Combined Travel Rules

[AANOTOK]

Black Magic, I see all this hostility towards you for just mentioning that you would like to see yourself - as an actual employee, boarded ahead of a spouse of an employee.  I'm sorry people address your concern by putting down your comment.  Just know that I agree with you and thus, I give you a thumbs up on your comment.
 
There is a lot of ill will and hostility here.  Whenever, someone doesn't agree with your position, they slap a negative rating on you.  Very juvenile, but like someone here said before.... "it is what it is."    A bunch of....

When you find that perfect world with the perfect people, let me know, I want in...

 

[Flying low]

 
I get what your saying.  I'm well aware of how FCFS works, we used it at AWA for many years.  But flights get full, and its not always feasible to have a smartphone in your hands to be top of the list.  Not to mention there are many other non revs gunning for the same position trying to click that button right at the opening of the 24hr window.  The non rev list to/coming from Hawaii or the hubs could fill another aircraft by itself at times. 

Sometimes, depending on where your going you need to buy a ID20 ticket before you travel. That way your seat is confirmed and you don't need to worry.

 

[Kev3188]

^This^
 
Related: Are there actually airline employees that still consider pass travel an economic benefit?

 

[eolesen]

Kev, with the exception of jumpseaters, I don't know anyone who sees travel benefits as a reason to stay. Frankly, if you offered higher pay to some employees in lieu of space available travel, or a deeper discount than 20%, you'd probably see 50% or more jump at the chance.

There's obviously an emotional attachment for older employees because they were able to use it more regularly. It used to be a good negotiating line to convince a good employee not to resign for a job offering a slight bump in pay, but those days are long gone.

 

[Mach85ER]

There's obviously an emotional attachment for older employees because they were able to use it more regularly. It used to be a good negotiating line to convince a good employee not to resign for a job offering a slight bump in pay, but those days are long gone.

 
 
Dead on.
I've always laughed and friends or fellow party-goers in similiar income brackets going on how lucky I was with D2 bennies. It usually took some explaining as to why I would trade them for their company paid car and insurance in a NY second.
 
The best category of person that can gain the maximum benefit is a single young person still living at home or renting a cheap room, some coin for travel expenses, work schedule flexibility for 4-7 days off at a time, and general ability to party and jump in the sack for very short term relationships at a sustainable rate.
 
Probably one reason the travel industry bennies are very attractive to a particular demographic.
 
Not so much for me and 4 others attempting travel on a school holiday

 

[screwed again]

I would trade my travel benefits for a significant raise in a heartbeat. I haven't been on an airplane in over four years. I can't stand the travel experience from top to bottom.

 

[eolesen]

Not so much for me and 4 others attempting travel on a school holiday

Precisely. That's why we started RV'ing ten years ago --- the last place we wanted to spend our school holidays or time off from work was sitting at an airport. Even with the price of gas, controlling our time off was far more enjoyable than being held hostage to a flight schedule & load factors.

 

[Black Magic]

Black Magic, I see all this hostility towards you for just mentioning that you would like to see yourself - as an actual employee, boarded ahead of a spouse of an employee.  I'm sorry people address your concern by putting down your comment.  Just know that I agree with you and thus, I give you a thumbs up on your comment.
 
There is a lot of ill will and hostility here.  Whenever, someone doesn't agree with your position, they slap a negative rating on you.  Very juvenile, but like someone here said before.... "it is what it is."    A bunch of....

 
Amen to that.  I know at my hub the surrounding talk feels the same way I do.  It's the only system most the AA employees know so they are conditioned to support that policy.  However ive never heard of other airlines boarding by such a system.  It's a big deal for some, not so much for others depending on how much you non rev when/where ect.

 

[nycbusdriver]

I would trade my travel benefits for a significant raise in a heartbeat. I haven't been on an airplane in over four years. I can't stand the travel experience from top to bottom.

 
Except for the part about not being on an airplane, I totally agree with you.  The travel experience behind the locked, bullet-proof door is not so bad, but other than that I would rather not fly anywhere.

 

[Kev3188]

Kev, with the exception of jumpseaters, I don't know anyone who sees travel benefits as a reason to stay. Frankly, if you offered higher pay to some employees in lieu of space available travel, or a deeper discount than 20%, you'd probably see 50% or more jump at the chance.

I'd be one of those elbowing for a place in line...
 
 

Except for the part about not being on an airplane, I totally agree with you.  The travel experience behind the locked, bullet-proof door is not so bad, but other than that I would rather not fly anywhere.

For me, pushback, taxi, and rotation are still magic. Everything leading up to that? Not so much...

 

[Real tired]

 
Except for the part about not being on an airplane, I totally agree with you.  The travel experience behind the locked, bullet-proof door is not so bad, but other than that I would rather not fly anywhere.

We used to think it was pretty nice too.  In the "good 'ole days".
 
But then suddenly, we became divided.  Where did we go wrong?

 

[dash8roa]

We used to think it was pretty nice too.  In the "good 'ole days".
 
But then suddenly, we became divided.  Where did we go wrong?

I have done very well over the last 11 years, to Europe many times and Hawaii twice and dozens of domestic trips. Checking loads, taking the first flight out, going on off and mid season times and being flexible as far as destinations and having several cities in mind and choosing the best a day or two before departing.
My DOH was not a long time ago and using the SA1's only when needed,it has worked well for me, such as returning from Europe which at times flights can be weight restricted due to headwinds. Going to Europe has mostly been a breeze, plenty of seats so no need for an SA1.
With the merger, it will take some adjusting to FCFS but I still want to return to Rome this early spring and sometime in the summer, a trip to Dublin and return to Lisbon which along with Rome are my favorite cities.
As much as some have been ranting and raving about, its not going to change, so get used to it and enjoy the perk.

 

[skinvalve]

FCFS vs DOH? The implementation of FCFS implies that an employee"s years of dedication and service to the company are worthless.

 

[traderjake]

FCFS vs DOH? The implementation of FCFS implies that an employee"s years of dedication and service to the company are worthless.

 
No, it means that everyone gets an equal chance of using a non job specific company benefit.
 
Does your years of service mean should you should get first choice of every single thing on the table and the rest of us get your leftovers? 

 

[traderjake]

Black Magic, I see all this hostility towards you for just mentioning that you would like to see yourself - as an actual employee, boarded ahead of a spouse of an employee.  I'm sorry people address your concern by putting down your comment.  Just know that I agree with you and thus, I give you a thumbs up on your comment.

 
I agree, active employeees should go ahead of everyone else.
 
What's more important, commutting to work or your kids vacation?
 
At USAirways, we've closed 6 crew bases since I've worked there.
 
Do you expect people to uproot their kids lives everytime the company redisturbutes the flying?