Combined Travel Rules

[dash8roa]

I'm an AA retiree for the last 10 years, worked 36+.  Not thrilled with D2R but AA was the only carrier who bunched us in with everyone else so its not a surprise.  It could be way worse, we could have nothing. There are way worse things in life

All in all, the non-rev program is pretty good. No fees for international travel apart from taxes is a good benefit. I have crossed the pond over 10 times for less than $100.00 to Italy, Spain, and Portugal for both myself and my wife.
I have low seniority and except for one time when at the last minute 4 passengers took the last seats to Munich, we always made our connections.
Its just going to take some getting used to for US people, no big deal.

 

[nycbusdriver]

There is a bit of irony at play here.  Back in the day... the AWA flight attendants had FCFS in boarding and lost that with the merger with US Air.  The way the company solved that was to issue I think several vacation passes and maybe something else???  It's been so long ago I've forgotten. 
 
I'm not expecting any protracted disagreement with the US AFA mainly because the company has already resolved this issue before now.  I'm sure they will do the same type of resolution, but upgrade the mea culpa and tell everyone to move on.
 
Besides,, AFA is moving off property and something like this could hold up negotiations which many fa's don't want to see happen again.  I think many of us are ready to get on with it.

 
If the company can't get the FAs to give up that part of their contract for some other quid, then Parker will simply ignore it telling them to "Grieve it," and it will be heard sometime in 2035 (because the company never seems to be available for grievance resolution meetings.  They are invariably postponed over and over and over again.)
 
And, those senior FAs who are ranting over this change, will still be flying in 2035!

 

[nycbusdriver]

You are placed on a priority list the second you check in on line or at a kiosk. (checkin allowed 24 hours in advance, on the beginning leg of your trip.) The agent will see your name and calls your name in the order of the priority list at the gate and if you are standing within earshot, you have a seat. If you are traveling and have to make a connecting flight, in that connecting city, you will have priority over all others (D1-D2-D2) until your are bumped off by some high maintenance party of six Platinum members that show up last minute. You will have a choice of getting on or having to except a first class seat to get out or continue your trip. And last but not least, HAVE A BACK-UP, a ID90, on some other airline to keep you moving you forward in case you get stuck. And Never travel to Las Vegas without back up! Good travel days are Tues- Wed. And just remember NEVER!! pester the agents!!! They are the only way you have on getting out!!! And dress nice!! All non-rev travel are at the mercy of the agent!! 
 
 
[SIZE=10.5pt]And yes, commuters ya better re-align because you will only have a limited D1 passes!   [/SIZE]

 
Is there still such a thing as an ID90?  I thought everything went to ZED fares years ago.

 

[ilmbeaches]

All in all, the non-rev program is pretty good. No fees for international travel apart from taxes is a good benefit. I have crossed the pond over 10 times for less than $100.00 to Italy, Spain, and Portugal for both myself and my wife.
I have low seniority and except for one time when at the last minute 4 passengers took the last seats to Munich, we always made our connections.
Its just going to take some getting used to for US people, no big deal.

As an employee who had more than 25 years, AA gave us a few more perks. Deeper discount when boarded in First than employees with less than 25 and I've had free coach domestic and free coach International for quite sometime now. I thought all AA people had free coach domestic unless I miss read that?

I have not seen anything addressed regarding F.  A few US friends have told me they had some upgrade thing they did?  If there was First available on AA and you listed & checked in for it, you were accomodated. And no, I never felt it was impossible to make F, maybe not everytime but it happened frequently. We have no parents nor use buddy passes (D3) so not an issue.

 

[nycbusdriver]

AMR's policy of charging impoverished new hires for passes was egregious and needed to be changed. As much as I'm leery of DP, I'll say this was a step in the right direction.

 
I agree that passes should be free.  But charging for passes would also weed out new hires early on when they realize that airline pass travel is NOT the reason to seek a job with the airline.  Years ago, I had an acquaintance in BWI who hired on as a ramper simply so he could go visit his grandmother in SDF.  Once he had done that (evidently once was sufficient,) he never showed up for work again!  He had accomplished his goal, and really wasn't interested in tossing luggage in the freezing rain and torrid sun.
 
When I was hired back in the dark ages, we had to get permission from the front office to get any passes (they were free, though) and we could not interline for one year.

 

[nycbusdriver]

That's 'sort of' the same as US...but there is very little consistency in how they actually page non-revs...sometimes it's over the PA system, sometimes it's by voice - which is sometimes difficult to hear if one is not 'hovering' around the podium....a friend was passed and told they were called but didn't respond...they were near the podium and listening...
 
So my question is, do gate agents consistently use the PA system to call non revs?

 
Agents b***h when non-revs hover, but then as you point out, often then don't us the PA to call names.  They should make up their minds.
 
Even the PA, though, is inadequate sometimes.  In the PHL gates, the PA can be heard only in that boarding area seating.  Step three feet into the concourse, and you miss everything (as was my experience last night.)   But, of course, the seating area has the capacity for about half of the passenger load, so there is hardly even a place to stand where you can hear the PA.

 

[nycbusdriver]

You dont get it.
 
So its ok for the company to just violate a CBA that they agreed too?

 
Of course it's not "okay."  But that has never stopped the company from doing it.  They do it on a daily basis because the playing field is so slanted in their favor during the grievance process that they can do it with impunity.

 

[nycbusdriver]

No big deal, that's only what 3 people are posting out of thousands. I will deal with whatever system they have in place. That's just the way it is, nothing that anyone can do about it.

 
I agree.  I almost never pass ride, and would not even consider it for commuting unless I had at least three back-up plans (one of which would include getting there the day before and paying for a hotel room.)
 
I never, ever pass ride for vacation.  (EVER!)  I purchase a ticket on a competing carrier.  I may reconsider this  policy depending on how "new" the New American treats us.  I am not optimistic.
 
JetBlue and Virgin America are awesome!  Avoid Phiippine Airlines like the plague.
 
 

 

[nycbusdriver]

Proven wrong? You just called me captain obvious, seriously.

Why do you keep telling everyone IAMNPF is a sure thing and AA TWU employees will have it imposed on them? You know full well there needs to be the alliance election, joint negotiations, and ratification vote before that happens.

Josh

 
700UW is the expert on all things union, RLA, NMB, NLRA, etc.  Just ask him.  (How many contracts have YOU negotiated?  He will tell you how many times he played hero for his union.)
 
If the courts would let him, he would be filing amicus briefs on a daily basis.

 

[nycbusdriver]

 

EVERYONE NEEDS TO WRITE PARKER AND OPPOSE THIS D2R !!!!!!!

 
How quaint!  

 

[1AA]

 
700UW is the expert on all things union, RLA, NMB, NLRA, etc.  Just ask him.  (How many contracts have YOU negotiated?  He will tell you how many times he played hero for his union.)
 
If the courts would let him, he would be filing amicus briefs on a daily basis.

Now that is funny, I got a real good laugh on that one. Thanks.

 

[1AA]

 
Is there still such a thing as an ID90?  I thought everything went to ZED fares years ago.

Your correct. ZED is the new ID90. People still use the ID90 term but it is ZED.
ZED is a little different than the old ID90 but basically they are similar.

 

[eolesen]

Is there still such a thing as an ID90?  I thought everything went to ZED fares years ago.

There are still a few "bitter clingers" as far as ID90 is concerned, but they're mostly outside of North America & Europe and mostly non-Alliance carriers.

Can't say for certain because ID agreements are negotiated between each airline, but I suspect the airlines who receive more ID traffic than their own employees use on other airlines are the ones keeping ID75/ID90 in place.

 

[ilmbeaches]

 
Agents b***h when non-revs hover, but then as you point out, often then don't us the PA to call names.  They should make up their minds.
 
Even the PA, though, is inadequate sometimes.  In the PHL gates, the PA can be heard only in that boarding area seating.  Step three feet into the concourse, and you miss everything (as was my experience last night.)   But, of course, the seating area has the capacity for about half of the passenger load, so there is hardly even a place to stand where you can hear the PA.

I guess I've been lucky all these years nonreving on AA, we hear our names loud and clear on the PA & we never *hover*. We have never had the problem you are experiencing and we pass ride frequently.  Now that we can view the list on our phones, we can see what's happening sitting or standing  at the gate.

 

[nycbusdriver]

I guess I've been lucky all these years nonreving on AA, we hear our names loud and clear on the PA & we never *hover*. We have never had the problem you are experiencing and we pass ride frequently.  Now that we can view the list on our phones, we can see what's happening sitting or standing  at the gate.

 
I have no doubt at all that AA has been consistently more focused than US on providing a pleasant travel experience for its customers.  That's why it placed systems which support that policy.  US does not operate that way.  The cheapest way to do things is the way it will get done.  (Wait and see just how long those 75-seat A321s last in that configuration.)
 
And, if you have been at all disappointed in the way AA has treated employees, tighten your seat belt and put on your shoulder harness.