AA PHX FA Base Expects 700 FAs to Relocate
Feb 14, 2019, 10:45 pm
#16
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 7,875
I guess it was discussed in the Alaska forum since last summer.
It's been over half a year. No new announcements. I doubt it.
Feb 14, 2019, 11:34 pm
#17
Join Date: Jul 2017
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As someone who flies from ONT, a small airport with few direct flights, this would be great for my status but horrible for my Friday nights and Sunday mornings.
Feb 14, 2019, 11:35 pm
#18
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: SEA
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They don't know what they want to do with SEA or the west coast for that matter. Buying smaller airlines, once having wide bodies, an AC at the end of C then a new one in A and finally a couple gates at D. AS and AA have gone different directions and there's really no reason that OW would want them.
Feb 15, 2019, 12:26 am
#19
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Wouldn't a hub like PHX have a few thousand FAs based there? I thought I recalled some stats for AA which showed that PHX had a much higher percentage of mainline flights versus Eagle flights than most of AA's other hubs. Maybe they are planning to replace more mainline flying there with Eagle.
Feb 15, 2019, 12:38 am
#20
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Delta CEO Ed Bastian is fond of saying that any business that gives away more than half of its best product for free is not setting itself up for success. But Alaska executives continue to think differently, saying they want to keep setting aside at least 50 percent of their first class seats for elite-level frequent flyers.
Feb 15, 2019, 1:06 am
#21
Join Date: Nov 2013
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They don't know what they want to do with SEA or the west coast for that matter. Buying smaller airlines, once having wide bodies, an AC at the end of C then a new one in A and finally a couple gates at D. AS and AA have gone different directions and there's really no reason that OW would want them.
I don't know much about SEA except it's hub to AS/DL and I dunno why AA would try to squeeze in when they have PHX locked up pretty nicely. Assuming cost of living is a factor in salary negotiations, PHX hubs would be cheaper than SEA too for the crew.
Feb 15, 2019, 1:43 am
#22
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: YYJ
Posts: 4,137
That's not what's happening.
There's a single contract now and AA is rebalancing the bases.
A large chunk of LAX flying is currently operated by PHX-based crews.
AA is increasing their LAX base by a similar 700.
JonNYC posted a link to this supposedly-internal memo on his twitter yesterday:
There's a single contract now and AA is rebalancing the bases.
A large chunk of LAX flying is currently operated by PHX-based crews.
AA is increasing their LAX base by a similar 700.
JonNYC posted a link to this supposedly-internal memo on his twitter yesterday:
Last edited by cedric; Feb 15, 2019 at 1:51 am
Feb 15, 2019, 5:11 am
#23
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It would, and even with a reduction of 700, PHX is going to have about 2x the count of DCA or 4x BOS. Another forum posting pointed to a count of 2,260 at PHX presently.
I don't absolutely dismiss the idea that PHX mainline flight count to decline but I'm not sure of the value of shrinking the FA base as telegraphing it. Other than being tired of seeing how many PHX FAs commute to other bases to start their trips (and that would be petty, given the number of pilots and FAs that live out-of-base) I don't know why AA cares where FAs are based.
I don't absolutely dismiss the idea that PHX mainline flight count to decline but I'm not sure of the value of shrinking the FA base as telegraphing it. Other than being tired of seeing how many PHX FAs commute to other bases to start their trips (and that would be petty, given the number of pilots and FAs that live out-of-base) I don't know why AA cares where FAs are based.
Feb 15, 2019, 6:58 am
#25
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I wouldn't expect AA to be too keen on seeing AS being a partner again, but Oneworld created the "Connect" model last year and since AS remains partners with six OW airlines (BA, CX, Finnair, JAL, LATAM, and QANTAS) so it seems like a good fit. I don't know if AA retains a veto or not as a founding OW member though.
I don't know much about SEA except it's hub to AS/DL and I dunno why AA would try to squeeze in when they have PHX locked up pretty nicely. Assuming cost of living is a factor in salary negotiations, PHX hubs would be cheaper than SEA too for the crew.
I don't know much about SEA except it's hub to AS/DL and I dunno why AA would try to squeeze in when they have PHX locked up pretty nicely. Assuming cost of living is a factor in salary negotiations, PHX hubs would be cheaper than SEA too for the crew.
Feb 15, 2019, 7:28 am
#26
Join Date: Apr 2011
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That's not what's happening.
There's a single contract now and AA is rebalancing the bases.
A large chunk of LAX flying is currently operated by PHX-based crews.
AA is increasing their LAX base by a similar 700.
JonNYC posted a link to this supposedly-internal memo on his twitter yesterday: https://twitter.com/TheForwardCabin/...37204767367175
There's a single contract now and AA is rebalancing the bases.
A large chunk of LAX flying is currently operated by PHX-based crews.
AA is increasing their LAX base by a similar 700.
JonNYC posted a link to this supposedly-internal memo on his twitter yesterday: https://twitter.com/TheForwardCabin/...37204767367175
Feb 15, 2019, 7:51 am
#27
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Feb 15, 2019, 9:01 am
#28
Join Date: Apr 2004
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If you are an FA that resides in the Valley of the Sun, and your choices are to relocate to either region, LAX or DFW, it is not a good choice.
DFW - Terrible humidity, wild temperature fluctuations, flat as a pancake, relatively few outdoor pursuits, and the city has few attractions. On the other hand, no state income tax, although if you are earning FA pay, this is not a big draw.
LAX - Lovely weather, lots of outdoor pursuits, the region is full of terrific attractions. On the other hand, the cost of living is at least twice as high as in PHX.
It is going to be a hard choice.
DFW - Terrible humidity, wild temperature fluctuations, flat as a pancake, relatively few outdoor pursuits, and the city has few attractions. On the other hand, no state income tax, although if you are earning FA pay, this is not a big draw.
LAX - Lovely weather, lots of outdoor pursuits, the region is full of terrific attractions. On the other hand, the cost of living is at least twice as high as in PHX.
It is going to be a hard choice.
Feb 15, 2019, 9:10 am
#29
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Do you know how many of AA's ~25,000 flight attendants live out of base and commute today? I don't presume that a big fraction will relocate given the relative ease of commuting to LAX (7 AA flights Monday) or DFW (11 flights). As for relocating, it's part of the risks of the job - mitigated by seniority bidding.
Feb 15, 2019, 9:21 am
#30
Join Date: Mar 2016
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I have an AA FA friend (came over with the PSA and US Air mergers) who lives in San Diego but is based in PHL. She once told me back in the US Air days that 80% of the PHL based FAs did not live in Philadelphia, which I thought was rather surprising. These FAs don’t need to necessarily relocate. I often meet FAs on flights from SAN to PHL and return when I’m in Y - many of the former PSA crew members are still living in San Diego.