united's performance

[dfw gen]

http://business-news.thestreet.com/dallas-morning-news/story/3-day-delay-in-shanghai-departure-typifies-uniteds-quarter/11641155

great article on uniteds "performance" after adjusting their spares and maintenance. think we can race em to the bottom when all is said and done?

 

[WorldTraveler]

Actually, AA is showing the same trend that many airlines have shown in BK in that their operational and financial performance HAS IMPROVED. Being in BK allows carriers to remove capacity AND costs and in so doing takes a little pressure off of their operations. Removing even 1% of capacity has allowed AA to reduce delays and improve its operation.

In case you have missed it, passengers are fleeing UA in droves because of its continued failures in executing the CO/UA merger.

And part of the reason why UA is "doing things on the cheap" by not providing enough spares is because they realize that increasing costs will probably put them at costs well above DL's and since both merged, DL and UA have had fairly comparable financial results.

While I am fully aware that alot of AA people are upset with their plot in life right now, and justifiably so, employees at UA and CO are at least as upset, perhaps more, because they were told the merger would benefit them and they have yet to see any benefits at all. When you consider that AA pilots will have higher hourly rates if the current contract proposal is imposed than UA pilots have now, then you can understand the frustration of alot of employees. When you consider that UA pilots are not looking for parity with AA's pilot rates but DL's - if not passing them, UA would have to fork out 3/4 of a billion dollars more year to obtain labor peace w/ their pilots, wiping out the possibility of earnings for years to come.

The frustration among the UA pilot ranks esp. is obvious and growing. And there is no expectation the pilots will get anything close to what they want anytime in the near future.

From a strategic position, AA is in a very good position relative to UA right now and the fact that passengers are jumping ship from UA with AA being their first destination, UA's woes are doing wonders to helping accelerate AA's turnaround.

Many BK success stories have come because of problems with other companies; I suspect that if we look back in a couple years at AA's restructuring, it will be obvious that AA's turnaround was helped because of UA's problems.
As cruel as that may sound, life sometimes is just not fair - and sometimes one person or party benefits because of another's problems.

 

[Anomaly]

Actually, AA is showing the same trend that many airlines have shown in BK in that their operational and financial performance HAS IMPROVED. Being in BK allows carriers to remove capacity AND costs and in so doing takes a little pressure off of their operations. Removing even 1% of capacity has allowed AA to reduce delays and improve its operation.

In case you have missed it, passengers are fleeing UA in droves because of its continued failures in executing the CO/UA merger.

And part of the reason why UA is "doing things on the cheap" by not providing enough spares is because they realize that increasing costs will probably put them at costs well above DL's and since both merged, DL and UA have had fairly comparable financial results.

While I am fully aware that alot of AA people are upset with their plot in life right now, and justifiably so, employees at UA and CO are at least as upset, perhaps more, because they were told the merger would benefit them and they have yet to see any benefits at all. When you consider that AA pilots will have higher hourly rates if the current contract proposal is imposed than UA pilots have now, then you can understand the frustration of alot of employees. When you consider that UA pilots are not looking for parity with AA's pilot rates but DL's - if not passing them, UA would have to fork out 3/4 of a billion dollars more year to obtain labor peace w/ their pilots, wiping out the possibility of earnings for years to come.

The frustration among the UA pilot ranks esp. is obvious and growing. And there is no expectation the pilots will get anything close to what they want anytime in the near future.

From a strategic position, AA is in a very good position relative to UA right now and the fact that passengers are jumping ship from UA with AA being their first destination, UA's woes are doing wonders to helping accelerate AA's turnaround.

Many BK success stories have come because of problems with other companies; I suspect that if we look back in a couple years at AA's restructuring, it will be obvious that AA's turnaround was helped because of UA's problems.
As cruel as that may sound, life sometimes is just not fair - and sometimes one person or party benefits because of another's problems.

A reluctant +1 on a well written post.

I am hesitant of course because you are speaking primarily in the negative about the company I work for. While I may not like it, I can't really argue against it either. I will add one caveat however and that is the mechanic group. We have seen measurable progress and benefit in the merger and have the unique situation of making some forward movement as opposed to most (all) other represented work groups. Albeit progress is slower than was hoped, it is still progress which keeps many of us at least somewhat positive.

Again, good post.

 

[WorldTraveler]

thanks, and I have noted in discussions on the DL forum that UA's mechanics are in a different situation than the rest of the employee groups - in response to a few at DL who hold UA's mechanics out as the gold standard.

While I am happy you guys have made progress, you are still attached to a company that is flailing around trying to figure out how to merge the two airlines - and, once again, the pilots are the most dissatisfied group. And we know that UA and its pilots have a less than stellar history together.

I wish you and all UA employees well - but I have a bad feeling that UA will p78s away many of the benefits that could be theirs thru the merger because they don't know how to get along w/ their employees - something we have sadly seen UA do far too many times.

For now, the speed w/ which AA can turn around is probably helped by UA's problems.

 

[Anomaly]

thanks, and I have noted in discussions on the DL forum that UA's mechanics are in a different situation than the rest of the employee groups - in response to a few at DL who hold UA's mechanics out as the gold standard.

While I am happy you guys have made progress, you are still attached to a company that is flailing around trying to figure out how to merge the two airlines - and, once again, the pilots are the most dissatisfied group. And we know that UA and its pilots have a less than stellar history together.

I wish you and all UA employees well - but I have a bad feeling that UA will p78s away many of the benefits that could be theirs thru the merger because they don't know how to get along w/ their employees - something we have sadly seen UA do far too many times.

For now, the speed w/ which AA can turn around is probably helped by UA's problems.

No argument from me.

Cheers