Trip report for my first Frontier Flight FLL-CLE June 18, 2014
Jun 30, 2014, 7:14 pm
#16
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: CLE,OH
Programs: UA 1K 3MM, AA Plat, F9 Elite, the later two thanks to Jeff $, HHdia, Mgold, WynDia, Choicepl, IHGDia
Posts: 1,405
I flew my first F9 segments last week. CLE-ATL RT. Both flights were clean, comfortable, packed, on time or early and the FA's were cheerful, upbeat and pleasant. While I had lower expectations because it was $98 RT I was very pleased. I have more flights to MCO and SEA booked. I am looking forward to many more happy landings on F9 especially from CLE.
Jun 30, 2014, 7:47 pm
#17
In Memoriam, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Durham, NC (RDU/GSO/CLT)
Programs: AA EXP/MM, DL GM, UA Platinum, HH DIA, Hyatt Explorist, IHG Platinum, Marriott Titanium, Hertz PC
Posts: 33,857
I'm glad to see people are supporting F9's expansion in CLE...let's hope it lasts ^
Jul 5, 2014, 10:11 am
#18
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Cleveland, OH, USA, UA Silver, Hilton Gold
Posts: 772
Rocky Start in CLE
Just some random obersvations of the F9 operations at CLE the past several weeks post-expansion.
I hope things improve and that F9 is profitable and continues its expansion at CLE, especially introducing daily (5-7 flights/week) operations on the routes it has introduced.
- The check-in area has been overwhelmed at peak times with long lines taxing the 4 agents. I believe all F9 staff are contractors.
- There is no baggage service office for F9. I suppose passengers will have to find a contract agent at the ticket counter for assistance.
- I'm at CLE every Sunday and a check of the flight monitors shows consistently delayed flights on F9, some by as much as several hours. These don't appear to be related to weather.
- Finally, there was an incident at CLE involving F9 this past week that doesn't seem to have been handled terribly well:
I hope things improve and that F9 is profitable and continues its expansion at CLE, especially introducing daily (5-7 flights/week) operations on the routes it has introduced.
Jul 5, 2014, 11:19 am
#19
Join Date: Jul 2004
Programs: AA US
Posts: 378
If Frontier keeps their schedule at 8-10 departures a day, they can do it. If they grow more, 4 contractors won't be enough. If they get anywhere above 20 dailies (which admits the occasional possibility of three gates being in use at once), it's probably time to think about adding their own staff.
Jul 5, 2014, 3:59 pm
#21
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: new zealand
Posts: 530
I don't know the details of the CLE ground handling contract, but "four" seems unrealistic for the number of flights, even by ULCC standards.
When Frontier decided to outsource all the stations except DEN, the staffing numbers for CVG were published:
http://www.fox19.com/story/21906770/...ng-jobs-to-cvg
"Trego-Dugan Aviation will provide ground-handling services for Frontier's daily Denver flight. The company expects to hire one full-time manager and 20 part-time staff."
The twenty were split between check-in and ramp, of course, but Frontier was only flying 1 x daily at that time.
When Frontier decided to outsource all the stations except DEN, the staffing numbers for CVG were published:
http://www.fox19.com/story/21906770/...ng-jobs-to-cvg
"Trego-Dugan Aviation will provide ground-handling services for Frontier's daily Denver flight. The company expects to hire one full-time manager and 20 part-time staff."
The twenty were split between check-in and ramp, of course, but Frontier was only flying 1 x daily at that time.
Jul 5, 2014, 8:14 pm
#22
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Cleveland, OH, USA, UA Silver, Hilton Gold
Posts: 772
Not sure why people are interpreting what I wrote as if there were four total staff for F9 at CLE? There have been 4 agents checking in passengers on the days I have observed. Perhaps things have improved over the past week; I will check tomorrow and report back. I also saw the frames or what look like 2 kiosks in front of the F9 counters, so maybe self check-in is on its way to CLE.
Jul 6, 2014, 5:27 pm
#23
In Memoriam, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Durham, NC (RDU/GSO/CLT)
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Posts: 33,857
Not sure why people are interpreting what I wrote as if there were four total staff for F9 at CLE? There have been 4 agents checking in passengers on the days I have observed. Perhaps things have improved over the past week; I will check tomorrow and report back. I also saw the frames or what look like 2 kiosks in front of the F9 counters, so maybe self check-in is on its way to CLE.
ILG gets really overrun too but their machines are livesavers.
Jul 6, 2014, 6:53 pm
#24
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Cleveland, OH, USA, UA Silver, Hilton Gold
Posts: 772
Not sure why people are interpreting what I wrote as if there were four total staff for F9 at CLE? There have been 4 agents checking in passengers on the days I have observed. Perhaps things have improved over the past week; I will check tomorrow and report back. I also saw the frames or what look like 2 kiosks in front of the F9 counters, so maybe self check-in is on its way to CLE.
Jul 7, 2014, 9:12 pm
#25
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: CLE,OH
Programs: UA 1K 3MM, AA Plat, F9 Elite, the later two thanks to Jeff $, HHdia, Mgold, WynDia, Choicepl, IHGDia
Posts: 1,405
Flew CLE-MCO today. Check-in was easy. Boarding was breeze, better than the UA cattle line up, flight was packed, just for fun checked the seat map for on the UA CLE-MCO flight, no comparison. I was in 2C, middles in 1 and 2 on A-C sides empty, all others appeared full. Arrived early.
Jul 13, 2014, 4:09 pm
#26
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Cleveland, OH, USA, UA Silver, Hilton Gold
Posts: 772
F9 Update
Just a few miscellaneous F9 updates from today:
- I spoke with an F9 agent today and she said that Hallmark Aviation Services is the ground handling agent for them in CLE. She does not think there are any actual F9 staff members here (except maybe a manager).
- They had difficulty with the jetway again on the afternoon DEN arrival today at A7. Disembarkation was delayed at least 45 minutes and the plane had to change gates.
- Their baggage carrousel (#3) was not functioning. I saw two arrivals with the full planeload of passengers moving en masse from #3 to #2. (For what it's worth, Southwest's carrousel (#6) was also out of operation today. So it sounds like this might be a CLE maintenance issue, rather than an airline-specific concern.
- Finally, there are now 2 F9 kiosks operating in front of their ticketing line. You still need to stand in line if you want to check bags in (no scale or tag printer at kiosks), but it should speed up check-in for those traveling with carry-ons only.