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-   -   Crew Availability Problems Again? (https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/united-airlines-mileageplus/1365534-crew-availability-problems-again.html)

JerryFF Jul 11, 2012 3:17 pm

Crew Availability Problems Again?
 
Over the past three days, my colleagues have had 4 major delays on UA - all involving "awaiting crew" issues. One out of PDX (5 hrs), one from SFO (2 hrs), 1 from IAD (5 hours), and 1 from CLE (1 1/2 hrs). Is there some sort of employee action happening?

AADC10 Jul 11, 2012 6:09 pm

Was it UA mainline or UAX? There is a pilots vote coming up.

JerryFF Jul 11, 2012 6:23 pm

All mainline.

hmflyer Jul 11, 2012 6:34 pm

No employee action is happening.

ALPA has repeatedly said UA/CO is short pilots. Same thing happened last year to a lesser degree.

http://www.mysanantonio.com/business...ed-1626430.php

demkr Jul 11, 2012 6:35 pm

Noticing this as well. Lots of "we are waiting for the crew" before boarding

ualp Jul 11, 2012 10:06 pm


Originally Posted by JerryFF (Post 18912308)
Over the past three days, my colleagues have had 4 major delays on UA - all involving "awaiting crew" issues. One out of PDX (5 hrs), one from SFO (2 hrs), 1 from IAD (5 hours), and 1 from CLE (1 1/2 hrs). Is there some sort of employee action happening?

NO! (yes, screaming! ;))

Any attempt to disrupt the operation would be a violation of the injunction that has been hanging over our heads the past couple years.
The pilots will not give mgt any chance to make the injunction permanent.
Though, it is generally assumed that they will eventually file in court to try and get a permanent injunction.
Even if their chance of prevailing is quite slim.

It's not like folks couldn't see this coming LONG ago.

freshairborne Jul 11, 2012 10:20 pm


Originally Posted by JerryFF (Post 18912308)
Over the past three days, my colleagues have had 4 major delays on UA - all involving "awaiting crew" issues. One out of PDX (5 hrs), one from SFO (2 hrs), 1 from IAD (5 hours), and 1 from CLE (1 1/2 hrs). Is there some sort of employee action happening?

Oh, puh-LEEEEEEEEZE!

This happens every summer. New to flying?;)

FAB

fastair Jul 11, 2012 10:26 pm

Happens to every US airline in the summer (peak season). Spare crews are finite. They don't hire more in the summer and fire them in the winter. Summer has more flights, more thunderstorms and people (including crews) like to schedule their vacation when their kids are out of school. Been working for UA for almost 2 decades now and this happens every summer. Airlines stretch the schedule during peak season, and compress it during off season. As such, there isn't a huge surplus of crews, and with summer disruptions, they burn through them.

I'm sure that a skilled FT searcher would be able to find this same thread every summer going back to the year FT started.
By the way, I've worked a lot of express flights the past few weeks. Guess what happens there during the summer? Same thing.

LarkSFO Jul 11, 2012 10:44 pm


Originally Posted by fastair (Post 18914394)
I'm sure that a skilled FT searcher would be able to find...

Unfortunately, there is no such person...

JerryFF Jul 12, 2012 9:13 am


Originally Posted by freshairborne (Post 18914375)
Oh, puh-LEEEEEEEEZE!

This happens every summer. New to flying?;)

FAB

Thanks for your insight. Your knowledge and experience obviously far exceed mine. I will send my future posts to you for screening prior to putting them up on the board.

ualp Jul 12, 2012 10:21 am

Ok, just HAD to share this one.
An anecdote to enlighten folks on how this place is being managed.
Read this on our pilot forum.

One of our guys was on a hotel bus to the airport the other day.
He gets talking to another pilot, an A320 f/o.
The A320 guy said he received a 3am "wake up call" from the crew desk.
They had an assignment for him.

Of course, he Refused the Assignment, and went back to sleep.
Because ..... he Works at Frontier!!!

He took a voluntary furlough several years ago and went to work elsewhere.
He said this was the 2nd Time in 6 months that this had happened.

This is the "small stuff", nuts and bolts!
And folks are surprised with the airline's performance?
I also read that yesterday, the 11th, was a banner day for cancellations.
Glad I don't have to rely on the commercial airline system for my livelihood. :p


Originally Posted by JerryFF (Post 18916566)
Thanks for your insight. Your knowledge and experience obviously far exceed mine. I will send my future posts to you for screening prior to putting them up on the board.

I don't think FAB intended to dog you.
Another "lost in translation". :cool:

His point is akin to the Weather Channel making a big deal about the Summer heat (or, same thing in Winter).
Happens EVERY year, but everyone seems to act surprised.
I guess, if they didn't, people wouldn't have anything to break those "uncomfortable silences" at the bar or dinner parties. :D

Same thing at the airline.
We KNOW the Summer and Winter will kick our arse in some respect.
Some years worse than others (see Summer 2000, though some folks refuse to believe it).

Despite the warnings/pleadings of seasoned airline employees, 20,30,40+ yrs,
mgt has shown a penchant for failing to prepare for the inevitable.
As if they intentionally disregard the warnings/suggestions from employees.
In effect, cutting off one's nose to spite the face.
And WE (pax and crew) suffer the consequences ... Year after year!

My 2 centavos.

ps - FAB, Not trying to put words in your mouth.
Just how I read your post. I didn't see it as malicious intent.
My apologies if I should step on toes.

freshairborne Jul 12, 2012 11:25 pm


Originally Posted by JerryFF (Post 18916566)

Originally Posted by freshairborne (Post 18914375)
Oh, puh-LEEEEEEEEZE!

This happens every summer. New to flying?;)

FAB

Thanks for your insight. Your knowledge and experience obviously far exceed mine. I will send my future posts to you for screening prior to putting them up on the board.

Excellent decision!

FAB


Originally Posted by ualp (Post 18917028)
Ok, just HAD to share this one.
An anecdote to enlighten folks on how this place is being managed.
Read this on our pilot forum.

One of our guys was on a hotel bus to the airport the other day.
He gets talking to another pilot, an A320 f/o.
The A320 guy said he received a 3am "wake up call" from the crew desk.
They had an assignment for him.

Of course, he Refused the Assignment, and went back to sleep.
Because ..... he Works at Frontier!!!

He took a voluntary furlough several years ago and went to work elsewhere.
He said this was the 2nd Time in 6 months that this had happened.

This is the "small stuff", nuts and bolts!
And folks are surprised with the airline's performance?
I also read that yesterday, the 11th, was a banner day for cancellations.
Glad I don't have to rely on the commercial airline system for my livelihood. :p


Originally Posted by JerryFF (Post 18916566)
Thanks for your insight. Your knowledge and experience obviously far exceed mine. I will send my future posts to you for screening prior to putting them up on the board.

I don't think FAB intended to dog you.
Another "lost in translation". :cool:

His point is akin to the Weather Channel making a big deal about the Summer heat (or, same thing in Winter).
Happens EVERY year, but everyone seems to act surprised.
I guess, if they didn't, people wouldn't have anything to break those "uncomfortable silences" at the bar or dinner parties. :D

Same thing at the airline.
We KNOW the Summer and Winter will kick our arse in some respect.
Some years worse than others (see Summer 2000, though some folks refuse to believe it).

Despite the warnings/pleadings of seasoned airline employees, 20,30,40+ yrs,
mgt has shown a penchant for failing to prepare for the inevitable.
As if they intentionally disregard the warnings/suggestions from employees.
In effect, cutting off one's nose to spite the face.
And WE (pax and crew) suffer the consequences ... Year after year!

My 2 centavos.

ps - FAB, Not trying to put words in your mouth.
Just how I read your post. I didn't see it as malicious intent.
My apologies if I should step on toes.

You're spot-on. I don't even dog my dog.

FAB

WhyPayRent Jul 12, 2012 11:33 pm


Originally Posted by LarkSFO (Post 18914449)
Unfortunately, there is no such person...

I blame the search engine on FT actually. I find it ridiculously unuseful. I do all my searching on google for FT page with the site:flyertalk.com search.

LarkSFO Jul 12, 2012 11:38 pm


Originally Posted by fastair (Post 18914394)
I'm sure that a skilled FT searcher would be able to find this same thread every summer going back to the year FT started.



Originally Posted by WhyPayRent (Post 18921221)
I blame the search engine on FT actually. I find it ridiculously unuseful. I do all my searching on google for FT page with the site:flyertalk.com search.

WhyPayRent: OK, put your money where your mouth is! :)

FlyingNut724 Jul 12, 2012 11:48 pm


Originally Posted by ualp (Post 18917028)
Ok, just HAD to share this one.
An anecdote to enlighten folks on how this place is being managed.
Read this on our pilot forum.

One of our guys was on a hotel bus to the airport the other day.
He gets talking to another pilot, an A320 f/o.
The A320 guy said he received a 3am "wake up call" from the crew desk.
They had an assignment for him.

Of course, he Refused the Assignment, and went back to sleep.
Because ..... he Works at Frontier!!!

He took a voluntary furlough several years ago and went to work elsewhere.
He said this was the 2nd Time in 6 months that this had happened.

This is the "small stuff", nuts and bolts!
And folks are surprised with the airline's performance?
I also read that yesterday, the 11th, was a banner day for cancellations.
Glad I don't have to rely on the commercial airline system for my livelihood. :p



I don't think FAB intended to dog you.
Another "lost in translation". :cool:

His point is akin to the Weather Channel making a big deal about the Summer heat (or, same thing in Winter).
Happens EVERY year, but everyone seems to act surprised.
I guess, if they didn't, people wouldn't have anything to break those "uncomfortable silences" at the bar or dinner parties. :D

Same thing at the airline.
We KNOW the Summer and Winter will kick our arse in some respect.
Some years worse than others (see Summer 2000, though some folks refuse to believe it).

Despite the warnings/pleadings of seasoned airline employees, 20,30,40+ yrs,
mgt has shown a penchant for failing to prepare for the inevitable.
As if they intentionally disregard the warnings/suggestions from employees.
In effect, cutting off one's nose to spite the face.
And WE (pax and crew) suffer the consequences ... Year after year!

My 2 centavos.

ps - FAB, Not trying to put words in your mouth.
Just how I read your post. I didn't see it as malicious intent.
My apologies if I should step on toes.

I would like to say this somehow should surprise me, but given the current management decisions I'm really not surprised.


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