"Jeff Smisek needs to step down"
11-26-2013 | 07:36 AM
#21
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People fly because they have to and people work for the airlines because of the excitement and the mystique that still seems to entice folks to stand out on the ramp in sleet, snow or 100 degree days for 8 bucks an hour, just to say they work in the aviation industry.
Ummmm, Yeahhhhhhhh.
It might also have something to do with a 10% unemployment rate. Bureau of Labor Statistics Data
As jobs become more plentiful, a prospective employee's tolerance for crap conditions and wages will also adjust. As Jeff leads the choir in cost cutting (as an alternative to being a leader and developing new revenue sources), don't be surprised if you find fewer people willing to jump into aviation for all that glamour.
11-26-2013 | 07:56 AM
#22
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From: The GF of FUPM
The non-union mid-level management positions that actually make the airline run have been decimated over the past decade. To a large extent, those who have the depth of talent to run the airline have either retired, been fired, or have moved on to better pay and conditions. Jeff is no doubt a huge disappointment to employees, investors, and passengers but firing him doesn't solve the brain-drain that UA has suffered (for the record, I say fire him anyway).
You are exactly right. Many mid level types have been lured away by better jobs elsewhere (DAL perhaps?) or shown the door by those above them who are threatened by their competence and experience. The rest acquiesce and the whole operation erodes from within.
Gordon Bethune was on CNBC this morning. He still appears highly competent to run this place. Is there anyone (besides the members of the board) who doesn't think he could run circles around his anointed one? Might be a nice Christmas gift for the beleaguered employees and customers of the new United.
One guy can cause quite a mess.
11-26-2013 | 08:19 AM
#23
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Masterful performance. Really. His sendup of his own macho man onscreen persona of the 40s and 50s. Another oddity is the script of the horrible B-movie he starred in called "Zero Hour!" about "a routine flight turns into a major emergency as passengers and crew succumb to food poisoning" was bought by director Adam Zucker and with a few edits became "Airplane!".
11-26-2013 | 08:15 PM
#24
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From: Cub Cap
Not sure where you are coming from, with your comment. In any case, prior to Crandal's frequent flyers invention, the playing field was reasonably fair. Today, we have a class of business flyers spending their company's money to accrue miles, just so they can use them as personal perks. Try to take them away and they squeal like pigs and claim that management is incompetent. I guess we sometimes forget that it is all about them, the rest of us should just keep our "mouths shut." The real scam is that these same companies deduct this travel off their taxes, so we all pay for these elite benefits.
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