Midwest Air's answer to my friends email about RAH

[HA25]

My friend forwarded this to me regarding an email he sent Midwest Express after I told him of their plan to farm out more flying to RAH. His email to them is at the bottom, their response, right below.

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Response (Midwest Airlines) - 05/30/2009 09:26 PM
Dear Mr. XXXXXXX,

Thank you for contacting Midwest Airlines Online Customer Service.

We are sorry to hear that you are considering not flying on Midwest Airlines in the future due to our agreement with Republic Airways. We appreciate the opportunity to explain our agreement further.

First, our agreement with Republic is not new. Last September, Republic agreed to provide Midwest Airlines with needed capital and we agreed to hire Republic to operate many of our routes under the Midwest Connect banner. Those flights have been successfully operated by Republic, using their Embraer 170 jets. These are full sized aircraft which are extremely fuel efficient. This change in aircraft type was due in part to the worsening fuel costs and economic climate that all airlines were and are experiencing.

At that time, Midwest Airlines agreed to begin the process of adding the Embraer aircraft to our operating certificate. Until that process was completed, we were not allowed to use our own crews. Once the process was completed, we would be able to re-hire many of our furloughed pilots and flight attendants to operate the Republic aircraft but only if they agreed to renegotiate their contracts. In March, 2009, it was announced that Midwest Airlines was suspending its application to add the Embraer aircraft to its certificate after the unions refusal to negotiate.

Lastly, the article you read recently was about the addition of 2 Embraer 190's which will have the ability to reach the West Coast nonstop. These aircraft are also full sized jets with excellent fuel efficiency. They are not "Regional Jets".

The designation of "Regional Airline" is based on many factors including number of employees, number of flights, number of passengers and amount of revenue. It does not define how much their pilots are paid. Rather, pilots salaries are more likely to be based on the type of aircraft they fly and the number of hours they have accrued on that type of aircraft.

We are committed to providing our customers with “the best care in the air” and on the ground. Our employees work hard to provide that quality service and our commitment to continuing that is not changing. The changes we have had to make are some of the many ways we are adapting to the current economic situation. We hope you can appreciate our commitment to the success of Midwest Airlines for our customers and employees.

Your loyal support is very important to us. We hope that you continue to choose us for your travel needs for many years to come.

Sincerely,

Linda
Customer Service
Midwest Airlines






Customer (Jon XXXXXXX) - 05/21/2009 08:11 PM
I just read a wsj article that says you're going to be farming out flying to a company called republic airlines.. they're a "regional" airline, one of those that pays their pilots $20000/yr..

what are you thinking? you've just lost a customer.

Auto-Response - 05/21/2009 08:11 PM
Suggested Solutions displayed

 

[FlyWolf]

Funny, even Linda from customer service agree that the E190 is NOT a regional jet a/c.

 

[deadstick]

Funny, even Linda from customer service agree that the E190 is NOT a regional jet a/c.

Actually, she's believes the 170 isn't either.

"...using their Embraer 170 jets. These are full sized aircraft..."

"...2 Embraer 190's... These aircraft are also full sized jets...They are not "Regional Jets"."

See the parallels?



Dear Lynda,

Thanks for your letter. Here's another cookie. Choke on it.

Love,
The Crews of Midwest and Skyway Airlines

PS Do you really think you are going to have a job for much longer, or are you going to move to Indy?

 

[Captain Morgan]

Actually, she's believes the 170 isn't either.

"...using their Embraer 170 jets. These are full sized aircraft..."

"...2 Embraer 190's... These aircraft are also full sized jets...They are not "Regional Jets"."

See the parallels?



Dear Lynda,

Thanks for your letter. Here's another cookie. Choke on it.

Love,
The Crews of Midwest and Skyway Airlines

PS Do you really think you are going to have a job for much longer, or are you going to move to Indy?

You misspelled the name Linda, just FYI.

 

[HA25]

Dear Lynda,
...PS Do you really think you are going to have a job for much longer, or are you going to move to Indy?

No, Floyd from Mumbai will be working her job pretty soon, trust meh..

 

[HA25]

btw, I clearly meant Midwest Airlines... sorry about the mixup.. I know Midwest Express is their commuter..

 

[deadstick]

You misspelled the name Linda, just FYI.

You caught my passive resistance!

FMS---you just confused the heck outta me with that last one.


Cliff Notes History of Midwest Airlines (based on a true story)

In the beginning, there was a toilet paper company. We'll bypass the discussion why business was very good, but it was so good, the company bought a plane. They hired an idiot named Timmy H to fly the plane. "Me Timmy, Me Fly."

Business was getting better (still avoiding that subject) so they bought big planes to move many employees around. Timmy's head swelled. Toilet paper flight department grew and grew. Timmy's head got bigger and bigger. "Me Timmy. Me really can't fly. Me run Airline"

So, in the 1980s, Timmy convinced the toilet paper company to start an airline. "Plane go fast. Me live in Midwest. Me call MY airline MIDWEST EXPRESS."

In 2003, "Cookie gram for Timmy!"

The Cookie Gram read "FYI The word 'Express' is used by little, regional airlines." The ego was wounded. "Timmy must run REAL airline (into the ground). Must change name."

And so, that little airline that was renamed "Midwest Airlines."

I could go all night with the Mongo parody. Actually, writing the whole story to the Blazing Saddles script...hmmm...could be fun. TPG would be the effiminate dancers at the end that the cast gets into a brawl with... hmmm...

Problem: Mongo/Alex Karras changed sides in the end and TH will burn for eternity in a very warm place.

 

[jravi8tor]

btw, I clearly meant Midwest Airlines... sorry about the mixup.. I know Midwest Express is their commuter..

Actually their commuter is Midwest Connect and Midwest Express was the original name of the airline until 2003 when it was changed to just MIDWEST Airlines because the flying public thought the word express was just that.... An express carrier.

 

[IdRtherBsailing]

The unions were unwilling to negotiate? I think it is exactly the opposite.

 

[Beetle007]

What is Midwest's contract language regarding Scope and Codeshares. I know ALPA lost the grievance, but I am curious what the language says?

 

[Jetjockey]

very little, very obscure.

 

[Colonel Savage]

Actually their commuter is Midwest Connect and Midwest Express was the original name of the airline until 2003 when it was changed to just MIDWEST Airlines because the flying public thought the word express was just that.... An express carrier.

There's some irony in that.

 

[deadstick]

There's some irony in that.

Midwest has come full-circle, except it'll end up a travel agency like Apple Vacations. Just don't start singing "Circle of Life." Although, it is a great illustration of how Timmy can't make progress because all he knows how to do is run around chasing his tail.

 

[CitationLover]

What is Midwest's contract language regarding Scope and Codeshares. I know ALPA lost the grievance, but I am curious what the language says?

it was ALPA's standard scope clause for a late 90's contract.

B. Scope
1. Except as otherwise provided for in this Agreement, all commercial flight
operations (whether revenue, non-revenue, scheduled or non-scheduled)
conducted by the Company will be flown by pilots whose names appear
on the Midwest Airlines, Inc., Pilot System Seniority List.
2. Notwithstanding Paragraph 1 above, the Company may utilize pilots not
on the Midwest Airlines, Inc., Pilot System Seniority List to perform non-
revenue flying such as aircraft delivery, ferry, and maintenance test
flights.

then the next section is the TRUE violation. they subcontracted the flying and parked the 80's due to "high fuel prices", while playing hardball with boeing, on the advice of seabury henchman, and lost.

C. Subcontracting
1. The Company may engage in subcontracted flying under the following
circumstances: Subcontracting may be engaged in for periods not in
excess of one hundred eighty (180) days per occurrence during the term of
this Agreement when:
a. such subcontracting is necessary to accomplish the needs of the
service of the Company, and
b. the Company determines that it does not have sufficient or
appropriate aircraft, or sufficient or appropriately trained Pilots
available to perform the subcontracted flying, and
c. the Company does not furlough or displace any Pilot as a direct
result of such engagement in subcontracted flying.
2. It is understood and agreed that nothing in Paragraph C.1 will prevent the
Company from furloughing or displacing Pilots for economic reasons
independent of or unrelated to its engagement in subcontracted flying.
3. Subcontracted flying shall not include any flying performed by another
carrier whereby the other carrier transports passengers pursuant to a code-
share agreement, a marketing agreement, an interline agreement, a pro-rate
agreement or a block-space agreement, and there shall be no contractual
restrictions on such flying or on any other flying performed pursuant to
any other marketing or alliance agreement or arrangement.
4. Notwithstanding Paragraph C.1. above, in the event the Company engages
in subcontracting solely due to circumstances over which the Company
does not have control, it may engage in the subcontracted flying for a time
not to exceed twelve (12) months. Circumstances beyond the Company’s
control shall include: an act of nature; a labor dispute; grounding of a
substantial number of the Company’s aircraft by a government agency or a
court; a shortage or unavailability of flight simulator time; loss or
destruction of the Company’s aircraft; involuntary reduction in flying
operations due to either a decrease in available fuel supply or other critical
materials for the Company’s operation; revocation of the Company’s
operating certificate(s); war emergency; or owner’s or manufacturer’s
delay in the delivery of aircraft scheduled for delivery.

I think airplanes are a critical material for an airline to run!

 

[deadstick]

Just posted elsewhere...

Date: June 1, 2009
To: All RAH Flight Crews
From:
Re: New MKE EMB 190 Base

Republic Airways announces a new EMB 190 crew base will open August 1, 2009 in MKE. It is anticipated that this base will fly Midwest trips only and initially will be 1 and 2 day trips.

The effective date of this bid is September 1, 2009 but we expect to open MKE August 1, 2009 when our first EMB 190 goes into service. We anticipate beginning training for the positions in July.

Please keep in mind that the EMB 190 aircraft may require initial, bridge or other training as required. The initial aircraft will be delivered in a 94 seat configuration and therefore Captains will be paid based on the Captain 79-99 seat rate.

Please do not bid this position if you are unable or unwilling to accept an award!

MKE EMB 190 Republic Airline

The company is posting 10 Captain and 10 First Officer EMB 190 positions. Bids will be accepted until 1700 hours on the closing date. If interested, please update your vacancy bid in Flica. To correctly bid and to be considered for this position, please bid for MKE 190 CA or FO in Flica under Vacancy.

Vacancies will be awarded in order of seniority using standing bids on file as of the date bidding is closed. Vacancies caused by filling this primary award will be awarded using the standing bids on file as of the date bidding is closed. Not all vacancies created by this bid award may be filled.

Please use Flica to bid. Pilot Bid closes 1700 hours on June 8, 2009.


Date: 6/1/2009

 

[lookin4better]

I am sure there are plenty of RAH boys jumping for joy about this.

 

[Propsync]

then the next section is the TRUE violation.

Nope. Different fight numbers and 'Connect' on the side. It's a codeshare. If it wasn't, Midwest ALPA should have put a grievance up back in '02 when Skyway was 'subcontracted' to do such destinations as RDU, MSN, and ATW (the 328 was the 9 'replacement). All they did was put a 2 in front of the original flight numbers. That grievance would have saved a lot of trouble now.

 

[deadstick]

Apparently my last post ruffled some feathers. My GLG20 decoder ring could not break the mighty BB crypto email, but it helps when a REAL RAH employee posts the email on ANOTHER website. I just know the mods frown upon linking to outside web boards. Note the first line of said inflammatory post "Just posted elsewhere..."

I am but a citizen-pilot who is deeply concerned with the demise of my chosen profession and a once, great company. If the truth (i.e., your precious company email) hurts, suck it up.

I believe another RAH-er wrote on a related thread "This is the way the industry is going. So you can either lead, follow, or get out of the way." I know it's a myth, but seems appropriate in this instance.

Don't be one of these little creatures with that attitude. It might just lead you (and the rest of the profession) off a cliff. Can I get a "Hoah!"

 

[Fubijaakr]

I am sure there are plenty of RAH boys jumping for joy about this.

Of course they are. That's why I find it a bit disingenuous when RAH guys protest that "we don't like it."

 

[greenbayfan]

Just posted elsewhere...

Date: June 1, 2009
To: All RAH Flight Crews
From:
Re: New MKE EMB 190 Base

Republic Airways announces a new EMB 190 crew base will open August 1, 2009 in MKE. It is anticipated that this base will fly Midwest trips only and initially will be 1 and 2 day trips.

The effective date of this bid is September 1, 2009 but we expect to open MKE August 1, 2009 when our first EMB 190 goes into service. We anticipate beginning training for the positions in July.

Please keep in mind that the EMB 190 aircraft may require initial, bridge or other training as required. The initial aircraft will be delivered in a 94 seat configuration and therefore Captains will be paid based on the Captain 79-99 seat rate.

Please do not bid this position if you are unable or unwilling to accept an award!

MKE EMB 190 Republic Airline

The company is posting 10 Captain and 10 First Officer EMB 190 positions. Bids will be accepted until 1700 hours on the closing date. If interested, please update your vacancy bid in Flica. To correctly bid and to be considered for this position, please bid for MKE 190 CA or FO in Flica under Vacancy.

Vacancies will be awarded in order of seniority using standing bids on file as of the date bidding is closed. Vacancies caused by filling this primary award will be awarded using the standing bids on file as of the date bidding is closed. Not all vacancies created by this bid award may be filled.

Please use Flica to bid. Pilot Bid closes 1700 hours on June 8, 2009.


Date: 6/1/2009

I hope all those snot nose little douchbags at Republic see the other end of downsizing at some point.....