termination?

.........................

It is "you're", not your, you would think someone in the US communications dept. would know better, on second thought, NOT.

Are my flying habits that important to you? I guess you are wondering how inept management, pitiful operational policies, a stupid business strategy and a broad spectrum of front line employees (ranging from absolutely outstanding to absolutely pitiful) haven't managed to run me off yet?

To be honest, I just wanted some status to try and burn off my 1/2 million miles I am still stuck with, but these miles will definitely go down with the ship, now.

Hope you are happy, Nero.

I am just amazed how much you complain about this airline and you still choose to fly them.

im not a supporter of The Unions in general. And who was right and who was wrong doesnt matter much once it hit the fan.
What I dont understand is why there werent any pictures of the CEO and the other top mgmt people helping to sort the bags at PHL and get them on their way. Where were these people and why if they care about the Carrier as much as they say they do, Why didnt they make their way to PHL even if they had to drive in their cars, in order to chip in. Heck a pic of that alone might have been worth Mils in PR. Is that they too wanted to be at home or where ever they were with their family's. Or is it that they really themselves dont care either! At least as long as they can still pull a nice paycheck each week and with a liquidation or not they know that their salary will be covered.
Im sorry but under the circumstances if they didnt get there on Fri then for sure on xMas day if not then- then on Sun. But they didnt get there anytime, however they do want the Judge to give them discreation to kill all existing contracts as they seem fit. Their own should be the first ones to VOID out. As for those clowns(ground crews) who thought this was a kool joke they too should get the exit door without any benefits and see how funny that will be.
Who is at fault. BOTH SIDES, Who suffers The Flying public. No way should present mgmt be allowed to continue to run US as is or in any form. Those employees who called in sick and werent should be found out and Fired w/o any further ado. Mgmt who didnt care to show up and lend ahand should also be fired without any further ado. Saying its not my job etc just doesnt cut it any longer.

I couldn't agree more! Unless the general public is willing to pay more to fly, wages for airline workers will remain low. ... Life is not fair and sometimes sucks, but that's life!

LAX
I agree too. And if wages for airline workers get too low, many airline workers will decide it is worth more for them to stay at home on Christmas rather than to go to work and earn peanuts.

To play devil's advocate for a moment... That's not fair and may suck for those who have their Christmas plans disrupted because of it, but that's life!

This country is rapidly getting the airline system the general public is willing to pay for.

But it is wrong (as stating in my first post) to take away retirement benefits due to market conditions. These benefits are earned over time and should not taken away due to conditions in the market place now. It's like saying "Hey, we are doing bad now so how about returning the salary we gave you 5 years ago". The whole point was that if that's what the industry has been reduced to that then it's better for an airline to liquidate rather than stay in business under those conditions. It's easy to say I don't like my pay cut so I'll quit but what do you say to the 62 year old retiree who was guaranteed a retirement based on his/her terms of employment and is now told "sorry, no retirement anymore". Where is that person suppose to go? Work 40 years again to get a new retirement? All I was trying to say is that if a situation is that bad - it's better to fulfill your existing commitments and liquidate so that something better can emerge from your ashes rather than to bleed the workers out. It was a result of that that people get disgruntled and you have situations like you did this weekend (whether intentional or not).. I was not trying to defend them per say, just trying to establish the cause of it. Peace!

I am no lawyer and I am not familiar with pension plans, thus this is more of an inquiry than a comment. How can a company that no longer exist fulfill its commitments? Are you suggesting that US should liquidate right now and try to turn every asset it owns into cash and divide them to everyone that US has a commitment to? How much valuable asset does US currently have? How much of the pie will each one receive--enough for everyone to retire comfortably? Who is going to get first dip--the ATSB, retirees, current employees, or other creditors? I thought US is on the verge of liquidation because it does not have enough money to fulfill all of its financial obligations?! I certainly feel sorry for those retirees that will be affected by the demise of US, but I wonder if they would have a better chance of recouping their "hard-earned" benefits from a healthy US or a defunct US??

LAX

I am no lawyer and I am not familiar with pension plans, thus this is more of an inquiry than a comment. How can a company that no longer exist fulfill its commitments? Are you suggesting that US should liquidate right now and try to turn every asset it owns into cash and divide them to everyone that US has a commitment to? How much valuable asset does US currently have? How much of the pie will each one receive--enough for everyone to retire comfortably? Who is going to get first dip--the ATSB, retirees, current employees, or other creditors? I thought US is on the verge of liquidation because it does not have enough money to fulfill all of its financial obligations?! I certainly feel sorry for those retirees that will be affected by the demise of US, but I wonder if they would have a better chance of recouping their "hard-earned" benefits from a healthy US or a defunct US??

LAX

Having been a creditor to a bankrupt corporation I can answer this question (admittedly not as an attorney).

I know outstanding payroll (and I think a slice of retirement plans) has priority over everything else. But if you are not a preferred shareholder or the IRS, you basically will get nothing. A nickel on the dollar is considered lucky. I'd think either way the pension plans are in deep sh**. This is why people should not keep too many eggs in their employer basket.

Having been a creditor to a bankrupt corporation I can answer this question (admittedly not as an attorney).

I know outstanding payroll (and I think a slice of retirement plans) has priority over everything else. But if you are not a preferred shareholder or the IRS, you basically will get nothing. A nickel on the dollar is considered lucky. I'd think either way the pension plans are in deep sh**. This is why people should not keep too many eggs in their employer basket.

Thanks for the info. If it's accurate, that why I think the employees should have pulled together to help the airline compete rather than drive it to the ground. They have not much to gain (nickel on the dollar!), but everything to lose. Well, I guess we will soon see a much longer line at the unemployment office thanks to those few reckless & heartless individuals who didn't think about their actions before they acted.

LAX

I am no lawyer and I am not familiar with pension plans, thus this is more of an inquiry than a comment. How can a company that no longer exist fulfill its commitments? Are you suggesting that US should liquidate right now and try to turn every asset it owns into cash and divide them to everyone that US has a commitment to? How much valuable asset does US currently have? How much of the pie will each one receive--enough for everyone to retire comfortably? Who is going to get first dip--the ATSB, retirees, current employees, or other creditors? I thought US is on the verge of liquidation because it does not have enough money to fulfill all of its financial obligations?! I certainly feel sorry for those retirees that will be affected by the demise of US, but I wonder if they would have a better chance of recouping their "hard-earned" benefits from a healthy US or a defunct US??

LAX

Defined benefit pension plans must be pre-funded per ERISA (Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974). Theoretically, retirees will get every dollar of pension they were awarded because all those dollars were contributed by US Air/US Airways in the past, and are merely sitting in an investment account earning interest.

Of course, if the plan is under-funded and the company is in bankruptcy, retirees likely won't be getting their full benefit. While it's too late to turn back the clock, clearly a 401(k) plan would have been much better. You give the employee matching funds and the money permanently belongs to the employee, no exceptions.

6 posts a day defending the indefensible and you tell ME to get a life?

And by the way, if everyone who complained about the ineptitude exhibited at US would cease flying them all these problems of the past few days would be solved, and the only worry would be the drain on the unemployment system in PA and NC.

Take it outside, you guys. :rolleyes:

Take it outside, you guys. :rolleyes:


Aww schucks... I just made some popcorn. :p

Nothing, really. If you are a FA, it might appear that you are a "skilled worker", but those skills are not transferable. So, go do something else that you might enjoy, which wouldn't require much skill either, like running a beauty salon.

Off-topic, but that's a pretty unfair comment. Running a beauty salon strikes me as a rather involved, difficult job. Marketing, pricing, dealing with vendors, purchasing and fulfillment, payroll and benefits, customer satisfaction, hiring and firing employees, ensuring employees' skillsets and licenses/certifications remain up to date, and having your own customers to boot, just like any other small business.

I wouldn't consider running a beauty salon a low-skill job.

6 posts a day defending the indefensible and you tell ME to get a life?

And by the way, if everyone who complained about the ineptitude exhibited at US would cease flying them all these problems of the past few days would be solved, and the only worry would be the drain on the unemployment system in PA and NC.

I have gotten a few PM's to stop this so I am. And for your info I have not had time to respond. I am in Spain now and I have to get to work. I am not going to have time to continue this soap opera.

And who was right and who was wrong doesnt matter much once it hit the fan.

at the end of the day maybe this is all that really matters. Without the full truth out there these mistakes will be repeated and the offenders will go unpunished. It something called character and responsibility. Airlines may come and go but I sincerely hope that basic Truth will always be our guiding light.

Off-topic, but that's a pretty unfair comment. Running a beauty salon strikes me as a rather involved, difficult job. Marketing, pricing, dealing with vendors, purchasing and fulfillment, payroll and benefits, customer satisfaction, hiring and firing employees, ensuring employees' skillsets and licenses/certifications remain up to date, and having your own customers to boot, just like any other small business.

I wouldn't consider running a beauty salon a low-skill job.

Point taken. Then that bodes even worse for the FAs that have no other skills besides being an FA.

Then that bodes even worse for the FAs that have no other skills besides being an FA.

Sure they do. They can all get jobs waiting tables at Denny's. Anything more sophisticated and they might actually expect you to show up for work.

Sure they do. They can all get jobs waiting tables at Denny's. Anything more sophisticated and they might actually expect you to show up for work.


Gee, thanks a lot guys for all of the nice compliments. I think f/a's possess a lot of skills, one of the biggest being able to shrug off comments like this and still keep a smile on our faces. I would love to be able to continue reading this thread, but I'm going to work tomorrow to fly over New Year's AND my birthday...without a single complaint about having to work on either.
Happy New Year

Sure they do. They can all get jobs waiting tables at Denny's. Anything more sophisticated and they might actually expect you to show up for work.

This type of comment is so unproductive and useless. Honestly, does it make you feel better about yourself to put down others this way? Is your life that miserable that you need to belittle others to feel better about yourself? I know F/A's that have PHD's, law degrees, master degrees. Not just a few but a fair number. They all chose this line of work for different reasons. Some thought it would be a brief break after their schooling was finished, and they ended up staying. Others tried to work in the fields they recieved their degrees in and just didn't enjoy what they were doing. In any case, F/A's are capable of alot more then waiting on your sorry a$$. They CHOSE this field. In most cases - many, many years ago - probably before you were even out of high school.

For the record - their were 304 sick calls on Christmas eve at US Airways, as opposed to 297 the year before. Sick calls were not the only reason this happened. A little bad weather, typical holiday sick call numbers and management without any kind of a plan in place to handle such things, despite the fact that the sick calls come every year at the same time.

For the record - their were 304 sick calls on Christmas eve at US Airways, as opposed to 297 the year before. Sick calls were not the only reason this happened. A little bad weather, typical holiday sick call numbers and management without any kind of a plan in place to handle such things, despite the fact that the sick calls come every year at the same time.


Is this 304 F/A,s or does that number include baggage handlers? It sounds like the surprise was the number of baggage people that called in sick, more than the FAs, if I'm reading stuff right.

I'm lucky, my one flight over the holiday was on the thursday before Christmas Eve, when the weather was a delaying factor but none of the real ugliness had set in yet. Phew.

Edited to add: According to an AP article, those numbers are for F/As. I wonder what they would be for baggage handlers.

I have never seen more mean spirited comments against FAs as I have on this website. I do not work for US. I hold a college degree from a top notch East Coast University. I chose this job pre 911 when things were much different. If and when my airline goes belly up, I will be able to find gainful employment. I have already been asked back to work for the financial institution I previously worked for in a a managerial capacity.
I have worked with some great people and I have had the honor to have great passengers. I find it extremely offensive the callousness in general of the flying public towards FAs. Never have I put someone down for their career choice and considered them "dumb". Shame on some of you.

Sure they do. They can all get jobs waiting tables at Denny's. Anything more sophisticated and they might actually expect you to show up for work.

Wow that was low and totally unnecessary. It's comments like yours and possibly the attitude shown by you towards FAs that some of them act negatively towards you.

No matter what, they have a right to have the same level of respect as any other people in this world and instead of looking down on them like that, perhaps you could reflect on yourself first.

Gee, thanks a lot guys for all of the nice compliments. I think f/a's possess a lot of skills, one of the biggest being able to shrug off comments like this and still keep a smile on our faces. I would love to be able to continue reading this thread, but I'm going to work tomorrow to fly over New Year's AND my birthday...without a single complaint about having to work on either.
Happy New Year

To those hard working USAirways Flight Attendants who I have offended with my prior post, I apologize. Due to the recent debacle at PHL which was caused, in some part, by a small group of uncaring and employees, I tarred a whole profession due to the actions of a militant few. This I do regret. Therefore, to those employees of US who really want to work for the airline you have my sincere best wishes for the New Year.

To those few employees who seem H*ll bent on taking down the company – please act with some shred of dignity and resign. Your vendetta against the company will only serve to harm your fellow works and innocent passengers.

I can totally see why, in the heyday of aviation, people would chose to be a FA even though they have Phd's etc. Its a very smart thing to do, and those who chose to do this shouldn't be belittled for doing so.

The Union's took a great "stepping-stone" job and made it a very lucrative career opportunity for people. Those who chose this career opportunity were very smart for doing so. They got more money then they would've gotten had they gotten out, so chose to make it a career. Unfortunately, that career opportunity wasn't necessarily born out of the true economics of the situation (e.g. they possessed a unique skill that was worth the price being paid by the industry). Now that the market has come to equillibrium, the Union's have lost power and this career opportunity is really gone. Being a FA is once again something that one will do for a limited amount of time while they obtain skills that make them worth more. This is good for society as it reflects the true needs of the market.

That said, most US FA's will probably go on to do EVEN GREATER things with their lives if they are young enough to move on. In my dealings with them, most of them are fanstatic, intelligent, hardworking individuals that may have some rough times in the next few years if the airline crumbles. But in the long term they will be fine, and will hopefully acheive even more post-US then they were ever able to acheive in their Union protected roll at US.

I write computer software which, for now, is a lucrative thing to do. One day I will be obsolete. Something else will come along. Life is not static and we have to be willing to change constantly. When I become obsolete I will do something else. Its not easy, but it is for the good of society that this occurs. I feel bad for those who don't plan for this in their lives and end up in a situation where they are too old to adjust to the everchanging labor market.

Sean



I have never seen more mean spirited comments against FAs as I have on this website. I do not work for US. I hold a college degree from a top notch East Coast University. I chose this job pre 911 when things were much different. If and when my airline goes belly up, I will be able to find gainful employment. I have already been asked back to work for the financial institution I previously worked for in a a managerial capacity.
I have worked with some great people and I have had the honor to have great passengers. I find it extremely offensive the callousness in general of the flying public towards FAs. Never have I put someone down for their career choice and considered them "dumb". Shame on some of you.

Sure they do. They can all get jobs waiting tables at Denny's. Anything more sophisticated and they might actually expect you to show up for work.


Wow...why don't you tell us how you really feel?

Blondie
(formerly an airline Sales Manager, Business Development Manager for a cruise line, MBA from W&M, currently f/a for a "regional" carrier.)

Is this 304 F/A,s or does that number include baggage handlers? It sounds like the surprise was the number of baggage people that called in sick, more than the FAs, if I'm reading stuff right.

I'm lucky, my one flight over the holiday was on the thursday before Christmas Eve, when the weather was a delaying factor but none of the real ugliness had set in yet. Phew.

Edited to add: According to an AP article, those numbers are for F/As. I wonder what they would be for baggage handlers.

This useful comment begins to get to the bottom of what went wrong, for if the F/A figures are correct then about the same number were absent this year as last year.

But while those US employees who falsely called in sick deserve the all the resentment they're getting, it seems that US management is getting off easy in a lot of posts here. Management is supposed to prepare for contingencies, and one contingency here was that more folks than usual would not make it to work. Whether or not the "sick-out" was coordinated, it was reasonable to plan for the possibility that, whatever the reason, there might be a need to call in substitute workers or have other back-up options (though I admit I can't think of what options might work other than arranging for substitutes). What makes such planning all the more necessary is that US has stretched its staffing to the bare minimum on duty at a given time, which means that any dip in the numbers showing up could be expected to seriously disrupt its system.

I agree with the posts saying the the unions and their dedicated members should at least make statements and if possible take action against those who maliciously called in sick--or on a positive note, state that they will strive to limit members sick calls to absolutely necessary situations. But what worries me more than the attitudes of any employees is the apparent incompetence of management in failing to anticipate that, one way or another (whether through sick calls or some other development), it might end up having staffing levels below the bare minimum on a busy day.

Management did try to take some pro-active steps. There has been some sort of program going on, as others have suggested there should be, to reward attendance. I think it is a free trip or something of that ilk -- not the free car that other companies have used but given US' financial state I'm not sure they could have done much more along those lines. They're sort of damned if they do, damned if they don't -- the US Aviation pundits excortiate them for not doing something more but they'd also ridicule them for wasting badly needed dollars if they did...

I've got to agree that highly visible, personal and on the spot senior management attention would have helped a lot on the sympathy and good PR front. Grievances and goons be darned.

I flew US Air over the Christmas weekend. We were delayed 4 hours out of DCA (and a hour coming back) In all areas, the US employees who were there were professional and extremely nice, even though the airport was a mob scene. For that I commend them.
Now... for those who are pointing fingers at employees who called in sick. Have you ever heard of the policy of "use them or lose them"? How many of you did the exact same thing at your jobs? That policy is open for abuse. On top of the pay cuts, I probably would have done the same thing if I were in their shoes.
I hate to see US Air go, but I think its demise is eminent.
.

The workers shoulf fight back at US Air and other airlines. It was government deregulation policy (yes voted on by OUR reps in Congress) that created this whole mess. WalMart in the sky----al designed to lower workers wages.
I support working people with the guts to fight back.
If we don't stop this hemmorage of good jobs there will be no middle class as we know it.

As a road warrior who depended upon USAir’s hub at PIT for non-stop flights in the 70's (The City of Champions!) then once again after the millennium, my major criticism was the high fares because PIT is not a gateway city. However PIT is a great airport provided the concessions are open.

On Christmas Day 2001, we had been issued a FIM by another carrier, who, after enduring two four hour security checks because their plane was missing a part that had to be flown in from Alaska, finally flew us from HNL to the “wrong city” on the West Coast. This caused an entire plane to miss Christmas with family and young children were wailing at the loss! I had a positive travel experience with USAIR because their ticket agent in SFO wearing a Santa cap actually fit that role. He cheerfully honored our Christmas Eve red-eye tickets from LAX to PIT. There are good folks at USAIR that interface with their customers.


However, since 1998 through present, except on International flights, how USAIR treats its customers has precipitously degraded. The TSA aftermath of 911 compounded that abuse. If it is a fact, that the present CEO has not ceded any significant portion of his compensation package while demanding sacrifices of nearly everyone else, that is despicable. Even if he did inherit a debacle from Steven Wolf, the former CEO, I can understand the frustration of the long and short-term USAIR workforce.

In the balance every business must have loyal, satisfied customers and there in lies the failure. Management and practices in the "back office" that never face the flying public are culpable. Executives, accountants, attorneys and programmers who (they are people to be held accountable) drive anal policies/procedures, implement dynamic pricing, impose ridiculous rules/regulations, write software constraints with customer/user-unfriendly interfaces plus limits on seats/date availability.

Much of my personal dissatisfaction occurred because, as was evident on the news, when flights are delayed/cancelled and baggage is lost or rerouting is necessary- the passenger perception is that lies prevail. Then there’s the wait, voice menus and being passed to/from the various 1-800- FU call centers also cited in those news reports. Costly nonstop or direct flights become connections thru CLT or PHL. Connections are not held for misconnects. USAIR is stingy with vouchers and when grudgingly provided they're usually insufficient for sustenance where they can be spent. Trying to use our customer loyalty DM earned through paid flights is best described in the David Spade “No!” TV commercial. The website makes that even more difficult should more than one account, multiple travelers and destinations be involved. Given how often and at what expense I have flown myself and family over the years it's insulting to be served a cold sandwich in first class and expected to purchase tasteless food in coach during meal times.


With gratitude that my days as a road warrior are over


undefinedI guess I was one of the lucky ones, since I arrived the same day I left. I was scheduled on the first flight out BOS-PIT yesterday. My flight was cancelled because of a "missing crew member". If this was legitimate or planned, I don't know and I don't care. In an unbelievable display of desperation, the GA agent at BOS made an announcement that "you might as well go home, you aren't going anywhere today in this airline", and "I have no idea what you should do, just go home."

The monitors at the terminal were mysteriously turned off, so there was no way to find out what was going on, and the wait at the 1-800 number was 37 minutes. So, I walk down the terminal, find a plane boarding, and ask where it was going. The agent said PHL, so I said, I'll get on, worst case I'll drive from PHL to PIT. He put me on the BOS-PHL, then onwards PHL-PIT. The printer was broken at the gate in BOS, so I get on the plane without any BP. It was the 7:00 AM BOS-PHL, which didn't leave until 8:30 or so. I then miss the 9:45 PHL-PIT, so I wait around for the 11:30, which eventually left at around 12:30, arriving in PIT at 1:30 PM or so.

My original BOS-PIT flight was full (overbooked, apparently from spillover chaos from the last two days due to "weather"). Now, all of those people will need to be re-scheduled and worked through the system, adding untold hours of work for US Airways (time that the airline could use to do other things, like run the airline), backing up the system for a while, and generating a fair amount of ill-will that US Airways really can't afford. All due to the actions of a single missing FA. Beautiful.

In my business, I analyze companies and industries for a living, and will make recommendations, sometimes without touching my heart. My suggestion for US Airways is this: Deep six yourselves, and do the world a favor. This situation is beyond hopeless, and a liquidation, followed by an infusion of capital to rebuild a smaller, more efficient, better run airline, is in order.

Your labor relations are miserable, your flight ops suck, and your hubs blow, to equalize the pressure. De-emphasizing PIT (an excellent airport) as a hub, and doubling up on PHL, an airport that gives DEL a good name (and I've been there) didn't help things when the system is strained.

Yea, yea, 30,000 people will be out of work, and the East Coast will have reduced capacity until someone steps into the breach. So what. US Airways is a marginal player in a crappy industry, and all they are doing is making life miserable for themselves, the rest of the airline industry, their passengers, and their employees. Sometimes vegetative patients need to euthanized if nothing can be done.

On the bright side, the reborn airline (Phoenix Airlines?) will rehire many of those 30,000 who choose to work for less in a better work environment. The rest, they can go open beauty salons or whatever.

Gosh, imagine that -- the horror! the horror! Perhaps that attitude explains some of US's problems.


I am finally able to hold off my b-day (3/5). And, it only took 9(nine) years!!!!

You know, I prefer not to work on my birthday. If it's a Friday or Monday I'll generally take that day off.

It's just so much more relaxing that way. And phooey on anyone who thinks I should be happy to work that day. :)

For the record - their were 304 sick calls on Christmas eve at US Airways, as opposed to 297 the year before. Sick calls were not the only reason this happened. A little bad weather, typical holiday sick call numbers and management without any kind of a plan in place to handle such things, despite the fact that the sick calls come every year at the same time.

If the FAs and baggage handlers are complaining that staff has been cut "to the bone", then having the same number of sick days would imply that sick-days, as a percentage of the workforce, have increased substantially. E.g., if 20% of the FAs were either furloughed or not flying due to capacity cutbacks, then having the same number of sick-outs would equate a 20% increase. The same logic would hold for the baggage handlers...

If the FAs and baggage handlers are complaining that staff has been cut "to the bone", then having the same number of sick days would imply that sick-days, as a percentage of the workforce, have increased substantially. E.g., if 20% of the FAs were either furloughed or not flying due to capacity cutbacks, then having the same number of sick-outs would equate a 20% increase. The same logic would hold for the baggage handlers...
Excellent point...the number of sick outs is spread over less people! Didn't think of that until you brought it up.

The media probably would never pick up on this either.

Thanks,

Sean

Now... for those who are pointing fingers at employees who called in sick. Have you ever heard of the policy of "use them or lose them"? How many of you did the exact same thing at your jobs? That policy is open for abuse. On top of the pay cuts, I probably would have done the same thing if I were in their shoes.

"Use them or lose them?" I don't disagree with using your sick time if you can't carry it over the next year, but how long ago did they find out about this policy?? Just before the holidays? Please don't defend what's so inexcusable! They could have chosen other times to use their sick time, but no, they had to stick it to management while screwing every passengers' holiday. I realize the FA's and baggage handlers also have family to spend the holiday with, but don't all police, firefighters, health-care workers do as well? Wouldn't it be nice if we all can have the holiday off?? Life doesn't work that way. If you choose to work in the airline industry (or any industries that require working on weekends and holidays), then be prepared to spend a few holidays away from home!

LAX

So...Now where do "we" go for compensation???? Any Ideas...

Keep in mind I'm a USAirways fan & generally support labor actions where people aren't hurt (ie: it is made public, sales drop, point is made with minimal damage to customers).

BUT

After today, I hope that the employees that called in sick today have the pleasure of having next Christmas off with no pay.

My wife's flight was cancelled this morning in CLT due to lack of crew she was just connecting there from DTW. There was no one in the terminal that would help the stranded passengers, you couldn't get through to the 800#, and after she wasn't able to get on standby to AUA on the last flight of the day she was directed to go out front. After 5+ hours (I'm not kidding) in line, she was rebooked to ATL tonight, put up in a Red Roof Inn, then ATL to MIA on AA tomorrow, then 5 hrs. in MIA, then finally AUA by 9:30pm on AA (a day and a half past her original arrival).

MERRY CHRISTMAS faithful USAirways customers!

I experienced the shortage of mechanics quite vividly on 12/23, FT 4883, out of LGA to Ithaca, NY.
We lost an engine. It was pouring rain and turbulence and we had to return to LaGuardia. We were only 10 minutes out, altitude 3,000, and it took a half hour (of terror) to return in complete cloud cover.
The FA was terrific, and though she was clearly scared herself, attended to the passengers, about 30, while we were circling as they cleared the runway at LGA.
And the pilot was a pro, though he said he'd only experienced a breakdown like this on the flight simulator.
The crew works for Colgan Air, operating under US Airways.
When we finally made it back, WHEW!, there was not one soul from US Air available to greet us or manage the next step. We had to get in line with everyone else and deal with clueless ticket agents who kept calling the main office and getting vague plans that didn't materialize. Four hours later, we got another flight, but never set eyes on a representative of US Airways.
I suspect that our aircraft was not checked properly before takeoff. The last I heard they still didn't know what was wrong with the plane.

Take care on US Air!

And the pilot was a pro, though he said he'd only experienced a breakdown like this on the flight simulator.

Yikes--I hope the pilot said that after you were back on the ground..... :eek:

Yikes--I hope the pilot said that after you were back on the ground..... :eek:

You would prefer that engine's failed with such regularity that most pilots have had one? :)

Now... for those who are pointing fingers at employees who called in sick. Have you ever heard of the policy of "use them or lose them"? How many of you did the exact same thing at your jobs?

Use it or lose it? Yes, that's my company policy. Has been for the 12 years I've been there. I lose about 10 days a year. I've never "called in well". It's lying, it's cheating, it's wrong.

And anyone who does it should be fired.

You would prefer that engine's failed with such regularity that most pilots have had one? :)

hehehe

I suppose its more in the category of "things you never want to hear over the aircraft's PA system"---

--"Folks, we lost an engine, but I have dealt with this in the simulator"

--"Don't worry folks--we lost an engine--but this happens all the time."