2015 Oklahoma Commercial Aviation Discussion

[catch22]

Mainline routings will be:

ORD-OKC(turn)-IAH
DEN-OKC(RON)-DEN
DEN-OKC(RON)-ORD

[no1cub17]

Wow - how long has it been since OKC-ORD had mainline from either UA or AA? Last I remember AA ran some F100s from ORD in the early 2000s. Way to go UA - now let's see what AA counters with.

[OKCCKO]

Excellent news with UA bringing mainline back to ORD!

In other news...in case anyone cares or doesn't know by now...Frontier's final day of service to OKC is Thursday, March 5th.

[catch22]

Yes vey surpring update.

EWR and IADS are upgraded, ORD and DEN receive mainline service. Was not expecting this in this schedule update.

[HOT ROD]

nice, mainline to ORD returning - finally!

3 mainliners total for the market.

Also, nice to see all of the UA hubs covered with the return of the temporarily suspended EWR flight. A little surprised SFO is still just one CR7 though.

[dcsooner]

what is mainline?

[bradh]

what is mainline?

Planes that are operated by the airline, not a regional airline

[dcsooner]

thank you

[s00nr1]

Huge UA update effective May:

IAH: 5x E75, 2x ERJ, 1x 319, 1x E70
DEN: 1x 320, 1x E70 1x DH4, 1x ERJ
ORD: 1x 320, 2x CR7
IAD: 1x E75
EWR: 1x E70
LAX: 1x CR7
SFO: 1x CR7

just in time for the outsourcing too.

That is just an astoundingly big upgrade across the board for UA. The E75 to IAD will be a great ride.

[OUman]

Great to see mainline back between OKC and ORD. Also a nice uptick, a total of 21 peak day departures from OKC from UA/UAX.

Just FYI, AA also had MD 80s to/from ORD in the late 90s-early 2000s, at one flight a day. Used to arrive at/depart from gate B2 in the old Concourse B, back when the terminal had the two-concourse layout (with the rotundas at each end).

[catch22]

May 16 is the last day United Airlines agents will be working your flights in OKC. Whether that is loading your bags, checking you in, or boarding your flight at the gate. On May 17, a contract company (G2) paying workers $9 an hour with very few benefits will be displacing Union employees with dedicated years of service, both in customer facing positions as well as baggage loading/ramp position.

Many of these people have upwards of 20 years of dedicated service to the company. Many will elect to retire while some may move on. But a lot will probably end up furloughed and lose their job. Say thanks to them next time you are boarding, or if you seem them stressed out know their life has just been turned upside down and don't be too hard on them. It's hard to put a smile on your face and show up for the job when you've just been informed you will be letting go. Great employees and all of them really do care about the customer even if they don't express it properly at times or seem short/rude.

[bradh]

I will be flying first weekend in May on UA and will definitely do so.

[no1cub17]

Damn that is really sad. When is SMI/J going to take a pay cut himself? I don't fly UA ever, but still extremely sad how he's going to ruin not just one airline, but two.

[AP]

I've pretty much only fly AA these day. I really appreciate the excellent customer service you've personally given me in the past, catch22.

[bradh]

catch what is your role there?

[HOT ROD]

United To Cut 1,150 Jobs At 16 US Airports

I was hoping that OKC would be one of the posts avoided with cuts, particularly with the robust schedule United is putting into OKC for the rest of 2015.

[Plutonic Panda]

Aren't airlines reporting record profits? I thought I read that somewhere.

[Tigerguy]

Aren't airlines reporting record profits? I thought I read that somewhere.

True, but that doesn't necessarily mean that they'll be keen on spending all of those profits immediately. Yes, there will be some investments made in the form of new or refurbished planes, product enhancements, etc., but it might not take much (economically speaking) to make those profits go bye-bye. As much as I'd like them to put it back into the airline by decreasing outsourcing, increasing creature comforts, and the whole nine yards, I recognize they have to be smart with their money in an unpredictable industry.

[catch22]

True, but that doesn't necessarily mean that they'll be keen on spending all of those profits immediately. Yes, there will be some investments made in the form of new or refurbished planes, product enhancements, etc., but it might not take much (economically speaking) to make those profits go bye-bye. As much as I'd like them to put it back into the airline by decreasing outsourcing, increasing creature comforts, and the whole nine yards, I recognize they have to be smart with their money in an unpredictable industry.

The company has stated to us, that the cost difference to keep mainline employees in a station is approximately $1 million per year, per station. Some will cost more some smaller ones will cost less.

Out of us 16 that are being sold out, that would represent around $20 million total per year in cost savings. We just reported a $1.97 BILLION dollar profit.

$20 million is a drop in the bucket. This is pure greed from the top.

[no1cub17]

The company has stated to us, that the cost difference to keep mainline employees in a station is approximately $1 million per year, per station. Some will cost more some smaller ones will cost less.

Out of us 16 that are being sold out, that would represent around $20 million total per year in cost savings. We just reported a $1.97 BILLION dollar profit.

$20 million is a drop in the bucket. This is pure greed from the top.

Wow - those are staggering numbers. That really stinks for all UA employees who've poured years of effort into the company and into serving their passengers. Hopefully SMI/J and the suits running that sinking ship are forced out sooner rather than later.

Sadly it wouldn't shock me at all to see other airlines follow suit. LCC Dougie has proven he all he cares about is fattening his wallet, so I'm sure more cuts are coming to AA.

[Tigerguy]

The company has stated to us, that the cost difference to keep mainline employees in a station is approximately $1 million per year, per station. Some will cost more some smaller ones will cost less.

Out of us 16 that are being sold out, that would represent around $20 million total per year in cost savings. We just reported a $1.97 BILLION dollar profit.

$20 million is a drop in the bucket. This is pure greed from the top.

I'm not necessarily trying to be an apologist for United, but I don't think it's greed so much as it's wanting to prove themselves...however, it happens to be to the shareholders. Whatever moves they make seem to feed into the objective of pleasing the shareholders, instead of good moves that lead to good performance, thus pleasing the shareholders. (Making the investors happy isn't bad, of course, but up to a point...) To that end, this letter: Ralph Nader: Letter To Jeff Smisek, CEO Of United Airlines - Eurasia Review

And still, given how unpredictable things can be, I don't necessarily blame them for seeking to cut costs and increase revenue before the going gets rough again. As I said before, though, I think they're going about it in a way that will make the whole job more difficult in the long run.

[catch22]

I'm sorry but even if we are posting losses, $20 million is such a small number to the overall bottom line.

Where does the outsourcing stop? Our CBA expires next year. They are going to come after the hubs on the next contract. Once they've outsourced all the ramp and customer service, they are going to keep outsourcing. Who's next? Mechanics?

They are tripping over dollars to pick up pennies. Treat us right and give us a reason to trust you and you will have the happiest and most loyal customers ever. They are crapping all over us, they are not treating us with dignity, they are giving us every reason to not trust them. Then they wonder why customer service scores are so poor?
They switch staffing models which routinely leaves the operation understaffed. They then blame us when aircraft sit on the ramp waiting to be parked.

Treat your employees right, give them the tools and power to fix problems, and you'll never have a need for a complaint desk. They are doing the opposite. These $9 an hour contractors DO NOT CARE about the future of the company. They DO NOT CARE if the customer returns.

They will get what they pay for. If they want $9 an hour quality of work, they are getting ready to see 16 more stations of it. Just ask how Denver has worked out this winter. Expect that systemwide.

[CaptDave]

Aren't airlines reporting record profits? I thought I read that somewhere.

Wall Street wants blood from the turnip. Shareholder "value" is more important than anything else.

[Plutonic Panda]

Wall Street wants blood from the turnip. Shareholder "value" is more important than anything else.

It's like the more successful they get, the more greedy they become.

[OUman]

I think the exception at the moment (among the major carriers anyway) is Delta:

Forbes Article - Delta Sharing Profits

Not that DL is immune to cuts/corporate greed but I've noticed in recent years the philosophy among the top brass is a bit different than the others. I'm not being a cheerleader for DL or anything but at least it's trying.

Going back to the "shareholders" argument, Jetblue has become the latest airline to succumb to them. Money trumps everything else these days.

Again, really sorry to hear about yours and all the others jobs at UA catch22, I'm sure another job awaits you out there.