help me understand Republic......

trvlr64

Veteran
Aug 20, 2002
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FLL
I have been taking notice of Republic more and more since I seem to be flying them a lot lately.

Here are some observations I don't understand.


1. why do they insist on informing us that we are flying REPUBLIC AIRLINES and USAirways Express?

All the other express carriers say....thank you for flying USAirways Express OPERATED BY...fill in the carrier of choice. But Republic always places their name before USAirways.

2. why are they the only carrier in the US family that doesn't allow the use of cell phones upon landing and taxi?

3. why do they insist on having the window shades open for takeoff and landing?


How come they operate differently within the US family?
 
probably because that is how their trained to do so. As far as the sayin I guess it is the fact that they want the public to know that they are on REPUBLIC which is part of US EXP. That would be my wild guess.
 
I have been taking notice of Republic more and more since I seem to be flying them a lot lately.

Here are some observations I don't understand.
1. why do they insist on informing us that we are flying REPUBLIC AIRLINES and USAirways Express?

All the other express carriers say....thank you for flying USAirways Express OPERATED BY...fill in the carrier of choice. But Republic always places their name before USAirways.

2. why are they the only carrier in the US family that doesn't allow the use of cell phones upon landing and taxi?

3. why do they insist on having the window shades open for takeoff and landing?
How come they operate differently within the US family?
My guesses....
1. No idea about the Republic thing, however some people on here want everyone to know there is a differentiation between true US and contract, so that might please some folks.

2. They have to get that apporved by the FAA, they are still relatively new and perhaps haven't gotten around to it. There are weird quirks throughout the system, PSA not allowing PDAs in any mode is one. This is because they haven't gotten it checked off with the FAA yet, which I read somewhere costs money. So I will guess the same is with the RW cell phones.

3. Again, speaking of PSA, certain rows must have their window shades open in case of an emergency. I think CHQ does the same as RW, they may have just found it easier to keep all open instead of just telling the couple that need it open, to open it.

I wasn't sure if a Republic FA would out his/herself, since they are often bashed on this board, so that is why I posted my guesses.
 
I have been taking notice of Republic more and more since I seem to be flying them a lot lately.

Here are some observations I don't understand.
1. why do they insist on informing us that we are flying REPUBLIC AIRLINES and USAirways Express?

All the other express carriers say....thank you for flying USAirways Express OPERATED BY...fill in the carrier of choice. But Republic always places their name before USAirways.

2. why are they the only carrier in the US family that doesn't allow the use of cell phones upon landing and taxi?

3. why do they insist on having the window shades open for takeoff and landing?
How come they operate differently within the US family?
I've been flying Republic on the majority of my flights recently. I've heard the announcements differently on each flight, some as you say above, and some the way we usually hear them. I was wondering about the cell phones myself....I have a friend that works there and I'll see if I can find out what's up with that. Funny thing the other day, upon landing, all you heard was the sound of everyone's cell phones powering up at the same time the F/A was announcing no cell phones till at the gate. As far as window shades, I've seen that on other airlines too (UA, AA and some of the other express carriers).

As far as Republic goes, as much as I have been flying them lately, I can't really say I've had any bad experiences. I actually emailed US the other day to commend some 'above and beyond' actions by one of their F/A's. In talking with some F/A's, it seems that they have several former mainline PIT based that are very happy to be working for them to be able to base at home. Maybe not having to commute to places like PHL makes them happy and as a byproduct, friendly on the job.
 
I was talking to a F/A who worked there for a couple of months before throwing in the towel to await recall. Interesting insight.

1. Republic and its sister companies Shuttle America and Chataqua (they are all the same, they just have three certificates so they can legally violate mainline pilot scope clauses)use thier own announcements for all of the different contracts they have (they call them "codeshares" as if they are a real airline being codeshared with and not an outsourcing outfit!) They (RW and CQ) are in fact the only Express carrier out of the 9 that US has that don't use the standard US Airways Express announcements. They do seem to repeat Republic alot, alot of thier employees seem to think that they are going to take our planes and routes and start thier own airline, and this is seen as buidling brand awareness. Thier CEO tells them this type of thing at open houses and graduations.

2. They had to rush to get a certificate so they could take the US/MAA planes, and either haven't bothered to apply or haven't been approved for cell phone use during taxi. They have not been flying or even had a certificate for a year so maybe they will get to it eventually.

3. The windowshades comes from commuter planes with no window in the door. In an evacuation, the F/As need to look out a window to assess conditions before opening a door. The E170 has a porthole in the door but they still do the windowshades thing, maybe to stay consistent with the RJs or maybe because they are a commuter airline and have always done it that way. The F/A said they treat the 170 as if its a turboprop, and have lots of loopy rules that mainline/MA did not have for the exact same plane. They also require the F/As to leave the lights on the entire flight regardless of the time of day.
 
Can you please clarify few things?


1. Republic and its sister companies Shuttle America and Chataqua (they are all the same, they just have three certificates so they can legally violate mainline pilot scope clauses)

- who is Chataqua. Is it Chautauqua Airlines. The one that started September 1st. 1974 as a Allegheny Commuter, then later changed to Chautauqua Airlines. One of the oldest USAir Express carriers.
- What Scope Clauses they legaly violate?

2. They had to rush to get a certificate so they could take the US/MAA planes, and either haven't bothered to apply or haven't been approved for cell phone use during taxi. They have not been flying or even had a certificate for a year so maybe they will get to it eventually.

- Did they realy take the Airplanes or where they sold as a part or reconstruction from bankrupcy?
:) :rolleyes:
 
Okay...

CHQ has too long a name to type. And while they operated as Allegheny Commuter (the precursor to US Airways Express), they were always called Chautauqua Airlines.

CHQ is an American Connection carrier. American's scope clause prohibits any of thier partners from flying an aircraft like the E170, even if it's for another partner. CHQ did so anyway for United Express and paid fines to American and thier pilots union. Shuttle America was purchased so the E170s could be placed at technicaly a different airline, although it's the same management, seniority list etc. Just a different certificate.

Shuttle America flies E170s for United Express and Delta Connection. Delta's pilot scope clause prohibits a Connection carrier from operating anything larger than 70 seats. Shuttle's 170s are in a two class configuration with 70 seats.

Hence... the same company purchased (take, purchase, steal? whatever you like) the US Airways mainline E170s, which have 72 seats. A third certificate, Republic Airlines, was started so the same company (Republic Airways Holdings) can fly anything over 70 seats while technically not violating Delta or American. They were obviously expecting to fly E190s for US Airways, but shot themselves in the foot by refusing to employ the MidAtlantic employees until they returned to mainline (less than a year, it turns out).

Therefore US Airways ALPA (mostly the HP side of things)has scoped the E190 back in as a mainline plane and other airline unions have followed suit after witnessing the discpicable treatment/outsourcing of the US/MidAtlantic employees. NW and DL have also drawn the line at the 190.

The 175, which is between the 170 and 190, still fits into some airlines scope clauses. Delta will allow some in return for mainline growth, and US Airways allows it as well. Any 175s would be flown on the Republic Airlines certificate. Republic is apparently interested in operating E175s for US Airways. I hope Parker tells them no, and I'd guess that pretty much any US Airways employee would agree.

:) :rolleyes: to you too.
 
Please! that company is low-life. They bought the planes and couldn't even offer us a job. Yes, I do feel entitled to a job on MY plane that I bought with MY pay concessions. The most f'd up thing about it is that we were lied to. When it was announced in March, US told us "nothing will change, just a new name on the paycheck, you still have your recall to mainline". they even recalled more people to MDA. We didnt find out until September that we could INTERVIEW for a job there just like anyone off the street, no prefential hiring at US Airways Express for the US Airways flight attendants that were working on the plane before. They also told us if we did interview (how humiliating) that you might not even be republic you could be shuttle or chiquita whatever and be based anywhere of ten bases for 16K a year. Now they have three planes parked and flights canceling because they dont have enough f/as... well screw them.I dont blame thier f/as, they are mostly teenagers and people who can't get hired anywhere else. They arent the worst Express f/as, I think they just have dumb policies and the EMB is too much airplane for a commuter like that. They dont understand that they are pretty much replacement workers. I just hope they go away and go away soon. If they don't then Parker does not care about his employees or morale and will outsource us all as soon as he gets the chance. I know I'm outspoken, and I'm sure senior people dont know or care, but we will never accept them. Sorry. :down:
 
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Well I for one miss the MAA crews. They were top notch. Republic makes my a$$ itch :shock: everytime I get on their planes.

Thanks for the information everyone. It was helpful.
 
Hence... the same company purchased (take, purchase, steal? whatever you like) the US Airways mainline E170s, which have 72 seats. A third certificate, Republic Airlines, was started so the same company (Republic Airways Holdings) can fly anything over 70 seats while technically not violating Delta or American. They were obviously expecting to fly E190s for US Airways, but shot themselves in the foot by refusing to employ the MidAtlantic employees until they returned to mainline (less than a year, it turns out).


- I thought that CHQ union and pilot group signed a letter with US Airways to operate 25 E190's and that way they would have been able to employ all MDA pilots per J4J deal dictated by ALPA. I thought that it was ALPA's doings that RW had to do J4J deal with MDA folks.

Thanks for all the replys. :huh: :)
 
Please! that company is low-life. They bought the planes and couldn't even offer us a job. Yes, I do feel entitled to a job on MY plane that I bought with MY pay concessions. The most f'd up thing about it is that we were lied to.


-I thought that YOUR planes were not bought with YOUR concessions, but by GECAS and THEY owned THEIR E170's.

- Yes you were lied to, by YOUR OWN UNION from the start of MDA.
Where was the potomic certificate that you were suppossed to fly under. When all along you were USAIR employes, on C-payscale and still mainline employees. I feel for all of you. Rotten deal all together.

-I don't think that RW is going away, it's here to stay atleast next 9 years.

hang in there!!!!
 
Republic had only one thing to bring to the table then. and that was cash or US Airways would be no more, pure and simple.

Doesn't really matter that NOW we're stuck with them because truth be told without them 35,000 would be on the streets and all of the dedicated and loyal FF'ers would be elsewhere.
WHAT!!!! :shock: ... Air Wisconsin invested, you might be thinking of them.

Huh? Republic did not save Us air! Ong, is that what they tell people? The money they paid for the retention bonuses for the old US Airways mgmt team. The amounts match up almost exactly. They did not save anyone's job except the clowns that messed up the airline to begin with for a few months. Meanwhile the F/As were offered things like "if you stay at MDA until your furloughed and don't call in we'll give you $50 a month!" or some crap. 800 US Airways employees needlessly lost thier jobs, most of whom are still not back with the airline and may never be. But our planes are flying around with our logo on it with new hire kids working on it. It did the airline no good at all, the money did not do anything for the survival of the airline.I don't completely trust the new US management and this is a test for me. I don't care what way anyone wants to put it, like I said I will never accept Republic/Shuttle America whoever they are this week as part of the US family. I count the days until they are off our property. I'm a good employee and do my job well but as long as they are around I have no trust in the "new" USAirways, and you can bet the majority of the junior crews feel the same way--
 
EMB FA

You beat me to it, you are absolutely correct the selling of the 170's had nothing to do with saving airways! Employees took huge pay cuts and lost pensions to pay for the planes, and the brain trust in the crystal palace sold them for bonuses! Big joke on employees. I am hopeful that the sand castle will not be more of the same, but the jury is still out on that one.
 
EMB FA

You beat me to it, you are absolutely correct the selling of the 170's had nothing to do with saving airways! Employees took huge pay cuts and lost pensions to pay for the planes, and the brain trust in the crystal palace sold them for bonuses! Big joke on employees. I am hopeful that the sand castle will not be more of the same, but the jury is still out on that one.

So, what you are saying your management took the money that was got from selling 10 E170's and RW taking the leases reast 15 E170's from GECAS. Wasn't U in bankroptsy when sale took place. So, didn't it help save U. :huh:
 

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