Dave's Message

[Harry Callahan]

usfliboi
THE CONCESSION IS CLOSED & if we go you go with us......
Maybe Bronner has a job for you.....

 

[FlyingHippie]

700UW,

I feel the exact same way...how about we take a vote and have usfliboi ante-up everything he's got , since he believes poor, poor RSA needs to have a return on their investment at the risk and financial jeopardy of the employees of U. Seems to me, USfliboi is living way too high on the hog and is feeling quite guilty for his wage.

Let me say this. If i invested the type money in a company to save it (esp coming from the outside ) in order to make money, I would do anything and everything to make a profit period....... I dont think what Bronner wants is unfair. He did not create this situation. You guys act as if he is responsible and he is not. It doesnt matter who this airline had leading right now, they would all do and say the same . So you have a choice Keep that little ole concession stand closed, or open a new one on the side of the street to survive.

It's clear you have total disdain for the union and your co workers. Why stay?

 

[PITbull]

700UW,

I feel the exact same way...how about we take a vote and have usfliboi ante-up everything he's got , since he believes poor, poor RSA needs to have a return on their investment at the risk and financial jeopardy of the employees of U. Seems to me, USfliboi is living way too high on the hog and is feeling quite guilty for his wage.

Let me say this. If i invested the type money in a company to save it (esp coming from the outside ) in order to make money, I would do anything and everything to make a profit period....... I dont think what Bronner wants is unfair. He did not create this situation. You guys act as if he is responsible and he is not. It doesnt matter who this airline had leading right now, they would all do and say the same . So you have a choice Keep that little ole concession stand closed, or open a new one on the side of the street to survive.

USfliboi,

As an employee, you did invest your hard earned dollars to save this company. YOU are an investor, stakholder, Board represented, and an employee to boot. Huge investor you are. B)

 

[usfliboi]

his fund is worth $25 billion or more, he invested $240 million a drop in the bucket, and he made almost $100 million in profit from being the DIP financier. The $240 mill was for stock and everyone knows the stock market is just like Vegas, it is a gamble and a risk.

But I will be damned if I will let him make a profit off of my back.

You guys!!!! Where were all the other guys with heir money ???????? This guy took a risk plain and simple ITS a FACT ! Give credit where credit is dude. He has every right to get that money back and more.

usfliboi,

You "Hammer Head" !! Nobody disputes Bronner's right at taking a chance to turn a profit. You and I have the same rights and risks involved with investing in any stock..or taking any bet that's offered up to you.

The issue is. He is not going to prosper while the rest work harder for far less...all the while having every legally binding contract ignored at thier leasure and whim.

If you are going to support or debate people whom oppose this management , at least post something that is being disputed. Keep in mind , Bronners Risk taking is no greater concern to us..as his willingness to have us working for nothing or not at all is to him. Welcome to an intersection of the Two-Way Street.

I can only assume your not aware that is investment hasnt returned a profit? I dont think at all at this point its about his investment. The fact is We have to reduce cost plain simple Buisness 101. Then he can get his profit. Thet go hand in hand dude

 

[usfliboi]

So usfliboi , you dont think what Bonner wants is unfair! How about a judge saying different. When the Hijacking of Airbus maintenance was attempted I guess it was just a coincidence it went to Mobile Alabama.

Ummm no ! A legal opinion is just that . Do you blame them for trying to save money ? I mean youre not one of those guys sitting on the tugs or in the belly resting thinking, thats all for me till 2 hrs from now are you? Imean isnt that the same argument. I think we all can share the blame to an extent the difference here is my head isnt in the sand. Not saying your one of those people just giving you an example.

 

[usfliboi]

700UW,

I feel the exact same way...how about we take a vote and have usfliboi ante-up everything he's got , since he believes poor, poor RSA needs to have a return on their investment at the risk and financial jeopardy of the employees of U. Seems to me, USfliboi is living way too high on the hog and is feeling quite guilty for his wage.

Let me say this. If i invested the type money in a company to save it (esp coming from the outside ) in order to make money, I would do anything and everything to make a profit period....... I dont think what Bronner wants is unfair. He did not create this situation. You guys act as if he is responsible and he is not. It doesnt matter who this airline had leading right now, they would all do and say the same . So you have a choice Keep that little ole concession stand closed, or open a new one on the side of the street to survive.

USfliboi,

As an employee, you did invest your hard earned dollars to save this company. YOU are an investor, stakholder, Board represented, and an employee to boot. Huge investor you are. B)

Thanks Pit ! I for one will protect my investment from outside sources. I will not kill the messenger. I will not blame a management team who was brought here to turn an airline around after years and years of mis management. I will not make threats or assume i know it all when it comes to the airline buisness. I as a board represented investor will make sure the qualifications of the ceo we hire are up to par based on their track record and THE FACTS i and the board see clearly . I as a board rep. member and investor will do what it takes, take from whom i have to take from, fight the enemy as hard as i have to fight as ugly as i have to fight in order to achieve the ultimate goal of my investors, stock holders AND EMPLOYEES (the needs of the many out weigh the wants and needs of the few), to survive, thrive and jive!!!!!!!!!! This company was created by a few people with money! It has stayed in buisness by people who give these people money for a service they perform It is not yours mine or anyones RIGHT to employment at this company ! I am grateful that a few people with insight continues to struggle to save this airline. I for one will do what ever it takes BASED ON FACTS not emotion, rumor or anger, to make it work. ! Plain simple!

 

[usfliboi]

usfliboi
THE CONCESSION IS CLOSED & if we go you go with us......
Maybe Bronner has a job for you.....

Coach of what? Youll not take me with you. Youre one of a few opinionsin the minority that will not count in the end. I know the good men and women who you work with including me will not allow it . Most of us in this company are proud, sad angry but know what to do and how to do it. As a proud employee I along with other wonderful HARD WORKING employees will not allow anyone who chooses to destroy a wonderful company and its employees succeed. My hats off to the people i work with every day who are here to work hard and enjoy life . Its not easy to come in every day and not complain constantly or say and do things to undermine. But most of our employees are hardworkers who do their job who do not sit around and wait for the other to do it. Thanks for being great co workers > Knowing that makes it worth the fight and gossip one deals with on this site in this room . As for me South west and others are my enemies not my fellow co workers. I pic and choose my battles and this kind of stuff isnt one of them!

 

[hammerhead]

did bethune turn around continental without the help of the labor groups?

 

[tadjr]

I mean youre not one of those guys sitting on the tugs or in the belly resting thinking, thats all for me till 2 hrs from now are you?

Well I can personally tell you that a lot of us used to be more productive, until they cut all the flights. We cant help it that they schedule 4 flights at the same time, then nothing for 2 hours, then 4 more flights at the same time. You have to staff for 4 gates each time with everyone sitting around in between. If we had some more flights to fill in the gaps, we wouldnt have time to sit and ponder what we'll be doing on our next big break, but thats not in our hands is it?

 

[BoeingBoy]

Ok, boys and girls. Let's have some fun with numbers. It widely reported that Southwest operates 8 - 10 flights per day from each gate. I'll admit that I don't have all the info to calculate our usage so anyone with some info chime in. Here's what I'll start with...

PHL 40 mainline gates
PIT 25 mainline gates (B Concourse)
CLT 40 mainline gates (are those on D ours or joint use?)

Ok, who knows how many mainline departures a day we run from each of the hubs?

 

[AOG-N-IT]

his fund is worth $25 billion or more, he invested $240 million a drop in the bucket, and he made almost $100 million in profit from being the DIP financier. The $240 mill was for stock and everyone knows the stock market is just like Vegas, it is a gamble and a risk.

But I will be damned if I will let him make a profit off of my back.

You guys!!!! Where were all the other guys with heir money ???????? This guy took a risk plain and simple ITS a FACT ! Give credit where credit is dude. He has every right to get that money back and more.

usfliboi,

You "Hammer Head" !! Nobody disputes Bronner's right at taking a chance to turn a profit. You and I have the same rights and risks involved with investing in any stock..or taking any bet that's offered up to you.

The issue is. He is not going to prosper while the rest work harder for far less...all the while having every legally binding contract ignored at thier leasure and whim.

If you are going to support or debate people whom oppose this management , at least post something that is being disputed. Keep in mind , Bronners Risk taking is no greater concern to us..as his willingness to have us working for nothing or not at all is to him. Welcome to an intersection of the Two-Way Street.

I can only assume your not aware that is investment hasnt returned a profit? I dont think at all at this point its about his investment. The fact is We have to reduce cost plain simple Buisness 101. Then he can get his profit. Thet go hand in hand dude

usfliboi,

Yes I have noticed that his investment hasn't turned a profit...Cuz WE as an airline haven't turned a true one since he arrived. Amazing how the two go hand and hand , Isn't it?

Bronner jumped into the fray to try to offset the haircut he and his beloved RSA was getting over the lease returns on our former Fokker 100's. The man according to what I've been reading is also concerned that UAIR is taking more of his time than he had calculated as well. Imagine that?...being a Non-Executive CEO of a failing airline takes time and attention to detail to reverse. Who woulda thunk it?

Bronner and his beloved RSA is not doing jack for us. The added 40 Million he provided over the TPG's offer for U has likely cost us far more in very short order. His personal lack of knowledge and background in this industry is a tell tale sign that things are not going to get better anytime soon. The TPG at least had a history over reversing negative airline profits...but a few bucks more upfront trumped that fact. I do believe our last quarterly loss was in the $90 million range...and fridays release is believed to tell a tale of woe in the nieghborhood of $125 Million , based on educated guesses. Those kind of figures based on two quarters alone make his added 40 million look pretty paultry in the rear view mirror , Huh? :down:

Let's not discount his open support of a collection of baffoons whom still haven't presented any plan to combat the LCC's without OUR further contributions....what did the previous $1.2 Billion do , other than buy time for the remaining 28,000 out of 45,000 people we once had???

Bronner's risk taking would bother me no more than my risk taking on certain investments I've made would bother him....however his risk taking and supportive actions regarding Seigel and crew puts me in personal risk...along with the other 28,000 employee/investors here.

My hopes are for UAIR to actually turn enough of a profit to allow us the ability to rid ourselves of Bronner at some point....and hopefully Seigel too. We are in dire need of someone with real airline knowledge and actual people skills. Dave is going to have to really sell himself to obtain what he thinks he needs...and after the last round , coupled to the dis-honest actions they've pulled in the aftermath of recieving our previous $1.2 Billion worth of trust....that's going to be one hell of a sell job to perform.

Bronner has also proven hmself to be a major detriment to UAIR's ability to make money as well. Three times in his torrid tenure here , he's gone to the press talking liquidation or now selling assets , every negative statement from him has scared away advanced bookings , further investment potential and last but not least it has shaken the confidence of those of us whom make this circus work.

I strongly suggest you let these facts burn in deep , before you POP off to us about poor Doc Bronners troubles in Ala-Bubba Bank world. He has stated that U's failure will not be the end of him or the RSA...and with an attitude like that , it shows his motivations for being party to this corporation is as limited as his actual working knowledge of it to begin with. Let the Doc run his money risks...and let someone else run the airline up the scale , instead of down the tubes for a change.

 

[DCAview]

PHL 40 mainline gates
PIT 25 mainline gates (B Concourse)
CLT 40 mainline gates (are those on D ours or joint use?)

Ok, who knows how many mainline departures a day we run from each of the hubs?

From http://www.usairways.com/about/corporate/p...heets/index.htm

Daily Departures at Major Airports Jet Express Shuttle Total

Charlotte/Douglas (Hub) 257 212 469
Philadelphia Int'l. (Hub) 199 184 383
Pittsburgh Int'l. (Hub) 120 253 373
New York LaGuardia 20 149 31 200
Ronald Reagan Washington National 43 99 31 173
Boston Logan Int'l 29 38 31 98

As of January 2004

 

[funguy2]

Looks like Siegal is here to stay until Bronner can "persuade" him to "voluntarily" leave!

And who would Bronner get to replace Seigel?

As Homer Simpson said about Bart, "I don't want any part of that train wreck!"

Very few people, either inside or outside the aviation community, will want to risk future career moves based on having the blemish of UAIR failing on it. This is something that Seigel will be stuck with, unless he can save UAIR. Nobody else will risk it. That's my opinion.

 

[tadjr]

I'll admit that I don't have all the info to calculate our usage so anyone with some info chime in. Here's what I'll start with...

Given the number of gates and flights posted for mainline only US Airways uses

each gate in PHL 5 times a day (4.9)
each gate in PIT 5 times a day (4.8)
each gate in CLT 6 times a day (6.4)

I can also add in TPA uses 5 gates and 23 flights so each gate 5 times a day (4.6)
plus 2 gates for 18 Express flghts

There is lots of room for increased useage if we had something to increase. At one time back in the old days we were using 8 mainline gates and had between 60-70 flights a day. Most of them were the point to point stuff thats now gone.
LAX/LAS/IAD/IND/CLE/CMH/DAY/BOS/BDL/LGA/MIA/JAX/PBI/FLL/PNS/TLH/MCI/ORF/GSO/RDU/GCM/MEX/NAS/BWI/SYR (just to name a few)

 

[BoeingBoy]

Thanks DCAview,

So, if my gate count is about right and assuming that what the web site calls jet means mainline, here's what we get...

PHL 199 flights from 40 gates = 5 flights per gate per day
CLT 257 flights from 40 gates = 6.5 flights per gate per day
PIT 120 flights from 25 gates = 4.8 flights per gate per day

Except for CLT, Southwest uses each gate (and the associated personnel) from 50% to 100% more than we do. In CLT the difference is 25% to 50%.

Now, if we could get the hubs up to Southwest's gate utilization, what would that do to cost (CASM)? I certainly have no figure, but it is certain that our cost would be lower - without a single concession.

Jim