The point you’re missing is that, with a codeshare as long as either the destination or departure city is not in the US, a codeshare airline can operate the flight. Usually the airline inside of the codeshare that operates cheaper gets the flying.
For example, Ask the United guys how safe they felt their jobs were when AerLingus (Irish airline) was flying from Dulles to Spain because they were cheaper. How would you feel about ALL international flights on Frontier being operated by Volaris? If you don’t have scope, that is possible. Then Frontier management says, well we’re flying less routes (because Volaris is doing all your international routes) so we don’t need all those new airplanes, or even less airplanes than you have now (possible furlough). Then they cancel all the Airbus orders, or since they own Volaris too, they give them the new busses (unless you start taking concessions). Still feel confident in your management to keep your job around? Stop thinking checkers when airline managements are playing 3D Chess. I’m guessing you never worked at a regional
Originally Posted by
dracir1
I get that growth can be codeshared out. But, as I mentioned, that works both ways. There will be tickets that people purchase via Volaris from Guatemala to Seattle that utilize F9 crews/pilots (possibly on the whole trip). I'm not sure as to what the "balance" is in terms of utilization of us vs. them but either way, I'm still being being paid. Why do I care where the customer bought the ticket? I guess the real question is how much do I have to give up in hourly salary to gain the possibility of flying an aircraft (widebody/route) that F9 wants to codeshare out to an airline that already has that aircraft/route? As you mentioned, transocianic codeshare is already happening.
Of course, sooner or later, the adding of pilots to our seniority list will take a hit but that's inevitable whether we codeshare or not - no airline can grow unbounded. I'd much rather get $250 / hr flying my A321 for 20 years than getting $210 / hr for 10 until I can hold an A330 for $290 / hr and fly it for 10 years. The money's the same but my relative seniority on my aircraft is way different which I'm sure will affect my QoL. Also, there's no guarantee that F9 will ever purchase A330s. The one area of protection you mentioned that we don't have is furlough protection...I do think we will need that and I guess it would suck to go back on reserve because of codeshare. So, I DO see this as a potential threat but DON'T think it smart to take less money to ensure we own all the flying we can get our hands on. What if that flying never comes - I'm making less regardless. Routes and gates come and go for every airline.
If anything, this should be ammo for HIGHER rates at this point. If F9 wants to codeshare flying out to EVERY OTHER AIRLINE, then you need to pay me my guarantee at $300 / hr. That is what we should be negotiating - higher rates each time a codeshare is added and the ability to fly positive space with that codeshare. I'll fly my domestic routes w/ a smile on my face and when I take vacation, I will fly Volaris via positive space to one of the many destinations it serves. If the flight originates in the CONUS, I just might be onboard my own uncomfortable metal...
Outside of needing to add furlough protection, what am I missing?