United to close HNL & DTW reservations office & DTW GS office {work from home option}
Sep 2, 2015, 1:37 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 4,645
United to close HNL & DTW reservations office & DTW GS office {work from home option}
Updating this message from rumor to apparent fact confirmed by two additional sources in this thread.
Seems that United is indeed closing both the DTW and HNL offices.
Some of the best agents in the system have been based there. Sad.
Worth remembering his promise to Congress:
http://www.c-span.org/video/?c445872...cut-front-line
Tilton: "This merger will not have a negative effect on ... front line employment."
Smisek: "... we do not expect any significant effect on employment on front line jobs."
Seems that United is indeed closing both the DTW and HNL offices.
Some of the best agents in the system have been based there. Sad.
Worth remembering his promise to Congress:
http://www.c-span.org/video/?c445872...cut-front-line
Tilton: "This merger will not have a negative effect on ... front line employment."
Smisek: "... we do not expect any significant effect on employment on front line jobs."
Last edited by goalie; Sep 2, 2015 at 10:37 pm Reason: Updated from rumor/question to what seems like a confirmed fact./changed smisek to united
Sep 2, 2015, 2:57 pm
#3
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: What I write is my opinion alone..don't read into it anything not written.
Posts: 9,686
Can anyone confirm this?
Some of the best agents in the system have been based there.
Background:
http://www.c-span.org/video/?c445872...cut-front-line
Tilton: "This merger will not have a negative effect on ... front line employment."
Smisek: "... we do not expect any significant effect on employment on front line jobs."
Some of the best agents in the system have been based there.
Background:
http://www.c-span.org/video/?c445872...cut-front-line
Tilton: "This merger will not have a negative effect on ... front line employment."
Smisek: "... we do not expect any significant effect on employment on front line jobs."
Sep 2, 2015, 3:05 pm
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 4,645
It seems the correct response is "Yes ..."
You seem to be confirming the validity of the report, not denying it. Right?
From what I hear, Chicago and Houston are the two that remain open and, yes, I've also heard that HNL is being shut down too.
It was only a matter of time. I feel so badly for those employees. They were the absolute best but since they were senior and sUA, it was inevitable that Smisek would get rid of them.
Sep 2, 2015, 3:10 pm
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Honolulu Harbor
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 15,029
Were DTWRR and HNLRR actual office sites? A couple of months ago one of the most helpful agents I talked to in Honolulu mentioned she was moving to mainland and still would be working for UA from home (not because of a change at United but she wanted to be closer to grandkids). I'm wondering if they're shutting down physical office space but the agents will still be working?
Sep 2, 2015, 3:13 pm
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 4,645
Were DTWRR and HNLRR actual office sites? A couple of months ago one of the most helpful agents I talked to in Honolulu mentioned she was moving to mainland and still would be working for UA from home (not because of a change at United but she wanted to be closer to grandkids). I'm wondering if they're shutting down physical office space but the agents will still be working?
Yes, DTWRR and HNLRR are actual sites. Places where people would go to work and earn a solid middle class wage. No more.
Last edited by goalie; Sep 2, 2015 at 10:27 pm Reason: Off topic comments removed
Sep 2, 2015, 3:18 pm
#7
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: What I write is my opinion alone..don't read into it anything not written.
Posts: 9,686
Were DTWRR and HNLRR actual office sites? A couple of months ago one of the most helpful agents I talked to in Honolulu mentioned she was moving to mainland and still would be working for UA from home (not because of a change at United but she wanted to be closer to grandkids). I'm wondering if they're shutting down physical office space but the agents will still be working?
Sep 2, 2015, 3:19 pm
#8
Join Date: Feb 2006
Programs: UA, Starwood, Priority Club, Hertz, Starbucks Gold Card
Posts: 3,953
A friend of mine (coming from the PMUA side, 25+ years seniority) recently transferred from DTWRR to IAHRR. I don't know what the transfer/furlough policy is, but I assume that DTWRR (and HNLRR as well) is pretty senior and anyone who wishes to transfer (or commute, which happens frequently believe it or not) can do so. So, FWIW, many of the same staff will continue to handle the phone calls
Sep 2, 2015, 3:22 pm
#9
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Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Honolulu Harbor
Programs: UA 1K
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1) No commute. In Honolulu, that time savings could be huge. Take a 2-hour daily commute off the table on a 8-hour work day and that's 20% time saving. Is that worth a 20% pay cut? Some would say yes, some no...
3) Gas and auto wear/tear (might even be able to get rid of a car - and insurance assoc. w/ that car)
4) Computers are cheap.
5) Employees can deduct/depreciate expenses - internet, hardware, furniture, "office space", share of utilities. In Honolulu, that could also be significant.
6) Ability to work in underwear and go without a shower/shave for days
.
Last edited by goalie; Sep 2, 2015 at 10:28 pm Reason: Edited quoted post to match edited original post
Sep 2, 2015, 3:27 pm
#10
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Los Angeles / Basel
Programs: UA 1K MM, AA EXP, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 26,930
I think that is key -- most SLC agents work from home. TPA too.
Will HNL and DTW really just be able to work from home and is rent just that so expensive (especially in Michigan!!) that UA sees no advantage to having a cell center with colleagues and supervisors within easy speaking distance?
Home agents send electronic messages, like SMSs, to their colleagues -- seems a more arduous task for many of the older ones who are not so nimble on a keyboard.
As long as the same HNL agents stay, I'll be happy. The CO SLC team is still best, whether working form home or in an office.
Will HNL and DTW really just be able to work from home and is rent just that so expensive (especially in Michigan!!) that UA sees no advantage to having a cell center with colleagues and supervisors within easy speaking distance?
Home agents send electronic messages, like SMSs, to their colleagues -- seems a more arduous task for many of the older ones who are not so nimble on a keyboard.
As long as the same HNL agents stay, I'll be happy. The CO SLC team is still best, whether working form home or in an office.
Sep 2, 2015, 3:28 pm
#11
Join Date: May 2001
Posts: 4,772
And all the (outsourced) ones in India will remain open too is my guess.
Last edited by Ocn Vw 1K; Sep 2, 2015 at 11:57 pm Reason: Combine consecutive posts of same member.
Sep 2, 2015, 3:41 pm
#12
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: New York, NY
Programs: UA, AA, DL, Hertz, Avis, National, Hyatt, Hilton, SPG, Marriott
Posts: 9,454
Just had another great experience with a late-night call to a HNL agent while on the road in Tokyo. Sad to see the office close, as it will undoubtedly lead to some of the "gems" leaving the company.
Sep 2, 2015, 3:44 pm
#13
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Carmel Valley(was Hawaii)
Programs: United 1K 2.7 MM
Posts: 1,174
Oh no! Truly I loved the HNL agents, and we could "talk story" while working on an issue.
I always sent an email to 1K Voice after an agent helped me out. The Detroit agents were great also. Just goes to show that my letters to United explaining that the 1K Desk was a BIG factor in sticking with United didn't mean much.
I always sent an email to 1K Voice after an agent helped me out. The Detroit agents were great also. Just goes to show that my letters to United explaining that the 1K Desk was a BIG factor in sticking with United didn't mean much.
Sep 2, 2015, 4:03 pm
#14
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Morris County, NJ
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Posts: 2,305
Not saying I don't feel bad for these folks regarding the pay cut (of course I do!) but working from home has its upsides as well.
Sep 2, 2015, 4:28 pm
#15
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: HNL
Programs: United Gold
Posts: 1,581
Does this mean they are closing the counter in Ala Moana as well? The agents there have helped me a lot recently and I would hate to see them go.
This! +1000 
I would also add:
7) The ability to work from anywhere there is an internet connection.
I once rented an apartment in Paris for two weeks and "worked" from there. The hours were strange though I started at 1400 and ended at 2230.
I wonder if UA work-from-home agents can also work from anywhere or are they fixed in a certain physical location for some reason?
I would also add:7) The ability to work from anywhere there is an internet connection.
I once rented an apartment in Paris for two weeks and "worked" from there. The hours were strange though I started at 1400 and ended at 2230.
I wonder if UA work-from-home agents can also work from anywhere or are they fixed in a certain physical location for some reason?