Originally Posted by
Surprise
Funny you should say that. The DCI carrier at which I work (I don't want to reveal too much, but it's the one whose primary hub is SLC...) used to display the company name proudly on the nose, in like 18 inch letters or something. Now, at the direction of Delta, I believe, the company name has been reduced to a barely visible sticker with the airplane equivalent of 10pt. font. The company branded headrest covers and signage at the rear of the cabin had to go as well. And mentioning "DCI operated by" in the PAs. I guess if the "seamless experience" is what DAL wants, then whatever. They're paying for it. But say what you will about SkyWest (oops, did I say SkyWest?), but I have no problem stating who is operating the flight and taking responsibility for it. Granted, we fly CRJ-200s, which suck, but that notwithstanding, I believe we generally provide a good product.
So yes, I agree, we should be allowed, if not required, to fly under our own colors. But let me reiterate, I want out and prefer to work at the mainline, and wish the outsourcing had never happened in the first place. But that was way before my time.
Good post.
It's a back door way of creating angst about outsourcing. It's absolutely seamless for most people BUT I'd like it to be obvious that you're getting on an outsourced flight. I mean we do this with Alaska, why not every Delta Connection carrier?
In fact, I'll keep scope where it is, believe it or not, if from now on the passengers know they boarded Skywest (just for instance), ASA, Comair, Mesaba and so on and that when they look on the ramp they see a plethora of hodge-podge paint schemes rolling around. Then see what happens.
I don't know if it'd work as well as I wish, but DAL locked itself into contracts with these DCI's and saying you want a 20% reduction in 70+ seaters may be a nonstarter until these contracts sunset. So we're stuck. But in the meantime if we demand paint and logo changes then you create pressure to end outsourcing. Or so I hope, less outsourcing means more hiring.