Latest rumors about Midwest

[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.

 

[FlyWolf]

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.

PCL 128 is an Airtran guy, good, keep him there

 

[PCL_128]

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.

Our contract requires the company to reserve us an aisle or window seat for deadheads. The only time we can get stuck with a middle seat is if it was a last-minute deadhead, which is usually only something the reserve guys have to deal with. But in most cases, I consider a middle seat to be better than an FA jumpseat, anyway. The cockpit jumpseat isn't too bad, though.

 

[WalterSobchak]

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.

The way the CRJ-200 Flaps AD is written allows for ALOT of wiggle room in the interpretation of said AD. I have had to plan a flight with the required 3.2x alternate fuel a grand total of one time
since that airworthiness directive was issued...at the captain's request. It is essentially a non-issue.

The flaps AD is kinda like 3585...I've yet to meet a pilot from any company that fully understands it...so, uh, on behalf of dispatchers everywhere...you're welcome.

As far as DHers taking the F/A jumpseat to get an offline guy in the cockpit...much thanks to Midwest and Southwest who have done this for me once apiece to get me back towards the west in my travels back to work when my original plans fell through...it has not been forgotten. My mother flew Midwest last time she bought a ticket because I recommended them after how nicely I've been treated by YX crews. I know that's not much...but, hey, it's one revenue pax you wouldn't have had otherwise...and she's sold on Midwest now.

Had the chance to talk to a few YX guys this past week while wandering MKE waiting for my annual observation flights...not sure there is a nicer group of people anywhere. I wish nothing but great things for you guys and gals up there...

 

[CitationLover]

You're welcome and thank you for the kind words regarding us.

Every major LCC out there has great groups of people. I've had great j/s experiences on both LUV and AAI. Even seen some things that I personally would like to see over here, like AAI's simple ticket printer (a roll of paper) not some fancy ticket stock which i'm sure costs a small fortune.

 

[FlyWolf]

Many thanks Walter, come and ride with us anytime.

 

[Propsync]

I am sure they would happily fly 88 seat 900's if TH called upon them to do so.

That's a big reason you all are sitting ducks in all of this. My guess it would be Mesaba or Pinnacle, though, and not Skywest. Too much RJ (and mainline) capacity coupled with a fleet of mis-configured 717's makes you all look replaceable.

CL, we have differed in opinion since day 1, nevertheless, good luck to you in these times.

 

[eightdriver]

What a nice guy...

 

[iwannabeatmidex]

PropSync; you've been a tool since day 1...

 

[Max Powers]

PropSync; you've been a tool since day 1...

you obviously work at midwest. And you pay ten dollars to try and make airtran pilots looks bad!

Pretty sad IMHO

 

[FlyWolf]

That's a big reason you all are sitting ducks in all of this. My guess it would be Mesaba or Pinnacle, though, and not Skywest. Too much RJ (and mainline) capacity coupled with a fleet of mis-configured 717's makes you all look replaceable.

CL, we have differed in opinion since day 1, nevertheless, good luck to you in these times.

Propsync, its totally understandable your frustration with Midwest, good luck to you at Airtran, I hope everyone from Skyway moved to bigger and better things.