CHQ or ASA

[jumppilot]

If a code-share tanks for CHQ, they will be hurting!

Not necessairly. If a code-share tanked, CHQ mgmt would do everything in their power to take care of the problem.

I'm sure if need be CHQ could offer a "50% off" sale if it came down to that...The benefit of being a contract carrier. CHQ can provide the same serive ASA or Comair does, but with any carrier interested in regional feed. They are not tied to one mothership.

But I'm just a pilot, I don't know how the inner workings of code shares work. But I do know there will always be a need for an independant contract carrier.

 

[Anaconda]

It appears ASA is going to get a lot of jets from the latest RFP, but Chautauqua is very aggressive with finding flying and they too are growing at a fast pace.

based on what information?

 

[TWAER]

RIGHT!! Believe what you want but unless you are part of management, forcasting the demise of CHQ is wishfull thinking for you guys. HERE WE GO AGAIN! Another thread about having someone wanting useful info on two airlines and turning into the "oh when we want the flying back, we will take it and CHQ will be in a world of hurt". Wishfull thinking but has it ever occured to you that we are actually a good regional airline. People are happy here and want this company to do well. You know what, I am proud of the growth at CHQ. Do you think I would would be proud if I were still stuck in a j-ball? If airways tanks, which I think they will, I have no reason to think the 30 or so planes will find a home. Do you not think if Airways folds, there will be a need for another airline to fill in the gaps. This will be additional flying by Delta, United, whoever. Someone will have to fill in the void.

If you want more info on CHQ go to CHQLOUNGE.com. Maybe then the thread won't turn into a we hate CHQ forum.

 

[OldManPilot]

I am always amazed at the pissing contest that begins between pilots any time somebody wants an opinion.

Everyone is proud of their company, but our job is to fly people from point A to point B safely and efficiently as possible.

As was earlier meantioned seniority is the name of the game. I would say go to whichever will get you the earliest seniority number.

As for comments about CHQ. Nobody knows what shape CHQ will be in if US Airways goes belly up. One thing is for sure, there will be a lot of pilots on the street looking for work. If you can get into a class with either airline, I would do it quickly.

One advantage with CHQ is a proven track record for being able to come in and get the job done. We have 3 code share partners, and our management is always looking for growth.

I personally like the idea of not having all your eggs in one basket.

Good luck with which ever ariline you can get hired with.

 

[TWAER]

I know CHQ folks are so proud of themselves for all of their code-shares and growth, but they only got Delta flying that basically ASA and Comair did not want to do additionally due to the low yields of the cities given up.....and then a bunch of DFW flying that ASA could not cover quick enough when the emb120's were retired. CHQ was able to step in and provide service. Look for ASA to eventually get this flying back. If a code-share tanks for CHQ, they will be hurting!

After reading this again and forcing myself to stop laughing, I had to respond. I hate to tell you that Comair Wanted the MCO flying just as much as all the other airlines that bid on it(ACA TSA MESA CHQ and so on). LOW Yields??? ARE YOU JOKING?? Have you been on any MCO flights lately. You may get some DFW flying back but it will be due only for the fact that we will be adding more flights in and out of JFK. Look at it this way, if one of our code shares tank, yes it will hurt. If you code share tanks, you cease to exist in most likelyhood. And I would never wish that upon anyone in the line of work.

 

[sweptback]

LOW Yields??? ARE YOU JOKING?? Have you been on any MCO flights lately.

Yields are not related to the loads... it's possible for the airplane to be full and still be losing money.

Typically, the Florida market is dominated by price-sensitive leisure travelers, which is not really the target market of most airlines.

 

[79%N1]

After reading this again and forcing myself to stop laughing, I had to respond.

Laugh all you want, but your statement showed your complete ignorance of the airline industry! Not to mention ---- you are flat out wrong! I know, FOR A FACT, that the reason CHQ was awarded a contract with Delta - initially for the fla. MCO stuff, was that the yields were low and Mother Delta wanted to utilize ASA and mostly Comair more efficiently. CHQ was used because they wanted to maintain market presence and CHQ could DO IT CHEAPLY!! And fact 2 was to cover ASA's retired Brazilias in DFW! You CANNOT argue these points because they are fact. I dont care what the loads are. Ask Usairways management about the low yields in Florida.

I dont want to get in a pissing match with you. I have numerous friends at CHQ, but it cracks me up when you say with a straight face that you are all so proud of your growth, when the only reason for it is you continue to offer your company the ability to bid low because you will work cheap. You also cannot argue that. You guys voted in your contract and won some important contract victories in QOL and job security. That was great....but, you are still compensated considerably less than Comair and ASA pilots. That is also a fact.

What really cracks me up is how you all say we'll be fine if a code-share tanks, because we'll just bid 50 % lower and pick up a new partner, or undercut someone to get more jets placed at Delta or wherever......if your proud of growing like that, well.......
But hey, every man for himself, huh?

 

[g159av8tor]

Typically, the Florida market is dominated by price-sensitive leisure travelers, which is not really the target market of most airlines.

Are you serious? East coast and Florida is the highest yielding routes in the country.

 

[ERJDRVR]

CHQ is in talks with UAL right now to fill Dulles flying.


Unlike ASA/Comair, we are spread out and diversified. If US Air tanks, another major will need that feed. That leaves all NON-WHOLLY-OWNED carriers to pick it up.
We, like TSA, MESA, AIR WHISKY, etc can do what W/O's can't.


Pick the 1st class. PERIOD. Seniority is 92% of the game. They are both great company's.

---------------------------------------------

Just an FYI...


TWA....gone.... AMR picked us up

America West CMH based closed..... Delta picked up the flying.


The feed is always needed no matter who does it.........

 

[NoName]

the chq ual rumor has been around for almost a year now and hasnt sprouted any legs...i have no idea how it continues to come back, but it hasnt happened yet, and most likely wont.

PS. the arrogance of WO is unbelievable. and i for one am tired of comair +1 talk, just do it, and quit telling us and trying to place yourself up on another level when you havent done it yet. the fact is you arent going to be in the negotiating room and your going to be left to vote on some good things and bad things, not perfect things.

 

[ERJDRVR]

PS. the arrogance of WO is unbelievable. and i for one am tired of comair +1 talk, just do it, and quit telling us and trying to place yourself up on another level when you havent done it yet. the fact is you arent going to be in the negotiating room and your going to be left to vote on some good things and bad things, not perfect things.

HUH ?????

 

[sweptback]

Are you serious? East coast and Florida is the highest yielding routes in the country.

Sure, the East coast market is high yielding, but I never said it wasn't.

The type of flying that CHQ does out of MCO is most definitely not high yield. As it was pointed out elsewhere in the thread, DL threw CHQ in the mix to move its more lucrative assets elsewhere.

Most people that go to MCO are doing so on vacation. They bought their tickets 3 months in advance and paid the rock bottom price for it. This is as low-yield as you can possibly get.

 

[ProLine4]

Sure, the East coast market is high yielding, but I never said it wasn't.

The type of flying that CHQ does out of MCO is most definitely not high yield. As it was pointed out elsewhere in the thread, DL threw CHQ in the mix to move its more lucrative assets elsewhere.

Most people that go to MCO are doing so on vacation. They bought their tickets 3 months in advance and paid the rock bottom price for it. This is as low-yield as you can possibly get.

Again, as previously stated, MCO is NOT high yield in regards to the MCO RJ operation ONLY (MAINLINE's feed into MCO is a completely different story).
The DCI WO's did not want any of the MCO jet flying for this very reason...I know for a fact that when OH pulled their Brasilias and closed their MCO operation, EV mgmt declined the opportunity to open a MCO base with ANY aircraft (including the then shrinking Brasilia fleet or the cash-cow AT7) because the company's aircraft resources would make more money with either staying put as is, or going to the then still-young DFW CR2 and CR7 expansion.
Hence the entrance of CHQ to DCI with MCO contract ops. Big D maintains intra-Florida and regional market presence, and Chit gets the check at the end of the month no matter how many seats go full or empty. Pilot issues aside, it made sense at the time for everyone, but things may change if Grinstein pulls everything back in house.

 

[NoName]

someone save this thread so the next time one of the assa pilots starts to whine about a contract carrier stealing their flying, they can just remind them that they didnt want it.

 

[Anaconda]

I know for a fact that when OH pulled their SF340s and closed their MCO operation, EV mgmt declined the opportunity to open a MCO base with ANY aircraft (including the then shrinking Brasilia fleet or the cash-cow AT7)

what SF340's???

 

[RegionalFA]

On the ASA side, if you want to think pay, ASA second year pay is almost what FO pay Tops out at CHQ. And that is our old contract. As for the comment that if Usair tanks, Delta will just add all the jets to the Delta side is simply not true, and mostly wishfull thinking! Delta is just not going to invent flying to take on a bunch of jets that suddenly come available. I know CHQ folks are so proud of themselves for all of their code-shares and growth, but they only got Delta flying that basically ASA and Comair did not want to do additionally due to the low yields of the cities given up.....and then a bunch of DFW flying that ASA could not cover quick enough when the emb120's were retired. CHQ was able to step in and provide service. Look for ASA to eventually get this flying back. If a code-share tanks for CHQ, they will be hurting!

and that explains delta taking over the 12 am. west planes and routes... with chq at the helm... how? Oh wait. According to this, that wouldn't have happened. And it did.

Yes, it would hurt to lose a code share. Will it be CHQ's demise? unlikely. Rest assured that the "guys" upstairs know full well what "could" happen and they aren't sitting there waiting to see... they're up there making contingency plans for all the "what ifs" and they have more inside info than most of this board combined.

Personally, I'd take whatever job I could get now. When another opportunity comes along, evaluate your situation then. But, I wouldn't pass up an offer now for something that may come along later.

I think you need to look for the airline that suits you. Stop asking opinions. Stop asking people to compare. Find out the facts about individual airlines and make your own decisions. If you're a "big boy" and can fly commercially, then for heavens sake, do a little research and figure out what's best for you.


oh, and flights that asa and comair didn't want? are you kidding me? why all the cr@p about us "stealing" your/their flying then? Why do you blast out of spots in order to be an @ss as I'm standing next to my plane the next spot over? Anyone that buys that is crazy. We weren't the only bid for those routes. oh, and low loads? Not usually, Most of my DAL flights have been full (a light load being half - which is still profitable). As far as yeilds, we get paid the same by DAL regardless of what they sell the tickets for... we can fly the most "lucrative flights or the least" we get paid.

 

[ProLine4]

what SF340's???

Typo, meant the Brasilia, not Saab. And as for the "not wanting the MCO flying" statement, that was DCI management's decision, not any line pilot's call.

 

[AirBill]

Oh thank GOD for this thread! I just couldn't get enough of the LAST thread of thisairlinereeks or thatairlinesucks.

I just LOVE IT when I find a board whereupon pilots from all sorts of companies hurl invectives at each other, all the while claiming that his or her pilot group is the greatest thing since Lindbergh and the rest of us are full of crap and the reason why this industry is going to hell.

I mean seriously, I should create pilotsbashingpilots.com, or whipsawrules.org. Might as well make a buck or two myself, given all the bad vibes that are flowing here.

You'd better watch out. We're about to prove to management that the worst thing about airlines are the pilots.

 

[g159av8tor]

Will someone PLEASE log me out of the IAD Holiday Inn Express computer...not my remarks.
Tailwinds...

 

[AirBill]

I dont want to get in a pissing match with you. I have numerous friends at CHQ, but it cracks me up when you say with a straight face that you are all so proud of your growth, when the only reason for it is you continue to offer your company the ability to bid low because you will work cheap.

Let's get it right, 'K? The reason why CHQ got those routes has everything to do with the operating costs of an EMB 135 versus a CRJ and very little to do with pilot compensation. You are correct in that the yields out of MCO are low, and it didn't make financial sense to fly 50-seat CRJs when 37-seat 135s would do it more efficiently. DL could have used Brasilias for those routes, but the company wanted jets instead of turboprops.

And come on, let's face facts. The difference in pay between CHQ and Comair/ASA isn't that much of a savings. Given the work rules differences, the contracts are pretty much a wash. The real difference comes in the equipment, plain and simple.