How's the Atmosphere/mood at UAL

[bpapaDC8]

"it was basically a conduit for the drooling, inbred children of United pilots, and an easy way to identify and "mentor" minorities that couldn't seem to cut it on their merits."

Ah, now the truth comes out, Ty is just another Yo-nited hater. That is what you call them when you're with your Airtran buddies, isn't it.

As for calling another poster a "Fool" on an anonymous message board, Ty has a case of internet bravado. I've seen it before, they talk big behind a screen name, but lack the courage to say these things in person.

bpapa

 

[AA717driver]

This discussion is exactly why management has its way with us. We're too busy pissing on each other because we all want to have the bragging rights of working for the biggest and best airline.

All the while our working conditions go down the shi**er!

Guess what? Right now, NO airline is a bright and shining example of where we all want to work. The only way they ever will be is to work toge... Screw it. No one's listening anyway.TC

 

[cocknbull]

Last week the USA today reported that China will more than double the amount of slots for US carriers in the near future, and United announced more international flights last month. I think each heavy is staffed with 7.5 crews. I hope UAL gets a big piece of the action.

Here are some positive words
United recorded positive operating cash flow of better than $4 million per day in the quarter and it ended the quarter with a cash balance of $2.6 billion, including $683 million in restricted cash. United's revenues were $3.7 billion, up 17%, and load factor increased 3.6 points to 75.3%.

In March load factor reached a record 80.1%, up 6.4 points, and passenger unit revenue was 14% higher on a 9% yield increase. "Although year-over-year unit revenue improvement was aided by last year's weakness, our route and capacity adjustments, aggressive marketing and sales activities helped United outperform the industry by a wide margin," the carrier said.

Looking ahead, CFO Jake Brace is "encouraged by strong bookings as we move into the second and third quarters," the airline's high demand season. Booked load factors for May and June are above last year. Full-year capacity is expected to be up about 5%. Separately, the airline made the first two of its five scheduled $60 million payments to repay its DIP loan from Bank One in March and April.

 

[MW44]

I heard a rumor that ual is going to park somewhere in the nieghborhood of 80 more aircraft. Is that true? Are they just going to replace that flying with Skywest, Chq, Air Wisk, etc.. Any chance of more furloughs? Kind of sad to see all of the jobs outsourced to the sweatshops.

 

[ampropilot2b]

I would say a few more planes will be parked at United in the not to distant future. I'm guessing, all part of the bankruptcy reorganization. However, the amount of mainline flying will not further decrease. The international aircraft are flying very long days (because the flights are so long), whereas utilization of some of the domestic aircraft is much lower. I would expect the possibility of a few more wide-bodies being parked or re-negotiated. I wouldn't expect to see any airbus' leaving-rather I would expect some (20ish) 737s and perhaps a few 757s will leave the fleet.

United could sustain the current hours of flying with fewer aircraft, but better utilization. It only makes sense.

 

[Ty Webb]

You guys can spout whatever garbage you want, but the fact is, UAL doesn't deserve any taxpayer bailout, and I hope they don't get one. If you guys survive on your own merits, great, then you will deserve it, but you won't survive as long as you still view the LCC competition as you do.

T-gates, or T-bags, or whatever you are calling yourself now- let me tell YOU a little story about customer service at your very own UAL. When my Mother flew UAL to San Diego last year, not only did UAL lose her bag, but she got a call from the foreman of a highway construction crew to tell her that they had found her bag- in a ditch by the side of the road!

Care to compare AirTran's bag-matching record with UAL? It's public record, and I'll tell you who ranks higher . . . and it ain't United.

As for you, Tanner, life here is a lot better than you think. I average 17 days off per month, and have for the past year and a half, and that is on a commutable schedule, too, no crashpad required. Don't worry about me working too hard on those 13 or 14 days per month that I am working, though, in the last two year I didn't even rack up 1340 hours, or less than 55 hours per month.

As for your interest in my upgrade situation- I am about 10 numbers away from upgrade on the 737 and 25 on the 717. Thanks for your interest.

If you guys want to keep deluding yourselves about the state of the industry, that's fine, but don't expect the taxpayers to pay for it.

 

[Prof. Joe Vee]

If you guys want to keep deluding yourselves about the state of the industry, that's fine, but don't expect the taxpayers to pay for it.

No, we have nothing to worry about as you and your company continue to dilute the industry.

 

[Extra300S]

Aitran is the Industry model for Customer service~


Just ask Ty Webb, he will tell you.


If you have 17 days off, why not get a life Ty?

 

[skykid]

Ty, that's awesome, you have used some data/facts/evidence to support a claim. I don't doubt AirTran's baggage record is better, AirTran has tremendous service in my opinion. United's DIR (Definite Intent to Repurchase) set a record in Apr 2004 despite the highest load factor in company history. The DIR encompasses baggage handling, gate service, inflight service, on time performance, and even has a catagory for how the pilots performed among many more measures. Another reason for the mood to be good at UAL, we have drastically improved service, which is critical in this market. Even Mr. agenda himself, Boyd, says United has great service. Obviously with airlines fighting for business on every route now and having to focus on improving service the consumer is the big winner.

 

[Ty Webb]

As I said before, if you guys can do it on your own merits, that's great, just don't expect the taxpayers to subsidize seat-dumping into a saturated marketplace.

And there is little chance of any Legacy carrier making without realizing that the marketplace has changed. The customers have voted with their dollars, and what they have said is that "price is king". They may pay a little more for a few perks, but not much, and until you can make money in this environment, you are on your way to the History Channel.

It is NOT the LCC's fault, and it is not the LCC pilots' fault- that is just the reality of the situation.If you want someone to blame, blame your own management for treating the public so poorly that they ended up with no brand loyalty to your company, and your unions for obtaining unrealistic contracts . . . .

 

[delivery100]

"and your unions for obtaining unrealistic contracts....."

Those contracts would not be unrealistic if it were not like people like you determined to do the same job for much less....

 

[Mr.B]

And furthermore.....he's the type who will come crying to these unrealistic unions when its time for a raise, to right a wrong, or whatever.

 

[Ty Webb]

Newsflash . . . . . there are limits to all possible things, and the last contract that the UAL pilots got would have required the company to have an 86% load factor even at those lofty late 1990's yields.

You can keep blaming the pilots of other airlines for your problems . . . but don't bother trying to sell it to me, pal, save it for your buddies over at Home Depot, who don't know any better. I am sure they think you're really smart.


Mr. B:

The agreement has to be one that both parties can live with. Having the best contract in the industry doesn't mean squat when your company goes under, as many have found.

 

[bpapaDC8]

"Fifty years after its foundation in struggle, sacrifice and tragedy, the airline pilots of America, although not quite back to square one, are still facing the fundamental questions their forebears faced in 1931. Can they stand up and fight the good fight, always keeping in mind that justice and virtue do not always prevail, and that `God,' as Napoleon put it, `is on the side of the big battalions'? Are modern airline pilots made of the same stuff as the men who created ALPA during the era of the wooden wings? History is waiting for its answer."

The final paragraphs of Flying the Line By George E. Hopkins


Judging from some of the statements I've read on this thread alone, I think the answer to the question is obvious.

bpapa

 

[Prof. Joe Vee]

Ty?? Ask for a pay-raise?

No--he'd ask to undercut the industry to keep his job.

The Union couldn't put a backbone in him if it tried.

 

[Extra300S]

Hey Ty, Why did Mommy fly on UAL and not Airtran?


I guess it's true when they say "Mom's know best"


Sorry about her bag being lost, actually I saw it on a walk around and tossed it into a lav truck.


Have a nice day!

 

[Ty Webb]

Well, maybe you ought to ask Mom about her opinion of United. Having been an executive in the Chicago area for many years, she could tell you firsthand why "United" is a dirty word around her office . . .

Sorry about her bag being lost, actually I saw it on a walk around and tossed it into a lav truck.

See, this would be funny, if it wasn;t just so sad. You guys really have no idea how much you are loathed by your best customers, and my Mother is a prime example. You guys really have no clue, and you are about to find out the hard way.

Anyway, you kids have fun. This thread has been entertaining, but in the end, we have to live with our decisions. I am fine with mine. Hope you are with yours . . . . and that you have a "plan b" other than insulting your fellow pilots on a message board, which isn;t going to pay you squat.

 

[Prof. Joe Vee]

You guys really have no idea how much you are loathed by your best customers, and my Mother is a prime example.

That isn't what she said when she rode on me.

 

[Extra300S]

Ty is a UAL "Wannabe"

Plain and simple

 

[Ty Webb]

You kids have fun.

 

[T-Gates]

T-gates, or T-bags, or whatever you are calling yourself now...

I'm T-Gates.... T-Bags is a different person....

 

[NZCHooverboy]

Best Wishes

I hate to see anyone out of work. The UAL folks were, in good and bad times, most hospitable to me as an ATA jumpseater. They, like the rest of us, swing on the same threads weaved by managements. In the meantime, when it comes down to manning up our aircraft, our jobs are all the same. The comaraderie comes (or should come) from this fact.

 

[propjockey]

Company financial statements

I'm responding to comments about UAL "losing money" way back on the first page. Before I go on, let me state that I have NOT looked at UAL's financials in quite some time, so I'm NOT talking specifics.

Before I took my vow of poverty and became a regional airline pilot, I got an MBA with a finance major and worked in the corporate world. Here is what I learned through both formal education and practical experience:

Accounting is not like balancing your checkbook. The rules of accounting make it very complex, and you can do lots of creative things (completely legally) that you cannot do in private financial affairs. Balance sheets and income statements (especially the balance sheet) are historical documents. With depreciations, write-offs, etc, etc, you have to take what you see on them with a big grain of salt and understand what they're really telling you.

If you want to know how a company is really doing, you must look at the CASH FLOW STATEMENT. It is the "here and now," and doesn't allow for much creative accounting. Net losses on the income statement are not always meaningful. It may be accounting smoke-and-mirrors. If the cash flow statement is positive, the company is making money, regardless of what the income statement says.