Flying Away / It's Time To Stop Counting On Us Air

[pitflyer]

I don't know what's more certain, death and taxes or an attack on the city and people of Pittsburgh on this bulletin board. I really don't know what PineyBob's problem is, if someone from Pittsburgh smacked his mom around or something, but as someone under 30 who moved here on purpose (I can live anywhere with my company) I've seen the area overall explode -- definitely not the breakneck pace of other cities but as others have posted, I'm happy that way. The traffic is still managable; Pittsburghers complain about a 20 minute delay in their commute, and I grew up in New York City -- 20 minutes, hah!

I've never seen any entitlement attitude here from the airport workers or other locals. Just a hard-working, no-nonsense traditional but very open. Pittsburgh's time in the spotlight is gone, and it will never be back. But it is still an excellent place to live. In terms of USAirways, that ship has sailed (for lack of a better metaphor). USAirways has for its own survival moved on, so we need to too... and the growth on other airlines is a start in the right direction.

 

[mh2438]

I think I heard somewhere that the AA RDU-LON route is sort of subsidized by a local company that guarantees that they buy a certain number of seats on each flight.

 

[BoeingBoy]

The PIT saga from a different perspective....

Feeling Abandoned by US Airways

No, he's not a pilot. But Albrecht is on a U.S. Airways plane several times most weeks as he travels for work. He's a loyal Chairman's Preferred level flier, and has been for years. He always flies U.S. Airways when possible. Yet, U.S. Airways seems bent on sending him elsewhere.

Article

Jim

 

[youngblood]

Good God you must be living in Beaver County. Those that b*tch like you do proabably haven't been beyond Moon Township. When was the last time you went 'dahntahn' or over to Shady Side or Squirrel Hill (which looks like many NYC neighborhoods), or to the Carnegie, or a ball game? There's more to Pittsburgh than the airport. I was not born or raised in Pittsburgh and I've lived in a lot of places including the west coast and down south. I have to say the quality of life in Pittsburgh far exceeds most places that's because I make it a point to get out and enjoy the area and all it has to offer.

[post="169823"][/post]​

Hey now. I live in Beaver County and am happy to say that I have stepped outside of the bubble beyond Moon Twp. You are absolutely right about I all the sights, have worked for some of the larger companies in the area, and find the people and places far exceed most of the places I have been. Yeah the roads stink and taxes are higher than some but not the highest. I would rather have the in your face - lay it on the line attitude than the back stabbing sticky sweetness that I have seen in other places.

 

[youngblood]

At least the Eagles have cheerleaders.. a diversion if the Eagles are having a stinky game. When the Steelers are stinkn up the joint..only other entertainment is watching Coach Cowher spitting and swearing . That is one positive about this region....I had never seen 2500 fans at a high school football game till I came down here..friday/saturdays around here rocks during football season.

[post="170029"][/post]​

[/quote]

If the only entertainment during a bad game is Cowher, then maybe you ought to take a look around. Some of my best moments during football season is watching the crowd around me. I pictures, signatures, and drunken memories of some kickass games we had which we lost. During football season I become a football widow and enjoy every moment of it cause while my husband is at the local club watching the game, I'm at home waving the Terrible Towel while my kids look at me like I'm nuts. Let the games begin!!!!!!!!!!! I need a diversion!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[youngblood]

Joe Montana, Jim Kelly, Joe Namath, Johnny Unitas, Dan Marino, LaVar Arrington, Ty Law, Mike Ditka, just to name a few. All good reasons to go to Friday night High School games around the "burgh".

[post="170126"][/post]​

Ty Law, Sean Gilbert, Mike Ditka, Tony Dorsett. Went to school with the first two. My father went to school with Mike and I know relatives of Dorsett. My high school won State Championships the four years I was there. We sold out every game during football season and the crowds rocked. Probably some of the best memories I have of younger years.

 

[ISP]

The PIT saga from a different perspective....

Feeling Abandoned by US Airways

No, he's not a pilot. But Albrecht is on a U.S. Airways plane several times most weeks as he travels for work. He's a loyal Chairman's Preferred level flier, and has been for years. He always flies U.S. Airways when possible. Yet, U.S. Airways seems bent on sending him elsewhere.

Article

Jim

[post="170362"][/post]​

This article is pathetic. Yes, US may not fly non-stop PIT-BTV/LGW anymore, but the connecting options via PHL are still better than what other airlines offer. In fact, can you get PIT-BTV on any other airline? Via MEM or CVG?

PLEASE!

 

[youngblood]

On a serious note, I was born and raised in the PIT area and have seen a couple of eras come and go. As a kid I remember catching the bus from down town Aliquippa to go to Pittsburgh and do some CHristmas shopping. At that time stores were booming, the mill was up and running, and life was good. I remember whispers of people losing jobs and houses being lost to foreclosure. I remember my grandmother telling me about the IOU's my grandfather would get from the mill during the Depression and my uncles learning to tend to the garden on the tiny plot of land they acquired just to keep them fed. I saw my town go from bustling to desolate. I watched families move and people grow older. I saw my neighborhood go from a safe haven to one that was questionable.

Now I see more doom on the horizon but I see hope in the future. Younger families from different areas have recently moved into my neighborhood because the south wasn't cutting it anymore. I talk to people everyday during my hours at work that are either living in the area and making a substantial living or are planning on moving back. People who are not natives but love the area and residents so much that they refuse to move or are moving back.

I love the honesty and genuine concern that I get from my friends, neighbors, and coworkers. I know more people who will bust butt to get the job done than any -where I have been. (BTW, I have worked among many different people and in many different areas.) I work with many, many different people who pull in more than 60 hours on the job during a five day period. I love the fact that the History teacher at the local high school owns and operates his own farm and is a graduate of Harvard. His mother is close to ninety yrs old and gets around better than most 40 somethings. She toiled and sweat to send her son to an Ivy League. That is what this area is all about. A diverse ethnic background that has shed blood, sweat, and tears to make life better for their families. We have many success stories and much fortitude and our elders never let us forget what it took to get us where we are.

My father was once an executive for a local company, but never forgot the "blue collar" attitude or work ethic. It got him far and found him many allies simply because he is who he is and there are no fronts. He never let me forget where we came from - that being German and Irish men and women who came to this country as indentured servants. People who started with nothing and made something and in the mean time became a huge part of history.

We don't expect anything nor do we feel "entitled". I take that back. We feel entitled to get paid for our hours worked. If getting paid my hourly wage is a crime, then put me behind bars with CEO's and Executives of this company that are getting paid far too much for what they do while running a failing company further into the ground.

 

[BoeingBoy]

Forbe's calls PIT on of the "60 Cheapest Places To Live" and says this:

Since the last steel mills closed in the late 1980s, proud Pittsburghers have scrubbed the Smoky City clean and cultivated a strong tech industry. National magazines rate Pittsburgh among the best cities for doing business, raising a family, even riding a bike. The city gets high marks for friendliness; learning and culture, legacies of great magnates like Carnegie and Mellon; and quirky neighborhoods.

The article is here:

Forbe's Article

and PIT is under "Bohemian Bargains".

Not to start (or prolong) the fight, but neither PHL or CLT made the list.

Jim

ps - as a son of the South, PIT is not my "cup of tea" because it's too cold for too long. But there's lots to do there, and I've eaten in some "hole in the wall" places with food to die for. And I've never had any problem with the people - they even understand me despite the southern drawl...

 

[RowUnderDCA]

Funny, my impressions of Pitt were much along the lines of the article that you cite, but since reading this board, I'm not sure I'd like to visit afterall.

 

[BoeingBoy]

Row,

I haven't spent much time in PIT since the late 70's and again in the early 90's.

The first period was in an earlier life when I flew all night and slept most of the day, stayed in the old motel near the airport (the Glass Tower, I think it was called), and had no personal transportation. Didn't see much those 2 months.

The second period was better - up to a month at a time working on the pilot bids. We had transportation and got "out & about". Had some good times then. Remember one particular restaurant that was across the river from downtown (on the airport side). It was in what I think was the old train station. Great food.

Never had a problem with anyone. Course, I didn't go in expecting any problems, either.

Jim

 

[EyeInTheSky]

Row,

I haven't spent much time in PIT since the late 70's and again in the early 90's.

The first period was in an earlier life when I flew all night and slept most of the day, stayed in the old motel near the airport (the Glass Tower, I think it was called), and had no personal transportation. Didn't see much those 2 months.

The second period was better - up to a month at a time working on the pilot bids. We had transportation and got "out & about". Had some good times then. Remember one particular restaurant that was across the river from downtown (on the airport side). It was in what I think was the old train station. Great food.

Never had a problem with anyone. Course, I didn't go in expecting any problems, either.

Jim

[post="170486"][/post]​

Jim, that would be the Grand Concourse restaurant. Very nice. I like going up on Mt. Washington to the Tin Angle - great food and a view to die for. Pittsburgh is a great city. Those that bash it obviously haven't experienced it.

 

[BoeingBoy]

Eye,

I agree, though for me (as I said somewhere) it's too cold for too long. Guess my southern blood is a little thin.

Jim

 

[EyeInTheSky]

Hey now. I live in Beaver County and am happy to say that I have stepped outside of the bubble beyond Moon Twp. You are absolutely right about I all the sights, have worked for some of the larger companies in the area, and find the people and places far exceed most of the places I have been. Yeah the roads stink and taxes are higher than some but not the highest. I would rather have the in your face - lay it on the line attitude than the back stabbing sticky sweetness that I have seen in other places.

[post="170384"][/post]​

Okay, sorry I picked on the "Beeve". We live good here in Pittsburgh I guess some close-minded people just can't stand that. Oh well.

 

[EyeInTheSky]

Eye,

I agree, though for me (as I said somewhere) it's too cold for too long. Guess my southern blood is a little thin.

Jim

[post="170544"][/post]​

Jim, it's like anything else you get used to it. Makes me appreciate the good days more when they come along. Lived in the Southwest and everyday was blue skies and sun. Believe it or not, I missed the snow and rain. C'est la vie. :huh: