F/A Attrition ONLY

[nbmcg01]

Honestly, I can't really worry about it right now. All I can do is go to work and try to save a bunch of money and not move around again until I can figure out where this operation is going or not going. For myself, IFS flying is over. Too much money out of my pocket on those flights.

Sound planning Chris. That is what EVERYONE should be doing. Not only do you have high fuel prices but contract negotiations. I don't envy any of you.

 

[FA Mikey]

Somethings's gotta give. If fuel prices keep rising daily ($121 today) we're going to either furlough or merge THEN furlough. Some people think attrition will take care of any overage but I'm not optimistic.

A friend of mine spoke with an APFA rep a few weeks ago and mentioned she heard there were going to be layoffs to the rep and the rep replied, " I wouldn't be surprised".

Really wish they could do a buyout like Delta. There are more than a few of us, who are close to and willing to leave. I just dont want to rush out with nothing when I am close to the 25,000 plus passes early out.

 

[Skymess]

Really wish they could do a buyout like Delta. There are more than a few of us, who are close to and willing to leave. I just dont want to rush out with nothing when I am close to the 25,000 plus passes early out.

If you are close you may as well just stay. There's really no incentive for them to do a buy out.

 

[FA Mikey]

I am 3 years from 25,000 deal. Not sure if I can swing it for 3 more years. Guess we shall see.

 

[Skymess]

I am 3 years from 25,000 deal. Not sure if I can swing it for 3 more years. Guess we shall see.

well, by all means, go! I can use all the seniority numbers I can get.

 

[NewHampshire Black Bears]

From the BOTTOM of my ol' HEART,.....I wish EVERY unionized employee....Good luck, in the months ahead.

Though Not (at the time) with AA in the early 80-83"s(I was stuck with PEE-POT Arline's then, with AA the next door neighboor, I remember BOS being cut down to a (very) Mere 11 flights a day.

Crandall(fresh on board) KNEW INSTINCTIVELY what needed to be done,...........and......THEN, came roaring back. AA has without question, the INSTICTIVE ABILITY TO FIGHT, like a Pit Bull, and there fore I'm Not concerned about AA staying Viable.

Like virtually every other company,.........they do NOT,..............."cut and run" to BK.
(In all fairness It must be noted that NW, did not need to go into BK. It was DRAGGED in by vermin named Steenland so as to "feather his own, and Andersons (respective) "NESTS" :down: :down:


Airline history runs in cycles, and it's NOW apparent that AA is gearing up for just that.
While it will get "lean and mean" at AA, it will get Extremely Perilous at other carriers(sadly)

Good luck to ALL !!

NH/BB's

 

[eolesen]

Airlines may have run in cycles before, but to quote Horton, there isn't a rulebook for oil at its current levels, G. Three years ago, we were all worried about $40 oil. At the current rates of increase (approx $5/month?) we'll be at $140 by the end of summer... Unfathomable by US standards...

I heard a guy on the radio today commenting on a gas station with mechanical gas pumps. They aren't capable of pricing gas above $3.99 so the state agency responsible for ensuring pumps are calibrated and measuring fuel properly wants to take away their license because the price on the dials won't match the actual price per gallon... If he wants to stay in business, he has to buy new gas pumps.

So, I don't think it is going to just go away in a couple years like all the other cyclical economic downturns of the 70's, 80's and 90's.


Jim, I feel for you. I'd like to think that AA's going to get thru this without furloughs, but that's not very likely unless something drastic (like pensions being frozen at current levels?) can convince the old-timers to bail out. I think there are a lot of people like Mikey who would leave for a modest lump sum and some passes. That's a no-cost option for the company.

 

[czerny]

Jim, the most junior active FA right now is standing at 189027. So, subtract your number from hers and it will give you an idea of your "cushion" or lack thereof in the event of an overage! Today, we were told that currently there are no bid leaves for IOR in June. That is a good thing from where I'm sitting. But, due to fuel prices, ORD-FCO will become seasonal and leave the bid sheet in Oct and return next spring in April. Pax will be flying the JFK-FCO route to get to Rome.

 

[Bob Owens]

Airlines may have run in cycles before, but to quote Horton, there isn't a rulebook for oil at its current levels, G. Three years ago, we were all worried about $40 oil. At the current rates of increase (approx $5/month?) we'll be at $140 by the end of summer... Unfathomable by US standards...

Well to put things in perspective "Unfathomable by US standards..." . The real cost for oil (adjusted for inflation) only recently passed its historic high, which I beleieve was set in the early 80s. By European standards we are not really paying all that much. Their economies survived, their society did not collapse, they provided medical care and education for all. High energy costs were not used to deflate wages and benifits.

 

[kirkpatrick]

Jim, the most junior active FA right now is standing at 189027.

It seems like that sometimes! One thing to keep in mind with all the doom and gloom is that attrition is still pecking away at about 50 per month, and Overage Leaves will have to be offered before anyone is actually furloughed.

One thing's for sure: no matter what the cost of fuel, a lot of people are going to be flying to a lot of places, and I can't see AA not surviving whatever happens. There have been a number of airline failures in the last few months, and those passengers have to go somewhere. Jet Blue just announced their JFK - LAX and BOS - LAX flights aren't going to start up as planned, so that helps our lucrative transcon market.

It's never boring, is it?

MK

 

[StarStreamJets]

I fear with this latest downturn (fuel prices going up) that my chances of recall are becoming slimmer. Friends of mine at other airlines have also been getting concerned about possible furloughs there, especially friends at NW who are very concerned about the ramifications of the merger.

 

[jimntx]

Jim, the most junior active FA right now is standing at 189027.

B, there's one too many digits in that number! The 9, the 0, the 2, or the 7 needs to go.

 

[jersey777]

All of this talk about furloughs is way too premature. There is a big difference between today and few years ago when AA did furlough flight attendants. The main reason for furloughs in 2003 were changes to the contract and not due to any major reduction in flying. Not only did the company need less flying due to contract changes...people forget that staffing reductions had a huge impact on the number of flight attendants needed. These changes affected the entire operation from top to bottom. Paring back flying is not going to result in furloughs in my opinion. I haven't checked but I believe that they still have to offer leaves in lieu of furloughs. The only effect any reduction in flying will have is on the number and speed of bringing back the current furloughs. .....with all that said..... this could change tomorrow...after all..the times they are a changing.

 

[Skymess]

B, there's one too many digits in that number! The 9, the 0, the 2, or the 7 needs to go.

Somebody's been watching too much Price is Right.

 

[kirkpatrick]

my chances of recall are becoming slimmer.

I still think it will happen based solely on attrition. Cutbacks are announced months in advance, and we already know the company's plans for the rest of 2008. Hang in there.

MK