How Greener Is It On The Other Side

[Finish or Ignore]

Left about 2 years ago..less money but it stills feels good to be detached from the dark cloud that has loomed over this company for so long. The lesson learned is there is life after USAirways. You find that your keeping your head above water, adjust and move on. I do remain hopelessly optimistic for this company however.

[post="233983"][/post]​

Are you pilotpit?

 

[dinosaur]

Retired after 38 years, effective tomorrow. Still will have to find another job.
No more "Sorry, your flight is cancelled". I'm not looking back.


--Dino

 

[WNjetdoc]

Was with U for 6 years, left about 9 years ago to go with another airline. I've been treated very well at my current position and would do anything for them. Its sort of a they scratch my back and I scratch theirs.

I have never regretted leaving U and it wasn't for the money as I took an initial 7.00 hr paycut but have since more than made it up....in hourly pay and in something that counts for more, happiness.

Goodluck to you folks still at U, I sincerely wish you all the best, especially my friends and Uncle working there.

 

[ISP]

I know that many ex-US folks have taken up shop at B6, and from what I've seen, the mechanic group has definately benefited the most (in the short term, at least). Hard to belive that US trained lots of folks on both the Airbus and the Embrarer, and as a result, B6 doesn't have to worry about lots of training costs. There are at least 10 B6 mechanics at JFK that were a part of the TPA "padlocking" on Thanksgiving 2002.

 

[callgirlcindie]

I have read on here where a few Usairways employees have found other jobs elsewhere and loving every minute of it..
I have a few questions for you:
Are you making more,less or same?
The new job you got were there many position opened ,were there a lot of applicants are there more work available ?

For me I am going to try to do something for myself ..start my own business

by the way are you in the same industry ??

[post="233938"][/post]​

I took vol furlough in 2002, was recalled to res 3 months later, turned it down. I just graduated with a 2 year associates degree in the medical field. I have been working part time while I finished school. I have an interview today, and if I am offered the job I will be making close to what I would be making at U after 23 years. And this is starting out. Great benefits, close to home, Mon-Fri 7-330pm. Weekends, holidays off. PTO, etc. Plus job security. I love what I am doing. I feel good about myself and have not had a migrane since I left U! I appreciate the years I had with U. At least the first 20 or so. I made good money and had good benefits. After the cuts began it became less and less worth it to stay. The worst was the total loss of self esteem that res puts you through. It was so frustrating to want to give good customer service and be thwarted at every turn. I have not regretted leaving one minute. I wish all my former co workers the best and hope that they find happiness in this new year. Life is too short to be miserable.

 

[deano]

I feel good about myself and have not had a migrane since I left U! Life is too short to be miserable.

[post="234213"][/post]​

A couple years back when I was still working at U I had stomach pain, bad pain. I went to my doctor who is a specialist in that field, his office is in Moon Township close to U's facilities. This Gastro doctor looked at me and said sit down. He told me I was taking enough medicine to heal a wound right after stomach surgery in just a few days. He also said that he sees several U employees every single week all complaining of gastro problems. He told me that his patients do better when they get furloughed or quit or work out a few times a week and a few he had to put on paxill. In other words, working at U like the poster above states does take its toll in other ways. Pay and benefits cuts are not the only things employees at U endure. Personally I worked out a few times a week and eventually left U for good, my stomach pain stop almost immediately when I learned it was only an adverse effect of employment at U.

 

[phl/yyz]

A couple years back when I was still working at U I had stomach pain, bad pain. I went to my doctor who is a specialist in that field, his office is in Moon Township close to U's facilities. This Gastro doctor looked at me and said sit down. He told me I was taking enough medicine to heal a wound right after stomach surgery in just a few days. He also said that he sees several U employees every single week all complaining of gastro problems. He told me that his patients do better when they get furloughed or quit or work out a few times a week and a few he had to put on paxill. In other words, working at U like the poster above states does take its toll in other ways. Pay and benefits cuts are not the only things employees at U endure. Personally I worked out a few times a week and eventually left U for good, my stomach pain stop almost immediately when I learned it was only an adverse effect of employment at U.

[post="234222"][/post]​

left last Jan...was sck 6 or 7 times last year...only had one small cold and that's it...there is life after U still want to see it all work out...

 

[usacrew3]

I left in September after ten years with U. I started selling Real Estate here in Fort lauderdale with another flight attendant and we are on a roll. We have both made double what we ever made in a year at U, we have offices in our respective homes so some days I dont even leave the house. I was on reserve my entire flight attendant career based in PHW so now I dont wear a pager, worry about being quick called after some senior mama decides not to show up for a trip. I no longer sit back and watch while more senior f/as fly six, seven even eight trips a month while I was sitting at the Lagoon hoping my cellphone would ring.
I have my own medical/dental and have set up a retirement plan.
USAirways was the best airline with the best employees. I was proud to welcome passengers on our biggest bus and take them to Europe every week but there comes a time when you have to tell yourself, I am no longer proud to be here - offering toothpaste in Business class from a bread basket! Donuts that look like turds with Daves name on them for breakfast in Economy! Dirty airplanes, delayed flights, dont get me started on getting back through security at the A concourse.
Anyway, I read on here and see on tv what you are all going through and while I wish you the best, I hope all of my friends still working there have a plan B. This year I have flown to Europe on CO in Business Class - Fantastic!, Delta to Aspen - Very clean, professional service, Air Tran - Never again and Jet Blue back and forth to cape Cod a few times and they provide good reliable cheap flights.
US Airways cannot provide for you, you have to do it yourself and have a plan.

Happy New Years,

Hugh McKerlie and Heike Drewniok

 

[ggu23311]

After being gone from UAIR almost five years and well into my new career, I can honestly say I will never work midnights, weekends, outdoors and get treated like crap for it ever again. I'm too good for that! Sorry but true! Life after UAIR is real.

 

[imisthebac111]

i left christmas day 2003 after 21 years with usair went to a major railroad as a conductor after 3 years will make 2 time more than the hourly rate at usair 17.00

 

[phl/yyz]

just saw your site good job...x f/a as well have crashpads yes there is life after U

 

[wnbubbleboy]

Started working for U in 88' pre-merger in two layoff and recalls in 91/92 finally furloughed again in Jan 94. Hired by WN IN Feb 94.

WN has been a great company to work for pay/health bennys/401k etc. all good.

If you plan to stay in aviation I can tell you what I see over here. There is a lot opportunity and most importantly the company values you here.

I have something to add though. :

I work in Maintenance stores. 2 years ago I tryed like H**l to get one of the stock clerks from U to come over here and work with us but he stated he had too much time with the U to leave. I noticed not just with my stock clerk buddy over there, but with some mechanics that could have come over. The Golden Nooses with that mantra "Too much time to leave and start over."

At what point does that break?

 

[deano]

I have something to add though. :

I work in Maintenance stores. 2 years ago I tryed like H**l to get one of the stock clerks from U to come over here and work with us but he stated he had too much time with the U to leave. I noticed not just with my stock clerk buddy over there, but with some mechanics that could have come over. The Golden Nooses with that mantra "Too much time to leave and start over."

At what point does that break?

[post="234249"][/post]​

It is a very human thing to have resistance to change. Too much time to quit is just an excuse to assuage their subconscious fear of something new. This is very normal. In some individuals it actually hinders any kind of forward progress. I too know several individuals who will be with U until the bitter end when it wasn't really necessary. They are your friends so wish them luck and give them understanding.

 

[genejockey]

I have read on here where a few Usairways employees have found other jobs elsewhere and loving every minute of it..
I have a few questions for you:
Are you making more,less or same?
The new job you got were there many position opened ,were there a lot of applicants are there more work available ?

For me I am going to try to do something for myself ..start my own business

by the way are you in the same industry ??

[post="233938"][/post]​

Madders & all US Airians,

My wife was a CSA (ticketing) in PHL for 16 years. By all accounts, she is considered to be a stellar professional in Customer Service. Once she finally decided that US Airways was no longer a viable company, she sent out her resume to three major companys in our region. Within one week, she got two interviews from two of the three companies. She was offered both jobs. One offered $36K with outstanding benefits and was very close to home (rejected), the other offered $46K with stock options/profit sharing and was 3 miles further than her commute to PHL from our home (accepted). The benefits were second to none. In fact, it is my understanding that her new company, which is in the medical services field, is rated as having among the best benefits in the nation, certainly for their medical coverage. She works a M-F schedule with weekends and holidays off for the first time in 16 years. She was scheduled to start her new career on Oct 18, with one last weekend at US. She was at work on Friday the 15th when she heard the news of a court mandated 21% paycut. She resigned immediately....turned in her ID (FU SCOOTS!), hugged her colleagues and has not returned since. She simply would not work for that level of compensation, and suffer the daily consequences of pathetic, embarrassing, and completely inept management.

Today is New Years Eve and she is off of work on a company holiday. She was off for Thanksgiving and Christmas also (both 4 day weekends). One thing that I cannot stress enough is that she is a completely different person.....even the expression on her face is very different. She comes home after a day in the office with a smile on her face and talks about her day like a little kid talking about an amusement park. Her new company treats all of their employees with great respect. In fact, they are not called employees, they are considered Team Mates. One of the companys mottos is "If your not having fun, you won't want be here" (Would this fly at US - Hee Hee!). The whole mindset of the company is different. Just the other day, she was called into a conference room. Right away, her US Airways mindset kicked in......."Oh no, I going to get reamed out for something." Three group managers where waiting in the conference room for the following: (1) get her input on the companys training program (2) they recruited her for a new division that is prospering to such an extent that they are expanding by approximately two fold, and (3) she has been asked to review resumes and provide input for the evaluation of potential new hires.

There most certainly is life after US Airways. Making that initial move is the most difficult step, especially for those who have many years invested in the company. My advice is to put together a detailed resume that sells yourself and your skills. Find companys that values their customers and their employees. When you interview SELL YOURSELF! You have to make the employer understand what value you can bring to their company. For those of you in Customer Service, you have much more skills than you may believe. Do not sell yourself short! You are very valuable.....especially to a company that cares about their customers. I could go on and on, but I hope I have made my point....There is life after US Airways! Happy New Year everyone and good luck next year.

 

[rescallgirl]

After 23 years with the company I decided it was time for me to leave. However, the job that lured me away from US Airways didn't work out. I was unemployed from my new company in 3 weeks. I was devastated! But you know how things usually work out for the best? Well, they certainly did for me! I was abe to draw full unemployment based on my US Airways salary while I was able to search for a new job. I am proud to say that I now have my Dream job...I am an Account Executive for an Advertising, Marketing and Public Relations company. And I no longer have to worry about being late to work or occurances if my kids are sick...I work from my home office! I set my own hours and work around my family's schedule. My new boss is wonderful! I started this company in November and I was given a Christmas Bonus and the week of Christmas off! I absolutely love it!
So for those of you who wonder....there is Life After US Airways. You just have to find the courage and take that big step. I have to admit though, I did take a paycut. However, I hope to be back at my former US Air salary within the next couple of years. I couldn't have made the move without the support of my husband. I wish all of you who are contemplating a move the best of luck.