Latest rumors about Midwest

[FlyWolf]

I think its Midwest mistake, why in the hell we agree to let them dead head on us, can we dead head on them?????

 

[PCL_128]

Every capacity purchase agreement with regional airlines includes deadheading. You regionals have to be able to position crews to operate flights for your airline.

 

[FlyWolf]

Every capacity purchase agreement with regional airlines includes deadheading. You regionals have to be able to position crews to operate flights for your airline.

Fare enough, What is your source for this info? I don't remember we were allowed to dead head on mainline with my previous regional

 

[PCL_128]

My info is based on experience as an MEC member at a regional airline. In some cases the regional has to "compensate" the mainline partner a portion of the fare price if a passenger is actually bumped, but that depends on the specific agreement. Mainline airlines understand that their regionals can't operate the schedule without repositioning crews, so it's a cost of doing business. The alternative is not having any regional partners, and we know how much management likes that idea.

 

[FlyWolf]

Well, with all my work with alpa including strike committee chairman with my previous regional I never heard of what you mention here. But I'll take your word for it.

 

[rtmcfi]

The SkyWest guys are doing what their JS coordinator asks of them. (unfortunately) It is company policy to occupy the jumpseat when deadheading if the flight is full. The JSC has (correctly) informed the SkyWest guys that this is a big no-no on other airlines. If a SkyWest pilot takes the jumpseat, while on company business, SkyWest is in effect using the jumpseat for company business. SkyWest should be paying for a seat on the flight for the crewmember. (I believe they do pay for the seat) More importantly, the SkyWest pilot may be taking a jumpseat that another pilot is trying to use.

Now, that is not to say this should be done blindly. I have waited around, and made damn sure that no pilots needed he JS, and I have then ridden in it in order to get another person aboard.

 

[deadstick]

Two things about this really chap my a$$:

1) Didn't TH say that SkyWest would be a good fit for the MEH "family" and corporate culture? Round peg...square hole. Nuff said.

2) Isn't MCI a "base" of sorts for SkyWest, or did that change after they conquered the D ramp at MKE? If they have so much going on down there, shouldn't they staff it? A gate agent there told me that they kept a "spare" there.


FWIW, I have seen the AD that requires the Barbie Jet to carry a ton (actually 2-3) of extra fuel if alternates are needed. Also there is a 6000 lb difference between takeoff and landing weights. I'd bet that the good ol' CRJ can't carry a full load of pax and bag to MSN or GRB if alternates are required. It's no so far fetched to see that they are weight restricted. Thank goodness DR and TH got rid of those nasty 328s and 1900s.

 

[CitationLover]

Every capacity purchase agreement with regional airlines includes deadheading. You regionals have to be able to position crews to operate flights for your airline.

isn't MCI a skywest domicile or is it a mx base?

perhaps the forward cargo bin would be more applicable. just don't light one up in there.........

 

[CitationLover]

FWIW, I have seen the AD that requires the Barbie Jet to carry a ton (actually 2-3) of extra fuel if alternates are needed. Also there is a 6000 lb difference between takeoff and landing weights. I'd bet that the good ol' CRJ can't carry a full load of pax and bag to MSN or GRB if alternates are required. It's no so far fetched to see that they are weight restricted. Thank goodness DR and TH got rid of those nasty 328s and 1900s.

I have been denied the j/s on skywest from CLT-MKE for "balance" purposes even though we were still 3000# from max t/o wt. Then the bastards had the nerve to add 1000# of ballast to an relatively empty baggage (the CA said they only had 600# in there) area to bring them in balance. I guess the 1yr wonder didn't think of adding more ballast to get a fellow crewmember home. The AirWhiskey guy who was there and didn't get on said he HATED j/s on SkyWest for this very reason as he could never remember having problems on AirWhiskey's 200's. I am glad I haven't commuted since 2004 as I do not miss crossing the fingers on every other leg home.

I am sure they would happily fly 88 seat 900's if TH called upon them to do so. If it's one thing PCL_128 and I agree on, get rid of regional jets period. I would love to see the proposed APA scope language be put into our contract.

We have a no strike/no lockout clause, we should also have a no furlough clause from #396 on up only to be fair.

 

[CitationLover]

I just finished a 3 day with a guy who was accusing me of being unfair in trying to spread the word about passing the furlough assessment and getting the % only in our merger assessment, believe me it was not your ideal 3 day trip.

what was his/her problem with the % merger assessment?

 

[PCL_128]

isn't MCI a skywest domicile or is it a mx base?

Even if it's a domicile (I'm not sure), that still doesn't preclude deadheading. At Pinnacle, we used to deadhead on mainline NWA all the time between hubs and sometimes from outstations to the hub.

 

[deadstick]

I am sure they would happily fly 88 seat 900's if TH called upon them to do so. If it's one thing PCL_128 and I agree on, get rid of regional jets period. I would love to see the proposed APA scope language be put into our contract.

You better watch out. TH probably stalks FI for all of his great business ideas!

As for "regional" flying, that is one thing I loved about the Beech at Skyway. It was true regional flying. Now the "Replacement Jets" label seems more appropriate.

 

[RP170]

You better watch out. TH probably stalks FI for all of his great business ideas!

As for "regional" flying, that is one thing I loved about the Beech at Skyway. It was true regional flying. Now the "Replacement Jets" label seems more appropriate.

The MKE-BDL, IAD, BWI, EWR, PHL flying on the 328 wasn't so "regional." But you are correct, 90% of it was truly regional and a lot of fun.

 

[CitationLover]

You better watch out. TH probably stalks FI for all of his great business ideas!

Hey Timmayyy here's an idea. There are airplanes out there (ATA 737-8's and Skybus A319's). Let's replace the MD80's and grow. Make Milwaukee the cultural center of the world and we can be it's hometown airline!

What?!?! Oh yeah, shrink to profitability (more like shrink to management's ability).

 

[eightdriver]

Moving deadheading crewmembers around is a cost of doing business. They should receive a comfortable seat.

I used to have the same thinking when I was at Piedmont about deadheading... But, at Midwest we have to look at it differently. If you are deadheading, you are ON DUTY!!! This is not nappy time... If the company asks you to occupy a jumpseat to free up an available revenue seat you had better pony up. We are too small of an airline to be harda$$'s. Every pax we fly is important when all we have is our reputation keeping our passengers faithful to Midwest. Our company will not force us to use a jumpseat, they don't have to, we will do it on our own... 8

 

[FlyWolf]

what was his/her problem with the % merger assessment?

His problem is that he couldn't vote on the merger assessment because he was flying and he would have voted against the % only, he thinks it was totally unfair and he asked me about the % of Capt vs FO present at the meeting, I told him I have no idea but it passed 50 to 7.

When we talked about the furlough help my blood pressure was getting way too high from what I am hearing, long story short, he will vote against the furlough assessment if its out for a member vote, so here is a capt who makes $155 an hour refusing to help, just a typical A$$Ho$$.

 

[deadstick]

The MKE-BDL, IAD, BWI, EWR, PHL flying on the 328 wasn't so "regional." But you are correct, 90% of it was truly regional and a lot of fun.

BEEEEECCHHH... MBL, MSN, RHI, IWD -- Good stuff, Maynard!

Yea, that East Coast stuff...I dunno. Anytime you have to make a fuel stop coming back west you have issues. FWIW, Airtran fills a 737 early on a Sunday morning going from BWI to MKE (and then to Vegas). If they can fill that, why only a 32 (or 50) seater at 10:30a? Too bad YX doesn't have a Vegas flight these people can get on. Hold it...

 

[PCL_128]

I used to have the same thinking when I was at Piedmont about deadheading... But, at Midwest we have to look at it differently. If you are deadheading, you are ON DUTY!!! This is not nappy time... If the company asks you to occupy a jumpseat to free up an available revenue seat you had better pony up. We are too small of an airline to be harda$$'s. Every pax we fly is important when all we have is our reputation keeping our passengers faithful to Midwest. Our company will not force us to use a jumpseat, they don't have to, we will do it on our own... 8

Suit yourself. It'd be a cold day in hell before I sat in an FA jumpseat while on company business, though.

 

[CitationLover]

His problem is that he couldn't vote on the merger assessment because he was flying and he would have voted against the % only, he thinks it was totally unfair and he asked me about the % of Capt vs FO present at the meeting, I told him I have no idea but it passed 50 to 7.

When we talked about the furlough help my blood pressure was getting way too high from what I am hearing, long story short, he will vote against the furlough assessment if its out for a member vote, so here is a capt who makes $155 an hour refusing to help, just a typical A$$Ho$$.

Did you tell him he could have proxied? Apathy on his part IS the problem. I guess we'll see him on 5/12.

I am sure he will pick up OT too after 5/15.

 

[CitationLover]

BEEEEECCHHH... MBL, MSN, RHI, IWD -- Good stuff, Maynard!

Yea, that East Coast stuff...I dunno. Anytime you have to make a fuel stop coming back west you have issues. FWIW, Airtran fills a 737 early on a Sunday morning going from BWI to MKE (and then to Vegas). If they can fill that, why only a 32 (or 50) seater at 10:30a? Too bad YX doesn't have a Vegas flight these people can get on. Hold it...

That requires vision. In their defense, Vegas is a low yield market.

 

[jravi8tor]

Hey Timmayyy here's an idea. There are airplanes out there (ATA 737-8's and Skybus A319's). Let's replace the MD80's and grow. Make Milwaukee the cultural center of the world and we can be it's hometown airline!

What?!?! Oh yeah, shrink to profitability (more like shrink to management's ability).

i highly doubt our management is willing to foot the bill for lease payments on a b738 and a319 which are in the neighborhood of 430,000 to 390,000 respectively. (that would mean better utilization of a/c in order to cover payments and make a profit than what we're currently doing.)

i do remember reading somewhere that qantas link parked 13 b712's. thats always a possiblity if the brain factory was actually thinking.

 

[CitationLover]

i highly doubt our management is willing to foot the bill for lease payments on a b738 and a319 which are in the neighborhood of 430,000 to 390,000 respectively. (that would mean better utilization of a/c in order to cover payments and make a profit than what we're currently doing.)

i do remember reading somewhere that qantas link parked 13 b712's. thats always a possiblity if the brain factory was actually thinking.

the saying goes.....

you have to spend money to make money.

seems to me that TH doesn't want to put his money where his mouth is regarding our award winning product. shrinking an airline with labor costs continuing to go up is BAD business. GROWTH would DECREASE labor costs, but i digress. this is business 101, but TH kept the company out of bankruptcy [kool aid on]so he must be doing something right[/kool aid off].

 

[eightdriver]

Suit yourself. It'd be a cold day in hell before I sat in an FA jumpseat while on company business, though.

I don't like it, but we need all the paying pax we can get at MEH. At least you can avoid sitting next to some 350 pound freak that hasn't bathed in a week.

 

[FIREMAN]

i highly doubt our management is willing to foot the bill for lease payments on a b738 and a319 which are in the neighborhood of 430,000 to 390,000 respectively. (that would mean better utilization of a/c in order to cover payments and make a profit than what we're currently doing.)

i do remember reading somewhere that qantas link parked 13 b712's. thats always a possiblity if the brain factory was actually thinking.

I think 4 of the 71s from Qantas Link were sold to a corprate operater for 10 mill a copy.

 

[IdRtherBsailing]

Suit yourself. It'd be a cold day in hell before I sat in an FA jumpseat while on company business, though.

So if you had a buddy who was returning home with his wife, you wouldn't take a FA jumpseat to get her on?

For the record, every time I was asked to ride in a FA jumpseat, it was to get an off line Crewmember in the cockpit, or a non rev on. I have no problem with that.

 

[IdRtherBsailing]

I have been denied the j/s on skywest from CLT-MKE for "balance" purposes even though we were still 3000# from max t/o wt. Then the bastards had the nerve to add 1000# of ballast to an relatively empty baggage (the CA said they only had 600# in there) area to bring them in balance. I guess the 1yr wonder didn't think of adding more ballast to get a fellow crewmember home. The AirWhiskey guy who was there and didn't get on said he HATED j/s on SkyWest for this very reason as he could never remember having problems on AirWhiskey's 200's. I am glad I haven't commuted since 2004 as I do not miss crossing the fingers on every other leg home.

I have flown the 200 at Air Whiskey for over 3 years. During that time frame I had one idiot captain who wouldn't take a JS because of wt and balance. The other 199 times everyone made it on. Its the inexperienced idiots that actually think that 200lbs in the jumpseat is going to bring a 53,000lb airplane out of the sky.

side note, whats with the Mormon Polygamist Unibrow chick on Larry king right now. How can she not notice that. I hate to think of what her legs look like.

 

[PCL_128]

So if you had a buddy who was returning home with his wife, you wouldn't take a FA jumpseat to get her on?

For the record, every time I was asked to ride in a FA jumpseat, it was to get an off line Crewmember in the cockpit, or a non rev on. I have no problem with that.

I've got no problem with helping out nonrevs. I won't take a jumpseat to allow a paying passenger a seat while I sit on an FA jumpseat while on company business, however. The loss of that passenger revenue is simply a cost of doing business to the company.

 

[FlyWolf]

So if you had a buddy who was returning home with his wife, you wouldn't take a FA jumpseat to get her on?

For the record, every time I was asked to ride in a FA jumpseat, it was to get an off line Crewmember in the cockpit, or a non rev on. I have no problem with that.

Funny you mention that, a lot of the times i gave my dead heading seat it was to get an off line jumpseaters, and as you said, I will be happy to do it anytime, thats just the way Midwest pilots are.

 

[eightdriver]

I've got no problem with helping out nonrevs. I won't take a jumpseat to allow a paying passenger a seat while I sit on an FA jumpseat while on company business, however. The loss of that passenger revenue is simply a cost of doing business to the company.

So if you're asked to sit in a jumpseat then its obvious that the flight is full... right. So what you're saying is that sitting in coach in a middle seat with the person in front of you reclining their seat into your lap is more comfortable then a jumpseat??? Thats about the $hita$$ craziest thing I have ever heard. God I hope you don't work at Midwest... no offense.

 

[FlyWolf]

I don't like it, but we need all the paying pax we can get at MEH. At least you can avoid sitting next to some 350 pound freak that hasn't bathed in a week.

lol, I hear you about the 350 pound freak, I wonder if they will fit in the new 3X2 seatings.

Yes, I think most of us with the exception of few will be more than happy to do it, one less pissed off passenger at Midwest.