The employees can't stand what US Airways has become either. The practice of closing the door early is sometimes arbitrary, but the gate agents are trained to close out 10 minutes prior if not earlier to attempt an on time departure from the gate so we can be on time for our slot for the 30 minute taxi to the runway. Also, us airline employees with our FREE AIR TRAVEL
are routinely eschewed away if the agents fall behind.
Well....I'm aware, very aware, of the "company policy" and for that matter the policy is standard across most of aviation. As others have said, this "policy" is not unique to US...and I'm sure other airlines will leave a passenger.
BUT...what still simply does not add up to me are these things:
1.)
EVERYONE has to play by the same rules..."close out 10 minutes prior if not earlier to attempt an on time departure from the gate so we can be on time for our slot for the 30 minute taxi to the runway." CO does it from EWR and IAH....AA and UA have the same issue in ORD, AA in DFW....etc. EVERYONE has the same, ugly ATC and traffic jam realities to deal with.
2.) I've racked up close to 200,000 "Qualifying" miles on various airlines....AA, CO, DL, NW, UA, US, WN & YX. In other words, I've flow nearly everyone this year (and years past) and done so LOTS. CP with US, Platinum with CO...and then a smattering of miles on other carriers. I've been late catching a connection and STILL had my seat. I relayed the story how I did MCI-ATL-LGA a few weeks ago, paid F class on DL, was late getting into ATL at the D gates...had to go to the T gates with 12 minutes, I was the last one on the airplane and my seat was waiting for me....on a FULL airplane, Monday morning ATL-LGA. No issues. I relayed the story about a UA trip, SAT-ORD-PVD....they waited for me....yet. (I probably just jinxed myself.)
Piney says "they'll leave you," I won't dispute that, but it hasn't happened to me where I'm within 10 minutes of departure time.
3.) Yes, airplanes are full...on EVERYONE...
In other words, it's not like US has some set of bizzare "only we are handicapped" set of circumstances. Like in a football game where it's raining heavily and passing the ball isn't easy, no coach or player can complain 'cause guess what? EVERYONE plays by the same rules and has the same set of issues to deal with.
That's why I find it pathetic when Doug Parker stands on the ATC thing as the problem...and says things like "pax should be calling their congressman, not us with the delay issues." Makes me think of some minor league, hack manager blaming the poor performance of his team on rain or a soggy infield.
Yes, other airline execs have mentioned the issue. NO airline management has been as vocal as US.
SOME airlines are adopting the "we need to control what we control, our operations, we can not control ATC." AA for example is now not overselling and in fact, leaving some seats open in anticipation of "issues" like the pesky ATC.
Other airline managers, like Doug Parker and company are content to just point fingers.
So yeah, I'm aware that "S.O.P. is to get the airplane out early to sit in line and deal with the traffic jam." I know it well. But based on US horrific "ON-TIME" performance and consistent #1 ranking at the "the most complaints of anyone," I'd hazzard a guess that other airline management are finding ways to better deal with the issue.
Meanwhile, Mr. Parker is content to blame the old US for the condition of the T/A fleet...despite finding the budget to strip the domestic A320 and 321 birds quickly....he's content to blame the ATC...despite the fact that CO operates in an equally miserable EWR airspace and grabs FAR fewer complaints.....he's content to continue telling you, telling us, what passengers will and won't pay for.
I just find it amazing. Just amazing.
