Boyd: Declining role of RJs
11-12-2016 | 06:36 PM
#42
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 471
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So the pilots don't control marketing, snack selection or which regionals fly what markets? Um, ok.
Actually we do have more control over the regional system than you allude to. Things such as the CPZ flow/bump and flush coupled with seat pull down if we furlough absolutely does have some level of control. So do our restrictions on the operation of non permitted types as well as how we deal with the "separate certificate trick" attempts to circumvent them. We also have controls on stage lengths and hub to hub flying, which does control who flies where on what.
To any extent that the company is free to pick and choose which regional in their "portfolio/armada" that is only because that particular flying is specifically exempted in our scope clause, which otherwise would have controlled that, too. Yes, we choose to allow some outsourcing, and within the constraints of that, the company is free to bounce around.
Its still our code though. We still control it. As far as a pilot group is concerned, there is no other function we care about other than control of who flies the code. If there was, we wouldn't have that stupid 45 degree canted oversized logo on the tail like everyone else, but on the other hand we'd probably still have the ugly snoopy nose paint job, so I'll call that one a wash.
If we controlled FA uniforms, we probably wouldn't have mandated purple either. IMO replacing Blue Diamond Smoked Almonds would be a step above the peanuts, but again, we don't concern ourselves with such things, and we don't control the snack code, just the flying code.
For that matter, they can pretend to operate other airlines within an airline if they want to. They are free to take part of the fleet, paint it green with a logo that looks like it was from the free section of a public use logo sight, give the FA's different uniforms, eliminate first class and call it some ridiculous name. But since we own the code as far as who flies it, we'd still be the ones to fly it IAW our PWA/CBA.
But you are right in that they can change the napkins at any time. We are powerless to stop them, as we don't own the napkin code. We only own the flying code, which is all we really care about anyway.
Actually we do have more control over the regional system than you allude to. Things such as the CPZ flow/bump and flush coupled with seat pull down if we furlough absolutely does have some level of control. So do our restrictions on the operation of non permitted types as well as how we deal with the "separate certificate trick" attempts to circumvent them. We also have controls on stage lengths and hub to hub flying, which does control who flies where on what.
To any extent that the company is free to pick and choose which regional in their "portfolio/armada" that is only because that particular flying is specifically exempted in our scope clause, which otherwise would have controlled that, too. Yes, we choose to allow some outsourcing, and within the constraints of that, the company is free to bounce around.
Its still our code though. We still control it. As far as a pilot group is concerned, there is no other function we care about other than control of who flies the code. If there was, we wouldn't have that stupid 45 degree canted oversized logo on the tail like everyone else, but on the other hand we'd probably still have the ugly snoopy nose paint job, so I'll call that one a wash.
If we controlled FA uniforms, we probably wouldn't have mandated purple either. IMO replacing Blue Diamond Smoked Almonds would be a step above the peanuts, but again, we don't concern ourselves with such things, and we don't control the snack code, just the flying code.
For that matter, they can pretend to operate other airlines within an airline if they want to. They are free to take part of the fleet, paint it green with a logo that looks like it was from the free section of a public use logo sight, give the FA's different uniforms, eliminate first class and call it some ridiculous name. But since we own the code as far as who flies it, we'd still be the ones to fly it IAW our PWA/CBA.
But you are right in that they can change the napkins at any time. We are powerless to stop them, as we don't own the napkin code. We only own the flying code, which is all we really care about anyway.
11-13-2016 | 06:52 PM
#43
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 12,833
Likes: 172
From: window seat
It still surprises me how emotionally raw and entitled some can get about the morality of "flying XYZ Airline's passengers" or whatever. Some regionals fly for every major. What about them? Alaska flies DL passengers, what about them? Some regionals fly Air France and British Airways passengers, what about them? Answer: a contract is a contract, and you either own the code or you don't.
11-13-2016 | 07:05 PM
#44
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 12,833
Likes: 172
From: window seat
This has gone on way too many pages for it to really be about the esoteric minutia of it all. You know I'm not claiming that the pilot group totally and completely runs every single aspect of an airline, its marketing, logistics and every single element of its operation. I've said as much a bazillion times in this hilarious thread. We just own the code, 100%, for the purpose of who flies it. We then allow exceptions (and in my opinion to many, but I digress).
You've flailed around accusing me of being a ALPA worshipper (and I sincerely appreciated the laugh) despite me pointing out that SWAPA has better control of their code than we do and APA has similar, etc.
The fact remains, the only aspect about the code that is even relevant in any respect to a pilot is who flies it. WRT us, we do, period. We own it.
But then again, you knew that. So I'm still not sure what your point even is.
Yeah yeah I know, its some secret profundity, which you can't reveal because you're too intellectually advanced that no one would understand it anyway, and besides you're to busy getting another Fields Medal in quantum airline theory to bother in the first place. So there's that.
11-13-2016 | 07:21 PM
#45
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 2,035
Likes: 0
There's more to it than greed. Not to mention greed works both ways, but that's another discussion. I'll just say that for things to change on the regional end, fantasy seniority grabs will have to be forsaken from the very beginning of the discussion in order for there to ever be a discussion. That doesn't mean it would then happen, but its a necessary precondition, and the egos and greed on the other side of it are strong indeed. (One person's moot point is another person's self fulfilling prophecy, and we may never know). I agree that it likely won't completely change, but at the moment it is changing a lot, mostly for the better (again, for now).
It still surprises me how emotionally raw and entitled some can get about the morality of "flying XYZ Airline's passengers" or whatever. Some regionals fly for every major. What about them? Alaska flies DL passengers, what about them? Some regionals fly Air France and British Airways passengers, what about them? Answer: a contract is a contract, and you either own the code or you don't.
It still surprises me how emotionally raw and entitled some can get about the morality of "flying XYZ Airline's passengers" or whatever. Some regionals fly for every major. What about them? Alaska flies DL passengers, what about them? Some regionals fly Air France and British Airways passengers, what about them? Answer: a contract is a contract, and you either own the code or you don't.
NAI should be the biggest concern for most.
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