Nice to see these two employees are so important.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A23657-2002Nov21.html
Kennedy Flies to The Rescue
By Keith L. Alexander
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, November 22, 2002; Page A01
US Airways has laid off thousands of employees and eliminated hundreds of routes as it slashes costs and prepares to emerge from bankruptcy. But it was the jobs of two women that caught some special senatorial attention.
The two employees worked for the airline's Executive Services, which zips important travelers (including some lawmakers) through Reagan National Airport, minimizing the hassles faced by other travelers and providing a secluded waiting room, away from the masses -- and from business travelers, for that matter.
That service was canceled Oct. 29, but it was reinstated almost two weeks later, after a telephone call from Sen. Edward M. Kennedy (D-Mass.), a beneficiary of the three-year-old service.
US Airways wouldn't say whether Kennedy's call was responsible for the about-face, only that it had heard complaints from customers.
Kennedy called US Airways president and chief executive David N. Siegel -- not to save his perks, but to rescue the jobs of the two women employed there, according to Kennedy spokeswoman Stephanie Cutter.
Many of the nation's largest airlines offer similar perks from their major hubs. But at National, US Airways is the only carrier that provides this special VIP pampering. The Arlington-based airline is the major carrier at National.
US Airways is a bit mysterious about how travelers get on this elite list. Flying tens of thousands of miles a year won't do it, according to spokesman David Castelveter. "We have to be very selective in how we go about choosing the people," he said.
Castelveter declined to explain what criteria are used to determine the 500 people who make the cut, except to say the decision is made by one of the airline's senior vice presidents.
Among those privileged few are Supreme Court justices and A-list athletes and entertainers, said Castelveter. He insisted that few members of Congress make the list, although one of those is Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.). But that's only because of her status as a former first lady who must fly with armed Secret Service agents, he said.
Congressional staff members, however, say other lawmakers have used the service.
On Oct 30., a day after the service was shut down, Kennedy phoned Siegel, said Cutter.
Kennedy's office also contacted the staffs of Clinton, Sen. Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Sen. John Edwards (D-N.C.), encouraging them to call Siegel as well, according to a Senate source. He said the request from Kennedy's office was to "call Siegel and express how important that desk is and not to close it down."
Spokesmen for Clinton, Schumer and Edwards said none of the senators called the airline.
Cutter said Kennedy was never concerned about the VIP service being shut down, only about the fate of the two employees.
They are in management, and thus their jobs are not protected by unions. She said she was not aware of Kennedy's contacting other senators.
"Senator Kennedy called US Airways to advocate for two of its most dedicated and hard-working employees and recommended, because of their distinguished service to him and others, that they would be an asset for the company and that US Airways should find a place in the company for them," Cutter said.
On Nov. 12, the program was restored.
Castelveter said the airline made a mistake by eliminating it. "We did not do a thorough enough evaluation or review on how that group functions," he said.
For those who haven't made the cut, the pampering program works like this: Each morning, the VIP staff scans the list of passengers scheduled to fly out of National that day and decides to greet a special few as they arrive at the airport.
Any who arrive early are escorted to a private holding room inside the security gates on Concourse B away from other travelers.
Unlike US Airways' sprawling lounges furnished with sofas, magazines, telephones and a bar, this room has only a desk, a coffee machine and chairs and is meant to be a temporary holding station away from the crowds until the flight begins boarding, according to Castelveter.
Restoration of the service, Castelveter said, had minimal impact on the cost structure of US Airways, which filed for bankruptcy protection in August.
US Airways has slashed its operations by about 23 percent and has cut more than 16,000 jobs since last year's terrorist attacks. The federal government has conditionally approved an $800 million loan guarantee for the carrier, which the airline said was critical to its survival. Numerous lawmakers lobbied on US Airways' behalf.
Labor groups have agreed to wage and other concessions worth more than $900 million, and executives have warned they might have to ask employees for more.
The airline plans to emerge from bankruptcy in March.
The US Airways executive treatment is not the only perk available for government officials at area airports. Members of Congress and Supreme Court justices can park for free at National and Dulles International airports, in spaces that are walking distance from the main terminals.
© 2002 The Washington Post Company
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A23657-2002Nov21.html
Kennedy Flies to The Rescue
By Keith L. Alexander
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, November 22, 2002; Page A01
US Airways has laid off thousands of employees and eliminated hundreds of routes as it slashes costs and prepares to emerge from bankruptcy. But it was the jobs of two women that caught some special senatorial attention.
The two employees worked for the airline's Executive Services, which zips important travelers (including some lawmakers) through Reagan National Airport, minimizing the hassles faced by other travelers and providing a secluded waiting room, away from the masses -- and from business travelers, for that matter.
That service was canceled Oct. 29, but it was reinstated almost two weeks later, after a telephone call from Sen. Edward M. Kennedy (D-Mass.), a beneficiary of the three-year-old service.
US Airways wouldn't say whether Kennedy's call was responsible for the about-face, only that it had heard complaints from customers.
Kennedy called US Airways president and chief executive David N. Siegel -- not to save his perks, but to rescue the jobs of the two women employed there, according to Kennedy spokeswoman Stephanie Cutter.
Many of the nation's largest airlines offer similar perks from their major hubs. But at National, US Airways is the only carrier that provides this special VIP pampering. The Arlington-based airline is the major carrier at National.
US Airways is a bit mysterious about how travelers get on this elite list. Flying tens of thousands of miles a year won't do it, according to spokesman David Castelveter. "We have to be very selective in how we go about choosing the people," he said.
Castelveter declined to explain what criteria are used to determine the 500 people who make the cut, except to say the decision is made by one of the airline's senior vice presidents.
Among those privileged few are Supreme Court justices and A-list athletes and entertainers, said Castelveter. He insisted that few members of Congress make the list, although one of those is Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.). But that's only because of her status as a former first lady who must fly with armed Secret Service agents, he said.
Congressional staff members, however, say other lawmakers have used the service.
On Oct 30., a day after the service was shut down, Kennedy phoned Siegel, said Cutter.
Kennedy's office also contacted the staffs of Clinton, Sen. Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Sen. John Edwards (D-N.C.), encouraging them to call Siegel as well, according to a Senate source. He said the request from Kennedy's office was to "call Siegel and express how important that desk is and not to close it down."
Spokesmen for Clinton, Schumer and Edwards said none of the senators called the airline.
Cutter said Kennedy was never concerned about the VIP service being shut down, only about the fate of the two employees.
They are in management, and thus their jobs are not protected by unions. She said she was not aware of Kennedy's contacting other senators.
"Senator Kennedy called US Airways to advocate for two of its most dedicated and hard-working employees and recommended, because of their distinguished service to him and others, that they would be an asset for the company and that US Airways should find a place in the company for them," Cutter said.
On Nov. 12, the program was restored.
Castelveter said the airline made a mistake by eliminating it. "We did not do a thorough enough evaluation or review on how that group functions," he said.
For those who haven't made the cut, the pampering program works like this: Each morning, the VIP staff scans the list of passengers scheduled to fly out of National that day and decides to greet a special few as they arrive at the airport.
Any who arrive early are escorted to a private holding room inside the security gates on Concourse B away from other travelers.
Unlike US Airways' sprawling lounges furnished with sofas, magazines, telephones and a bar, this room has only a desk, a coffee machine and chairs and is meant to be a temporary holding station away from the crowds until the flight begins boarding, according to Castelveter.
Restoration of the service, Castelveter said, had minimal impact on the cost structure of US Airways, which filed for bankruptcy protection in August.
US Airways has slashed its operations by about 23 percent and has cut more than 16,000 jobs since last year's terrorist attacks. The federal government has conditionally approved an $800 million loan guarantee for the carrier, which the airline said was critical to its survival. Numerous lawmakers lobbied on US Airways' behalf.
Labor groups have agreed to wage and other concessions worth more than $900 million, and executives have warned they might have to ask employees for more.
The airline plans to emerge from bankruptcy in March.
The US Airways executive treatment is not the only perk available for government officials at area airports. Members of Congress and Supreme Court justices can park for free at National and Dulles International airports, in spaces that are walking distance from the main terminals.
© 2002 The Washington Post Company
