I'll be sad if the Avros go. I'm glad I finally got to fly one last month. I'd been waiting since PSA started flying the 146 back in the mid-1980s! Was a really fun flight with great service.

Personally, I wish they'd ditch all the CRJ's and replace them with Avros. Or at least put an F section in the CRJs...

Steve

I think both you and azj raise many good points. It's ashame, as it wasn't the Mesaba I'm used to and know. I noticed the RJ's are returning to SDF on two of the MEM flights, but over the past 6-7 months I have not had an opportunity to fly Mesaba (just mainline to DTW/MSP & beyond or Pinnacle when going to MEM & beyond).

I absolutely love the RJ-85 and the Mesaba I once knew (and made countless flights on, especially when I was doing weekly CVG-MSP flights at one point last year).

It's ashame NW is trying to get rid of Mesaba and the Avro, as they have been so great to me over the years from a customer standpoint. The Avro is the jewel of the regional fleet and such a great aircraft.

It has been awhile since I've flown out of LEX and you seem to be correct in the assesment that there is definately something wrong when it comes to staffing (or as ajz said, short staffed). The folks at the check-in counter clearly appeared to be the same folks that worked the ramp.

However with both Pinnacle and Mesaba at LEX (I saw the CRJ on the schedule), I wonder how the ground staff is done? Seperate employees for Pinnacle & Mesaba or one group doing the work for the other?

Needless to say, it sounds like a mess as well as a stressful work enviornment, especially for the ground crew at LEX. I'm quite concerned too about Mesaba as a NW regular, because of the RJ-85, the comfort it provides, and the great service typically provided by Mesaba.

On a positive note, my flight back to LEX on Mesaba was wonderful. Great crew and the flight was more typical to the Mesaba I've used in the past.

As ajz suggested, I will call Mesaba Customer Service and also write to NWA. However, I'm going to take a different approach when I do so, and make the letter to NWA as one of concern, vs. a complaint when it comes to the staffing at LEX and actual flight.

If I have a complaint about anything, it was the extremely rude treatment I was provided at DTW by one gate agent in particular, and the rudeness of a few other Mesaba employees as I went on the big paper-chase. A simple response of "I'm sorry, but I am unable to do this, please proceed to (the correct place)" would of been great, instead of being treated the way I was.



I just couldn't believe there was no gate agent at all until it came time to board (but short staffing would explain it). No waitlist upgrades done at the gate & no one to do the upgrades while there was space in front. I saw several (other) upset elites.

As far as the all-for-one boarding, it was just like WN, in fact worse as at least WN uses "controlled chaos" . The inbound a/c was not late (that I was aware of) and in fact, boarding would of been faster if it were not for the all-for-one, one-for-all choas.

As a higher revenue, "short distance" traveler on this trip booked in a higher class bucket, it's upsetting to spend good money and get such bad service. It's quite possible the gentelman flying to AMS with 3 checked bags, 4 in-cabin (changed to 5 checked at no cost, 2 in-cabin), paid less than I did to travel to the east coast (just an assumption -- but possible).

But regardless of fare-basis, everyone needs to be treated like a customer & valued.



Our aircraft used the jetway both on departure and arrival. The Mesaba flight was the only one at the time of departure and upon arrival, I'm not sure if there were other a/c, but we pulled right into the gate.

Perhaps with the staffing situation, moving an a/c from parking stand to gate is just too much ? (just a guess).

From a safety point of view for the employees, what happened at ORF comes to mind. I'm not sure what the employee levels are, but I certainly hope there are enough employees for tugs so that such an accident (or an incident of any type) never happens at LEX.

I share your concerns too -- the RJ-85 is the jewel of the regional fleet. Unfortunately, I suspect the economics of the CRJ work out much better for NW, but as a customer, it stinks to not have a premium cabin, especially as they begin to put the CRJ on flights that are longer and longer in length. LEX-DTW isn't bad for a CRJ (and IMHO, is the type of route the CRJ should be used for).. but once you start getting over 1 hr point, let alone 2 hrs, on the CRJ, it's terrible. I've done a few "long" flights on CRJs, and they're not fun.

Thanks for your comments!

Best,

SDF_Traveler

------------------
"They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety." -- Ben Franklin

[This message has been edited by SDF_Traveler (edited Dec 09, 2003).]

Sounds like NRT and those d*mn bus gates!

So long to Mesaba and good ridance.

Some brillant folks running the Union there.
NW is trying to kill us, I know lets Strike that will show them.

Well stop working and then NW will have to ... will ...

Uhh...

Replace them all!