Timbo

Did you guys see this, posted in Hanger Talk, from the article about Middle East carriers and open skies:

"It is not immediately clear why the meeting was put off, but sources tell Flightglobal that the airlines' decision was linked to ongoing US-led airstrikes against extremist group Islamic State (ISIS). The USA is being aided in its military operations by several Middle Eastern nations, including the United Arab Emirates and Qatar, which own the fast-growing Gulf carriers that the three US airlines have voiced concerns about.

Delta, American and United all decline to comment on the meeting when contacted by Flightglobal. A DOT spokesperson refers follow-up questions to Delta, identifying the Atlanta-based carrier as the airline which set up the meeting."

The Gulf carriers - specifically Emirates, Qatar Airways and Etihad - have drawn the increased ire of the US and European airline industry in recent years, as they have rapidly expanded their networks and ordered hundreds of new widebody aircraft. Delta's chief executive Richard Anderson, in particular, has been especially vocal.

"A number of those [Middle Eastern] carriers are not airlines, they're governments," he said at the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) convention in Los Angeles in July, adding that the Middle Eastern carriers have "huge subsidies and huge structural advantages".

Sounds to me that in addition to the Im-Ex Bank/Boeing thing, we aren't going to go after them now, due to their 'support' of eliminating ISIS?

crewdawg52

Well, some us did like them. Nice little trips to pick up 5 hrs for flying 2 hrs or less. Not saying I did them all the time, just now and then. Show at 2120, leave DTW around 1020p, back around 630a. No flight was over 1 hr long (actual flight time). Typical flights, as an example, DTW-FNT, DTW- GRR, DTW- TVC, DTW- IND, DTW-CMH.


And for the FAA, you got rest BEFORE the trip. You're on one continuous duty period. Knowing you have one of those trips, you plan ahead for it.

Just because you dont like then doesn't mean everyone doesn't like them.

Fly4hire

That's not what the NC brought back on the 117 LOA, and why it was taken out. The company wants it as a way to mitigate widespread 30hr layovers. Me thinks if it was limited to < 1hr flights it wouldn't be a big deal, but that's not what the company wants.

dc10guy

As a commuter, that means either buying hotels or having people sleeping in recliners. Some were much longer then 1 hour.
the issue is when the flight gets delayed or you divert.

crewdawg52

Longer than 1 hr, well, maybe at Delta, but not NWA. And, what do you do now if you trip is diverted or delayed............

Buying hotels, how......... You show up for checkin, fly to where you're going, go to the hotel for 3-4 hrs, fly back to base, go home.

Again, it's called planning ahead for your trip.

hockeypilot44

Guys, please watch for straggling non-revs on last flights of the night. We were late to our flight to an outstation last night due to missing a wide open flight to ATL (over 50 seats open) filling up with hk's 10 min prior to departure (next flight was a little late so they moved everyone up). Our flight to the outstation had a mx plane swap so we thought we had a chance (we did), but we didn't get on. We arrived at the gate to find the agent in the jetway and the plane still fueling. I waved in the window to no avail while watching this aircraft fuel for 15 minutes. Plane ended up pushing 27 minutes after we arrived at the gate. I know our company doesn't care about non-revs, but I was disappointed in our employees. I know i was seen by a ground personnel because he waved, then walked up the jetway. I would never expect anyone to delay a flight for a non-rev, but I do expect our agents to put people on when it will not delay the flight at all. Anyhow, spent the night in a hotel with my family for 7 hours to get up and fly to a different airport 100 miles away from where we need to be. Please just be aware at the end of the night. Non-revving is hard enough as is. We don't need our own employees holding us back. It became obvious to me that we definitely do not have the "Southwest culture."

dc10guy

What happens when you get 3 in a row? I believe the last LOA said up to 3 in a row. I did them at NWA and other places. They suck. I can not remember what mSP-rapid city or FSd was blocked at. I did at other places. aTL - Boston. It was not at a regional either. If you are on a wide body , it will not effect you.

gzsg

I was forced to fly them on reserve at NWA. Nothing like what you describe.

Reality. DTW-EWR. Typically delayed and I was lucky to sleep 60 minutes behind the door.

If they were limited to 30 minute flights with 6 hours behind the door contractual, maybe. But that will never happen.

If we had a signup before the contract and those who want CDOs had to cover them 100%, that would work too.

filejw

I fished or played golf all day or would head over to the Casino.....

Timbo

I agree with you 100% but you know the reason, the agents are under intense pressure to 'get the flight out on time' and they will hit the 'send' button on their computer and close the jetway door 5-10 minutes earlier than scheduled departure just so they can show the flight out on time (or in your case, less late). I have been turned away many times when I was trying to catch a jumpseat home, in uniform, as much as 10 minutes prior to push!

"Sorry, flight's closed out." is what they say.

On the last flight of the night out of a hub to an outstation, this is ridiculous and needs to change. Not only are they leaving non-revs behind, they will leave late connecting passengers too. They could easily hold the flight 10 minutes to get the late connections (and non-revs) on, but they want to close that door asap, show the flight out 'on time' and go home.