Originally Posted by PCLCREW (Post 896997)

So then how would you feel if all DCI people had higher priority on ALL DCI flights then mainline folks regardless of the DCI carrier?
While this does not really happen, but to all of our dismay regional flying is really taking over the domestic market. Then DCI people could say the samething... you dont work for Delta Connection so you shouldnt have the same priority. I have a feeling Delta people would be really PO'd who are commuting from FWA,BTV,SBN etc etc.
Or how would you feel if you commute home was cnxld after a 10 day trip in Asia because one of the pilots couldnt commute to work, because a Delta buddy pass rider got on ahead of him/her??
Its a tough call, but giving crewmembers at DCI a better priority would help us all out.

Originally Posted by NWA320pilot (Post 897398)

The mainline company basically owns the seats in the back, that's the reason for the discrepancy in boarding priority. Now they do NOT own the jumpseat so the mainline pilots do have a lower priority for occupying it.

As for the issues of commuting I deal with them all the time. The two main airports I commute from are only serviced by DCI. The aircraft has been full many times and the jumpseat taken by a DCI pilot. This is just the way it works and I understand it. I plan accordingly so that I can make my check-in. There have been numerous times my wife has driven several hours to pick me up at a major airport when I couldn't get back home due to full or canceled flights to my normal airport.

Please do not take the above as a dig..... I flew at the regional level for over 10 years and understand what it is like being treated like the "red haired stepchild".

Originally Posted by NWA320pilot (Post 897398)

The mainline company basically owns the seats in the back, that's the reason for the discrepancy in boarding priority. Now they do NOT own the jumpseat so the mainline pilots do have a lower priority for occupying it.

As for the issues of commuting I deal with them all the time. The two main airports I commute from are only serviced by DCI. The aircraft has been full many times and the jumpseat taken by a DCI pilot. This is just the way it works and I understand it. I plan accordingly so that I can make my check-in. There have been numerous times my wife has driven several hours to pick me up at a major airport when I couldn't get back home due to full or canceled flights to my normal airport.

Please do not take the above as a dig..... I flew at the regional level for over 10 years and understand what it is like being treated like the "red haired stepchild".

Originally Posted by NWA320pilot (Post 897572)

They board using that code because ASA's management negotiated it with DAL. This is an unusual arrangement and and I am not aware of any other regional airline that does this.

Originally Posted by PCLCREW (Post 897613)

No digs taken... I just think that by giving DCI pilots and FAs a higher priority might not be such a bad thing for us and you (mainline). Instead of flying S3C, maybe something like S3A... I am also no expert on this either... but even crewmembers aside wouldnt DL mgmnt want to avoid cancld flights across board? By letting DL buddys parents kids on a flight before a commuting pilot or FA just doesnt make sense to their bottom line either. So they have 2 or 3 flights cancel because a DL parent got on a flight to go on vacation, and a DCI crewmember had to call in.
Most DCI have enough resv's to cover this... but my crappy company can barely staff on a normal day.
Of course the DL "employee" should always get on before us... I totally agree with that.

Originally Posted by Wingnutdal (Post 896405)

So you're saying that a 23 year old hired by a regional in his first year in the airline industry should have the same travel benefits as someone who flew for 10 years and then got hired by the major that is the brand? Or a military guy who flew in the service for 10 years and then got hired by a major?