Completely wrong! The hotel did not want our business now they are established and have plenty of business from full rate customers. We should have a couple of new hotels in DSM in the near future depending on the length of stay you will be downtown or near the airport.

 

Maybe that captain that wound up drunk and naked in a random family’s hotel room had something to do with it. Nah, couldn’t be.

 

Lol oh man. I was waiting for that response!

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Or maybe API is complete disaster. Are we the only airline that changes hotels so damn frequently? The sh!t has to stop!

 

We do seem to be constantly making the same changes as the Spirit flight attendants in BOS

 

Is it the company or API to blame?
After a year and a half here I’m 100% fed up with the sh!tbox places they put us! We are business professionals and deserve to be treated as such, not just told we are the greatest blah blah blah all the time. I complain on the crew care form at least once if not more per week, and also leave a rare compliment when deserved.
I was an AWACer a few years ago and a Doubletree was about average, here some non branded dumpster in an industrial area with no food options is closer to average. Seems the hotel committee has zero say or they think this is a normal standard because “it used to be worse”.... At least the flight attendants have a microwave though. I also carry most of my own food but would much rather be in an area where I could actually enjoy my life on the road a tiny bit instead any day.

 

YES! Agree 1000%

 

As a fellow AWACer I agree with this statement 110%. The criteria for where they put us is pitiful. I can think of more hotels WITHOUT places to eat than with WITH them. They want us in hotels that accept flight crew yet at most of our own locations we are the only airline there Because everyone else stays up the road with things to do. Why not put us there then since they seem to have vans and accept crews. It was absolutely fantastic when I went though upgrade and was out at the Holiday Inn in Eagen. Having to eat out of a gas station everyday for 2 weeks really gets to you after a while. I got really tired of the nickel and diming fast and only staying at locations that appeal to the FAs because they are as close as possible to the airport And have a fridge. There needs to be contractual provisions that specify that there are at least 3-4 options for food/entertainment within reasonable walking distance. And a gas station and cafeteria like AVL don’t count. Put us up the road on the otherside of the interstate by the mall. That’s what AWAC had. Don’t make have to expense a taxi every time i want to go get a burger and fries.

 

Disagree and Agree...

The Sheratons, Alofts, Marriotts, Courtyards, Four Points, Indigos and Doubletrees we stay at are not “non branded dumpsters.” Most pilots would be happy to have their families stay there. They’re generally clean, comfortable, and well reviewed on trip advisor. There are a few exceptions... mostly of the LaQuinta, Hampton Inn or Country Inn and Suites variety that are unacceptable and must go..Usually they have that “needs a deep clean” feel or the gym is garbage. Maybe it’s different on the 200 but the 900 id put our average hotel at a Doubletree as well...

Agree with you 100% however need to be put in better locations for our overnights. These industrial or business park areas with no shuttle service because the hotel has an overpriced restaurant or a Waffle House across the street is 100% unacceptable. We either need to reduce the threshold for a downtown overnight to something more industry standard like 16 hours (20 hours is far below industry standard) or have language in our contract that assures us a hotel within walking distance of several (healthy; non fast food) restaurants. If every hotel could be like our hotel in Jacksonville the pilots would be much happier.

And do keep the crew care reports coming in! We successfully changed the buffalo hotel and the Des Moines hotel (changed the new one not the old one), and it looks like for the latter it was a positive change. Unfortunately our flight attendants seem to have a louder mouth than we do, so we need to speak up.

Additionally, please exercise your right for transportation to a suitable eating facility is one is not available at the hotel. If the hotel will not take you, expense a cab or Uber to the company. I’ve done this before and received zero questions.

 

Stayed at the Country Inn and Suites in Omaha a few days ago. It’s in an industrial park area as well. The hotel is nice, but the only thing nearby is a gentleman’s club, a subway, and a gas station. But you must walk approximately 1/2 mile along a very busy road with no sidewalks. To me that doesn’t seem suitable to only have one food option and unsafe walking conditions. I asked for the van driver to take me to the Old Market Square area. And I was told they needed to wait for a new driver to come in, and that it might be a while. WTF, do they not research these hotels before putting us in them? I did the hotel issues form, and there response was i was promised the shuttle during a period that it was unavailable. There were no airport pickups, so apparently there’s a gap between shuttle drivers. How is any of this acceptable? To me it’s a hassle to even ask for a ride, and more of a hassle to expense a taxi. The Aloft in JAX isn’t one of the nicest hotels, but it’s in a great area. I think we should have 3-4 food options in a safe area near all hotels we stay at. Additionally, I understand how it might be frustrating for those on short overnights. There needs to be separate criteria for over nights near 10 hours