US AIR ARTICLE from a former pilot

[blzr]

Watching the fall of US Airways

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[/size][/font]Wednesday, January 12, 2005



Regarding the coming of Southwest Airlines to Pittsburgh in May and the fate of US Airways, Bill Steigerwald is right ("Viva la Southwest," Jan. 9).

I had been a Piedmont Airlines pilot for 20 years when USAir bought us out in 1989. I was shocked at this strange new company. The passengers seemed to hate us. I always enjoyed greeting the passengers at flight's end. This practice was discontinued during the first month of the merger. Customer service was practically nonexistent.

We seemed to be operating aircraft for the sake of the management and employees -- kind of like Aeroflot, the Soviet Union's airline, with no consumer orientation whatsoever. The airline really fell apart after USAir bought Pacific Southwest Airlines a short time before the Piedmont purchase. Within a year or so, the PSA routes mostly had been abandoned. I distinctly remember a California publication referring to USAir management as "plodding dullards."

I could spend many hours telling you my account of US Airways' downward spiral, but Pittsburgh residents have witnessed the airline's destruction. The unions were very militant. Pilots were flying about 60 hours a month and getting paid for 85. Mechanics could "arrange" overtime, and many were making $100,000 per year -- and this was in the early 1990s.

The welfare of the airline and its customers was not given one iota of consideration by labor or management. The unions were simply vehicles by which those in management would increase their remuneration. The company was simply the "goose that was laying golden eggs."

After five years of torture, on Jan. 1, 1994, I finally retired at age 53. I'm astonished that the airline did not bankrupt itself many years ago. I'm sure that Southwest will provide comfortable and affordable service to the folks of Pittsburgh. Jerry Ward
Palm Coast, Fla.

 

[SlapShot]

Mr. Ward has hit the nail right on the head with his comment about US Airways lack of customer service.

I was a pilot for Express for 3 years and I could not understand why anyone would fly on that airline. I would watch gate agents mistreat passengers on a daily basis. Even if a passenger had a basic question it seemed as though the gate agent did not have the time to deal with it.

As a non-rev passenger I was always treated like a second-class citizen. I never understood why they would not treat an employee with a little respect. Was it because I was just an employee of an EXPRESS carrier? Even the gate agents that handled our flights did not like each other or us.

I wondered if they remember who was paying their salaries.

 

[English]

Pilots were flying about 60 hours a month and getting paid for 85.

What's wrong with that?

 

[blzr]

Nothing! Great gig if you can find it!

 

[LoveGun]

All the negative press will make a great chapter in the book that will be written about US Airways amazing turn around.

By friday GECAS and U will have a new financing deal. Who should I believe about the fate of U, a retired pilot or the money flowing from GECAS?

 

[BeCareful!]

Who should I believe about the fate of U, a retired pilot or the money flowing from GECAS?

Definately believe whatever you read here on FlightInfo.com! I've heard that real airline analysts actually write stuff on here!

 

[SWA/FO]

The party is over.

 

[KC-10 Driver]

Unfortunately, it hasn't been a party there for a very long time (not a flame -- just the sentiments of a former US Airways pilot).