How do airlines determine the hotels crew are placed in?
Feb 23, 2020, 6:31 pm
#16
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As stated numerous times upthread, layover spots are decided in part by the length of the layover, is what I've been told by airline employees. If over a certain time, say for example 12 hours, crew has to be put in lodging that has convenient walking availability to restaurants, shops, etc. I own a business that gets a lot of airline crew, usually at least two or three everyday, because there is a Sheraton down the street where AA, WN, and I think, LH put up crewmembers. It's a major urban downtown area, 25 miles or so from DFW.
Feb 23, 2020, 7:36 pm
#17
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Let it be known that you'll offer an airline crewmember discount and you'll get a whole lot more! LOL
Feb 23, 2020, 8:04 pm
#18
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Years ago, I worked for a company who had a contract for an airline to transport their pilots and crew members to hotels for their layovers. There was a period where there were a large number of canceled flights to the NE USA due to a major snowstorm/blizzard and the contracted hotels were out of rooms. I ended up taking two crews to a hotel that was not contracted, but was called by the agency who handled these type of circumstances and was able to find rooms where most were hotels were already booked to the rafters due to this storm.
Upon arrival to this hotel, a few of the crew were highly upset because it did not meet the conditions of the contract agreed to by the union because the rooms were accessible by outside doors, not internal hallways. I guess it had to do with "safety" and that anyone can walk the outside levels of the hotel. Some were refusing to stay there and asked to go back to the airport instead. I had to call the agency to get direction and to approve the return as we were not paid for any transportation not approved in advance. When these flight crew members spoke to the representative and were told that they either accept these rooms as they were the only ones available or they would sleep on the floor at the airport until they were cleared to fly after the storms passed, they decided to stay, but filed a complaint through the union. I never found out what happened as most of theses flights did not get off the ground for up to 3 days.
Upon arrival to this hotel, a few of the crew were highly upset because it did not meet the conditions of the contract agreed to by the union because the rooms were accessible by outside doors, not internal hallways. I guess it had to do with "safety" and that anyone can walk the outside levels of the hotel. Some were refusing to stay there and asked to go back to the airport instead. I had to call the agency to get direction and to approve the return as we were not paid for any transportation not approved in advance. When these flight crew members spoke to the representative and were told that they either accept these rooms as they were the only ones available or they would sleep on the floor at the airport until they were cleared to fly after the storms passed, they decided to stay, but filed a complaint through the union. I never found out what happened as most of theses flights did not get off the ground for up to 3 days.
I think they were upset as this is of a lower standard. It is really hard to quantify "junky". Even some Hiltons are junky. But to get the right terminology so you can pick out the junky hotels across the world must be very difficult.
Feb 24, 2020, 9:49 am
#20
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AFAIK the hotel used is the middle of a venn diagram of the Crew Contract requirements and where the Airline can negotiate the best rate that fits those requirement.
For domestic flights, the airline will first try to book crew schedules that don't require overnights but when it's required or in case of irrops they'll likely be booked into hotels as close to the airport as possible for ease of transportation, etc.
For INTL flights, it's completely different and I've chatted with some cabin crew that said their contract requires both a certain number of nights for layovers, and also hotels that aren't in the middle of nowhere but downtown, etc. I know that Austrian uses the Hilton in downtown Chicago as they're impossible to miss when dress head to toe in their canary red uniforms. LH used to use the Hilton as well, but I haven't seen them recently and the LH flag next to the airline checkin desk is gone. I assume that hotel contracts come and go as they're renegotiated from time to time.
As of last fall the UA crew was put up at the Intercontinental in Papeete - sweet deal - and with the 3x/week fights and schedule that meant a late night arrival and departure combined with a minimal time change, they had at least 2 long days in paradise, and some had settled into a pattern where each week they flew down and back within the workweek and then had a long weekend at home before doing the same thing the next week. It was something like - Fly down on Monday, leaving SFO early afternoon. All day Tuesday and Wednesday at the IC. Late night flight home arriving early mornring on Thursday. Have Thursday through Monday noon at home. Repeat the next week. Sweet.
For domestic flights, the airline will first try to book crew schedules that don't require overnights but when it's required or in case of irrops they'll likely be booked into hotels as close to the airport as possible for ease of transportation, etc.
For INTL flights, it's completely different and I've chatted with some cabin crew that said their contract requires both a certain number of nights for layovers, and also hotels that aren't in the middle of nowhere but downtown, etc. I know that Austrian uses the Hilton in downtown Chicago as they're impossible to miss when dress head to toe in their canary red uniforms. LH used to use the Hilton as well, but I haven't seen them recently and the LH flag next to the airline checkin desk is gone. I assume that hotel contracts come and go as they're renegotiated from time to time.
As of last fall the UA crew was put up at the Intercontinental in Papeete - sweet deal - and with the 3x/week fights and schedule that meant a late night arrival and departure combined with a minimal time change, they had at least 2 long days in paradise, and some had settled into a pattern where each week they flew down and back within the workweek and then had a long weekend at home before doing the same thing the next week. It was something like - Fly down on Monday, leaving SFO early afternoon. All day Tuesday and Wednesday at the IC. Late night flight home arriving early mornring on Thursday. Have Thursday through Monday noon at home. Repeat the next week. Sweet.
Feb 25, 2020, 7:59 pm
#21
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...
As of last fall the UA crew was put up at the Intercontinental in Papeete - sweet deal - and with the 3x/week fights and schedule that meant a late night arrival and departure combined with a minimal time change, they had at least 2 long days in paradise, and some had settled into a pattern where each week they flew down and back within the workweek and then had a long weekend at home before doing the same thing the next week. It was something like - Fly down on Monday, leaving SFO early afternoon. All day Tuesday and Wednesday at the IC. Late night flight home arriving early mornring on Thursday. Have Thursday through Monday noon at home. Repeat the next week. Sweet.
As of last fall the UA crew was put up at the Intercontinental in Papeete - sweet deal - and with the 3x/week fights and schedule that meant a late night arrival and departure combined with a minimal time change, they had at least 2 long days in paradise, and some had settled into a pattern where each week they flew down and back within the workweek and then had a long weekend at home before doing the same thing the next week. It was something like - Fly down on Monday, leaving SFO early afternoon. All day Tuesday and Wednesday at the IC. Late night flight home arriving early mornring on Thursday. Have Thursday through Monday noon at home. Repeat the next week. Sweet.