AirTran Approved for CASS?

[FL717]

I just got a text message from one of our Pilots who said UNOFFICIALLY that AirTran has been approved for CASS.

Can anyone confirm or deny this news....

 

[meanstreak]

It's been confirmed, I just saw it in my computer screen when I checked in.

 

[TV9Driver]

Floy's message said that IT was working on it and we should have it within 60 days. It's about friggin' time!

 

[newnan]

You all know mgmt said they wouldn't do anything that would benefit the pilot group. I wonder how much this is gonna cost us?????

 

[j41driver]

Just got the email from the union that said "Details on how long it will take to implement should be available soon. Typically, it should not take longer than a couple of weeks". Sooner is better than later that's for sure.

It also said the company is going to implement FLICA also. Not sure if this is good or bad.

 

[FL_Jumpseat]

"Typically, it should not take longer than a couple of weeks."

Unless someone has been working on this in the backroom somewhere unbeknownst to us, it will take longer. But 60-90 days with all of the resources of the AirTran IT department will speed it right along, I'm sure.

I'm not trying to piss on your parade though because this is great news for AirTran and the flight crews trying to get to work.

 

[newnan]

The union's been working on CASS for at least a year. The last info we recieved from the company is that they would not do anything that would benefit the pilot group.... Interesting???? Flica has been in the works for over a year now. I hope it was an even trade - CASS for flica, if not, I'm sure it's gonna cost us something. It was a smart move putting off flica until the flight attendants could get the bugs worked out of it (at least most of them, scheduling still has their hands in it). Don't forget, Mgmt hates commuters and a ceratin VP of flight ops said he didnt' care if another swap went through.
Two great ideas from our omnipotent MGMT...... yeeeeaaaahhhh rrriiiigghhtt!!

 

[AFcitrus]

The union's been working on CASS for at least a year. The last info we recieved from the company is that they would not do anything that would benefit the pilot group.... Interesting???? Flica has been in the works for over a year now. I hope it was an even trade - CASS for flica, if not, I'm sure it's gonna cost us something. It was a smart move putting off flica until the flight attendants could get the bugs worked out of it (at least most of them, scheduling still has their hands in it). Don't forget, Mgmt hates commuters and a ceratin VP of flight ops said he didnt' care if another swap went through.
Two great ideas from our omnipotent MGMT...... yeeeeaaaahhhh rrriiiigghhtt!!

We better not have given ANYTHING up for CASS! If we agreed to FLICA (with no paper bid packets) we better have gotten some sort of ability to monitor scheduling to make sure they aren't "pulling the wool over our eyes". I believe that was the hangup with FLICA all along.

Commuters, I feel for you but if our association sold the pilot group up the creek for something that primarily benefits people who choose to live somewhere other than where their job is - there are going to be a lot of angry pilots and the company will have succeeded in putting a wedge in the pilot group.

I hope none of this will happen but it seems awefully coincidental that in the past the company didn't want anything to do with CASS unless it was negotiated in the contract. All of a sudden, here comes CASS.

 

[newnan]

exactly

 

[FL_Jumpseat]

"...primarily benefits people who choose to live somewhere other than where their job is - there are going to be a lot of angry pilots and the company will have succeeded in putting a wedge in the pilot group."

Historically, pilots, primarily, and flight attendents don't always live in domicile. Yes, this will be a benefit for those that choose to live somewhere other than base, but then again, 65-75% of our pilots don't live in Newnan, GA. How would that put a wedge in the pilot group? If there were a benefit negotiated in the next contract that was geared only toward pilots with families, would that drive a wedge between those that did and those that did not?

Realistically, I don't think there had to be any concession involved in getting approval for CASS. I think the push came from realizing that people need to get to work and flights are full. Time will tell. FFF.

 

[Zephyrhills]

More than 2/3 of our Pilots are commuters, so we are the clear majority and will be greatly pleased with the implementation of CASS.

 

[Ty Webb]

We better not have given ANYTHING up for CASS! . . . . Commuters, I feel for you but if our association sold the pilot group up the creek for something that primarily benefits people who choose to live somewhere other than where their job is - there are going to be a lot of angry pilots and the company will have succeeded in putting a wedge in the pilot group.

Relax, brother . . . . I don't think you will see this union leadership squandering LOA's in exchange for nothing, as in the past . . . . I would imagine that the Company agreed to CASS because they realized that it would cut down on absences during the busy summer season. If they wanted to save further, they would agree to a commuter policy, which is unpaid, instead of using sick time, which is paid, but hey, I am just a "not special" Line Swine . . . . . . What do I know. anyway?

Don't forget, though, that the majority of our pilots DO commute, and you don't hear commuters complaining about things that benefit ATL dwellers. As George Throrgood sings, "let's work together" . . . . because we still have along row to hoe to get a decent contract.:beer:


.

 

[USMC319]

Airtran Pilots,
Does your company still charge $25 for each additional jumpseater? If so, would a CASS ACM need to pay the 25 clams to sit up front if a non-CASS pilot got the first jump-seat position as a cabin only rider?

 

[Ty Webb]

Airtran Pilots,
Does your company still charge $25 for each additional jumpseater? If so, would a CASS ACM need to pay the 25 clams to sit up front if a non-CASS pilot got the first jump-seat position as a cabin only rider?

Who knows? Do you really expect us to have an answer to that, when we just got the news today that CASS will be implemented? Or are you just making some sort of passive-aggressive jab? Make sure you let us know how you feel when you present yourself. . . . we'll be happy to discuss it with you.

 

[Steeler Fan]

Commuters, I feel for you but if our association sold the pilot group up the creek for something that primarily benefits people who choose to live somewhere other than where their job is - there are going to be a lot of angry pilots and the company will have succeeded in putting a wedge in the pilot group.

Some pilots, even here were living in IAD or MCO when those bases were closed, so it's not like the REALLY chose to have to be a commuter. Sometimes commuting is almost forced upon us.

Either way, the only things that can put a wedge in the pilot group are things that we collectively allow to put a wedge in the pilot group.

The easier the commute for your FO, the better he'll do when he's sitting to your right at FL410 (or whatever ridiculous altitudes you 737 drivers cruise at).

Oh yeah, I almost forgot, GO STEELERS!!!

 

[FL_Jumpseat]

Airtran Pilots,
Does your company still charge $25 for each additional jumpseater? If so, would a CASS ACM need to pay the 25 clams to sit up front if a non-CASS pilot got the first jump-seat position as a cabin only rider?

AirTran does not charge jumpseaters.
AirTran Jumpseat policy, as it is currently, is to accept one on the 717 and usually two on the 737. After that, if a pilot, mechanic, flight attendent, or whatever comes up, they become a non-rev and for that they are charged $25/leg. Now, I have heard that some gate agents ignore this for some crewmembers from other airlines and just put them on the plane, no charge. I've also seen pilots magically become flight attendents on paper so that they also haven't been charged.

Obviously, the pilots at AirTran want that changed in the next contract so that we offer pilots of other airlines any open seat regardless of how many jumpseats happen to be on the aircraft. Our company thinks that doing that is akin to negotiating a benefit for pilots from other airlines that are not represented by the NPA. We don't think it works that way.

Now to answer your question as it relates to CASS, why would a pilot from another airline that has CASS be sitting in the cockpit if there was a seat in the cabin? The only reason this would happen that I can see is that if there are two pilots at the gate wishing to ride and one is not in CASS. If there are two jumpseats on the aircraft, we have two jumpseaters. If there is only one jumpseat, then the other person becomes a non-rev and gets charged. That is the current policy as I stated above.

 

[jball2]

THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! A thousand more times from a ATL-MDW Commuter!

Thank you for taking great care of me regardless Citrus!

JB2

 

[-9Capt]

We gave nothing for CASS or FLICA.

Remember Floy's crew message from last week about giving yourself a back up commute flight? Many pilots started self disclosing as opposed to calling sick and company realized there is a big cost savings to be had by implementing CASS.

Also, not having CASS is a violation of the current contract. The company realized it would probably lose this in arbitration and conceded.

FLICA is a cost saving measure that the company has every right to persue whether the pilots like it or not. They said bid packs cost in excess of $17K/month to print.

Printed bid packets are not required by the contract, contrary to popular belief. Access is all that's required, you'll have access via computer.

 

[j41driver]

Also, not having CASS is a violation of the current contract. The company realized it would probably lose this in arbitration and conceded.

It is? I don't have my contract with me....got a reference?

 

[DonVerita]

AirTran does not charge jumpseaters.
AirTran Jumpseat policy, as it is currently, is to accept one on the 717 and usually two on the 737. After that, if a pilot, mechanic, flight attendent, or whatever comes up, they become a non-rev and for that they are charged $25/leg. Obviously, the pilots at AirTran want that changed in the next contract so that we offer pilots of other airlines any open seat regardless of how many jumpseats happen to be on the aircraft.

Well said FL_Jumpseat!

Now if anybody on here has a problem with being patient with us while we get this resolved in our new contract, you have three choices:

A. Wait for the next flight and be first in line for that jumpseat.
B. Go to Delta and see what happens to you over there.
C. Walk.

 

[bestpilot]

THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! A thousand more times from a ATL-MDW Commuter!

Thank you for taking great care of me regardless Citrus!

JB2

DUUUDE!!!!!!! Im thinkin you just could be a honorary member of da Tranny cement pond brewski club!! Thanks bro for da love, or like da "LUV", and Dude Im like diggin dat we can help. Have a icey cool brewdog on me............

AWWWWWW YYYYEEEAAAAHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!