nycbusdriver
Veteran
Great news!
CLT-FCO Non-stop?
- Thread starter BoeingBoy
- Start date
Great news!
V
VAflyGal
Guest
Yeah, so CLT customs today was a blast. No, really. They had the crews in the same line with the wheelchair assist passengers and get this - when all the other lines of pax were cleared and the "crew line" was still ten people deep, we weren't allowed to mosey onto the other 9 lines that had no people waiting. In fact, we got professionally scolded that we tried.
I wonder what certifications and prequalifications and education requirements are needed for a position such as this, or sometimes, TSA. By and large most people are good people just doing their jobs, but some people relish being able to be an a-hat. Would it kill some people to cut through some of the bureaucratic red tape? Yes, it would? Right, they would rather wrap the world in it, and do a little jig from that big tall self-righteous mountain they have created.
Gar!
I wonder what certifications and prequalifications and education requirements are needed for a position such as this, or sometimes, TSA. By and large most people are good people just doing their jobs, but some people relish being able to be an a-hat. Would it kill some people to cut through some of the bureaucratic red tape? Yes, it would? Right, they would rather wrap the world in it, and do a little jig from that big tall self-righteous mountain they have created.
Gar!
WhatBag?
Advanced
- Apr 29, 2008
- 165
- 0
Well, I have seen the opposite where the customs person right at the officer working the crew motioned them over. The problem is there is no consistency, something we as f/a's have no right to talk to anyone about.
Also, if some of the crews would stop trying to break in front of other crews and the old hags would stop bringing in the world, the process would go smoother. If you look for trouble, you will find it.
V
VAflyGal
Guest
I'm convinced some of the old mamas have a foldable walker in their suitcase, which would explain why they have 5 other bags. I guess you need to fit their Toblerone and other miscellany for those back-to-back LGW trips after commuting in from the West Coast.
You're right about the inconsistancy - hopefully the purser program will pass through here and we can get some consistent service flow. At any rate...
nycbusdriver
Veteran
In PHL the customs jerks are the supervisors. Most of the worker bees are really pleasant. The crew line in PHL gets backed up really bad sometimes, and the passenger lines empty out fairly quickly depending on loads. I've actually had one of the PHL officers motion someone from the crew line over, and he got chewed out by the jerk who was supervising saying that ALL passengers from every line must be processed before any crewmember can go to any other line. The poor customs guy just looked over that the 20 of us standing there in the crew line and simply shrugged.
I think the PHL customs supervisors are recruited from the CLT facility.
V
VAflyGal
Guest
Oh, this was such a joke. They had 12 lines open, and they were processing everyone fairly quickly, but when they were all done with ALL the pax they wouldn't let us go to the other line. It was us, three wheelchairs, and another crew. I respectfully asked why the other 11 customs officers relieved themselves from duty when there were 17 people standing in the first line. The guy said crew had to go through THAT line because he had to "check us off." Ok, fine and dandy - how about the three wheelchair passengers that could be assisted in any of the other 11 lines. His response to me was "the crew line is a privalige, not a right, and we would just have to wait. Not that we had to board another flight or anything. Excuse me, Barney, this whole process was not MY vacation.
We SHOULD ABSOLUTELY get paid INTL pay for MEXICO and other custom nightmare flights. It adds another level of pain in the rear without pay to the process.
Now, please step up to the red line.
When you are using FIS you are at the mercy of the immigration and customs agents. They have all the control. As far as the crew line is concerned he's completely right. It is a privilege that they by no means have to extend to us. PIT is one city that I know of where flight crews have caused such a problem that they now make ALL crew members wait until every single passenger has been processed. No exceptions.
I've learned just to wait in line and be patient. Not an easy feat by any means but I've given up getting worked up over immigration and customs.
autofixer
Veteran
- Aug 20, 2002
- 1,804
- 241
Pilots and Flight Attendants simply should negotiate in the next contract, that we are paid until we check out on a computer, just like checking in for a trip. You know, like every other hourly employee in the World; punch in, punch out.
Hey Barn, I'll just sit back here 'till you are ready for me. Oh, there is no-one available to operate the jetway, I'll just sit here 'til someone comes out.
Hey Barn, I'll just sit back here 'till you are ready for me. Oh, there is no-one available to operate the jetway, I'll just sit here 'til someone comes out.
ClueByFour
Veteran
- Aug 20, 2002
- 3,566
- 37
That may have been true of US crews. The DL CDG crews are (as of about a month ago) escorted to the front of the lines at PIT.
PHLfa88
Veteran
- Jan 19, 2004
- 826
- 35
FutureUScapt
Veteran
- Dec 1, 2005
- 600
- 13
Sure, no problem:
1) CLT-GIG*
2) GIG-CLT*
3) CLT-GRU*
4) GRU-CLT*
5) CLT-HNL-CLT
6) PHL-ATH-PHL
7) PHL-VCE-PHL
8) PHL-ZRH-PHL
9) Spare (Caribbean/domestic routing with an RON in CLT or PHL)
10) Open -- CLT-MAD?
*While other routings can be added on (such as GIG-CLT-SJU-CLT) to these four planes, a transatlantic routing can't be added on since all of the South American flights are red-eyes.
I suppose that there might not be a need for a spare since 2 of the B767s would be on the ground in CLT all day, but then again US' B767s are getting old and I'm not sure how aggressively they want to schedule them.
Yes, it's true that CLT-Brazil will rely on low(er) yielding connecting traffic, but the term "lower" is all relative as there is money to be made in that market. US-Brazil is a highly restrictive market and indications are that it will remain that way for some time (Under the most recent bilateral, there are no provisions for more frequencies to be given out after the 14 additional ones in 2010).
Although you bring up an interesting point about trying to lure NYC traffic to PHL, you would probably have to discount the fare to the point that it can't compensate for the fact that you would be losing out on a significant amount of potential connecting traffic since PHL is not very well suited to be a S.American connecting hub. Only 20% of the total US-GIG traffic comes from the NE, of which PHL would work fine for; for the remaining 80%, it is out of the way. Also, in the 1.5hrs that it would take someone to drive/take the train to PHL, they probably could've just as easily started their journey in LGA/EWR/JFK and had a layover in ATL, CLT, or MIA that would result in a comparable total trip time.
I agree with your last statement, though I think that it does stand a good chance of sticking around since there are relatively few nonstop options from the US to GIG (IIRC, 4 daily flights in total not counting US). In regards to the MCO/LAX comment: once/if US builds brand loyalty people ought to be willing to pay a comparable amount, or slightly less, that they would to fly on DL via ATL since ATL and CLT are equally well suited connecting points for GIG traffic. MIA is, and always will be the best hub for Latin/South America connections though my guess is that AA doesn't try to compete as vigorously for connections as DL and US do/will since they can fill a substantial portion of their planes with higher yielding O&D from South Florida.
YVINTERN
Veteran
Now if US would just start flying to Asia...US would be truly a world class operation...
nycbusdriver
Veteran
SHHHH!
nycbusdriver
Veteran
You are saying it will take two airplanes to service these routes on a daily basis? Why? How can this possibly be a money maker if it takes twice the infrastructure to operate it?
