Analysts Call Southwest Fare Reductions Cutthroat

[BoeingBoy]

No problem.

If you're interested, in the 1st quarter the -170 was (IIRC) the 2nd highest cost per flight hour plane we had. When you figure it on an ASM basis, it was by far the highest cost plane. But as I said, those figures are skewed so have no real meaning other than what is obvious - it's expensive getting an operation up and running.

The second quarter numbers will be somewhat skewed as well, just not as much. Such things as bringing on the crewmembers and training them so they'll be ready when the planes come on line means some expenses occur before the ASM's are produced. By the end of the year (if we're still around), the skewing will be minimized as MAA gets bigger and the "up front" expenses of each additional airplane get spread over more ASM's.

Jim

 

[USA320Pilot]

PITBull:

Besides pay rates, how does the US Airways and Southwest F/A contracts compare in regard to work rules, productivity, benefits, and retirement? Moreover, do Southwest F/A's clean the aircraft, like they do at JetBlue, or does Southwest have Utility employees clean the aircraft?

Respectfully,

USA320Pilot

 

[cavalier]

PITBull:

Besides pay rates, how does the US Airways and Southwest F/A contracts compare in regard to work rules, productivity, benefits, and retirement? Moreover, do Southwest F/A's clean the aircraft, like they do at JetBlue, or does Southwest have Utility employees clean the aircraft?

Respectfully,

USA320Pilot

Captain:

What color is your soul?

This question makes as much sense as yours does.

 

[700UW]

Let me repost this since you don't read the posts.

US Airways flies into 89 mainline stations, there are only utility at eight stations on first and second shift (those ten also have a third shift). The remaining ten stations are third shift only.

And if you get out of the cockpit and look at the planes, they are showing the lack of US Airways own utility cleaning the planes to standard, and even where they are staffed there is not sufficient workers to clean the planes and do the required security check.

And for WN it is a combination of all workers.

http://www.southwest.com/careers/mxairclean.html

Southwest Airlines Maintenance Department
Aircraft Appearance Technicians
For immediate consideration, please submit your resume using our Online Resume Builder. Please include Aircraft Appearance Technicians in the objective statement of your résumé.

Job Position: Aircraft Appearance Technicians

Job Functions:

The position requires cleaning of interior and exterior of an aircraft, company vehicles and facilities, as required to maintain a clean and healthy aircraft to keep our passengers returning for travel on Southwest Airlines.
Cleaning interior of aircraft, including galleys and lavatories.
Wash or wax aircraft exterior, including landing gears, etc.
Replacement of aircraft carpet and seat covers (backs and bottoms).
Servicing of aircraft lavatories.
Driving tugs, fork lifts, and passenger vehicles.
Exposed to fumes from chemicals, noise from aircraft engines and APUs, and danger around aircraft standing and lifting containers up to 50 pounds.

 

[TheLarkAscending]

POST DELETED BY MODERATOR.

 

[ktflyhome]

A320: Presently, F/A's for U have 23 cleaning station. We don't clean at cleaning station if it RON's. I would think you would know this, as most Captains and F/O's attempt to assist F/A's at these stations....if only to scarf up newspapers and try to look busy. <_< <_<

F/A cleaning stations" ABE, ALB, BNA, GUF, CHS, CLE, CMH, DFW, IAD, IAH, ILM, MDT, MKE, MSP, MYR, PNS, PWM, ROC, RSW, SAV, SRQ AND SYR. 🙂

 

[hp_fa]

Good one, Ktflyhome. Most of our FD's help also, especially if it is the hotel leg. Ours have also been known to chase food for us too if we can't get off the plane.

 

[lpbrian]

what ever happened to predatory pricing? That phrase was all in vogue during the 90's when the "legacy" carriers were accused of doing it. Now that SWA is doing THE EXACT SAME THING, it's all ok.

 

[700UW]

KT,

You dont dump the galley trash correct?

And what about lav cleaning?

 

[Dea Certe]

We don't dump the trash bins or clean the lavs. After sitting all night in the heat, it really smells. I don't believe the trash or lavs get dumped on RON's in many stations so you can imagine how nice that is, first flight in the morning!

:blink:

Dea

 

[cavalier]

What difference does it make? It's between HIM and the God of HIS choosing. LEAVE GOD OUT OF THIS. YOU ARE NOT THE MORAL ARBITER OF ANYONE.

You know what Bob, you don't get it, and never will because your mind doesn't work like a normal thinking human.

I don't care if you, the captain, or anyone believes this or that, you can worship Satan for all I care, but then again my simple minded poster....you_just_don’t _get_it___________

 

[700UW]

We don't dump the trash bins or clean the lavs. After sitting all night in the heat, it really smells. I don't believe the trash or lavs get dumped on RON's in many stations so you can imagine how nice that is, first flight in the morning!

:blink:

Dea

I was talking about thru flights.

I flew out on an RON from a non-mtc station in first class, there was trash in the seat pocket, the pocket material was not in proper order and certain items were missing.

The ramp cleans the RON or a vendor at this station. Like I have said if US did business smart US would save money. US paid for a service that was not done.

One last thought, if they don't clean the plane properly, makes you wonder about the FAA mandated Security Check.

 

[colorado_cowboy]

IOne last thought, if they don't clean the plane properly, makes you wonder about the FAA mandated Security Check.

Excellent point!
Think anyone from the FAA might be aware of this particular problem?

 

[TOGALOCK]

ALL of this is very intereesting but the point of the thread originally was how SWA can pay it's FA's the raises in their new contract, that was 320's point. It is simple really, they can pay more on any hourly basis because they get more work per FA out of them. Look at the stats, SWA has fewer employees per aircraft than every other legacy carrier. They also have a high aircraft utilization. That means they are geting more work out of each employee. Now that you have read this far I will beat you to the punch, IT AIN'T ALL DUE TO BAD MANAGEMENT. It is a better business model and better work rules also. USAirways employees need to figure out whether it is worthwhile to move to a new paradigm or move on to a new career or job. It is a simple as that.

 

[USA320Pilot]

TOGALOCK:

TOGALOCK said: "ALL of this is very intereesting but the point of the thread originally was how SWA can pay it's FA's the raises in their new contract, that was 320's point. It is simple really, they can pay more on any hourly basis because they get more work per FA out of them. Look at the stats, SWA has fewer employees per aircraft than every other legacy carrier. They also have a high aircraft utilization. That means they are geting more work out of each employee. Now that you have read this far I will beat you to the punch, IT AIN'T ALL DUE TO BAD MANAGEMENT. It is a better business model and better work rules also. USAirways employees need to figure out whether it is worthwhile to move to a new paradigm or move on to a new career or job. It is a simple as that."

USA320Pilot comments: You hit the nail on-the-head with your post.

As you know, when evaluating the LCC business model versus the legacy airlines, they have a better business model. Their across-the-board expenses are lower in a number of key areas such as a single fleet type, point-to-point flying, rolling connecting airports, and a lower employee to aircraft headcount due to increased productivity.

US Airways is the first major airline trying to remake itself into a business entity that compete on cost and price, which will require labor to take a cold, hard look at reality.

When we each evaluate our own work groups versus the LCC's, you cannot just look at the hourly wage rate; you must look at work rules, productivity, benefits, and retirement.

For example, JetBlue cleans its aircraft with non-rev employees and F/A's. In addition, pilot's help out as well, just like I do on my trips.

Have there been bad management and management mistakes at US Airways? Absolutely, but what US Airways employees must decide in the next couple of months is exactly what TOGALOCK said, "USAirways employees need to figure out whether it is worthwhile to move to a new paradigm or move on to a new career or job. It is a simple as that."

Do I like the reality US Airways employees face? No, but the cuts are coming one way or another or the company will cease to exist.

Respectfully,

USA320Pilot