Senior Management To Implement New Travel NON-Rev Policy

[ClueByFour]

In my view, the issue for FCFS (if implemented) should be for employees who are not working or trying to get to work.

I've always wondered why commuters could not get some kind of a higher priority.

That said (and if it could be done with some controls) what's wrong with FCFS within that framework? It's equally likely that a junior person might choose to commute to work (just like a senior one does). As they are both making that choice, the concept of fairness (to me, anyway) seems like the early bird ought to get the worm.

I believe that vacationing and getting to work should be treated completely separately when negotiating non-rev co. policies.

Don't the FA's have some kind of commuter clause? Like "I listed on three flights and still could not get to work" or the like? I thought they did.

Keep in mind the senior management commute. Jerry lives in Virginia and commutes to PHX, and many others like Cindi Simone. I see her at the airport catching a flight. I am sure she has no worries as she is space positive.

And were I running the shop they'd be FCFS, just like everyone else.

These clowns probably have it in their contracts of employment. Good for them. Again, were I running the show, I might give a superstar hotshot a guaranteed ride to work, but I've yet to see any of the "talent" in Tempe that I'd currently qualify as such.

 

[Zarah]

The unions are taking the responsibility and the opportunity to discuss what they feel is in the best interest of their members, as it should be.

With the forced commuting on the rise I agree with much of what Pitbull says. Whatever system is put in place, if employees cannot get to work they will make the necessary changes in where they are based and live to ensure that they do not lose their job.

 

[MarkMyWords]

I do NOT agree that commuters should be offered a higher priority when traveling non-rev. As it is, you can't get commuters to plan for incidentals such as weather. I can't begin to tell you how many crew members wait until the last possible fight to get to base for a trip. If flights are booked full or weather is forecasted to be an issue, then they need to look at alternatives to get to base for their trip. There should be no reason, whether we use FCFS or Seniority, that someone should be given an "advatage" over another just because they 1) commute 2) can't plan alternatives for getting to work.

As for the toss up between FCFS and Seniority, I don't care which system they use. My only concern with FCFS is the number of times zones that we cross. If I am in PHX and want to fly to HNL, every person on the east coast has a 3 hour (2 in the winter) "advantage" getting on the standby list. The same holds true if I were in PHL trying to get to Europe. People out west have a 2-3 hour "advantage" getting on the standby list. Perhaps there could be some sort of check-in window using Zulu time as the standard. This gives everyone the same opportunity to check-in, regardless of the time zone they are in. Make it a rolling 24 hours prior to the Zulu departure time.

 

[jimntx]

I suppose NOBODY commutes to base at these airlines [AA and SW].

Since you said that you had worked for AA, I am assuming that you were being facetious. I am based at St. Louis. Approximately 80% of the f/as at that base commute. I know that a large percentage of LGA commutes as well--particularly among the junior people.

First-come-first-served works well at AA. And, the first come has nothing to do with racing down the concourse to beat everyone else to the gate. You can check in on the Web, but no one is allowed to check in for the flight more than 4 hours prior to departure. If your flight leaves at 0600 and you are not willing to get up at 0200 and check in, well then you take your chances at the airport.

There is one exception with employees who are connecting to a flight from another, earlier flight. As through passengers, they do get slightly higher priority than those who are originating their travel on the flight.

 

[flyingcat]

With seniority, you never know where you stand until you show up at the airport. With FCFS, you know where you stand from the time you start "checking' flights, all the way until you check in for the flight. And yes--that is to the disadvantage of commuters as well.

To add a little more info it is possible to see the seniority of employees listed in the flight through SABRE. I don't think it would be too hard to implement a web tool to do the same thing so you can see it online.

 

[Charlie_Tuna]

How is the non rev policy worded in the contracts? I think the company sets the policy as they see fit but don't the contracts say all employees will be afforded the same policy as other employees? If so how do senior exes get away with better policy for themselves?

As far as commuters and commuting, F/A's are not the only ones to have been displaced in this company. There are plenty of employees that have either relocated or terminate their employment. Then their are those that decided to commute. How can anyone justify giving special treatment to someone that made a free decision to commute to work without any promises of special treatment when they made that decision? Also if all contracts do say all employees would have same policy then wouldn't that precude company from making special treatment for any employees (including execs)? As far as deciding to commute based on their seniority that was fine but nothing was ever promised (as far as I know) and everyone knows the policy can change as long as it changes for all. There also doesn't seem to be any reason not to be able to list for a flight when on the road if the policy changes to FCFS, you can always have a family member or trusted friend list you. If something happens that makes it impossible to still commute i.e. home station closes, travel policy changes etc. I guess its up to them to make another decision again. To move or terminate but don't ask other employees who may or may not of made that tough decision before, to give up their privileges because you choose not to move.

 

[malikie]

FCFS is the better of the two option. Coming from Delta which was based on senority to amwest which is FCFS, FCFS is far better.

As for commuters I am sorry that is your choice. You chose to commute rather than relocate. That does not deserve any special treatment from the company. I dont know how many times I have had a crew member say they can not make it because of weather or oversold flight but if they would have attempted to get an earlier flt or come to base the day before they would have made it with no problem.

When i took this job i knew i had to move 2700 miles. If you think commuting to work is a priority for the company you should just think about leaving because there are plenty of people in this country who will fill these jobs without any hesitation.

Its a new era in the airline industry. Things are not going to be done like the old days anymore so just get over it.

 

[Charlie_Tuna]

I forgot to mention one other option commuters have. You can always be ready with a positive space ticket just in case

 

[soc-hpjester]

The company shouldn't give the commuter any more breaks than it does already. You wouldn't believe how many delays/no shows we take because of "the commuter" and they keep getting away with it. Keep FCFS...please.

 

[luvthe9]

Sure hate to see a major slowdown if it does not go date of hire!!!!!!!!! (rumor has it)

 

[desertgal]

Geez, where to start?
I guess with the original letter. The logic there is slightly twisted.
It would seem to me that FCFS would offer more of a sense of "predictability and stability" than DOH, where you have to sit and hope that no one senior shows up before departure time.

I do understand the position that many commuters have been forced into due to forced relocations. And I am sympathetic to it. But get this, the company is not. Period. In their minds, you choose where you live and you better show up to work, or else.(Their view, not mine, I commute) They can fire you for attendance, and hire someone else at newhire wages.
They're not going to do anything to make it easier on commuters. Tuff luck there.

West has a policy for commuters.
You must list and attempt two flights early to get you to base on time. If you can not make it due to delay or cancellation, you will not be disciplined, but you will be removed from a portion of your trip, without pay, until you are able to catch up w/your trip and charged a Personal Day.
This policy does not apply to load factors, so if its the Holidays, or peak travel, you may need to come in a day early. Or cross your fingers for the jumpseat. Hopefully you have saved your sick time for just such an emergency.

As far as merging w/a legacy, and mgmnt needing to grow up, mebbe that should be flipped around and viewved in reverse....the OLD USAirways is dead. It merged w/a well run LCC. Things will be changing to reflect that, not remaing the same as they were when US was a dying "legacy".
I'm sure there are some growing pains and a learning curve for Doug in regards to the multi-bases, but he's not stoopid. And his job ain't to make us happy, its to make a profit.

The only thing that will remain the same is the old name.

And mebbe if Old US had spent more time "watching the stock", they wouldn't have had to file for bankruptcy.
So I can't fault mgmnt for that at all.

I have a fair amount of seniority, so I could live with either policy. But FCFS makes more sense to me.

Don't forget, FAs, after this gets settled, we still have to decide jumpseat policy!

As far as a slowdown? Thats an interesting theory, but isn't it like cutting off your nose to spite your face?
Not to mention, Westies have learned the company likes to fire first, and ask questions later.

 

[azjetdude]

"US East needs to ween themselves off their mental entitlements, the airlines are changing for better or worse adjust or be bitter."

Whose bitter here? I am from the west. If you look at both policies, you first have to take all emotion out of making a decision because we are dealing with a policy.

Next we have to consider if the non-rev travel is a right or a perk. And to manys dismay, it is a perk, not a right. It is a perk of the buisness, not a right to each employee.

Seeing that as it is, I agree with tagging it to seniority. The perk gets better the longer you stick around.

Why would a person, who happens to have a day off, have more priority to get on an aircraft that someone senior, who happens to be working and couldn't spend 4 hours sitting around? Not much logic there.

Either way, we will all have to grow up when a decision is made. Clearly some will be happy over the decision and some will not. But please, lets not act like children and sit around and cry about it.

It will be what they decide, and they won't decide until they are ready to. And when the decision is made, that will be it.

 

[luvthe9]

DATE OF HIRE, DATE OF HIRE, DATE OF HIRE, DATE OF HIRE, DATE OF HIRE ,YOU GET THE POINT!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[barbeetantrums]

DATE OF HIRE, DATE OF HIRE, DATE OF HIRE, DATE OF HIRE, DATE OF HIRE ,YOU GET THE POINT!!!!!!!!!!!!

The only point here is the one on the top of your head.

 

[HPMKE]

A Higher priority will work for commuters that coupled with 12hour web check-in should be sufficient