I had a feeling Cruz. It's funny how you can see right through some people.

 

Looks like it's official: hub basing is happening. Starting New Years Day moves will begin. DO just sent out the email.

Happy Staffing Bid! And may the odds be ever in you favor...

 

I was slightly surprised to see they are closing DUJ as a base considering their previous announcement.

 

Nice. Jan. 1. Guess all those outstation peeps can opt out of their monthly leases and move by the end of next month. Carl ... You were right on with this one. I will tune in for your inside info from now on.

 

Very happy to see you guys get back into some normal towns. I bet if I had a crystal ball back when I decided to leave that I prolly would have stayed. Only question I have is this going to allow ppl to bid between IAD and ATL now? Or do you have to go back to your respective hub like MEI-ATL?

 

I would imagine there will still be some crossover on trips between systems (ATL crews doing flights in the IAD system through LWB, or vice-versa) like we are doing currently, but I don't see ATL crews being allowed to bid for lines in IAD. Open time pickup definitely, but that's about it.

With the way the CBA lays out Staffing Bid procedure, this will most likely result in the downgrading of many junior CAs in favor of senior FOs getting upgrades. Don't count on using displacement rights to hold your seat, they are only as good as your seniority. I wouldn't doubt that many DECs will likely quit rather than accept demotion. This could get messy. I had a feeling a few months back when they did the SB in July that the reason they were waiting to move people was that this one was coming. No point in paying moving expenses when they were just going to do a major reshuffle a few months down the road.

 

I'll put money on zero downgrades.... First off most will quit.... Secondly you guys have nobody to replace you for the upgrades and pretty much zero new hires. The place will be severely understaffed.

 

I don't know if there will really be any upgrades vs what they earlier projected. Regardless of award I know they will play this carefully as they driving away the DECs will hurt them severely, if they bail there definitely won't be any upgrade classes. At least I'm glad their doing something productive, wish that would have been the effect when I was there.

Obviously the logistics of this also be complicated from moving bases and holding people back before seat changes and or equipment changes. Just have to hope for the best.

 

Now I'm questioning leaving, since upgrade (potentially) is close, but given the past history of how things are done, I don't think I have anything to lose if I still leave. If they would've down graded off the street guys, and upgraded F/Os (in seniority) 1:1 from the beginning, I think we would've seen less attrition.

 

Now with hub basing we're a shoe in for ATW Regional Airline of the Year 2014