I really cannot believe this place. Never mind Shares and the quirks like missing a jet with seats available because the agent can't make your reservation work....I had a payroll issue with pass charges. So I go to that "detailed travel report" in Flying Together. No Help, as it shows $0 billable for Sept 1. I call payroll, they say call ETC. I call ETC, they look at my "detailed travel report", agree that something is wrong and tell me to email EPC. I did....Friday. Nothing yet. So, I call BS. (I once wrote ETC on MAY 27 and got the reply on AUG 30!!!) I will not wait 90 days to find out where my money is. SO, I email my asst cheif pilot. No response in 2 days. I call my chief pilot office early this morn during business hours and leave a message. No call back. WTh? should I just call out sick for the rest of the month? Maybe then my cpo will call me. What a great change this merger has brought.

Sled

 

Did you call your Rep.?

 

You two are funny.

 

Oh I am sure you are use to it. FAR rest between reserve assignments, coach seats for rest facilities, company emails answered in months, not hours. But we aren't. I guess after a few decades, you finally just roll over and take it.
Sled

 

Hey...before you attack me, have you considered that this may all be happening by design and commission, rather than by ineptness?

Well I have, as I can't believe that the state of the product is not intentional. Not sure how it works in Jeff's favor (yet), but then I never understood Lorenzo's corporate shell game either, when there were 50 wholly owned subsidiaries of Texas Air, ALL OF WHOM were deeply leveraged. Eventually however, The Wall Street Journal ran a story bringing to light a new business concept called "debt generators". The author used Frank's scheme as the most current and classic example of how to borrow huge amounts of cash and then execute a preconceived plan to leave every lender hanging. The costs of suing to get money back was too expensive when prospective litigants looked at all of the corporate veils that would need to be pierced, so no one ever tried. Sick? Maybe, but that's a topic for the business ethics classes up at Harvard, and you and I aren't invited.

I cant think that intentionally destroying the integrity of the prodouct at either former legacy would be of any value to anyone, but there may be a method to their madness. Perhaps with the return to the tactic of attacking labor through claims of excessive sick leave use, somehow Jeff and team are planning to try winning this battle in the courts and through media attacks of employees, rather than through upright negotiations. It looks ultimately as if the only relationship with employees he is comfortable with, is one of court ordered servitude. A relationship that is unbalanced and unfair in every aspect, but the only one that fits with his pizza with no toppings world view.

Once you see that this is a possibility, you begin to realize what a long battle this will be for us lowly "co-workers", especially for lifers like you and I. The frustration of a screwed up agent that can't or won't fill empty seats, is a drop in the bucket compared to the problems we are going to have to solve to gain the respect we clamor for. The real FUNNY part of your two's posts was the question "did you call your reps?". In context, and given my belief that our ALPA is compromised and the FIRST thing that needs to be fixed, an example of a futility.

 

I think the word that properly describes United's current operational performance is "Arrogance". Not ineptness as you pointed out.

The plan has been pretty simple from the begining after it was determined CAL managment would take the lead role. Apply Continental paint, policices and procedures to the United brand and watch the magic happen.

Their arrogance to not fully consider the differences in the two companies cultures and "why" those cultures are so different in the first place is the reason the train derailed. At this point they need a new plan, a new message, and a new messenger. Unfortunately I think the new plan is the old plan.

"Work Hard, Fly Right"

 

Yet we can count so many L-UAL pilots who looked over the fence at the "greener grass" and clamored for just that, L-CAL's management. A classic example of be careful of what you ask for.

 

Bligh,

I don't think even the most skilled Machiavellian could devise such a scheme that we operate under. This is a combination of arrogance and ineptitude at it's highest level. The system is broken. The problem is that the same people who put us in this position, must realize how bad it actually is. Their arrogance well never allow that.

 

+1 captbligh
+1 special

Time for everyone to know your enemy.

 

I am going to start flying international for the first time in a long time. Brushing up on my INT. knowledge, I see this.....

Page 508 Letter 03-25
UNITED AIRLINES REWRITE 2003 ALPA
Letter 03-25
International Deadhead
al October 23, 2003
Captain Paul R. Whiteford, Chairman
UAL-MEC Air Line Pilots Association
6400 Shafer Court Suite 700
Rosemont, IL 60018
Dear Paul,

This letter will confirm our agreement with respect to the transportation of pilots for International flying as defined in Section 22-D-1, dated May 9, 1991 and last revised on May 1, 2003.

Specifically, the parties agree as follows:
When a pilot is "overbooked" in Business Class per the Agreement, this means that such pilot will be boarded in Business Class and may not be downgraded to Coach/Economy class. In no
case will a pilot who is required to travel on an International assignment be required to do so in Coach/Economy class.If this accurately reflects our understanding, please sign and return two (2) copies for our files.



So, not only do we not have coach rest seats....(assinine and soon to be illegal by Pt. 117), but we don't even DH in coach. PERIOD. Damn, it's no wonder this contract took so long. But don't worry, I am sure we spent some good negotiating capital to bring you boys up to our standards.


Sled