Usairways Non Rev Travel

[I.P. Freley]

Zekes....

>>>I don't fly an airplane, I do however work in the corporate office who's job it is to make sure our airline keeps on flying.<<<

Oh, now THIS is rich... Whatever would USAirways do without the magnficence of zekes to keep them flying? Oh, woe the hopeless USAirways without his presence! Funny how you mentioned earlier that you worked for Colgan, now I guess you run the show in Crystal City... And you gloat about how your former coworkers now have to pay up every time they want to go to work! Have you no decency? What did the line workers, from bag throwers to gate agents to maintenance to pilots, do to YOU that you are happy that they have to pay to travel?

And you call ME a dick? You should be ashamed of yourself. I can't even fathom why a former employee of a contract carrier, even one who obviously had a difficult time of it, would be so pleased to see employees of contract carriers be given the shaft so blatantly. You may hate the Colgan family, but wishing ill upon the people you worked with is simply laughable. Or... It WOULD be laughable if it weren't so selfish, rude, ignorant, and childish.

At least I now see why you are NOT ashamed of yourself... You are in HQ. Screwing people is your forte and nothing blows wind up your skirt better than seeing line employees suffer.

Nothing worse than seeing someone who forgot where they came from. At least if I were to end up behind you in line for non-rev travel I'd be secure in the knowledge that I am not laughing at the people behind ME in line.

Oh, and at least I theoretically have the option to jumpseat, which you don't, since as you mentioned... You're not a pilot. You sure do enjoy pooh-poohing pilots, though, and your vendetta against pilots is as obvious as the nose on your face. Typical. Your 20hrs of 172 time probably showed you're not good enough to be a pPROFESSIONAL pilot, so you spend your time insulting them instead.

And speaking of "professional", no matter how badly I feel we are being rooked by mainline, any USAirways or WO pilot is welcome in my jumpseat anytime... Except one, but that's because I saw how he mistreated a flight attendant of ours, and that's another story entirely. That guy can walk if he ever shows his face in my cockpit door.

>>>I spend my entire day picking up your messes; everything from complaints from passengers to grievances from the unions ends up on my desk. To be honest, its gets kinda tiring after a while hearing all the complaints about how the airplane was delayed for 2 hours because a pilot was to hungover to show up for his shift on-time or because the plane had to many MEL's to keep flying safely.<<<

Errrrr... Further proof of what a nonsensical boob you are. Thankfully there are cooler heads that operate under the USAirways banner. Bluestreak is a shining example... He sees this situation sucks, and calls them as he sees them.

The best you can do is slander the work groups that actually move the tin. Thanks for showing your true colors. You truly are a pathetic example of the human species.

Enjoy your desk job. I'm just glad that none of us has to worry that a failed pilot-wannabe could possibly have been in the little room in the front of an airliner.

Now... Be gone with you. Your half-dozen posts worth of pure flamebait have become tiresome.

 

[FurloughedAgain]

LearLove,

Lear said, "lost about 27 grand/year due to down grade - now facing job loss) and I WOULDN'T wish it on anyone. "

I feel your pain brother. I lost about 90 grand per year due to furlough and DID lose my job.

Now I hear that they want to revise furloughee travel privileges as well.

ol' Dave's just not happy unless he's bending somebody over.

 

[BollaBolla]

The next step is that all the contractors going to have to wear a large identifying symbol on the upper right side of our shirts. Symbols will be given out accordingly depending on your airline...

Mesa - a pitchfork simular to the one satan is depicted carrying
Colgan - a wrench in honor of your numerous mechanicals
CHQ - You will have to wear the Republic Airways Symbol even more than you already do...

Airways is still taking suggestions for the Shuttle America and Trans-States patches... Some suggestions have been:

Shuttle America: A tail stand for your saabs, a picture of austin-powers mini-me, or a picture of mini mr. biggelsworth (also from austin powers)

Trans-States: water-skiis... (just seemd a bit cliche)

People refusing to wear their symbol will be punished accordingly.

Wait... this is starting to sound familiar... Isnt this how Hitler started??

 

[328dude]

As a wholly owned "dick" as some of you have mentioned, I don't agree with this at all.

I won't even touch the contract carrier or WO'd debate. I think it's pointless. I could give a rats ass who you work for. If you work for mesa? fine, i treat you no diffirently then say a Southwest pilot. Need a ride? Have a seat and try to make yourself confortable. I'll get you home or to work ASAP.

Charging contract carriers a fee is wrong and does nothing more then jeoperdize the commutibility of everyone that commuetes. Do i have this opinion because I use MESA to get to work and home? Nope, I wouldn't have agreed with it in June of this year. We are all struggling no matter who you work for.

Most of this bitch session is by people that do not commute. People that do commute have a real problem here. I'm not going to pickup up 5 days of opentime just to be able to commute and spend less time with my family.

Go back to the old way and we can all just do our jobs and try to make a living.

Just my .3 cents.

 

[zekes]

Zekes....

Enjoy your desk job. I'm just glad that none of us has to worry that a failed pilot-wannabe could possibly have been in the little room in the front of an airliner.

Some of us chose not to be a pilot for a reason IP Freely. Lets list the reasons in descending order:
#1. Since 2001 over 10,000 pilots have been furloughed.
#2. If you do manage to get a job, you'll be old and gray by the time you actually get to fly a real airplane (something other than a commuter).
#3. You are always away from your family.
#4. The pay sucks until you get in the big leagues.
#5. Where is the job security?

I may work a desk job, however I gaurentee I am making more money than you are right now, and I am home every night with my family. I wouldn't trade that for anything, and my job is more secure than yours will ever be. As far as flying an airplane goes, its fun as $hit, which is why everyone wants to get in the industry. Regardless, flying a private plane is more than enough satisfaction for me right now, and I get the same flying benefits that you do (with the exception of the contract carriers).

With all that said, if I did offend any contract carriers with my previous posts, then please accept my apology (except you IP Freely, your a piece of $hit). I'm done with this topic anyways.

 

[pipejockey]

So can anyone bottom line this for me....did an AA or CO or Eagle pilot, for instance, have to pay this segment fee to commute to and from work on U in the past? And if not, WILL they have to now? I mean if U is going to charge the fee for their contract carrier pilots I imagine it would be for all offliners right?

 

[I.P. Freley]

>>>With all that said, if I did offend any contract carriers with my previous posts, then please accept my apology (except you IP Freely, your a piece of $hit). I'm done with this topic anyways.<<<

Boy oh boy, just LOOK at this pu$$y go running from the kitchen with his tail between his legs (as in... If you can't stand the heat, stay out.... Well, you know). He won't admit it out loud, but he knows he got in wayyyyy over his head.

You come in here with both barrels blazing, blaspheme the name of the Colgan company, laugh that all contract carriers are subjected to this highly inappropriate charge for travel... Enjoying, strangely, that all your former coworkers are being screwed (they must have teased a half-wit like you so mercilessly that you had no choice but to quit, huh?)... And now that someone has called you out on the BS that has spewed, ehhh, "freley" from your mouth... And no, I am not taking sole credit for it, I have just been the most vocal in pointing out the stream of human offal that has flowed from your posts... NOW you are apologizing?

Could it be, like the Grinch, you have finally found a heart?

Nope. You just can't stand the heat.

You're a wimp, pure and simple. Your "reasoning" about why you "chose" not to be a professional pilot is weak as a campaign promise, and you just couldn't stop yourself from continuing to call smaller airliners not "real", could ya? Too bad this is backfiring on you so badly, since the true skill in aviation has nothing to do with highly automated airplanes, it's the 172's and other small airplanes that are more challenging. Too bad you aren't good enough to do more than take a few lessons in same...

I would LOVE to be a fly in the cockpit during a lesson with zeke... Let's just imagine what the poor instructor must put up with:

"I am a bada$$ since I work for Airways in ticket sales. I rule the world. This isn't even a REAL airplane! I ROCK!! Man, are you ever stupid for wanting to be a pro pilot, I get to be home with my family every night! I have great job security because I work for USAirways (insert maniacal laughter here)."

This, more than anything, would drive us right out of aviation. I defy any of the instructors amongst us to imagine any scenario even close to the above without succumbing to crippling headaches.

So... Since he's bowed out of this thread, I guess I will too. Go ahead, zekes, prove me wrong. I'm guessing you are more like the classic criminal, you will always revisit the scene of the crime. The "crime", in this case, is the exposing of your small intellect.

Care to add more, stupid?

I'm waiting.

 

[zekes]

I think we have all lost touch of the real point here, the point being that the contract carriers don't want to pay $20 RT to non-rev. Regardless, I believe United & Northwest pay very similar fees to non-rev, so Us Airways isn't the only airline who will be charging. One question for you though... how come nobody has seen this in writing in an official press release? A memo is not an official press release, but press releases are available on the hub at http://thehub.usairways.com. I took a walk into the employee travel office today, and nobody could verify this for certain. The only thing they did verify was that it was a rumor, but has not been made official. If it does become official, it will suck, but I'm sure you will all survive. Jumpseat whenever possible, pay the $20 if you must, but this thread isn't gonna do anything to help. None of the board of directors read this silly website anyways, so the only way you could influence thier decisions is by having your managers fight for your rights. Yeah, that honostly won't do much either, so I guess you'll be stuck with it.

Oh & IP Freely I'm not bowing out of our pissing match, but our constructive criticizm of each other, as fun as it may be, is not helping this thread. Whenever your ego catches up with reality, let me know. Your a very typical pilot, you think your the biggest hot $hit ever, but we all know the real reason is that your Johnson is the size of a Q-tip so you need to look down on others to make yourself look all high and mighty. I'm gonna be a man, and make this my last post directly related to you, WO vs CC bashing, or settling any scores. It doesn't do much good. If you wanna add something, lets make it constructive and directly related to the topic.

 

[I.P. Freley]

In other words... You want me to do what you haven't been able to do as of yet, which is elevate this above a pissing match?

You would be wise to go back to the beginning of the thread, watch how your own ridiculous zeal in dumping on contract carriers led directly to your being attacked by myself and a dozen others on here.

Noone here lost touch with the point, and noone here lost touch with the fact that, as I have already said, you've come right out of the gates attacking contract carriers. I responded to your inane attacks and then you attacked ME. Now you are trying to be "the reasonable one".

You are transparent as Saran Wrap.

"Typical pilot"? I have an ego problem? I never claimed to be running the show at Airways... And as a specialist in "airline sales" I seriously doubt you do, either. You may think I have an ego, but I've never claimed to be better than anyone. Well, better than YOU certainly, but noone else. That is not a great accomplishment from what I've read of your posts.

Since you have directly contributed to making THIS the topic, I find it absolutely hilarious that you are trying to change it back to the topic at the top of the thread. I am pleased to see you exposing yourself again, referring to the "typical pilot" and insulting over 90% of the people who've posted on this thread (and every other thread on flightinfo.com). Nice work. Do you hire yourself out for parties?

You DO continue to amuse, though, so thank you for 36 hours of snicker-worthy posts.

 

[aroundtheblock]

Let me see if I get this right. For those of you who work for a commuter (Mesa, Chitaqua, Skywest, etc...) who affiliates with more than 1 major do you actually think you should get a free ride on all of them? You senority changes so you hop from flying U passengers to flying UA passengers. I was a commuter pilot for 5 years and I feel your pain when it comes to salaries and how this policy change will hurt, but don't lose sight of the big picture.... doing what you can to get out of those crappy carriers and getting on with a major. I know almost no one legitimate is hiring right now, but it won't always be this way.

 

[I.P. Freley]

Correct me if I'm wrong...

But pilots who work for companies that have more than one code share are restricted to the non-rev bennies for the company that they individually fly the code-share with. I don't know this for a fact, but I have friends with TransStates and CHQ, for instance, who only fly the planes and code shares with American and USAirways, respectively... They wear those uniforms and don't cross over to the other code-shares. As I understand it, they are restricted to unlimited non-rev on those specific systems that they individually fly.

Now... How about the pilots that work for single-code companies? Never mind the pilots, how about EVERYONE who works for these companies? You know that this is going to lead to a staggering outflow of personnel at all levels. I can only imagine the percentage of FA's we're going to suffer losing in the next couple of weeks. I know of four for CERTAIN, and I'm sure that for every one I know of there's another three or more who I haven't spoken to personally. We stand to lose a third of our FA's in the space of the next three weeks... And probably a dispatcher or two, some people in HQ who don't live there, MX personnel, you name it.

This loss of good people will inevitably hurt our performance (and this applies to every contract carrier, not just mine). Now... This helps Airways HOW? Why couldn't they make this new charge apply to spouses/chillun/partners/etc. and not the employees themselves? Surely they know a large number of people commute.

 

[cws]

Hey Zekes,

With your job, I assume you have the ability to get info on how much money this could make for Airways. As a contract carrier pilot who commutes on another contract carrier I don't see how this charge will make a major difference to the bottom line at the end of each quarter. Can you find out and post it here.

Secondly, do you really think this is a good way to generate income for your airline on the backs of those who have little to give and who say, "Welcome aboard U.S. Airways Express Flight ####".

 

[Capn Lucky]

I have no problem paying a fee if I am traveling for fun or for my family. I just wish they'd keep a program in place for commuters. As we have heard, it sounds like the new program will only create alot of work for the gate agents, and they need to serve the paying customers. At best, this program would be revenue neutral or even a loss because of the heavy lifting involved. I don't want to see an ill conceived program cause more problems for USAirways or its employees at the gate.

 

[aroundtheblock]

Just another thought.... An affiliated carrier is just that, someone who is not part of the company but is affiliated with them. Where should US Airways draw the line with free travel? Should the catering company who provides the onboard snacks get free travel? the FBO fueler who comes out to fuel the airplane? The printing company who prints the tickets? I'm not trying to piss you affiliates off but there is a difference, whether you like it or not, between mainline/WO and affiliates.

 

[zekes]

Hey Zekes,

With your job, I assume you have the ability to get info on how much money this could make for Airways. As a contract carrier pilot who commutes on another contract carrier I don't see how this charge will make a major difference to the bottom line at the end of each quarter. Can you find out and post it here.

Secondly, do you really think this is a good way to generate income for your airline on the backs of those who have little to give and who say, "Welcome aboard U.S. Airways Express Flight ####".

Well this wasn't my call, nor did I even know about it until you guys starting talking about it on this post. After doing some research with the people in finance (these guys are as interesting to talk to as watching paint dry), its not a matter of revenue generating. It is on the other hand a matter of cost cutting because active employees are excempt from paying certain taxes by the IRS. "Internal Revenue Code Section 132 provides an exclusion from taxing flight privileges for active employees and their qualifying family members." What I think U is trying to do is not consider employees of the affiliates an active employee of their company, thus paying the service charge will account for the taxes that they have been absorbing, thus lowering costs. If they save a million dollars a quarter (just using this as an example cuz I have no idea how much they would actually save), then thats a cost savings of 4 million dollars per year. Last I checked we were losing $1 million per day, the corporate officers are trying to identify any cost savings that they might have overlooked during our trip through bankrupcy. If they fail to be profitable in the near future, it is going to end up in more furloughs, layoffs, and paycuts. Nobody wants more of them. So I don't think anybody knows for sure how much it will save, but it will help in cutting our costs.