ASA Worst of the Worst in USA Today

[buscap]

Hey guys, just think how bad it would be if we were'nt out there making all those radio calls, getting catering, fixing mistakes, and doing everyone's jobs.

I would love to show BL my cellphone bill with about 150 calls to flight control from in the cockpit......AAAAARRRRGGGHHHH!!!!!

Friday, August 4, 2006

Flight delays are up, but which airlines had the best ratings?​

U.S. airline flights arrived on time 72.8% of the time in June, the latest month for which statistics are available from the federal Bureau of Transportation Statistics. That figure is down from May’s 78.3% on-time rating, and from June 2005 (75.2%). Of the 20 U.S. airlines that reported data to the agency for this category, Hawaiian Airlines led all U.S. carriers with 94.6% of its flights arriving on schedule. Rounding out the top five were: Aloha Airlines (85.5% on-time rating), regional carrier SkyWest (80.1%), Frontier (79.4%) and Northwest (77.8%).
At the other end of the spectrum, Atlantic Southeast Airlines had the worst on-time arrival rating for June. The carrier, which is owned by SkyWest and flies regional flights for Delta, had 36.5% of its flights arrive late for the month. ATA (36.3% of its flights were late) had the second-worst mark for on-time arrivals in June, followed by regional carrier Mesa (33.3% late), Continental affiliate ExpressJet (32.6%) and Continental (32.2%).
Click on "read more" to see the on-time ratings for the 20 airlines that report data to the BTS and Department of Transportation.
Read more...

What is the USA's most frequently delayed flight?​

What flight arrived late more often than any other U.S. flight in June? In its most recent statistics, the federal Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) reports a tie between Comair Flight 5285 (San Antonio to Atlanta) and Comair Flight 5719 (Portland, Maine, to Atlanta). Both flights landed late 95.65% of the time, according to the BTS data. Comair also had the third- and fourth-most-frequently delayed flights for the month; Comair Flight 5832 (Columbus, Ohio, to New York LaGuardia) and Comair Flight 5570 (New York LaGuardia to Greensboro) were each late 95% of the time in June. In fact, six of the USA’s eight most-delayed flights for the month were operated by Comair, a subsidiary of Delta. The month also appeared to be a bad one for Delta. Of the nation's 23 most-delayed flights, 19 were on Delta or one of its regional partners.
Click on "read more" to see a breakdown of the most-delayed flights.
Read more...

Mesa leads cancellation ratings​

Regional giant Mesa canceled more flights than any U.S. carrier in June, the latest month for which statistics are available from the federal Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Mesa –- which canceled 5% of its flights in June -– flies regional flights for United, US Airways and Delta in addition to operating a standalone carrier in Hawaii called go!. After Mesa, Continental affiliate ExpressJet canceled 3.9% of its flights for June. Rounding out the top five were American subsidiary American Eagle (3.7%), Delta subsidiary Comair (3.2%) and Delta affiliate Atlantic Southeast (2.9%). United canceled the most flights (1.9%) of the USA’s traditional carriers, ranking sixth out of the 20 airlines reporting. ATA had the highest cancellation rate among discounters, ranking 10th out of 20 airlines by scrubbing 1.1% of its flights.
At the other end of the spectrum, Frontier canceled the fewest flights among the 20 U.S. airlines reporting data. Frontier canceled seven flights for the month, or 0.1% of its schedule. JetBlue had the second-lowest cancellation rate at 0.1% (18 flights total). Rounding out the five airlines with the lowest cancellation rates were: Hawaiian (0.3%), AirTran (0.5%) and Southwest (0.6%). Continental had the best mark among the legacy carriers, turning in the sixth-lowest rate of canceled flights (0.6%) for the month.
Click on "read more" to see the full airline-by-airline breakdown.

Lost baggage: Delta partner has worst mark, Hawaiian is tops​

SkyWest subsidiary and Delta affiliate Atlantic Southeast was the airline most likely to misplace your bags in June, the latest month for which statistics are available from the federal Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS). According to the BTS data, Atlantic Southeast had 19.2 reports of mishandled baggage for every 1,000 passengers. American subsidiary American Eagle had the second-worst mark (13.18 reports per 1,000 passengers), followed by Delta subsidiary Comair (11.15), Continental affiliate ExpressJet (11.05), and regional giant Mesa (10.9).
Hawaiian Airlines had the best mark for mishandled luggage out of the 20 airlines reporting data to the BTS. The carrier had 2.6 reports of mishandled luggage for every 1,000 passengers. JetBlue had the second-best mark (3.08 reports per 1,000 passengers), followed by Northwest (4.07), Southwest (4.12) and Frontier (4.29).
Click on "read more" to see the full airline-by-airline breakdown.
Read more...

Posted at 08:10 AM/ET, Aug 04, 2006 in Airline ratings and performance, American, Continental, Delta, Frontier Airlines, JetBlue, Mesa Air Group, Northwest, Southwest | Permalink | Comments (2)​

More fliers are getting bumped; What airline is worst?​

With flights flying fuller than ever this summer, more passengers are being turned away because of oversold flights. In fact, U.S. fliers "are getting bumped off flights more frequently than at any time in the last six years,” USA TODAY writes -– citing the latest data from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT). The paper adds that “some 16,300 passengers were bumped against their wishes in the April-June quarter, a rate of 1.12 passengers per 10,000. That rate is one-third higher than a year earlier” and is the highest since the second quarter of 2000. The increase in bumping comes as airlines are flying near capacity these days, meaning flights are often sold out or overbooked. Predictably, that increases the likelihood that an airline will be forced to bump a passenger from a full flight.
So, which airlines have the worst mark in this category? That would be SkyWest subsidiary and Delta affiliate Atlantic Southeast, where 3.6 of every 10,000 passengers was involuntarily denied boarding during the April-to-June quarter. Regional giant Mesa had the second-worst mark at 2.45 bumped passengers per every 10,000 fliers, followed by Delta subsidiary Comair (2.38), Alaska Airlines (1.95) and Continental (1.8). The airline least likely to bump you? That would be Aloha, which involuntarily denied boarding to .08 passengers out of every 10,000 passengers. AirTran had the second-best rate (.09), followed by JetBlue (.13), Hawaiian (.18), Frontier (.56) and United (.72).
Click on "read more" to see the full airline-by-airline breakdown.

 

[DrewBlows]

Has Mesa Air Group changed it's name to Regional Giant Mesa?

 

[John Pennekamp]

Hey guys, just think how bad it would be if we were'nt out there making all those radio calls, getting catering, fixing mistakes, and doing everyone's jobs.

I would love to show BL my cellphone bill with about 150 calls to flight control from in the cockpit......AAAAARRRRGGGHHHH!!!!!

You're kidding, right? If you really made that many calls to anyone in ASA from your personal cell phone, then you are a complete idiot. Unless they pay your bill, you may as well give your money to Brian Lebrecque.

Nobody should be calling for catering or anything else. Let the system crumble so that it can get fixed! Quit covering mistakes. And quit donating your cell phone minutes to ASA!!!

 

[EMB170Pilot]

Maybe he got narked John and never fully recovered

 

[John Pennekamp]

Maybe he got narked John and never fully recovered

I''m thinking LSD.

 

[AWACoff]

I find it hard to believe that anyone could be worse the the US airways Express ops in LGA. They say no matter how bad you have it, it can always be worse. Now I have proof. I feel sorry for you guys...

 

[DrewBlows]

I find it hard to believe that anyone could be worse the the US airways Express ops in LGA. They say no matter how bad you have it, it can always be worse. Now I have proof. I feel sorry for you guys...

It's pretty bad down there. I feel bad for the poor rampers. Last week we were one of five depatures that were being handled by a team of one supervisor and four new hires (who all happened to be women). We had over 100 bags (including the valet bags) alone, I can't speak for anyone else in this regard. The temperature was over 90 degrees. Operations explained the whole situation to us, which was very cool of them to do. The only thing we could do was sit back and wait (that's what I did anyway, my captain had different ideas, but that's another story).

The point is, this is not an isolated incident, it probably happents 10 times a day (or 100 times, I don't know). If you were hired as a ramper and subject to that, would you stick it out? I wouldn't, but I have a small tolerance for physical labor. I applaud those guys for the work they are doing right now. They're not the fastest in the world, but what they are being asked to do is unsustainable. Conversely, I denounce any management team that would consistantly ask it's employees to do the impossible. It's more of a matter of civility toward other humans than a business issue.

 

[buscap]

You're kidding, right? If you really made that many calls to anyone in ASA from your personal cell phone, then you are a complete idiot. Unless they pay your bill, you may as well give your money to Brian Lebrecque.

Nobody should be calling for catering or anything else. Let the system crumble so that it can get fixed! Quit covering mistakes. And quit donating your cell phone minutes to ASA!!!

Yeeeaaaahhhhh.....I was kidding...it was 149 calls.

 

[CrownandCoke]

and I thought the ramp situation was bad in DTW...

 

[V-1]

Way to go Comair! Tied themselves for the most consistently late flights in the U.S. Lot of effort went into that achievement, no doubt.

 

[atrdriver]

The point is, this is not an isolated incident, it probably happents 10 times a day (or 100 times, I don't know). If you were hired as a ramper and subject to that, would you stick it out? I wouldn't, but I have a small tolerance for physical labor. I applaud those guys for the work they are doing right now. They're not the fastest in the world, but what they are being asked to do is unsustainable. Conversely, I denounce any management team that would consistantly ask it's employees to do the impossible. It's more of a matter of civility toward other humans than a business issue.

That's what happens when you have 4 rampers working 4 "Ts". That is how most of the zones are staffed right now. They say they are hiring like crazy, but I have yet to see it.

 

[cloudkicker1981]

It's pretty bad down there. I feel bad for the poor rampers. Last week we were one of five depatures that were being handled by a team of one supervisor and four new hires (who all happened to be women). We had over 100 bags (including the valet bags) alone, I can't speak for anyone else in this regard. The temperature was over 90 degrees. Operations explained the whole situation to us, which was very cool of them to do. The only thing we could do was sit back and wait (that's what I did anyway, my captain had different ideas, but that's another story).

The point is, this is not an isolated incident, it probably happents 10 times a day (or 100 times, I don't know). If you were hired as a ramper and subject to that, would you stick it out? I wouldn't, but I have a small tolerance for physical labor. I applaud those guys for the work they are doing right now. They're not the fastest in the world, but what they are being asked to do is unsustainable. Conversely, I denounce any management team that would consistantly ask it's employees to do the impossible. It's more of a matter of civility toward other humans than a business issue.

Is it beneath you to go throw some bags, or is the CRJ's apu just to nice to leave. I have no remorse for you guys at ASA. Your getting burn't now and its your own dang faults! So you sit there burning fuel and bitching, thats going to solve the problem.

 

[xjlifer]

Is it beneath you to go throw some bags, or is the CRJ's apu just to nice to leave. I have no remorse for you guys at ASA. Your getting burn't now and its your own dang faults! So you sit there burning fuel and bitching, thats going to solve the problem.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

That is either flame bait or someone without a clue.

 

[SuperKooter]

Is it beneath you to go throw some bags, or is the CRJ's apu just to nice to leave. I have no remorse for you guys at ASA. Your getting burn't now and its your own dang faults! So you sit there burning fuel and bitching, thats going to solve the problem.

When rampers start to preflight and do the paperwork while I get lunch then I’ll help load bags.

When F/As take my seat in flight so I can sit in the back and rest I'll help cross seatbelts.

When dispatchers start doing check rides every 6 months i'll help calculate fuel burns.

But until then all I am going to do is what I get paid to do no more no less. I didn't spend loads of money to learn how to fly so I could help some thug throw bags around.

 

[atrdriver]

When rampers start to preflight and do the paperwork while I get lunch then I’ll help load bags.

When F/As take my seat in flight so I can sit in the back and rest I'll help cross seatbelts.

When dispatchers start doing check rides every 6 months i'll help calculate fuel burns.

But until then all I am going to do is what I get paid to do no more no less. I didn't spend loads of money to learn how to fly so I could help some thug throw bags around.

Holy crap...Superkooter finally said something that makes sense.

 

[79%N1]

Aaaah, right A-wad!! I don't get paid to throw the bags in the back of the plane. That is supposed to be someone elses job, and management is to see that they are staffed properly. Again, not my problem. Nowhere in my POH does it say anything about tossing bags, catering the galley, serving peanuts or emptying the lavs. If you want to, be my guest superhero.

 

[SuperKooter]

Holy crap...Superkooter finally said something that makes sense.

I always do.

 

[scootertrash]

You also have to remember that if we pilots go out and help throw bags and we throw out back out or hurt ourselves the company does not have to cover our medical bills because that is not part of our job description! That's why they don't want us to help with straight backs and such because we are not trained to do that kind of lifting!

 

[Maiko]

It's pretty bad down there. I feel bad for the poor rampers. Last week we were one of five depatures that were being handled by a team of one supervisor and four new hires (who all happened to be women). We had over 100 bags (including the valet bags) alone, I can't speak for anyone else in this regard. The temperature was over 90 degrees. Operations explained the whole situation to us, which was very cool of them to do. The only thing we could do was sit back and wait (that's what I did anyway, my captain had different ideas, but that's another story).

The point is, this is not an isolated incident, it probably happents 10 times a day (or 100 times, I don't know). If you were hired as a ramper and subject to that, would you stick it out? I wouldn't, but I have a small tolerance for physical labor. I applaud those guys for the work they are doing right now. They're not the fastest in the world, but what they are being asked to do is unsustainable. Conversely, I denounce any management team that would consistantly ask it's employees to do the impossible. It's more of a matter of civility toward other humans than a business issue.

Why not go out and Help?

 

[Maiko]

When rampers start to preflight and do the paperwork while I get lunch then I’ll help load bags.

When F/As take my seat in flight so I can sit in the back and rest I'll help cross seatbelts.

When dispatchers start doing check rides every 6 months i'll help calculate fuel burns.

But until then all I am going to do is what I get paid to do no more no less. I didn't spend loads of money to learn how to fly so I could help some thug throw bags around.

Thats the attitude. Its not my job.
What an a$$hole

 

[Maiko]

You also have to remember that if we pilots go out and help throw bags and we throw out back out or hurt ourselves the company does not have to cover our medical bills because that is not part of our job description! That's why they don't want us to help with straight backs and such because we are not trained to do that kind of lifting!

Trained? To lift? You are joking, right? What has happened to real aviators.
If you can't lift a bag, then maybe its time to get off your a$$ and go to the gym!

 

[Palerider957]

Trained? To lift? You are joking, right? What has happened to real aviators.
If you can't lift a bag, then maybe its time to get off your a$$ and go to the gym!

Brother....you know not what you say. It has nothing to do with throwing a few bags. I don't even know where to start.

 

[Blucher]

I always do.

No, no, SK, this is truly a first! And we are ALL really proud of you. Perhaps this recent revelation is due to the reported meeting between DAL and ASA where DAL basically said "you're wrong, fix it, or you're gone" to your usual protein source folks?

-Blucher

 

[AWACoff]

If you get injured at work lifting bags (must be easy to do with all of these "hardworking" rampers out on disability), you will be in a world of shiat. I used to be a ramper. I NEVER expected a pilot to help load bags. At AWAC, the rampers union will get on your butt if you are helping load bags because you are taking their jobs away. Enjoy helping the rampers do their job because they could give a rat's asss about helping you just by doing their job. How many times do you have to wait at the gate while these idiots walk as SLOWLY as they can (which takes a lot of effort I would imagine) out of the terminal and down to the gate. Then they ever so S.L.O.W.L.Y bend down to pick up the wands (which must weigh 30 pounds a piece due to the slooooow pace at which they pick them up). These guys aren't jerks for not helping load bags, they are doing their job. Everyone of us has to prod the gate agents to load the peeps, motivate the rampers to do anything, calm down the people in the gate area because the gate agents aren't telling the peeps anything. I could go on an on but I don't feel like telling you what happened on the 2nd leg of this last trip (yeah, that was just one leg of regional hell.).

 

[Blucher]

Trained? To lift? You are joking, right? What has happened to real aviators.
If you can't lift a bag, then maybe its time to get off your a$$ and go to the gym!

Maiko,

What PaleRider just said was DNO. You clearly have no idea what's going on around the ASA ramp and perhaps more importantly ASA/SkyWest Inc's employee manipulation formula. Personally, I have no problem throwing bags. It's throwing bags for a management that's in the process of telling me I need to take pay cuts while the company is enormously profitable and giving the president of the company $800,000 in stocks at the same time that makes me not want to get off my butt. What is truly frustrating is that I, like most pilots, want to get the job done. We are by nature goal oriented people. I personally have to work to stop myself from doing other people's jobs. If I don't, however, the problems will continue to be covered up and NEVER get fixed. This has been the problem for years at ASA and it is just now reaching it's climax because the master of ceremonies these days is all BS and NO substance during a time when we're finally owned by a company that supposedly doesn't tolerate that. We shall see.....

Blucher

PS-PG, "hi"

 

[Maiko]

If you get injured at work lifting bags (must be easy to do with all of these "hardworking" rampers out on disability), you will be in a world of shiat. I used to be a ramper. I NEVER expected a pilot to help load bags. At AWAC, the rampers union will get on your butt if you are helping load bags because you are taking their jobs away. Enjoy helping the rampers do their job because they could give a rat's asss about helping you just by doing their job. How many times do you have to wait at the gate while these idiots walk as SLOWLY as they can (which takes a lot of effort I would imagine) out of the terminal and down to the gate. Then they ever so S.L.O.W.L.Y bend down to pick up the wands (which must weigh 30 pounds a piece due to the slooooow pace at which they pick them up). These guys aren't jerks for not helping load bags, they are doing their job. Everyone of us has to prod the gate agents to load the peeps, motivate the rampers to do anything, calm down the people in the gate area because the gate agents aren't telling the peeps anything. I could go on an on but I don't feel like telling you what happened on the 2nd leg of this last trip (yeah, that was just one leg of regional hell.).

I am just living in the past.
I have worked with many different pilot groups in my carreer, and have had the pleasure of working with them. Not against. Maintenance, Flt Crews and Ground Personnel helped each other to get a flight out. Whether the crew helped change a brake or hold a flashlight, maintenance and crew help load bags etc. Bottom line is we ran on time because we worked together because its the pax/boxes that pay our salary, not anyone else.
Sorry if I came down hard, but this industry has gone down the crapper and no one wants to step up. Its just not my job!
Cheers
Mike

 

[Blucher]

One more thing

I must add something to my previous post:
We do have (or perhaps did have) the potential to be the "best regional airline in the industry." However as a direct result of our management and their handling of the employees (all of them), we have sunk to a place which I never, in my worst nightmare, thought we could sink to. Truly sad. My only hope is that other managements will learn from our management's mistakes.

-Blucher

 

[Maiko]

Maiko,

What PaleRider just said was DNO. You clearly have no idea what's going on around the ASA ramp and perhaps more importantly ASA/SkyWest Inc's employee manipulation formula. Personally, I have no problem throwing bags. It's throwing bags for a management that's in the process of telling me I need to take pay cuts while the company is enormously profitable and giving the president of the company $800,000 in stocks at the same time that makes me not want to get off my butt. What is truly frustrating is that I, like most pilots, want to get the job done. We are by nature goal oriented people. I personally have to work to stop myself from doing other people's jobs. If I don't, however, the problems will continue to be covered up and NEVER get fixed. This has been the problem for years at ASA and it is just now reaching it's climax because the master of ceremonies these days is all BS and NO substance during a time when we're finally owned by a company that supposedly doesn't tolerate that. We shall see.....

Blucher

PS-PG, "hi"

I was not picking on one carrier at all, it is my opinion that they are all the same today. I just find it a shame that aviation has gotten to this. Many of todays issues were forced upon us. But others were brought on by us. I really don't want to create a war between one group or carrier against another, I just feel that if there is anything one can do to help the pax/box, then it should be done. Not to sit and say its not my job and I will wait until the cows come. What would the pax think if they only knew that this attitude is so rampant in this industry? "Sorry folks I don't want to help, so we will sit here." Though I do realize the unions dictate job functions, but that could be dealt with as well by all of us. Thankfully I am non union, so don't care what it takes to get the job done, just do it.
As for not helping because management makes you ill, I have to say I do agree with you on that, but where I am at, it is no different. More, more, more...and little or no reward except here, you forgot this and so on. But I can't take that attitude even though I really want to. Believe me. But it still comes down to who pays us, not who hands us our checks.
Sorry for the rant, I, like others, just voice my thoughts, and sometimes without thinking it through.
Peace
Mike

 

[Maiko]

I must add something to my previous post:
We do have (or perhaps did have) the potential to be the "best regional airline in the industry." However as a direct result of our management and their handling of the employees (all of them), we have sunk to a place which I never, in my worst nightmare, thought we could sink to. Truly sad. My only hope is that other managements will learn from our management's mistakes.

-Blucher

All I can say to that is, I truly am sorry that that has happened to your carrier, and unfortunately, others as well. I guess the best we can hope for at this is that the checks don't bounce. Airlines are now nothing more then Greyhound in the sky. We are all feeling that and maybe there is some light shinning through, but where it comes from is still unknown.
As for other management paying attention is like asking for a million dollars. They each have their own agenda and are in it for themselves and until they are held accountable for any disatrous decisions made by them they will continue to do as they are now.
Peace
Mike

 

[Blucher]

I was not picking on one carrier at all, it is my opinion that they are all the same today. I just find it a shame that aviation has gotten to this. Many of todays issues were forced upon us. But others were brought on by us. I really don't want to create a war between one group or carrier against another, I just feel that if there is anything one can do to help the pax/box, then it should be done. Not to sit and say its not my job and I will wait until the cows come. What would the pax think if they only knew that this attitude is so rampant in this industry? "Sorry folks I don't want to help, so we will sit here." Though I do realize the unions dictate job functions, but that could be dealt with as well by all of us. Thankfully I am non union, so don't care what it takes to get the job done, just do it.
As for not helping because management makes you ill, I have to say I do agree with you on that, but where I am at, it is no different. More, more, more...and little or no reward except here, you forgot this and so on. But I can't take that attitude even though I really want to. Believe me. But it still comes down to who pays us, not who hands us our checks.
Sorry for the rant, I, like others, just voice my thoughts, and sometimes without thinking it through.
Peace
Mike

I hear you, Mike. Like I said, we are, by nature, goal oriented people. It drives me nuts that management spends their time trying to figure out ways to squeeze money out of it's employees rather than empower us to work more efficiently/effectively. ASA is without a doubt an organization in extreme denial (at least the management is). Only recently has the President admitted there is any sort of problem with our ramp in ATL, which is something we on the front line have been literally been screaming about for many months/years! Also, I was there one day (I'm sure one of many times) our system chief pilot told us that there was absolutely no chance we'd ever have an LAX base. When I heard this from his mouth it was less than 2.5 months prior to the announcement that we are opening an LAX base. This, by the way, was said during a speech that was supposed to convince us that management was trying to be open and honest with us, and they just couldn't understand why we don't trust them. Also, they've told us we need to take pay cuts to "be competitive." Take a look at the latest profit numbers for Skywest Inc.

-Blucher

PS-I still did actually throw bags a couple of days ago at an outstation because I couldn't believe how slow they were taking to get the "pink-tags" off the a/c and I just got too darned embarrassed!