FCFS Handicapping System

[The Bagfather]

In the old days we would get our OPs people to check us in at first opportunity the day of.  Now everybody can check in themselves of the internet.  So say your flt leaves at 0600 the next day you have to get up at 0600 the day before for optimal check in time.  Now heres my idea.  What about software like people use on ebay to bid at last possible second.  If anybody comes up with that PM me.   It could be a circus out there in NonRev land.  
 
Heres something I discovered about Non Reving on my last trip.  A US flight was showing 16 open seats two days prior in the past that would have held baring cancellations weather etc.  But this time they all got sold and even had a couple of rev standbys.  I think whats happeing with the internet is that people can still by a reasonably priced ticket at the last minute.  For instance 2 hours prior a flt on
WN from  PDX to SAN The price was  $219 tax included.  The cheapest price for that was about $130.
 
Take care  BF
 
 

 

[Crzipilot]

Quit whining and use the JetAway app on your smart phone to check in. Most airplanes have WiFi nowadays.
 
FCFS is much better and fairer. You are a lot less likely to be bumped down at last minute. As someone who has used both systems, I much prefer FCFS.

 
 
we don't have access to the app........

 

[jimntx]

I commuted for a little over 6 years because I had no intentions of moving to my assigned base (or any of my other base options).  I never had a missed trip due to commuting issues.  It never occurred to me that because I was a crew member I should get preferential treatment over other AA employees (still don't).  And, check-in time never caused me a problem.  What seems to be going on here is that some people who could walk up to the gate and take away the boarding pass of a junior employee without having to get up early the day before to check-in are unhappy about the loss of their entitlement.
 
Before too much longer I will drop from D2 to D2R when non-revving.  I can't say I'm wild about the idea simply because it is almost impossible these days for a non-rev to get on to an airplane going any where period.  (Oh god. Maybe I'll have to buy a ticket like 99% of the rest of the world!!!)  However, my choice is to spend my retirement with my knickers in a twist about this change or adapt to it.  I don't think the powers that be care much one way or the other about how I feel about their decisions.  Carrying a resentment is like drinking poison and hoping it will kill the person at which I am mad.

 

[jimntx]

 
 
Additional Item #2
What is your first impression of the AA NRPT?
 
To me it looks functional enough, but it looks like it was designed by the same person who brought excitement and pizzazz to the Radio Shack shopping experience.
 
I'm sure that it won't be long before I see that it is clearly superior to the ETC.  Have any of you LAA types visited ours?  What do you think?
 
Jim?  Jim?  Anyone?
 
 
 

I'm sorry.  I thought the purpose of the NRTP (note order of the letters, lol) was to get you listed and checked in for a flight you wanted to go on.  I had no idea it was supposed to entertain you as well.  We'll get someone on that right away.  Would you prefer an Angry Birds looking screen or more of a Dungeons and Dragons effect?
 
I spent over 20 years in the wonderful world of Information Technology.  The FIRST rule of programming is..."If it works, don't fix it."  

 

[cltrat]

jim I can tell you that you don't want the LUS IT to be messing with it at all...lol
 
of course if you could have pizza at the gate for you off of it that would be kind of cool...lol

 

[nycbusdriver]

 
Before too much longer I will drop from D2 to D2R when non-revving.  I can't say I'm wild about the idea simply because it is almost impossible these days for a non-rev to get on to an airplane going any where period.  (Oh god. Maybe I'll have to buy a ticket like 99% of the rest of the world!!!)  However, my choice is to spend my retirement with my knickers in a twist about this change or adapt to it.  I don't think the powers that be care much one way or the other about how I feel about their decisions.  Carrying a resentment is like drinking poison and hoping it will kill the person at which I am mad.

 
I am in the same situation....soon to add the "R" on whatever D2 designation they finally decide to settle on.  But I am not fretting at all.  I just got my AmEx Delta Card and began adding points to my Delta FF account.  (AA does not even serve the places I wish to visit upon retirement, nor are they likely to do so before I'm too old to travel...or even before airplanes are obsolete!)
 
Like I always have for the last 25 years:  When I want to travel on vacation or for non-work-related reasons, I purchase a ticket and it's almost always on a competing carrier....because it's more convenient and cheaper.

 

[jimntx]

jim I can tell you that you don't want the LUS IT to be messing with it at all...lol
 
of course if you could have pizza at the gate for you off of it that would be kind of cool...lol

Unfortunately, I've reached the age where I have a very simple diet...if it tastes good, spit it out!
 
Back to topic...one f the hardest things I had to do in my consulting activities was to convince employers and their "hot shot" IT people to leave an application alone--i.e., "I know it does what it's supposed to do, but it's boring" is not a valid reason to re-do/re-code/replace an application.  In business, of course.  If the app is in the entertainment category, then have at it.
 
Always remember that the more complicated a computer application is, the more likely that any attempt to modify the application down the road will result in chaos--usually the app quits working entirely.  Part of this effect is because it is harder to get IT people to keep the documentation current (talk about boring!) than it is to get f/as to do the FAA-required 15 minute walk-through of each cabin.  (Personally, I make sure that I do the 15 minute walk-through at least once an hour whether it's needed or not.  )

 

[nycbusdriver]

Unfortunately, I've reached the age where I have a very simple diet...if it tastes good, spit it out!
 

 
That is undoubtedly one of the top 10 funniest lines I've ever seen on this forum!  

 

[john john]

I had FCFS with HP and DOH with Airways. I reject BOARDING by ENTITLEMENT.

Non-Rev Travel Grievance
The CWA/IBT Association has selected Ira Jaffe as the Neutral Arbitrator to hear the Non-Rev travel grievance on behalf of all members. Once a date is agreed upon for a hearing, we will let you know. The Company has refused to hold off changing the program until we have the decision from the Arbitration hearing.

 

[jimntx]

 
That is undoubtedly one of the top 10 funniest lines I've ever seen on this forum!  

Thank you.  It would be even funnier if it weren't half true.

 

[pjirish317]

 

Not trying to rain on anyone parade here, AA and it seems the court system has made the decision that FCFS will be the way things are going to be. You may not like it but it is what it is. 
 
When I was at LAX I could calculate the 3 hr difference and the system would let me check in my parents or kids if they were flying from an east coast city.
 
FCFS was in place many yrs ago at other carriers as well this system is not just an AA thing.
 
For you that are complaining about the new way think about it this way if you got to the airport and were at the gate ready to get your boarding pass and some one walked up at the lat minute and took your seat you would be mad then too. We all can check in at the same time 24 hrs before depending on your D1 D2 or D2r D2P or the USAirways code you will be place on the list with the time you hit the check in on the computer.
 
AA flights are full most of the time and I can assume that US flights are as well.
That is where you determine what classification you want to use. By the color of the numbers with our system you can see as well what chance you will have of getting on the flight.

 
What court decided that FCFS was the way it was going to be? Are you reffering to the Flight Attendants Arbitration? The F/A's did not have in their CBA that they would board for Non_revenue space available travel by D.O.H. as the CSA's and Fleet do. So to say that the court decided is somewhat false. There are 2 more grievances in line waiting for an arbitrator to hear them. It is not etched in stone yet.

 

[lax]

 
 
What court decided that FCFS was the way it was going to be? Are you reffering to the Flight Attendants Arbitration? The F/A's did not have in their CBA that they would board for Non_revenue space available travel by D.O.H. as the CSA's and Fleet do. So to say that the court decided is somewhat false. There are 2 more grievances in line waiting for an arbitrator to hear them. It is not etched in stone yet.

 
yea its ETCHED, watch almost any town hall and doug will tell you why.  can't say i blame him.  hmmm, piss of 20k or 70k employees (no brainer).  btw, the other 2 are only formalities, not to mention the arbs are probably bought and paid for.  best thing is to stop whining about this and get over it.  a lot bigger fish to fry!

 

[pjirish317]

 

yea its ETCHED, watch almost any town hall and doug will tell you why.  can't say i blame him.  hmmm, piss of 20k or 70k employees (no brainer).  btw, the other 2 are only formalities, not to mention the arbs are probably bought and paid for.  best thing is to stop whining about this and get over it.  a lot bigger fish to fry!

 
lax,

Who is whining? I see alot of whining on both sides here. And I'm glad your crystal ball is working where you can see what the future holds. By no means is it ETCHED in stone. Oh and BTW, it's not about pissing off 20K vs. 70k. It's about a contractual obligation that parker has, period. Article 7A of the Fleet Service Agreement at US states: "Date of Hire Seniority is defined as continous US Airways service in any department and shall be applied to: vacation accrual, boarding for on-line non-revenue space available travel, and service awards. Adjustments to Date of Hire Seniority based on past seniority practices will remain in place. After the effective date of this Agreement, there will be no adjustments to Date of Hire Seniority"

So contractualy it is not ETCHED in stone as you may think.

I do not fly much, but I prefer the D.O.H. system. Seniority is all we have left anymore.

 

[AANOTOK]

 
I do not fly much, but I prefer the D.O.H. system. Seniority is all we have left anymore.

 
And it has nothing to do with getting on a damn airplane.
 
And like I told 700 many moons ago when he made his wrong prediction (and won't man up) I didn't vote on that contract so it doesn't mean jack to me.

 

[pjirish317]

 

And it has nothing to do with getting on a damn airplane. Get over it already.....

 

Then please elighten me as what it does have to do with?