The end of the airport agent position?

[usa1]

http://online.wsj.co...1420272414.html

Video http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10000872396390443545504577567501420272414.html#articleTabs%3Dvideo

 

[necigrad]

Airlines say the advanced technology will quicken the airport experience for seasoned travelers—shaving a minute or two from the checked-baggage process alone—while freeing airline employees to focus on fliers with questions.

How so? The airlines will view this was a way to reduce staffing, so the only "freeing" of airline employees will be from their paychecks! You're also losing the interacton between customers that might prevent the checking (or carrying on) of hazardous materials. I could mention a few security concerns as well, but due to the public nature of this forum...

 

[jimntx]

What about the FAA requirement that passengers seated in an exit row must be eyeballed by someone to make sure that on the surface, at least, they meet the exit row requirements? Another task by default given to the flight attendants. And, we have to be the ones to tell the passenger he/she can't sit in the seat selected on-line or at the kiosk.

I think there is more danger to the agents future through outsourcing. I have heard that there is a move afoot at AA/AE to outsource all gate agents positions to a company run by a former executive of AMR. Story I've heard is that his company is currently training contract gate agents, and that even DFW agents will be outsourced. Just what we need. Agents making minimum wage (or close to it) who are not paid to make any decisions--just close the door on time.

 

[usa1]

AMR has been doing that for years at half their stations .......

 

[BungeeJumper]

I used this in Frankfurt with Lufthansa. It was a piece of cake, and there was still an agent at the gate to handle any issues.

 

[jimntx]

AMR has been doing that for years at half their stations .......

True, but now the talk is that they are going to do it with the major hubs. No wonder they got a judge to stop the latest representation election for the agents.

 

[usa1]

True, but now the talk is that they are going to do it with the major hubs. No wonder they got a judge to stop the latest representation election for the agents.

Yepper, I doubt the CWA survives the merger. Then the new company will move ASAP to eliminate as many agents as possible.

 

[firedougparker]

AA is already testing a new gate setup in DFW that will require less agents. And since their agents are not CWA (or any union) they can get away with doing whatever they want.

If the merged group ends up without a union, you can kiss those jobs goodbye.