AS 1409 JFK-LAX (11/25/2018) - No In-Seat Power, IFE or Wi-Fi
Nov 26, 2018, 1:18 pm
#31
Join Date: May 2003
Location: SFO, mostly
Posts: 2,203
I have taken 7 flights on ex-VX Airbus planes since the merger completed, and RED worked on every flight. Maybe I'm just lucky, but I haven't encountered any planes that looked really run down inside. A little wear and tear, one flight had some lav issues, but overall nothing major. The main thing I notice is how much more comfortable the VX Y seats are compared to the rock slabs on AS. In terms of run-down aircraft, some flights I took on HP, US and AA over the past 10-15 years really come to mind. Funny how all those airlines had Doug Parker at the helm...
Nov 26, 2018, 1:23 pm
#32
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: Over the Bay Bridge, CA
Programs: Jumbo mas
Posts: 38,602
I'm not a frequent AS flier, but on any carrier equating an IFE and in-cabin power absence to a pending "Major incident" is such hyperbole. The FAA regulates the heck out of aircraft, which is a good thing for safety records. Will AS stop maintaining the pmVX cabins? Maybe, I can't comment on that. But will AS keep them safe for flying? Yes.
Nov 26, 2018, 1:24 pm
#33
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: LAX
Programs: AS MVPG, IHG Diamond Elite
Posts: 1,445
Does anyone know the details of ownership of the Airbus aircraft? Are they owned or leased? If leased, how long are they obligated to hold onto them? How quickly could they procure new 737 aircraft from Boeing? Do they get any preferential treatment in new aircraft orders?
https://www.fool.com/investing/2017/...bus-fleet.aspx
Nov 26, 2018, 1:28 pm
#34
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 10,904
I'm not a frequent AS flier, but on any carrier equating an IFE and in-cabin power absence to a pending "Major incident" is such hyperbole. The FAA regulates the heck out of aircraft, which is a good thing for safety records. Will AS stop maintaining the pmVX cabins? Maybe, I can't comment on that. But will AS keep them safe for flying? Yes.
Nov 26, 2018, 1:33 pm
#35
Join Date: May 2006
Location: TUS/PDX
Programs: WN CP/A-List, AS MVPG75K
Posts: 5,798
Could you please explain how "issues with seats and IFE" are related to safety of flight?
Nov 26, 2018, 1:34 pm
#36
In Memoriam, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: Benicia CA
Programs: Alaska MVP Gold 75K, AA 3.8MM, UA 1.1MM, enjoying the retired life
Posts: 31,849
Nov 27, 2018, 11:04 am
#37
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: SEA
Programs: AS MVPG, UA Gold 1MM (the unfriendly sky), Marriott Gold, Hyatt Exp, Hertz no longer
Posts: 64
IFE or electrical plugs not working is a standard occurrence on lots of planes of lots of airlines. I have stopped counting how many time there was no electricity on UA planes ...
You don't send a plane for maintenance each time a convenience feature is not working. Taking a plane out of production is something that need to be scheduled weeks in advance.
AS doesn't cut corner on safety maintenance, the airline that has been caught not maintaining safety standard by the FAA is SW.
SW just grounded 34 planes for not meeting FAA standards (and it's not the first time it happened).
For the people that have concern about their safety, it is not AS that should be avoided!
You don't send a plane for maintenance each time a convenience feature is not working. Taking a plane out of production is something that need to be scheduled weeks in advance.
AS doesn't cut corner on safety maintenance, the airline that has been caught not maintaining safety standard by the FAA is SW.
SW just grounded 34 planes for not meeting FAA standards (and it's not the first time it happened).
For the people that have concern about their safety, it is not AS that should be avoided!
Nov 27, 2018, 11:58 am
#38
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: SEA
Posts: 239
There still is an Airbus maintenance base at JFK. Staffed by both company and vendor mechanics.
DAL is the only company staffed station that has been closed since the merger.
DAL is the only company staffed station that has been closed since the merger.
Nov 27, 2018, 12:22 pm
#39
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: LAX, BOS, and Seat 1A
Programs: DL Plat, VS Gold, UA Plat, VX Gold (RIP), AS MVP 75K, Starriot Plat, Hertz President's Circle
Posts: 387
When you say "company staffed" are you referring to MX or gate agents as well?
DAL served as a defacto base for the 319 fleet; not sure if this was by design (to consolidate MX or other 319-specific routine needs to one base) or by necessity (DAL flights had systemically low loads, so basing the 319s there makes sense). It used to be that the 319s basically circled between DAL-LAX-SFO-DAL-LGA-DAL-DCA-DAL-SFO-LAX-DAL with half of the subfleet (5/10 ships) remaining overnight at DAL on any given day.
Were the ground staff contracted out too?
Haven't had a need to go to Dallas since the merger, but whatever happened with VX's "First Class Check-In" lounge? I assume that got tossed -- it was only two white $4.5k Eames Lounge Chairs, a desk, a minifridge, and some white fluffy temporary walls, occupying about 20 square feet.
Nov 27, 2018, 12:26 pm
#40
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: SFO
Programs: AS, UA, WN, IHG Diamond Elite, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Gold, CET 7*
Posts: 3,293
Last month, on an EWR-SFO flight, the crew made the decision to fly with one nav computer down (ie. no backup). After the flight, I had a chance to speak with the pilot.
He explained that since the merger, AS has cut full-time exVX maintenance resources at east coast airports and now solely use contractors. The switch to contractors saves AS money, but the downside is they do not A) have as many parts on-hand and B) take longer to show up and C) can't fix all of the issues the previous maintenance crews could. The result is that AS pilots flying from east coast airports are stuck making less-than-ideal decisions when equipment goes out: either cancel a flight, or fly without key equipment. Most of the time this is not a safety issue, but reportedly sometimes it is.
In my case, this was a senior pilot. He said he was completely comfortable flying without a nav computer backup. His co-pilot was nervous, having less flight experience, but went along with the senior officer's decision. All told, this appears to be one of the unfortunate realities of AS cost-cutting.
He explained that since the merger, AS has cut full-time exVX maintenance resources at east coast airports and now solely use contractors. The switch to contractors saves AS money, but the downside is they do not A) have as many parts on-hand and B) take longer to show up and C) can't fix all of the issues the previous maintenance crews could. The result is that AS pilots flying from east coast airports are stuck making less-than-ideal decisions when equipment goes out: either cancel a flight, or fly without key equipment. Most of the time this is not a safety issue, but reportedly sometimes it is.
In my case, this was a senior pilot. He said he was completely comfortable flying without a nav computer backup. His co-pilot was nervous, having less flight experience, but went along with the senior officer's decision. All told, this appears to be one of the unfortunate realities of AS cost-cutting.