United States Congresswoman Diana DeGette yesterday released a letter sent to U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Rodney Slater and signed by seven members of Congress from western states seeking an investigation into the cause of recent United Airlines flight delays and asking him to work with the airline to remedy the problem.
http://news.airwise.com/stories/2000/08/965823112.html

"I've got constituents who are stopping me in the streets, who are stopping me in the airport and telling me horror story after horror story of the delays they have encountered," DeGette, a Democrat who represents Denver, told reporters at United's ticket office in downtown Denver.


So, it is NOT just this board bitc*ing!

No, it's a national story. The mass broadcast media isn't that bright and takes time to catch the scent of a building story, but once that happens, it's pile-on time. Check the TODAY show almost any day this week. The United-is-awful story has acquired big, serious momentum.

And the CEO and top managers will get hefty extra special bonuses for solving it!

If the department fails to address the problem, Ryan said, he will ask the Illinois congressional delegation to sponsor legislation that would allow states to again file suits against airlines for consumer fraud and deceptive business practices. States have been blocked from suing the airlines by a 1982 U.S. Supreme Court decision.
[URL=http://www.chicago.tribune.com/business/businessnews/article/0,2669,ART-46244,FF.html]http://www.chicago.tribune.com/business/businessnews/article/0,2669,ART-46244,FF.html[/UR L]


AND:

The new, drum roll please! TA DA......

News & Updates on United Flights

for each day
http://www.ual.com/site/response/1,10147,,00.html

[This message has been edited by doc (edited 08-10-2000).]

Another Agonizing Week at United-

"It�s been another bad week to be a United customer. The airline abruptly cancelled more than 300 flights on Saturday, about 250 on Sunday and at least 240 on Monday. Sunday�s cancellations were due in part to bad weather, but the other dropped flights were a result of the airline�s severe crew shortage and its inability to come to contract terms with disgruntled pilots. United�s reaction to its latest woes was typical: an official statement saying management was "agonized by the pain and suffering" inflicted on passengers; off-the-record comments shifting the blame for the airline�s collapse on the pilots; and the pre-emptive cancellation of about 3,900 flights in September and October. And rather than bring management�s full attention to bear on its current service problems, United instead chose to assign at least 20 top executives to a team planning for the proposed merger with USAirways. Leading the transition team? Chris Bowers, senior vice president of North America. He apparently has plenty of extra time on his hands now that United has canceled all those flights."

-Joe B


AND:
The Secretary of Transportation met this morning with top leaders of United Airlines and its pilots union in an effort to resolve the current labor dispute with the pilots.
http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/busin...ted-slate.html

[This message has been edited by doc (edited 08-11-2000).]

I start to really dislike all those negative links and one-sided attacks on UA's management.

It doesn't help me (does it help any other UA flyer?) in my flight-decisions and alternatives and Frequent-Flier-programs.

Why not concentrate more on HELPFUL tips [*]how to prepare alternatives if something srews up[*]how to make the best out of it[*]how to minimize negative effects

[This message has been edited by Rudi (edited 08-11-2000).]

Rudi

[This message has been edited by JeffS (edited 08-12-2000).]

Negotiators for United Airlines and the Air Line Pilots Association unit are scheduled to resume negotiations this morning after a surprise weekend recess that launched a round of charges and counter charges.
http://www.aviationnow.com/TwoShare/...69981284461601

"We will not modify another single position until we see a substantial effort on the company's part to move the process along," Captain Rick Dubinsky, chairman of the union's master executive council at United, said.
http://news.airwise.com/stories/2000/08/966426937.html

Another alternate/temporary "solution" - surprise bonus miles for UA Elites:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum...ML/001004.html
http://www.msnbc.com/news/447406.asp?cp1=1



[This message has been edited by doc (edited 08-17-2000).]

While he expects management and the pilots� union won�t wait much past Labor Day to settle their disputes, the damage to the airline�s reputation by then could be considerable, Neidl said.
http://www.aviationnow.com/TwoShare/...32315917296378

Why doesn't UA send these nuisance policitians a handful of systemwides, and they might all just go away!

The union representing UA pilots said progress has been made in contract talks with the airline.

Ken Bradley, a UA pilot and spokesman for the Airline Pilots Association, said they "neared" agreement in "one of the thorniest areas" - scheduling & quality of work life. The issue has to do with how schedules are put together & work rules.
http://news.airwise.com/stories/2000/08/966678917.html

Hooray .. nice to see some progress of some kind with pilots.

------------------
~ Glen ~