ASA-MTY Overnights

[jetstream]

So ASA puts out a notice that we will now be doing overnights in Monterrey, Mexico. Then they tell us that Monterrey has the second highest crime rate in the country. Crimes like murder and kidnapping. And that there is basically a war going on between drug cartels for control of the city.

We are then told we'll be safe because the airport area is heavily patrolled by police and the military. This in a country where many of these folks are corrupt and the ones who aren't get murdered. Our hotel is safe because its patrolled by a private security company and has security cameras.

So they can't keep themselves safe but they can keep me safe? Yeah right.

This is seriously stupid. Fly in, fly out. No layovers.

 

[CoATP]

9E did it for years. Only a minimum number of people got attacked. It's safe.

 

[jetstream]

So did we but things have changed dramatically down there. Besides it would suck to be one of "the few".

 

[ASA_Aviator]

So did we but things have changed dramatically down there. Besides it would suck to be one of "the few".

If you aren't an idiot, you'll be fine. XJT already operates there, and is just fine.

 

[CesnaCaptn]

Alaska Airlines had a contracted third party evaluate the situation in MX. Basically, only resort towns were deemed safe for layovers. It's been a challenge flying the trips to GDL and MEX as turns in the middle of the night, but the union and the company felt it was the best course of action.

Good luck with MTY. It doesn't sound like you should be laying over down there.

 

[Stifler's Mom]

Has anybody consulted with The Palm about this? If his intel says it's safe, then I'm OK with it.

Then again, with crew costs being so high, maybe losing a few people off the payroll will help the bottom line?

 

[General Lee]

So ASA puts out a notice that we will now be doing overnights in Monterrey, Mexico. Then they tell us that Monterrey has the second highest crime rate in the country. Crimes like murder and kidnapping. And that there is basically a war going on between drug cartels for control of the city.

We are then told we'll be safe because the airport area is heavily patrolled by police and the military. This in a country where many of these folks are corrupt and the ones who aren't get murdered. Our hotel is safe because its patrolled by a private security company and has security cameras.

So they can't keep themselves safe but they can keep me safe? Yeah right.

This is seriously stupid. Fly in, fly out. No layovers.

Going to the Casino would be a "real gamble."



Bye Bye---General Lee

 

[altimaklr]

Probably safer than a layover in Memphis

 

[dojetdriver]

If you aren't an idiot, you'll be fine. XJT already operates there, and is just fine.

That's always good advice. But one of our crewmembers was in TAM a while back. Captured video from his hotel room with his phone of a gunfight going on down the street in what otherwise was ALWAYS a safe place to walk. It was night time, so all you could make out was the automatic gunfire. Till shortly afterwards, a car blew up and burned. ANYBODY could have been walking by and got caught in the gunfire that erupted in an area that was otherwise safe.

Basically, only resort towns were deemed safe for layovers. It's been a challenge flying the trips to GDL and MEX as turns in the middle of the night, but the union and the company felt it was the best course of action.

MOST resort towns, but NOT all. Look at some of the crap that's happened in ACA. And not in the off the beaten path/non tourist places. There's been violence in places that tourists frequent as well.

Pretty sure MZT and VER are seeing it also.

 

[GeekMaster]

So ASA puts out a notice that we will now be doing overnights in Monterrey, Mexico. Then they tell us that Monterrey has the second highest crime rate in the country. Crimes like murder and kidnapping. And that there is basically a war going on between drug cartels for control of the city.

We are then told we'll be safe because the airport area is heavily patrolled by police and the military. This in a country where many of these folks are corrupt and the ones who aren't get murdered. Our hotel is safe because its patrolled by a private security company and has security cameras.

So they can't keep themselves safe but they can keep me safe? Yeah right.

This is seriously stupid. Fly in, fly out. No layovers.

So don't bid it !!

The area where the crews stay IS heavily guarded with no problems. It will be short and boring, but safe. The problems arise when guys get 'em a taxi to the ho house to take advantage of the two for the price of one special.

 

[COOPERVANE]

Stroll into one of the locals-only bars in downtown Juarez in your uniform wearing a rolex.

Drunkenly yell about "all the Mexicans 'TAKIN ERRRRR JOBBBBSSS!!!"

What kinda odds would you give?

 

[Intl Jumper]

I used to live in MTY, and still go back every now and then. The area between the airport and the hotel is fine. Los Alitas is a good wing place with $5 pitchers just around the corner from the hotel (approximately 500ft). If you are really that afraid of it, bid around it, or burn an occurrence.

 

[rausda27]

We used to ovenight there years ago and stayed at the Holiday Inn downtown. Never had any problems. How bad could it be?

 

[Freebrd]

We used to ovenight there years ago and stayed at the Holiday Inn downtown. Never had any problems. How bad could it be?

Go and find out for us you crazy gringo peelot

 

[blesko]

We used to ovenight there years ago and stayed at the Holiday Inn downtown. Never had any problems. How bad could it be?

Apparently you're not even working enough to read the USA today while inflight.......well, I'll clue you in. The drug deals in the hotel and shooting right outside the hotel door are a really good indication that perhaps it may have a few security issues. Oh yeah, the casino thing......another shooting.....drug deals...all good stuff.

 

[CaribPilot]

O....and add the firebombing of a casino that killed 52 last week.

http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/li...xico-probes-casinos-after-monterrey-massacre/

 

[JustaNumber]

We used to ovenight there years ago and stayed at the Holiday Inn downtown. Never had any problems. How bad could it be?

"A total of 267 murders were registered in Monterrey in 2009, with the figure rising to 828 in 2010 and more than 1,100 so far this year, according to official figures." (And since we're only 2/3 of the way through 2011, murders appear to have more than doubled this year over last year's extremely high number).


Doesn't sound as safe as it was a few years ago.

 

[Stifler's Mom]

I like the comment from the email about NOT leaving the hotel compound for safety reasons. Does anybody know where I can buy some of those used Mesa Plywood beds for the RJ? I think I'd rather sleep on the plane.

 

[mxaviator]

I like the comment from the email about NOT leaving the hotel compound for safety reasons. Does anybody know where I can buy some of those used Mesa Plywood beds for the RJ? I think I'd rather sleep on the plane.

:laugh:

wait, don't give them any ideas..

 

[JustaNumber]

Let's take a poll:

How many would be okay with (or even look forward to) doing a MTY layover, and how many would avoid it at all costs (swap/trade/drop/sick)?

I vote for avoiding the place.

 

[McNugent]

What's the new hotel? Didn't our old one (the Holiday Inn) get overrun with gunmen a few years back. Pretty sure they had private security all over that joint.

http://articles.latimes.com/2010/apr/21/world/la-fg-mexico-monterrey-20100422

I sure do miss those Nuevo Luna dos por uno nights though. I only heard gunshots a few times.

Think on the bright side though, it's better than doing the Lagos overnights that Delta does.

 

[FishandFly]

I will not do it and if I get an occurrence I'll be on the news. Our company screws up way too much for me to trust it on something like this.

 

[COOPERVANE]

They do a pretty good job with re-branding.......

Oh, wait!!........

 

[jetracer5]

We used to ovenight there years ago and stayed at the Holiday Inn downtown. Never had any problems. How bad could it be?

Uh the Holiday Inn got stormed by the cartel and people were kidnapped about 2 years ago.........so yea its bad

 

[manfred33]

WELL, i am in MTY right now, and it is not that bad. Sure there is a lot of crap going on downtown MTY, but not a whole lot happens by the hotel. Yes, the Holiday Inn had some problem a few years ago, but I have been coming down here for almost 3 years now and have had no problems. Most of us enjoy coming here- the ground staff is great at the airport, the hotel staff is great and 9E says it is safe, so it must be!! Like somebody else said, don't do anything stupid or be an idiot and you'll be fine. Not entirely sure the reason that we are stopping service here.....couple of different rumors, but I for one am disappointed that we will no longer be coming here. Just my 2¢ worth.....

 

[ohplease!]

Let's take a poll:

How many would be okay with (or even look forward to) doing a MTY layover, and how many would avoid it at all costs (swap/trade/drop/sick)?

I vote for avoiding the place.

Not going. Period.

 

[Medeco]

So how many different overnights does XJT do in Mexico? Are they refusing overnight flights?
I'm really unsure how I would handle it, but lucky for me my plane isnt going there anymore.

Obviously, the violence is really bad and mostly in pockets of the country. Until, they decide to branch out into new areas, which they are doing.

Yes the press blows up everything, but the numbers are real.

 

[spudskier]

Not entirely sure the reason that we are stopping service here.....couple of different rumors, but I for one am disappointed that we will no longer be coming here. Just my 2¢ worth.....

It's called the Delta Shuffle... we did MTY years ago and now we're back... you'll be going down south before ya know it. :laugh:

 

[manfred33]

It's called the Delta Shuffle... we did MTY years ago and now we're back... you'll be going down south before ya know it. :laugh:

Oh, I am familiar with Delta's infamous dance, unfortunately..... However, it was rumored that our mgmt decided to voluntarily withdraw our services from MTY, for whatever reason, again, numerous rumors exist on that as well... Well, we still get to go to BZE....which is nice, so I got that goin for me.... But, i'm sure that'll be gone again before too long too.

 

[Oakum_Boy]

The BIG question is.. why did "we" have to spend 133 million dollars to procure an international safety manager?

Did you ASA'ers know that your ASA health insurance is not even accepted in Mexico and the company REQUIRES crewmembers to pay out of pocket only to be reimbursed (may take several months at this dump) by the company?

XJET'ers, what say you of this jewel.. your new owners think so highly of you, they send you to some third-world hell hole with no medical insurance.

http://www.ctv.ca/CTVNews/CTVNewsAt11/20061208/whistleblower_mexico_061213/