United to buy 30 regional jets from Embraer

[tie1on]

The race to the bottom continues for the 67% era. Thanks a lot.

 

[Shrek]

And we appreciate all you have done for "unity" you are welcome.

 

[Hpilot]

Hopefully in few years these carriers are going to have a very difficult time finding enough pilots to fly these planes if they are operated by airlines that don't want to or can't afford to offer compensation and QOL at a level sufficient to attract and retain people. The whole RJ subcontract model is based on cheap, plentiful labor. Without it it doesn't work.

It's already hitting the commuters. Recently the CEO of one of our regionals complained to our CEO, "what are we going to do about this pilot shortage?" Our CEO's response was, "We recently had 12,000 qualified applicants for 100 postions, we don't have a pilot shortage, you do." Our CEO has said though that he is concerned about the shortage at commuters, because it could eventually hit the majors.

 

[Flopgut]

Let's see, the Pacific

Oh yeah, thank you SO much for bringing the Pacific. As a Continental pilot I was going to have to settle with only seeing: Guam, Saipan, Palau, Manila, Yap, Chuuk, Pohnpei, Kosrae, Kwajelin, Majuro, Hong Kong, Cairns, a bunch of airports in Japan, and of course Hawaii. But yeah, hey, thanks for bringing the Pacific!

Look, you did bring some things to the equation. Maybe 50% or so of the good things we have going forward came from sUAL, maybe less. But you brought at least 90% of the problems. This thread is case in point. You messed up our scope big time.

 

[Yuppyguppy]

Yes welcome to UNITED!!!! Thanks for chiming in. 16 777s and 30ish 767s? Ahem.

 

[densoo]

Let's see, the Pacific, Hubs in 4 of the biggest markets in the US, Fifth Freedom rights thru Japan, real wide bodies (not 75's), owned assets. Let's see, what did you bring........No credit, shiney new guppies, oh yea, and 700 scabs.....You and Flop really need to get a life.

Let's see, hocked right down to the hubcaps, 17% interest rates, 1500 furloughs, last new aircraft flown by Mr Varney himself, flying 25% fewer international block hours than CAL, CEO begging for a merger. Vice new aircraft as far as the eye can see, youngest fleet among all majors, recalling 147 furloughs, rapid upgrade in equip & seats, and a quality product the Board thought would carry over. Love those global widebodies though.

 

[MECH]

I hate to quote Jeff. But since it was in the latest ALPA magazine. It sums up the old United wide bodies pretty well.
"We've had to play a lot of catch-up, particularly on the United side of the house, the old United side of the house. That was a carrier that has been bankrupt and had actually deferred a lot of things just like if you lost your job, you wouldn't remodel your kitchen, right? Well, we've had to do a lot of remodeling."

747- over $5 million a piece just to make them a little bit reliable.
767- complete gut of every airplane
777- the only wide body that did not need a complete make over in the cabin. But the FMC software was only 5 versions behind CAL 777. Mods are required to all the UAL 777 to bring them up todate.
757- Parking 3/4 quarters of the airplanes. Just to old to update.

Just think how much more money could have been in our retro checks if our company did not have to spend over $500 million on your aircraft.

An example of this is. My neighbor just came back from RIO. United had to give every person in First class $900.00 and an apology for the condition of the aircraft (pre mod).

This is what United brought to the merger!! All of this is not the fault of the pilots! But very bad management over the last decade. But Continental pilots should not be punished for all the mistakes that United management made over the last ten years.

 

[Flopgut]

Good post. Thank you MECH.

 

[chppr5]

Let's see, hocked right down to the hubcaps, 17% interest rates, 1500 furloughs, last new aircraft flown by Mr Varney himself, flying 25% fewer international block hours than CAL, CEO begging for a merger. Vice new aircraft as far as the eye can see, youngest fleet among all majors, recalling 147 furloughs, rapid upgrade in equip & seats, and a quality product the Board thought would carry over. Love those global widebodies though.

Lets not forget who came running to who!! CAL was going to be blocked out of the consolidation game. We were less than a week from announcing a merger with AAA when your man came begging us to pick him. Maybe you should look at CAL's 10K the last half of '09 and the first quarter of '10. You had no more credit to draw from, no stop gap financing in place to pay for all those new guppies. In comes UAL with a credit line at market rates to pay for CAL's deliveries. The proof is in your financials. CAL was in better shape than UAL in 2008 but not 2010. CAL also had guys on the street on MAD and to boast about your intl' block hours is a joke.....Counting 30 destinations in Mexico does not equate to an international powerhouse.

 

[Continental]

I hate to quote Jeff. But since it was in the latest ALPA magazine. It sums up the old United wide bodies pretty well.
"We've had to play a lot of catch-up, particularly on the United side of the house, the old United side of the house. That was a carrier that has been bankrupt and had actually deferred a lot of things just like if you lost your job, you wouldn't remodel your kitchen, right? Well, we've had to do a lot of remodeling."

747- over $5 million a piece just to make them a little bit reliable.
767- complete gut of every airplane
777- the only wide body that did not need a complete make over in the cabin. But the FMC software was only 5 versions behind CAL 777. Mods are required to all the UAL 777 to bring them up todate.
757- Parking 3/4 quarters of the airplanes. Just to old to update.

Just think how much more money could have been in our retro checks if our company did not have to spend over $500 million on your aircraft.

An example of this is. My neighbor just came back from RIO. United had to give every person in First class $900.00 and an apology for the condition of the aircraft (pre mod).

This is what United brought to the merger!! All of this is not the fault of the pilots! But very bad management over the last decade. But Continental pilots should not be punished for all the mistakes that United management made over the last ten years.

But that was all done on purpose. They were right sizing maintenance for the merger as well!

 

[chppr5]

I hate to quote Jeff. But since it was in the latest ALPA magazine. It sums up the old United wide bodies pretty well.
"We've had to play a lot of catch-up, particularly on the United side of the house, the old United side of the house. That was a carrier that has been bankrupt and had actually deferred a lot of things just like if you lost your job, you wouldn't remodel your kitchen, right? Well, we've had to do a lot of remodeling."

747- over $5 million a piece just to make them a little bit reliable.
767- complete gut of every airplane
777- the only wide body that did not need a complete make over in the cabin. But the FMC software was only 5 versions behind CAL 777. Mods are required to all the UAL 777 to bring them up todate.
757- Parking 3/4 quarters of the airplanes. Just to old to update.

Just think how much more money could have been in our retro checks if our company did not have to spend over $500 million on your aircraft.

An example of this is. My neighbor just came back from RIO. United had to give every person in First class $900.00 and an apology for the condition of the aircraft (pre mod).

This is what United brought to the merger!! All of this is not the fault of the pilots! But very bad management over the last decade. But Continental pilots should not be punished for all the mistakes that United management made over the last ten years.

Yea because flying older/owned aircraft doesn't work.....just ask DAL. I guess we'll see whose business model works better, the CAL's way of leased new aircraft with no flexibility or an older fleet of owned aircraft like DAL.

 

[Flopgut]

and to boast about your intl' block hours is a joke.....Counting 30 destinations in Mexico does not equate to an international powerhouse.

Well, since they are in fact not 30 destinations in Mexico, I guess they are indeed not a joke.

We were run by a different guy until right before the merger. He saw something he didn't like and would not go thru with the merger. Then came jeff. We sCAL pilots know now what the first guy saw: You are a colossally screwed up airline. And, as MECH pointed out, even jeff understands now how messed up sUAL is and pointed it out in the ALPA magazine.

 

[chppr5]

Well, since they are in fact not 30 destinations in Mexico, I guess they are indeed not a joke.

We were run by a different guy until right before the merger. He saw something he didn't like and would not go thru with the merger. Then came jeff. We sCAL pilots know now what the first guy saw: You are a colossally screwed up airline. And, as MECH pointed out, even jeff understands now how messed up sUAL is and pointed it out in the ALPA magazine.

You're right, 28 destinations in Mexico. Maybe you should familiarize yourself with our route map.

 

[densoo]

We were run by a different guy until right before the merger. He saw something he didn't like and would not go thru with the merger. Then came jeff. We sCAL pilots know now what the first guy saw: You are a colossally screwed up airline. And, as MECH pointed out, even jeff understands now how messed up sUAL is and pointed it out in the ALPA magazine.

It is clear that Jeff was brought in specifically to do what the previous guy would not do--and was paid a lot for it. The term "hired gun" is entirely appropriate. Sooner or later they will announce Mission Accomplished, give Jeff his millions, and bring someone else in to clean up the mess or guide us through bankruptcy, depending on how bad it gets.

 

[Flopgut]

You're right, 28 destinations in Mexico. Maybe you should familiarize yourself with our route map.

This is coming from a guy who is claiming that United brought the Pacific to Continental?! Pretty sure you should familiarize yourself with a regular ole globe. We've got more to do with the Pacific than United EVER did. I've seen your route map; What do you see there that is so impressive?! Additionally, if the scope of your operation is so beyond Continental, how was it that our operating certificate made yours superfluous? Think about that.

It is clear that Jeff was brought in specifically to do what the previous guy would not do--and was paid a lot for it. The term "hired gun" is entirely appropriate. Sooner or later they will announce Mission Accomplished, give Jeff his millions, and bring someone else in to clean up the mess or guide us through bankruptcy, depending on how bad it gets.

I think it will be bk. Hope not, but I don't have too high hopes. These sUAL guys are clueless.