fireman0174

It was to be expected, but this is an example of why mergers are always tougher than what the deal-makers say it will be.

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Computer Glitch Forces US Airways Delays
Sunday March 4, 5:27 pm ET
Glitch With Automated Kiosks Forcing US Airways Passengers to Wait for Ticket Agents

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) -- A problem with a computerized reservation system caused delays for US Airways passengers Sunday at the airline's largest hub, airline officials said.

Airline passengers at Charlotte-Douglas International Airport found themselves waiting in airport terminals for up to an hour and a half to check in when US Airways' automated kiosks did not work, said Phil Gee, spokesman for the Tempe, Ariz.-based US Airways Group Inc.

Delays also occurred at airports in Philadelphia and Boston. The former America West ticket kiosks did not malfunction, Gee said.

The Charlotte Observer reported that thousands of US Airways passengers suffered through long delays Sunday at Charlotte-Douglas airport and others. Some passengers said they had not been able to speak to a ticket agent after waiting more than two hours, the newspaper reported.

The lines, which still existed through Sunday morning, happened because passengers were forced to wait for ticket counter agents to issue their boarding passes, the airline said.

"We are aware of some folks missing their flights because the lines are long. No flights are being delayed or canceled," Gee said. "We are waiving the rebooking fee."

Early Sunday, the airline was trying to combine the reservation systems of US Airways and America West when the computer problem happened. The two airlines merged in 2005.

RedeyeAV8r

Deja-vous of Aug 1989 when the merge between USair and Piedmont took place. The employess in Charlotte knew their careers were in trouble way back then. Looks like Parker screwed the pooch

HPilot

Yep, it's going downhill. The glitch is the top of the iceberg. The technical aspects aren't as serious as the cultural ones. We're being [B]ass[B]imulated by the East culture. Every FO here I've talked to in the past couple days is taking steps to be gone in the next 1-2 years. The targets seem to be Southwest, Fed Ex, Alaska, and Continental.

fr8tmastr

East culture??
If I misunderstood your post please forgive me.
I am always reading how great Doug is, how the west was on fire to take over the world and the East was 10 mins. from liquidation. So now the West is implementing the West res system with the West management running the show. Yet somehow this is the East's fault?

Dont get me wrong there are volumes of problems with the East middle management, but this latest problem is certainly not one of them.

HPilot

I wasn't trying to imply the res problems are the East's fault. Just that these aren't the major problems at the airline. Our two cultures are very different and the fact that the West is getting bent over doesn't help. The East has gotten: 1)DOH for non-revving 2)The 190s 3)Our sim. instructors are going to be replaced by East guys 3)Another 140 recalls on the East side. The West has gotten 1)Coca Cola 2) Cactus call sign 3)Career stagnation. Wa Hooooo. Why should we expect anything less than a total screw job on the integration. Oh and we don't think Doug is great anymore. The Delta fiasco showed he's more interested in short term profit(stock options) than building a better airline. A year ago I would have defended him(gullible), not anymore.

Jettubby

Dude. Chill. Any merger or seniority integration is going to be rocky and every group is going to feel that they didn't get treated fairly. It all has to shake out and that will take time. We're all pilots (what happened to the brotherhood?) and we are all trying for the same thing; a decent career, with a decent quality of life, and decent pay. This me against you doesn't help anyone but management. How long have you been on property? Most of us on the "east" have been on the street for 5 years. Guys that were furloughed for 10 years before came back for a couple years only to be on the street for another 5 years. We have 15 year guys on the street which if were at AW would be senior check airmen. More time furloughed than working. None of us asked for that. A merger of anyone with AAA is going to be tough because our group is so senior. But guaranteed there will be those that ***** and complain. Granted there is a lot to ***** and complain about but I've been in part 121 for 20 years and I've never heard so much *****in' and complaining. Enjoy the job, respect your fellow aviator, fight for what's fair from management, but be thankful for what you do have. If not then you're in the wrong job. I'll never for get years ago I had a Morris Air guy on my jumpseat. SouthWest had just bought them and this guy was *****in' left and right. Come on! Look at the big picture.

Don't mean to preach amigo but we really need to have a good attitude as we're going to be working together now. It's the hand we're dealt.

HPilot

It's very easy to have a pleasant, mature attitude when you've been handed the cake and been asked to eat it too. Best of luck to you though, because I don't plan on being here much longer.

CactusCrew

And UPS ... this week !

Jettubby

Naw man. Just been around this business too long and seen too many things. I've learned that you can complain and ***** all you want but it doesn't change a thing except kill you early from stress. I used to say, "Man, I'll only be happy if I can work here or fly this airplane or get to this point in my career". Baloney. If you're a miserable person you'll be miserable and complain even if you are a MD-11 Captain at FedEx. I've seen it! You make yourself happy wherever you are, whomever you are flying for, and whatever you are flying. I look back years ago when I was flying for American Eagle. We made 12K a year and we spent all of our time complaining about Eagle. How we were getting hosed and they were getting rich and how could they sleep at night and do this to a human being. Yea it really sucked but it's where I met my wife and had some of the best times of my life. Too bad I wasted so much time complaining and letting complainers suck me in. I was always reaching for more and better but now I wish I had enjoyed it more cause man it goes quick and I'm only 41.

Good luck to you and may you find your dream job.