Damn, this sucks. $75 is like one day's worth of work for me, and the paychecks have been tight as it is because the lines have been scaled back.

It was completely free for domestic and pay only taxes for intl.

I disgree with you that they don't HAVE to offer anything. It is an obvious benefit associated with working for an airline. Most if not all companies offer a discount or deal on their services/producs to their own employees. That is part of the COMPENSATION PACKAGE. They don't do this out of the goodness of their hearts, but to attract and retain employees. If they didn't offer anything, many, many, MANY rampers/gate agents/flight attendants would not be putting up with their BS work for $8/hr. (I don't put pilots in the group because for most of us, the primary purpose of working for an airline versus any other kind of company is not the travel benefits like it is for other types of airline employees.) Heck, many of us have to travel to work (commuters) so in a way you're charging employees to come to work. Maybe they are doing this because they know people aren't likely to quit in this economy even if their work benefits are eroding.

I have a feeling that some guys will chime in and say that we should feel so lucky that we haven't gotten charged until now, esp. because other airlines have crappy nonrev fee policies. But like I said... travel benefits is part of the compensation package for the work you do.
As far as CASS well I'm thinking about that situation too... but I primarily use US Air for commuting... and I'm wondering, if it would really be possible to bypass the nonrev fee by jumpseating instead. I remember for Delta... some of the ASA guys were saying on another thread that the computer system/gate agents wouldn't let them jumpseat (even on their own aircraft) if they hadn't paid the annual nonrev fee. I wonder if we're going to have something like that also, or we'd get locked out of The Hub if we don't pay the nonrev fee (therefore won't be able to look up loads). If that were the case, I'd be forced to pay up since I have no choice but to commute.


exactly!!

The $50 is the fee to use travelnet. The phone way of listing is still free, but a huge pain, so $50 for travelnet may be the only good thing about Delta

Indeed. CAL has a slogan for its employee travel system: "Fund the future." I'm sorry, but isn't that why you have customers?

I was reading here earlier that if AA/Eagle guys did that they would get disciplined. Pretty much if you requested the jumpseat and there ended up being seats in back on your own airline, you'd be in trouble. Therefore making guys pay to commute or ride on their own airline. I think its even more if you ride in first. Maybe some AMR guys here can say if this is true.

I really don't mind paying $50 for riding Delta. After that, no charges to go anywhere and can sit in first also. It's about the only thing good at Delta.

You actually pay during your first 5 yrs. After that its free.

Yes, we have always had to pay. The airline is still responsible for taxes on the 'price' of the ticket as well as airport head taxes etc.

Too complicated to charge each person based upon actual usage so it all goes in a pot - If you live in base and stay mostly at home you end up subsidizing the commuters and travel happy types.

INCORRECT!



You could list on the phone for free, but the second you try to check in at the airport, they are going to get you. This happened to me last year. Tried to check in at Orange County after listing on the phone, and all I got was the option for emergency travel, asked the check in agent what was going on, and she pulled it up and said, "oh you need to pay the activation fee. Can I have a credit card?" So no matter what way you try to get around it, Big D is going to get your money!

I still think of the old orange smiley-faced airplanes when I hear that name....

I never do it since I live in houston but what does this do for my buddy passes I have with them?

This is for DCI.

This is for mainline.


Keep in mind that they can push the DCI employees a lot farther than the mainline employees. (They have to keep the cat ranchers somewhat mollified if for no other reason than to keep the AFA out.)