Please Dont Destroy This Airline

[RedOne]

I have to admit a lot of the "skills" have been taken away from F/S agents. Weight and balance as an example. Once upon a time, we did this on every flight. IMO this was taken away for the reason that we are experiencing today... it was a way of making us more of just "bag chunkers." and "less valuable" in the companies eyes.
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As I have stated before, I work in one of our smaller stations. Probably wasn't considered to be much of an asset by some of my fellow workers (I'm a lowly ramp rat). But some were sure glad to see me the time we had aircraft skid to a halt midfield with main tires blown. (just one of a number of emergencies) They were also glad that I was there to take and to cordinate with home office. law enforcement, etc when an aircraft was hi-jacked. You probably won't read about the shipments of haz mat that should have been on cargo aircraft only that I refused. Nor will you hear about the shipments that grossly exceeded the allowable floor bearing weight on our aircraft. There are many others just like me. To have dedicated employees... whether they are pilots, mechanics, F/A, C/S, or F/S... or yes by gosh vice presidents, you gotta pay them about "the going rate."
..I know Piney, you think that people making 7.25 an hour are just as dedicated as those making more. I however, don't agree. I feel you get what you pay for. If the industry standard is $20 an hour...chances are the last person who is going to apply for the 7.25 an hour job is someone who can't find a job elsewhere. And will leave as soon as they can. Example...If the pay wasn's so high for an airline CEO...you would have to search high and low to find one, especially if it was to take over someone like us.

 

[foreright]

Let us get you out there and unload and load an A321 from LAX-CLT-LAX and then tell me how you feel.

Give me $19/HR and youd see a big smile on my face! Even if I might get a boo boo !!

 

[hammerhead]

Bob,

Let us get you out there and unload and load an A321 from LAX-CLT-LAX and then tell me how you feel.

I'd do it. it's good for me and the company. do you have a problem with that? get the real men in to work. leave if you don't like it.

 

[MrAeroMan]

First of all if you want to be a real man crawl into an old F-28 bound for JFK and unload those bags that would average 100 lbs in the dead of summer on a ramp that is about 115 degrees and a cargo bin that was even hotter. Couple that with the fact you're laying on your back in a fiberglass cargo bin sweating like a pig trying to handle those bags. Then when you're done you get the reward of itching like you've got fleas in your jumpsuit because all the figerglass in your skin.
Tell you what. I wish that real man had shown up when I was in there. He could've had my spot.

 

[hammerhead]

First of all if you want to be a real man crawl into an old F-28 bound for JFK and unload those bags that would average 100 lbs in the dead of summer on a ramp that is about 115 degrees and a cargo bin that was even hotter. Couple that with the fact you're laying on your back in a fiberglass cargo bin sweating like a pig trying to handle those bags. Then when you're done you get the reward of itching like you've got fleas in your jumpsuit because all the figerglass in your skin.
Tell you what. I wish that real man had shown up when I was in there. He could've had my spot.

Man up regulators.... wimps in the house!!!

 

[N924PS]

I know mainline pilot will never give up thier seat for a customer. they will not jumpseat. that's good for an airline!
:down:

HHead,

I know of many occasions where deadheading pilots or flight attendants have taken the jumpseat to accomodate revenue or even non-revenue passengers.

It is not however, required to do so and in fact such deadheaders are not permitted to jump scheduled space A jumpseaters.

It's not good for an airline when inventory control overbooks known heavy segments with the resultant Denied Boarding Compensation penatlties. Crewmembers have nothing to do with that.

Just ask the agents in LAS, FLL, MCO, MIA, etc. how they feel about intentional overbooking.

 

[4merresrat]

Tadjr,

If I am a 35 year res agent at US and the doors close and I decide to go to work for HP, then where do I start? HMMMMM $7.65/hr unless I missed something.

I saw ramp rates quoted at $24.00, 700UW corrected it to $19.00. With absolutle NO DISRESPECT to Rampers it is essentially basic manual labor. You don't need a PhD. I can tell that $19/hr low skill jobs are far and few between.

Whatever labor rates you use the point remains. If US closes, MOST in Res, ramp & support types will end up starting at bottom of scale almost wherever they go.

So if that's the case a TOS in Res is like $21/hr and the entry level elsewhere is as low as $7.65/hr then an additional cut from $21 to say even $15 TOS better than the $7.65/hr offered at HP. It would seem to be, especially if I need 3 to 7 more years to retirement.

You say ramp work is unskilled and basically manual labor. Well, it doesn't exactly take a rocket scientist to work for res-and I mean absolutely no disrespect to you-I did the job! But they can train someone to do res in a few weeks. And yes, I her all the cries "We are skilled, critical thinkers" etc etc. Lets get real about this, Segal was basically right, why pay 21.00 an hr and people are more than willing to do it for 9.00-or even less according to some of the posters ( ie HP).

 

[Winglet]

The airline system is full of pilots that enter and are perfectly willing to work for $20k a year as copilots and captain at $50k a year and their FAA licenses are the same as A320pilot's. Let's just get rid of those old farts in the cockpit, and get these young energetic guys to fly the A300s to Europe. Heck they fly for $50-60k a year and no retirement and lousy benefits.

So, to be "realistic" set the pay at:

1. Res $7 hr, no benefits. On second thought, screw it . . . just outsource it to India.
2. Ramp Min Wage, no benefits (immigrant workers from Mexico would be great)
3. Mechanics. Some skill needed there. Oh, wait, forget that . . . we'll just contract it out . . . . see #2 above. Quality control for contractors is having a couple of A&Ps per shift that can sign off the work done by the non-qualified min wage immigrants.
4. FAs - Not much skill needed there except to speak Engish somewhat. Call it $20 a flying hour flat rate. No pay increases because, after all, they are just waitresses in the sky. Keep it so there's a lot of turnover to keep the average age down. $25 a flying hour for lead flight attendants. No min guarantee.
5. Pilots. $50k flat rate salary for Captains. 8 days off a month (after all that's what the average American worker gets). No rigs. Copilots start at $20k, 3rd year top at $30k. College degree not required nor desired. ATP not required for copilots. Not needed for this type work. Just the minimum FAA requirements. No retirement benefits, no life insurance . . . after all those are personal problems. Allow immigrant pilots from South America to work in the US to bring salary levels down to realistic "free market" compensation levels.

 

[RedOne]

Dad-blast-it Winglet... Quit given em ideas ! :angry:

 

[MrAeroMan]

Man up regulators.... wimps in the house!!!

Never had a callous did ya softy?

 

[PITbull]

yes, you need to say "I took a 38% pay raise over the years. " but obviously, that was unsustainable. truth hurts, and it's pay and work rules that have put the highest revenue airline in dire straight. tell me KT, how does an airline sell the highest ticket prices and lose money. oh ya, the same response from you and the rest. it's management. ya right. what goes up, must come down. there's no thing as a free lunch. matter is not created just changes form. KT, time to go to work again, common, kick ol bessy in gear!

how does an airline sell the highest ticket prices and lose money.

Hammer Skull,

Answer above: When salary corrections take place for senior managment!
We have the youth graduating from universities with plenty of education in business that want their management jobs, and will take them at entry level. Fresh, full of ideas, energy and youth.

 

[ktflyhome]

OOOHHHHH....I like that one Pitbull. You are thinking ahead.

 

[Prince of PAWOBs]

US needs a benevolent dictator to come in and fix all of this.

If I was on the ramp making $19/hr working in 115 degree heat, I would simply drink A LOT of water. No complaints from me.