Signature in BOS

[Limeyflyer]

I get to spend 6 hours tommorrow in the hood at DET. Can't wait. I am packing my vest and not leaving the aircraft out of sight. If I do it will be up on cinder blocks.

 

[Flying Illini]

Well, I gotta chime in.
We fly to DET ALOT. At least 4-6 times a week, average. So if I don't end up spending some time in DET once or twice a week, I've probably been fired The folks there do a pretty good job and they are pretty friendly and accomodating. To show you how much we go there, I know their names and they know most of our pilots names. Overall, a friendly and hardworking group. As soon as you leave the airport though....

They have been doing some work on the former airline terminal up there, don't know why but they are putting up permanent steel awnings over the pax drop off area. Could airline service be resuming there? Or are they just trying to make it look more attractive to prospective airlines? Don't know. (that place needs alot more work than awnings!)

I have heard that the airport won't give Signature a long term lease on the building they are in and that is why Sig won't invest any money into the place.

I was in BOS for the first time on Sunday. The line guy (looked like a manager or something, he was dressed pretty nice) met us with the van and brought out some newspapers and ice for us (actually met us at the airplane with that stuff b/c we asked for a QT). He did his job very well. Now, the ladies behind the counter were about as unpleasant as people who work at the DMV. I was ignored and then treated very poorly once my presence was acknowledged. Man, you would think that when you buy 450 gal. of Jet-A they would at least smile! Our QT never happened since the pax took a while to show so we had the pleasure of hanging out there and after paying, they never said a word, even when we said "thankyou" as we walked out the door.

Oh yeah, and the security guy...what a joke. About as good as the security that works Sig. at MDW.

Pet peeve: A Customer Service Rep (person behind the counter) who is rude. YOUR JOB IS TO BE FRIENDLY AND DO WHATEVER NEEDS TO BE DONE. IF YOU DON'T LIKE SMILING AND PUTTING ON A HAPPY FACE FOR WORK, GET ANOTHER JOB!!!! NOBODY IS FORCING YOU TO STAY!!

 

[aspire]

A smile is a sign of weakness up North. Next time give them the bird, prononce "car" "caaa" and you might get somewhere!

 

[Vortilon]

I personally like the new Signature setup in BOS better than the old deal....you used to have remote parking and van shuttle to the airplane, now you just park in front of the FBO like any other airport.

Gotta love Signature for the popcorn, good coffee, & internet....

Never been to DET though...sounds scary!

 

[Limeyflyer]

Just don't go off the DET airport property

 

[Lear70]

There is definitely one up-side to DET... if you're there on a non-stormy Saturday night and the roads are clear, the local kids street race on the road that runs right by the perimeter fence across from the old terminal. Lots of fun, and relatively safe (safety in numbers kind of thing), until the cops show up.

I live in Nashville and didn't know the service at Signature had improved so much,,, will have to stop by and see who's running it now. Overall, BOS has always sucked, and I keep trying to figure out why Signature keeps winning that FBO of the year award every single year! Some SERIOUS palm greasing going on over there!

 

[Hawker rider]

Sicknature suck$$ a bi one, mostly to whatever one you go!


True story when i was a new co-pilot on one of my first flights:

We overnight in DET, at Signature and the next day we arrive at the FBO and there are a lot of cops everywhere, turned out they found a girls head in the dumpster.... kind of makes you think huh..

From then on th boss lets us repo the jet over to yip or somewhere else if the trip terminates there. We always seem to get the crew car overnight in DET though, so it can't be TOO bad.

 

[Limeyflyer]

That sounds about right

 

[Flying Illini]

Just don't go off the DET airport property

What are you talking about??!! Leaving the airport is the best part! If you want to know who I am just look for the silver Focus with two white guys inside with the windows rolled down and the seats layed back playing Big Pimpin' on the stereo as loud as it will go. Big Pimpin' indeed! It's a bit of a drive but Troy has a pretty nice mall...good way to spend the day if ya got nothing else to do. If you go North from the airport there is a Fuddruckers and past that an indoor go-carting place...just be sure to bring some different clothes before you do that!

 

[Alchemy]

I can't speak for my counterparts in the north, but as a signature ramper I can tell you we go out of our way to give you guys the best service we possibly can. Management really drills us on customer service concepts and we always try to accomodate whatever requests you and your passengers make to the maximum extent possible.

I work the line at the AUS location and think most people that come through are satisfied with the experience. We've got experienced guys working the line and cheerful young women working the counter (who are actually enthusiastic about aviation). I enjoy my job at signature and I hope it shows through to our customers.

Some things that sucks about signature are the jacked up fuel prices and the stupid handling fees. These are corporate policies and beyond the control of the employees. The girls at the counter take an inordinate amount of crap from people complaining about the bills when there's really nothing we can do about it. Also, (at least at AUS) no one can drive on the ramp without prior approval from management. This pisses a lot of people off, but it's a necessary security measure and all you have to do is call ahead and ask for approval.

I hope to get job behind a yoke asap, but in the mean time I'm enjoying my days as a line service tech. See you on the line....

 

[falcondriver]

The first time I went to DET, the line guys told me to stay on the airport property. My captain told me, lets go get something to eat,"Friday Night", those line guys are just trying to scare you. That was the scariest car ride ever. I've never seen people look at me like that.
The line guys were right.
FD

 

[bigD]

I work the line at the AUS location and think most people that come through are satisfied with the experience. We've got experienced guys working the line and cheerful young women working the counter (who are actually enthusiastic about aviation). I enjoy my job at signature and I hope it shows through to our customers.

For me personally, I have no problem with the employees of Signature (granted I haven't been to the ones up North) - I just hate the policies. I realize that it's not the fault of the rampers or desk people, and I make sure I don't take my frustrations out on them. Part of the issue is that I'm still flying small planes, and I'm perhaps more conscious of handling fees, etc...than the Gulfstream pulling in behind me. In the case of AUS, I can always use Trajen, who at least right now, charges no fees for guys like me, yet I still receive the same services that Signature provides.

 

[Alchemy]

All the "handling" charges at Signature AUS are waived with a minimu fuel purchase.....7 gallons for singles and 20 gallons for twins. Slightly more for turboprops and jets. Granted, fuel is a few dimes cheaper per gallon at Trajen. Can't blame you for using Trajen, it's a nice FBO too. The old Austin Aero terminal building which they took over is pretty nice......

 

[bigD]

All the "handling" charges at Signature AUS are waived with a minimu fuel purchase.....7 gallons for singles and 20 gallons for twins.

I often fly out of GTU, and commonly stop by AUS to pick up passengers, so unfortunately I don't go through 20 gallons of fuel by the time I get there!

Both Trajen and Signature have very nice facilities, though. I just give the nod to Trajen because of the ramp fee.