I do have to admit that what we are doing now for TOE is much nicer. I go to CDG on Wednesday. We'll have a LCA and a seeing eye dog FO from ATL going with us for the first time using the Delta procedures. Smart IMHO.

The NWA way was A (as in one) class and a slap on the butt for my first time over to AMS. We did have the nicer "cookbook" in the QRM, but the Capt hadn't been to AMS since his DC-10 FO days and I'd never been.

Like I said, I like this better.

Ferd

 

Just saying if we can do the biggest change in operational history by bulliten why would it not be good enough for a tiny little European operation????? Been all over Europe in the military and needed no extra training. Get over it. What do we got a bunch of babies flying the 319???? I don't think so.

 

Agree. Add to that that, at least in Asia, United is still a basketcase. We are no longer flying to Saigon because United is still giving away seats on a half empty whale while we were using a Europe modified (fewer seats and winglets for the long flight) 757. As far as I know, United's smallest airplane out there is still a 777, no matter what the market. So maybe it's empty seats that makes ya the biggest?

Ferd

 

Actually, "We are what we are."

As a note from a from a former southie. I just experienced my northie immersion DH'ing on a 320 from LAX to DTW, layover, and flying back to LAX with several northie DH crews.

Overall, great guys who were honestly inquisitive about the system and how to move forward. I was impressed with the professionalism and the many similar ways that we do our flying business.

I did note the cultural differences and I, now, understand the push back from the former NWA guys.

All in all, I get it. I also gathered that most of the FNWA guys get it, which was encouraging. There were a few bitter pills. We have them too.

Bottom line: my next door neighbor here in SoCal is a UA 777 CA. I asked him today what his take was on the proposed CAL merger. He said, "We just want to do it like you DAL and NWA guys did it. You set the mark."

It was painful, but we did. Here's a toast to us, to the UAL guys, to the CAL guys, and to whomever decides to pursue a job in this industry.

Cheers all,
Buzz

 

Ferd,
Could you expand on the basketcase remark and quantify that with some facts other than the smallest plane they have out there is the 777. Just looking for some meat here and hope you are on track. UAL w CAL is going to surpass us by a respectable amount in the Pacific. Not good.

 

The traditional "yardstick" has been total revenue passenger miles flown per year. Don't know if this is still the accepted standard, whether it includes partially-owned feeders, subsidiaries, etc.

 

Hey Ferd I'll need a "seeing eye" FO for the first asian trip I get, you up for the job?! In Narita I've got to go to the spiral staircase for dinner. That was my favorite place to have dinner. I'm assuming it's the same place I used to go a "few" years ago. It was called "Cafe Bon" then. It was down the hill past the shinto temple.

Denny

 

Oh I agree!! I have no idea what that means for Guam, AirMic + United will be tough.

I have no real statistics, it just seems farmer logic that they were bleeding more cash than us with nothing but big widebodies in NRT. We were flying A320s (then 757s after the SARs recovery) on the "thin routes" going south.

I really think it would be interesting to see load factors and yield out there the last decade. Like I said, no data but I think we did it the smart way while we were holding on during bankruptcy.

Any new rumors from the NRT breakfast club........I haven't been out there for a few months (going back out later in May).

Ferd

PS for the fDals, the petri dish of all good rumors are at breakfast in NRT

 

Yup, that's the place.......your good, few people actually know the real name of the joint

I'll be all over that seeing eye FO job my captain!

Ferd

 

Your right on track it is in the same location. Just get started down the hill there and you can't stop till you get there. Hope to see ya there.