I'm just spitballing but... F9 probably still made money through it all.

I'm told that we rarely offer refunds - just seats on the next flight when one cancels and some voucher or something. And, since it's the holidays, most people aren't too pressed for time and accept. As much as I'm sure JPATFO (that's, JP and the Front Office) aren't overjoyed at what happened, I doubt they're very seriously worried. It's not like EVERY airline at DIA didn't have problems.

When weather rolls in, airlines get a pass for the most part - despite how badly it is handled.

About the only really concerning issue is that ground service remains an issue that needs to be addressed for customer satisifaction reasons. I'm sure that contract is so cheap, there are many people in those meetings who shrug off whatever shortcomings are felt.

 

I guess that's why the law has been laid down to penalize corporations for such irresponsible behavior. That will get their attention and maybe at the end of the accounting day they won't have "still made money" without taking responsibility for disappointing so many.
Capitalism is supposed to take care of poor customer service, but there is a large market out there for air travel and many shop on price alone.

 

25% profit margin proves their costing model works. Bare bones, which works most of the time interrupted by the occasional meltdown, means in the long run F9 makes more money. This isn't a "habit" as our MEC states, this is a strategic plan. I bet this morning Franke told his management staff "good job" because it proves we are in fact running bare bones and printing money. If you plan on making F9 a career, ya better get used to it cuz nothing will change while being a ULCC. All we can do is get a good contract and get properly paid for having to deal with it.

Edit: I should also add we have pretty darn low attrition rate (good job in hiring?? depending on your point of view, I guess) so if you're looking for a quick upgrade it ain't going to happen here. We've already hired all the captains we need for the project growth of 121 airplanes. Doubling in growth after that becomes exponentially more difficult.

 

With all due respect, that number is completely wrong. It is more in the 20-30% range, and when interviewers are asking ridiculous questions (like "how wide is the airspace on the protected side of a hold?") it becomes clear they are more caught up in 'stump the chump' crap than actually hiring good people.

By the way, there is no answer to the above question - there are no fewer than 31 holding templates, all of which have different dimensions. I would be curious to hear from the interviewer what they think the right answer is and why in the world they are asking such a stupid question.

 

I believe that Frontier management is happy to be the 10th best on time airline, and maybe have the second to most DOT complaints. But this meltdown is not acceptable to them. Not that they feel bad for our passengers (obviously) but this costs them money. A single DOT tarmac delay fine will make this a money loser. Nothing will wake up this management team like having to pay a million plus dollar fine, and maybe multiple million dollar fines.

Lately, we have been killing it financially. This will throw a wrench in the money making train. Losing money will lead to change.

 

Interesting. Guess I was completely unprepared for a Frontier interview. Especially how your CP chose to berate me the entire time, accusing me of leaving for United the first chance I got... or he felt he wanted to murder me after a four day.

It's cool. Spirit luckily felt differently.

 

Pilots? union: ?Frontier fell flat on its face? | FOX31 Denver

 

I disagree. Yeah, Frontier will pay fines but it won't be the max. Even if it's a couple million dollar fine and a few million dollar cost for the disruption, they still make more money the rest of the quarter running bare bones. Like I said early, they look at things in the long run. These events are acceptable. If it wasn't, our senior managers would have been gone long ago and this wouldn't be a "habit". Franke did this for years at Spirit and now he's doing it again with us since he bought this place. It's his strategy and he's got the proof to back it up. Get used to it my fellow minions.

 

Had the exact same experience. Luckily SW saw it differently and hired me a month later. 6 of 18 got the job. 3 FOs at express jet and 3 part 91 king air guys.
Good for them but the rest who weren't good enough all had thousands of 121 pic time. I don't think they hire the most qualified but rather the ones who really really want to be there and somehow can convince the hiring team and those who can't leave right away. It's an interesting hiring strategy that fits their business model.

 

Congrats!........