Christmas Meltdown
#83
Line Holder
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 31
Likes: 0
From: FAA ATC
I got lucky. Commuted in off line.
Two reroutes on day one.
Two cancellations on day two and ferried into be into position for day three.
Day three went fine even going through Denver.
Commuted home off line.
On day two we were delayed due to visibility in Southern California. The dispatcher and I wanted to push as soon as we saw an improving trend, so we boarded….and the visibility took longer than we expected to improve. The “A” FA (whose Dad is a Captain, and who is learning to fly herself) kept our guests entertained with Christmas music, jokes, games, and organized cockpit tours for the kids (and a few kids at heart). We sent many kick tails that day!
Bought dinner and drinks for two crews on night one. On night two I bought for the FO and another FO who was missing his crew. We ordered Dunkin Donuts and coffee on the app for the crew on day two and picked it up after we got through security. And we gave away a few hundred bucks worth of Starbucks gift cards to everyone we ran across from rampers, to Ops agents, to FAs - and especially to my commute crews. Even got one in return from a kind customer.
The key to happiness is commuting off line. 😉
So not a horror story, but I think we needed to hear some good news in the midst of the apocalypse we are seeing out there now. I learned something that somehow I missed over the last nine years of slam clicking. I learned that this company employs good people who will work tirelessly on behalf of our guests. I learned that a little recognition goes a long way. And I learned that there actually IS a somewhat unique culture here, but we can’t count on management to foster it. It’s up to us. Sometimes that means taking out your wallet, sure. But oftentimes it could be as simple as taking the gate checked bags down to the ramp to save tired rampers a trip. Or telling FAs “I know you’re not being paid right now because the door is open. I’m sorry about that. Here’s my phone, order anything you want on the ChickFilA app and I’ll run upstairs and grab it for you.”. Or even as little as reminding the crew, “We don’t fly hungry. Say the word and I’ll throw the flag and make sure we get food”. I never realized the culture was real…and I never realized that it probably wasn’t real to me because I never chose to participate in it.
So it was a tough Christmas and it’s probably going to be a tough New Years. But if we take care of one another (and find another way to commute to and from work), we’ll probably be ok… (provided we stay in business. #Eeyore)
Two reroutes on day one.
Two cancellations on day two and ferried into be into position for day three.
Day three went fine even going through Denver.
Commuted home off line.
On day two we were delayed due to visibility in Southern California. The dispatcher and I wanted to push as soon as we saw an improving trend, so we boarded….and the visibility took longer than we expected to improve. The “A” FA (whose Dad is a Captain, and who is learning to fly herself) kept our guests entertained with Christmas music, jokes, games, and organized cockpit tours for the kids (and a few kids at heart). We sent many kick tails that day!
Bought dinner and drinks for two crews on night one. On night two I bought for the FO and another FO who was missing his crew. We ordered Dunkin Donuts and coffee on the app for the crew on day two and picked it up after we got through security. And we gave away a few hundred bucks worth of Starbucks gift cards to everyone we ran across from rampers, to Ops agents, to FAs - and especially to my commute crews. Even got one in return from a kind customer.
The key to happiness is commuting off line. 😉
So not a horror story, but I think we needed to hear some good news in the midst of the apocalypse we are seeing out there now. I learned something that somehow I missed over the last nine years of slam clicking. I learned that this company employs good people who will work tirelessly on behalf of our guests. I learned that a little recognition goes a long way. And I learned that there actually IS a somewhat unique culture here, but we can’t count on management to foster it. It’s up to us. Sometimes that means taking out your wallet, sure. But oftentimes it could be as simple as taking the gate checked bags down to the ramp to save tired rampers a trip. Or telling FAs “I know you’re not being paid right now because the door is open. I’m sorry about that. Here’s my phone, order anything you want on the ChickFilA app and I’ll run upstairs and grab it for you.”. Or even as little as reminding the crew, “We don’t fly hungry. Say the word and I’ll throw the flag and make sure we get food”. I never realized the culture was real…and I never realized that it probably wasn’t real to me because I never chose to participate in it.
So it was a tough Christmas and it’s probably going to be a tough New Years. But if we take care of one another (and find another way to commute to and from work), we’ll probably be ok… (provided we stay in business. #Eeyore)
#84
It’s true what they say about the Captain setting the tone…. and yes he/she sounds like a really good captain.
#85
Line Holder
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 693
Likes: 30
the vast majority of Capt’s I’ve flown with are cut from the same mold as Zap. I’m sure there are just as many great folks at the other places too, but I do know they’re working here.
#86
Its not that hard to be this person. Got off a trip last month where the cpt was proactive, kept everyone in the loop and took care of customers and crew. It was refreshing. You can be this guy and not be a company man. Not many can understand the distinction.
I'd gladly drink a beer with zap and 95% of the guys we have. The other 5% I'll still have a beer with and hope to make their day a bit better.
I'd gladly drink a beer with zap and 95% of the guys we have. The other 5% I'll still have a beer with and hope to make their day a bit better.
#87
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 7,573
Likes: 282
From: DOWNGRADE COMPLETE: Thanks Gary. Thanks SWAPA.
Think beyond the capitalist and communist dichotomy… what OOfff said is just objectively correct. Neoliberal capitalism leads to degenerative corporate culture since the only thing that matters at the end of the day is making a profit for shareholders. Communism sucks but being ruled by international finance capital and WEF affiliated groups isn’t much better
#89
Originally Posted by beancounter;[url=tel:3560785
3560785[/url]]It’s true what they say about the Captain setting the tone…. and yes he/she sounds like a really good captain.
#90
Line Holder
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 210
Likes: 0
Jesus all the whiny. All the new hires that even thinking about leaving should just leave. Or you just turn into whack. He ***** and moan on here constantly about flying the 737, about how unfair was the air train merger, about SWA and yet he never leaves. Even though he can upgrade in a year at delta or United.
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