Closing of West Coast Cities

[USAirBoyA330]

I am sitting here amazed at the F/A group and how the "blockholders" or senior F/A's don't have a care in the world while the reserves were getting trashed, beaten down, displaced, furloughed ect....
But when the West Coast is rumored to close they are running through the crew rooms like Henny Penny in a panic about their situation and demanding action.
We all must band together as one, not blockholder vs. reserves. You would think we are two separate work groups or something. Well, maybe now that the senior F/A's are threatened it will let them stop worrying about if they can hold a Tuesday commutable block and start worrying about the really important things. I still believe this is a rumor but, it shows where the flight attendant groups priority's are.
Welcome to the worries and anxiety we reserves live EVERYDAY.

 

[N603P]

Thank you Chip.The purpose of this thread was to dispell this rumor.I thank everyone for their input.


Regards LAX Speedbird..........

 

[PSA1979]

That''s not fair to make a blanket statement that all senior f/a''s care about is the west coast closing. I am a 25 year International f/a in PHW and it looks like I will be on reserve in Nov. I am very concerned about this new reserve system, not only for myself, but for other junior f/a''s as well. Also, there are a lot of junior people commuting out of the west coast, on reserve. This has long term effects on all of us. Oh, and by the way, I don''t commute, but I do have compassion for my fellow f/a''s, agents, mechanics, utility, pilots, etc...... who do commute.

 

[FA Mikey]

Sorry to hear it, that really sucks.

 

[PSA1979]

USAirboyA330,
I do understand what you are saying, because believe it or not, I too was junior. I was on reserve for 12 years. The new reserve system that the company is forcing on us is even better than the one I started with. I have flown my share of crappie trips. I have 16 years until I can retire, so I can''t even start my best three for 6 more years. I was willing to give up senior pay, aft lead, and galley pay, to keep some junior people from being furloughed. But I wasn''t willing to give up the 25 years I have put into the airline industry, to keep jobs. I have survived furloughs before and so will every one else. I have my contract from 1988 and guess what? FIfteen years later and I am only making $1.42 an hour more. Back then the company paid 100% of our health premiuns so Of course with the new premiums for our health care and the new deductables, I am actualy making $2.00 dollars an hour less. The senior people aren''t happy with the way any one is being treated and aren''t willing to have any more cuts shoved down our throats.

 

[Lucifer]

I believe so. That is what the company originally wanted, but the union tried to revise it somewhat so it is not so harsh but it didn''t work and they are implementing the original plan I think. I don''t think you will be able to pass much if at all and it will violate seniority. They are ruthless. One stab in the back after another.

 

[USAirBoyA330]

PSA1979:

It''s not just the West Coast rumor...it''s everything that "senior F/A''s" hold dear pretty much hasn''t been touched...YET. Simple fact is the RESERVES got the brunt end of the restructuring agreement. The perception is the senior F/A''s look after their interest and sacrifice the JR''s ones to keep everything they want.
I sat in last weeks union meeting and TRUST ME....this subject came up. I find it''s fascinating that the 15 year plus F/A''s have such a new found interest in what''s going on. Seems some of this might effect them now huh? In this meeting "rotating reserve" was brought up by a blockholding F/A. Like the union reps told them..."where were you and your "rotating reserve" idea back during previous negotiations?" Now that some F/A''s think they might be stuck on reserve a while, they are all about ROTATING RESERVE? It''s so transparent.
And why do the 20 plus year F/A''s on the "division" always feel it necessary to introduce themselves as such? "Hi...my names Joe-Anne and I''m a 29 year 6 trip option Rome PHW F/A"...who cares? I have done Transatlantic before and they can have there glorified Red Eyes. Not everyone is like this but it seems a good majority. As long as everyone in blockholder land is fine....screw the JR guys. But when it starts to affect them all of a sudden they get involved and want answers?
Just doesn''t wash.
Seniority is a 2 dimensional thing. People over you AND people UNDER YOU. The people under you fly the crappie trips no one else wants so the senior ones can fly ROME. Without the JR F/A''s the senior ones are flying to Orlando and Syracuse.
Thats the point I was making and I was not trying to single you out. It a widespread problem at USAirways.

 

[FA Mikey]

Curious, are you guys starting a rotating reserve system? That is what we have at AA.

 

[USAirBoyA330]

No. Some of the F/A''s last week Asked our union to investigate the possibility of rotating reserve but, the senior F/A''s aren''t interested. Besides, the motion was called "out of order" at the MEC meeting yesterday and was basically dead on arrival. So, we don''t know what system we have at USAir since the company is imposing a new one and we didn''t agree to the terms.

 

[Lucifer]

There is an email in CBS today that says they are implementing the original reserve system that they had planned. At least that is what I got out of it. Who knows though, they do what they want when they want anyways.

 

[USA320Pilot]

For the third time, from the highest levels of this company, there will be no more West Coast cities closed at this time.

Best regards,

Chip

 

[Walmartgreeter]

....and your retirement is safe, we will honor your contract, we are not going to sell you or merge you. Chip. They lie. Please remember that. They lie, especially to you.

 

[PSA1979]

Just got this from AFA today! End of story.

From: Sherry Hendry on 07/22/2003 04:56 PM

To: Inflight Staff
cc: Andrew Nocella/PLN/USAIR@USAIRLN
Subject: West Coast

To: Sherry Hendry/CSV/USAIR@USAIRLN
cc:
Subject: West Coast

Per your question on the west coast.

1. We have no plans to close any other station in the west other than SNA.
2. Given the secondary nature of SNA as a destination and its large losses
we
determined that the aircraft were better utilized elsewhere. With such a
small operation SNA was not a "cost effective" station.
3. Most remaining flights to the west coast due not have adequate
financials -
we are working to improve - a full flight does not mean a profitable flight.
4. Currently we plan 13% more east/west capacity this fall than last - DEN
+12%, LAS +78%, LAX -4%, PHX +25%, SAN +67%, SEA +4%, SFO -15%,
-100%.
5. We will continue with seasonal changes in capacity as planned with
CLT-SAN
and SEA coming and going depending on demand.
6. We have also made an effort to improve the quality of the schedules by
having fewer early AM and late PM departures this Fall.
7. Better yields are expected with connections to UA in both LAX and SFO
starting in the future. We must improve the financials of these flights so
we
can grow this market segment versus further shrinking.
8. The B757 given its high operating costs is not necessarily the optimal
transcon airplane even if it can carry a higher payload.

Thanks
Andrew Nocella
VP Planning





Sherry Hendry Groff
US Airways
Vice President
703-872-6645 (Office)
Department: 254
City Code: DCA

 

[JFK Fleet Service]

----------------
8.The B757 given its high operating costs is not necessarily the optimal
transcon airplane even if it can carry a higher payload.
----------------
Everything I've seen or read regarding the 757 touts it's lower operating costs.Delta certainly wouldn't choose an aircraft with a high operating cost for it's Song division now would it?
From the Boeing website:
The single-aisle Boeing 757 is in a class by itself when it comes to economics and airport performance. The 757 has the lowest operating cost per seat-mile of any single-aisle jetliner in its class and a lower cost per trip than any twin-aisle airplane.

​

 

[ITRADE]

Well, whay say the naysayers now???