Those Rumors !!

[FLYMY767]

Just got back from a holiday in Central America and Florida. Could not help to notice all the new rumors. Seems that are investors are going to get some good news on Monday. Rumor is we are selling 50% of COEX to raise some cash. Why would we need any more than we already have?

Rumors are that we are buying someone or financing 2 hubs. One is of course FLL and the other somewhere in the West Coast.

However, I think the game has not changed. USAIR can still force United into a deal due to a treat of breach of contract. Or is it because UNITED must prevent competiton from aquiring parts or all of USAIR?

Sources close to me say that 3 airlines are interested in buying parts or all of USAIR. Delta made it public by accident.Big PR blunder.

CAL and believe it or not AMR are the other two. We will see what happens on this comming Monday. It seems to be good news!!Till then my friends..Ciao

[ 07-08-2001: Message edited by: FLYMY767 ]

[FLYMY767]

Today is Monday and its official. But I would like to know just how much of COEX we are selling?

[Delayed]

Im glad to see that CO is growing. images/icons/smile.gif Is the FLL hub going to be used for more flights to the Carribean?

[FLYMY767]

Hi Delayed:

The sale is official but we still do not know how much and or what the money is for.
Just the Rumors.

Their is a lot going on behind the scenes.I for one do not think the UAL/U deal is over.I just found out today that the Department of Justice did not rule against the Merger.In fact UAL's PR machine is what leaked the information. UAL is blamming the Economy and the hurdles it had faced prior to their annoucement. Both UAL & U have upcomming board and shareholder meetings. We will see what happens. I am sure someone soon will give out some sort of relative information as to why we really would like to have all this cash. I know that some COEX guys blame it on the 70 seat RJ and the upcomming pilot contract. But that plane has not even been built yet so why cause trouble now if that where the case. Sounds fishy if you ask me. Time will tell.

[airwiz]

Hi FlyMy:

Bottom line: COMAIR scared the hell out of the powers that be...DL learned a very costly lesson. Now that "Hub and Spoke" are the order of the day, if your primary feeder pipeline is interrupted, there go the hi-revenue RASM's to a competing carrier, because those folks, generally, have to be where they're going. Right now the big "hot button issue" is perceived to be pay "inequity" for the RJ drivers. I was in EWR the other day talking to a "peach fuzz" ATR Captain. I told him "Look, let's cut to the chase, you'd PAY US to get your hours if you had to.." so chill and take it like everyone else, one step at a time. Little boy, if you eat the right breakfast cereal and play nice with the other pilots..one day soon you'll be able to fly something not requiring rubber bands..in the meantime don't screw up our lives because you want the same pay as the kids in the deep end of the pool.

The pay "inequity" issue, however is not the long-term focus. It actually is issue-less from a micro point of view. The Macro, on the other hand is very serious. Even Gordon has to face the question: Do I, as an airline CEO, want to have a "unit" (in this case COEX) which can bring my whole system crashing down, (a'la COMAIR/DL) while I'm virtually powerless to prevent it (NLRB etc.)if they decide to leave the car keys with the desk clerk?

Hell no! If you are Gordon, or Mullin, or any other CEO, you dump your ownership, and return to the concept of "Fly for Fee" like the majority of UAEXpress operators. Basically: "If you don't fly those segments feeding our hubs, not only won't we pay you, but there are substantial non-performance penalty clauses in the contact which lets you wear our Logo and access our rez system. So, you got a union problem...you work it out...'aint none of my business...you just show up that the gate with that baby airplane or it's gonna cost you a bundle!" so sign right here TRANS STATES.. and be SURE go to church regularly!

And the absurdity of it all, is that penalty "bundle" which it will cost the commuters for non-performance will probably bankrupt them, if a new pilot contract wouldn't do it anyway (due to the slim operating margins of most commuters). So the pilots AS WE SAW AT THE DREADED OLD CO, will once again negotiate themselves right out of a job! It's a truism that while we trust them to see the runway, Damn! they never seem to see the headlight of the oncoming train!

Does anyone think that there is no coincidence between the COMAIR action and NW's decision, less than a week later, to dump their plan to buy the balance of the stock they didn't already own in their feeder? COMAIR was a true wake-up call for all of the carriers. You watch how fast American Eagle becomes a separate company now. At this moment I'd bet my 401K that Don Carty and the braintrust are formulating plans to spin off Eagle before the end of fiscal 2002. Think think of what even a short-term job action by Eagle would do to AA! For that matter how about CO? Not a pretty sight...and look at it from our point of view. When those beautiful birds aren't flying, neither are WE! I'm on management's side on this one... big time. When's the last time a pilot cared about my rice bowl along with his/hers?.(or left the tip for that matter)!

Whew! Got that off my chest...

Love ya, FlyMy

Wiz

[FLYMY767]

Hi Air Wiz!

I agree with you 100% Papi. I am also on managements side on this one.Infact since my PAA days no one has carried my rice bowl!

These men get cheaper and cheaper every year. I also like the feeling of job security. My carrier has no labor problems
and I like the fact that I do not have to be bothered with that.

Management also has money to make on this. CAL's shares are way under valued and remain constant in this market. Commuter Airlines can sell at rich multiples because of their high margins. Thats fast money in the bank.
Love Ya Too Papi
images/icons/wink.gif

[ 07-16-2001: Message edited by: FLYMY767 ]

[airwiz]

Ahh FlyMy....you know the way to my heart....
Every time I put some well-iced potato-based
beverage in one of my six remaining "roly-poly"'s I remember fondly when this 22-year-old "kid" set out on his first JFK/ORY/LIS adventure. I only fell in love 12 times on that first trip..and that was just with the crewbabes!

All of a sudden it was lotsa miles later when I walked off an SP (HKG/SFO) for the very last time...still wearing my "I'm an Acker-Backer" pin..

When I was talking to Capt. Peter Peachfuzz in EWR, I have to admit I stole the line from a PAA F/O named Fred Parkin, he's the one who said "Hell, If it comes to it I'll pay them to do this!!" (he was furloughed a week later..)

I hope you're going to make it to Baltimore,
September 27-30. I've heard rumors, just rumors mind you, that COCKTAILS MAY BE SERVED at some point in that hallowed, church-like environment.

I think I could probably manage some soft shell crabs and Pouilly Fusee, even at my advanced age and ever-increasing affliction with Skiesheimers...

J't'aime mon petit choux!

wiz images/icons/wink.gif images/icons/wink.gif

[FLYMY767]

Ahh Wiz

You almost made me cry. You know I love CAL and I am very proud to be a part of her and her wonderful people. I truly believe CAL is following PAA's footsteps when it comes to Global Coverage. But PAN AM was my first love. You never forget your first.

I also was 22 and my first trip was to FRA with Cornel Klincker.Did you ever meet her? No Purser could scare new hires more than her.

She yelled at me for not taking the tea bag out of the paper cup in Cabin Class. I should have known better. After all being professional was our trade mark.

I have mixed feelings about the reunion. The big party is going to be on a great old U.S. Navy Clipper Ship. I think its only $55.00 and it includes dinner.

The next day is the Lockerbie Memorial tour in Arlington. I cannot do that. I am too soft and I know that everyone will be crying.
I want to pay my respect but I dont want to be another one of the many in tears. Anyway, we will see. Maybe I will change my mind.

While I was in Florida last week I went to the PAA store and bought a new item. Its a CD of our old songs. "We fly the world the way the world wants to fly" "Say hello" and of course "Experience" my favorite.

Well Papi its time for me to do my bids and and I will have to go. I look forward to chatting real soon.

Besitos "Gros Bisous" images/icons/wink.gif images/icons/wink.gif

[ 07-17-2001: Message edited by: FLYMY767 ]

[Chrislhr]

Guys I hope I'm not intruding in your reverie on the greatest airline of them all, but I was wondering if you have heard of a cabaret act called Pam Ann? Pam Ann is an Australian women who does a one woman show sort of based very loosely on PAA. She has several PAA uniforms circa late 60's/ 70's and the show's framework is based around an imaginary flight. She is absolutely, side-splittingly hysterical to say the least and she rips the piss out of everyone (crew and passengers) with incredible comedic insight. I believe she has done some gigs in New York in the past and is an absolute must for anyone who flys, past and present. If you slip in London she performs in several locations. Her meal service routine is a masterpiece of reality and comedy combined!

[SirCris]

Pam Ann sounds a real treat - have never heard of her before, so if u could supply more info !

It sure would be appreciated !

[airwiz]

Hey Chrislhr I agree with SirChris-please get us more info. She sounds like a hoot and a half! (that's 'merican for "good show."
And I know I can speak for FlyMy when I tell you if nothing else we PAA'ers had senses of humor. You have to when, for example, the pilgrims start lighting the charcoal firepots in the back of your 707 between Hong Kong and Delhi. That's ok on a train but.......

Sorry about the reverie..but this is one true case where "ya had to be there..."

Wiz

[FLYMY767]

Thanks WIZ!
Just got back from a 3 day with a tremendous crew. I also would like info on Pan ANN. She sounds great.

On these rumor's the latest one at CAL is that we are getting some 747-400's.

All the pilots I have flown with the past 2 trips say the same. The pilots I had to Latin America and the Caribbean all said the same thing.

Some Air China deal where they get 777's and Boeing gets their 747's as trade. I sure hope its true. Its been a while since I have worked on my favorite plane.

They even say that Gordon was in Seattle on the 17 to discuss the deal and they used a 737-900 Press Release as cover.

Only time will tell. images/icons/wink.gif

[ 07-20-2001: Message edited by: FLYMY767 ]

[jaime007bond]

REALITY IS A DISTANT CRY TO THE POSTS READ HERE. LAST I HEARD, THE INDUSTRY WAS POSTING THE WORST LOSSES IN TWO DECADES, AND YET...WE CONTINUE TO PROPEL MORE FALSE AND LUDICROUS RUMORS OF UNPARALLELED EXPANSION AND GROWTH...

LET'S ALL STEP INTO THE REAL WORLD, SHALL WE?

[FLYMY767]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Arial, Verdana ">quote:<HR>Originally posted by jaime007bond:
REALITY IS A DISTANT CRY TO THE POSTS READ HERE. LAST I HEARD, THE INDUSTRY WAS POSTING THE WORST LOSSES IN TWO DECADES, AND YET...WE CONTINUE TO PROPEL MORE FALSE AND LUDICROUS RUMORS OF UNPARALLELED EXPANSION AND GROWTH...

LET'S ALL STEP INTO THE REAL WORLD, SHALL WE?<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Please stop YELLING!!!

It gives the impression that your upset.
I get the idea that you dont agree with the contents of our posts. But that is fine after all Crew Rumors is a healthy way to communicate.

I am glad you are always there to voice your thoughts. But , I must say when you say
"LETS ALL STEP INTO THE REAL WORLD" I suddenly remembered one of your posts. It was about Glory Holes on airplanes that you had worked on while you flew for "Carnival" Airlines. And how much you enjoyed them.

Till this day I am glad I have never worked for an airline with glory holes. I am also glad Jaime that you shared that with us.

I try to learn something every day. Did you know that our CFO was interviewed a couple days ago and he stated that we are going to grow.

We are also waiting for stockholder approval of some new routes and projects for next year. Just because competitors are having trouble these days does not mean the world is comming to an end. By the way, I can tell you now that we are also going to post 3rd Q earnings similar to our 2nd Quarter.

That should make you happy. Continental is a wonderful airline with great people and I am grateful to be a part of her. images/icons/wink.gif

[FLYMY767]

DAL filed today for a $2.5 Billion shelf offering.

They claim its for corporate use. The pilots seem to think DAL is getting ready for a hostile buyout.

Strange how we at CAL are also raising cash.
Looks like some one is going to get bought. images/icons/wink.gif

[Chrislhr]

Glad some of you have shown an interest in seeing Pam, everyone who sees her show for the first time is bowled over! I know that she appears every thursday at W5 (Gay/str8 friendly bar/disco) in Ealing. But check in the gay rags for other venues. Her show can be extremely risque and good taste doesn't come into it. She talks about recent crashs and incidents, so is not for the easily offended. However I know you former Pan Amers won't mind. I've spent manys a memorable night with you in Narita.
Pam does a lot of audience participation during her show and if she was to know that there were any real former PAA people in the crowd I know she would have a kitten!
P.S. No need to apologise about your reminiscence about the good old days airwiz, anything PAA is fabulous!

[FLYMY767]

It looks like we have lost our appeal for EZE and if I understand correctly. We might not get authorization at all for service into Argentina.

United also lost its back up rights to serve EZE from IAD or LAX. Now what? images/icons/confused.gif

[CO757]

I believe the bulletin on EZE also state we are evaluating our options. It also stated that the service could be given away to another carrier.

Both Delta and American have expressed interest in this route (JFK-EZE).

[FLYMY767]

HI CO757!!

You are correct. The thing is that CAL pulled the same stunt with the DOT for our CLE/LGW and IAH/GRU.

CAL still has 7 or 10 days to appeal and see if we get the route.

I believe that route is not as bad as IAH seems to think.

The majority of airline analyst are calling CAL's EZE crises a BAD EGO TRIP. I hope that IAH see's the light and that the DOT gives us the route. It would then start as a 3 day double red-eye worth 21hrs.

CAL has also not stated anything offical to Fridays DOT ruling. We can only hope to see if it all turns out well. images/icons/wink.gif

[FLYMY767]

Hi guys!

One of our fully loaded (as usual)767-400's diverted today to SJU. It was on a EWR/GRU nonstop when flying over the caribbean it sucked in ASH from that volcano in Monserrat and engine #1 had to be shut down.

I later found out that SJU closed its airport around 0800. Thats a lot of stranded customers. I know that they will enjoy the Embassy Suites and its fine staff. Busy day today for airlines.

Those Analyst are driving me nuts. They think that their will be a big annoucement this week. The following are the possiblities;

1. We buy Alaska as previously stated.
2. We open FLL HUB as previously stated.
3. We announce EZE start up for DEC.01.
4. We announce an order for 5 747-400's.
5. We come to an agreement with Usair for the Shuttle related gates in DCA/LGA and BOS and the Charlotte HUB.
6. New alliance with Thai Airways Interantional
7. New TAG on destinations to HKG
8. New cities served in Europe
9. Additonal aircraft orders
10. We restart our Wings Alliance

What do you think it will be? images/icons/grin.gif

[ 07-30-2001: Message edited by: FLYMY767 ]

[frob2fly]

Well, I don't know what it's going to be, but I would KILL to fly the 747-400...truly a thing of beauty! I've also heard service to New Delhi via HKG in order to utilize our 777's more. A FLL hub would be sweet, as it would (hopefully) eliminate most of the senior commuters from Florida, thus giving me a better line at NTA...(it's all about me, let's face it)Same with the new European destinations...more lines, more time off...FOR ME!! I've also heard that the announcement is going to be the closure of CLE as a base/hub, making it fully COEX. That is bad. The displaced senior f/a's might transfer to NTA, sending me down the list, closer to reserve!
Under ideal conditions, we'll buyout Delta, I'll still have a job, and we'll open a base here in SLC, where I live 10 min from the airport. (HEY, I can dream, can't I??)If that were the case, I'd be on reserve 'til I die!! I don't care! Just don't wanna commute anymore. It sucks. images/icons/grin.gif

[FLYMY767]

I know that commuting sucks. We will see what happens but you can scratch DAL off. That scenario will not happen since the UAL/U deal id deferred. Now its all in Usair's hands.

You and I meet for the first time on a Crackass. Oooops I mean Caracas. We will keep it our own little secret. we must remain Anonymous at all costs.

Ciao images/icons/wink.gif

[airwiz]

Hey FyMy et al:....doesn't the sound of those cities make ya happy...whodathunk pre-gordon, that city pairs involving the Sub Continent, Nathan Road, "Tsim Sha Tsui Side" and Bolivars and such would be the order of the day..."Life is good and then ya fly!"

"Pay no attention to that man behind the Curtain!!!!!"

wiz images/icons/smile.gif images/icons/smile.gif images/icons/smile.gif

[frob2fly]

no!! FLYMY767. I'm blushing! Seriously. That CCS layover is one that will forever live in infamy. 'Nuf said. What happens on layovers STAYS on the layover. Don'tcha think?? images/icons/grin.gif

[FLYMY767]

A.) First of all Frob your secret is safe with me. I am only a witness to the events of that night in Caracas. I am a good boy as you know and never particpated in anything.

B.)Airwiz, I still do not know who that man behind the curtain is and I will leave it that way. I am content knowing that someone looks over me and protects me from evil.

Now guys on a serious note I would like to know what happened to the crew that got shot by a stray bullet. CO757 shared some disturbing information with us earlier. I hope that they are all O.K. images/icons/smile.gif images/icons/wink.gif images/icons/shocked.gif

[airwiz]

Ooops...I forgot some news for all you loves of my life....(yeah the two chrises included..) The mention of the 74/400 reminded me. I took a quick ID90 from SFO/CDG last week..about an hour into the flight the "Chef de Cabine" (thats us flymy) asked me if I'd like to go forward.
Mon Dieu! Il était terrible!
Nous avons parlé de toutes les sortes de choses et ils m'ont invité en arrière pour l'approche et l'atterrissage à CDG. Quelle expérience! Améliorez presque que le sexe.

Je comprends qu'ils font ceci de temps en temps pour nous des rats d'air.

wiz
images/icons/shocked.gif images/icons/shocked.gif images/icons/shocked.gif

[FLYMY767]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Arial, Verdana ">quote:<HR>Originally posted by airwiz:
Ooops...I forgot some news for all you loves of my life....(yeah the two chrises included..) The mention of the 74/400 reminded me. I took a quick ID90 from SFO/CDG last week..about an hour into the flight the "Chef de Cabine" (thats us flymy) asked me if I'd like to go forward.
Mon Dieu! Il était terrible!
Nous avons parlé de toutes les sortes de choses et ils m'ont invité en arrière pour l'approche et l'atterrissage à CDG. Quelle expérience! Améliorez presque que le sexe.

Je comprends qu'ils font ceci de temps en temps pour nous des rats d'air.

wiz
images/icons/shocked.gif images/icons/shocked.gif images/icons/shocked.gif<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
Wiz you spoke French to me.

You know what that does to my Latin blood.
images/icons/tongue.gif

[airwiz]

Aaaah Fly my.....Living proof there IS a God ....and She Loves Me!!!! images/icons/shocked.gif

[airwiz]

"Pay no Attention to that man behind the curtain" is what Frak Morgan (as the Wizard of Oz)said to Dorothy, the Tin Man, Sacrecrow and the Cowardly Lion when Toto grabbed the curtain and pulled it aside..revealing Morgan pulling the levers and pushing out the steam from his Wizard machine....I've always loved it because once, when I'd made an inflight annc. during a particularly ugly WX flight...one of my jr. cohorts, an infectiously humrous and very bright girl from DA BRONX,..grabbed the pa from the aft galley and said "pay no attention to that man behind the curtain!He's a spy for American and I promise you that's not really thunder and lightning outside!it's just the Wizard of OZ and his screwy sense of humor.

It has also been used recently as an editorial comment after hearing most of what airline bosses like Stephen Wolf have to say: Q: "How can you tell when Stephen Wolf is lying? A: Easy, see if his lips are moving!" images/icons/rolleyes.gif

[FLYMY767]

Ayyy Vayyy as the Nanny would say;

You learn something every day! images/icons/wink.gif

Ciao Caro Mio

I have to go pick up my car. I had the interior shampooed. At $75.00 it better smell and look like new. images/icons/wink.gif

[ 07-31-2001: Message edited by: FLYMY767 ]

[frob2fly]

FlyMy...
Hardly an innocent by-stander in CCS. If memory serves, you were the instigator and provocator (is that a word?)
airwiz...
I don't speak French...what happened on your trip to CDG? I saw the word "sexe" in your statement, but not even sure it means what I think it means. Decipher, please. images/icons/smile.gif

[airwiz]

O.K. sorry about that, it was sort of impolite and I apologize to everyone....the francais was for flymy, as a small remembrance of the time when it wasn't an "extra pay" item if you spoke a foreign language at our workplace. In fact, if you didn't it was very surprising! And yes, provocateur is a word, as in "Agent Provocateur" (see Wolf, Stephen for a complete description) What I said was, literally: After the Purser took me to the cockpit the Captain, F/O and I reminisced about lots of things, then they asked me if I'd like to return for the approach and landing at CDG "Incredible!! almost better than sex!!) (ok! ok! so I got a little carried away with the whole Gallic thing! I'll go to my room alrady!!!) And I added that it's my understanding that this happens every once in a while when we "air rats" are flying AF. I can tell you it was a first for me. In the 74/400 I mean..been there done that lotsa times in the WaterWagon (before your time I'm guessin' -- 707 intercontinental.) By the way, I think flymy did her thing to our colleague who suggested we get back to reality...nary a peep from the poor lad. NOW TO THE REALLY IMPORTANT MATTER AT HAND---WHAT DID FLYMY DO TO THE POOR GAUCHOS...AND WILL IT ADVERSELY AFFECT OUR ONGOING TRADE NEGOTIATIONS AND THE BALANCE OF PAYMENTS!!!

Shampoo the car?..puhleeeeeeze!!!! Like totally far out and awesomely rad... dude-ette.


La Wiz images/icons/shocked.gif

[FLYMY767]

WIZ
"Mi cielo, Que lindo Bon Bon de Azucar que tanto quiero comer".

The Gauchos are in deep trouble economically speaking. But I can never remember since 1986 when I started with PAA that they have ever been doing fine.

Correct me if I am wrong but the "Rocket" to "BA" did just fine with a poor economy.We even had for a while those 747's with the extended "sleeperettes" zones. We had 40 instead of 21 in First. Then 48 in Clipper Class (Business) and then 250 something in Cabin Class(coach)

Thats my whole point. All the airlines at the time including Eastern made money in BA.
AMR has now upraded from a 767 to a 777 on the JFK/EZE route. United is still a 767 on its service.

I do not intend to offend anyone at AMR or UAL but the truth is that CAL has a better onboard product in Business or Economy when it comes to international service.

While I am on the subject did you guys know that AMR comes by with the Meal Beverage Service and then they pick up with a TRASH CART while giving out BEVS at the same time.
They put their Beverage items(What we call pick up pans) with Ice,Cups, Some Soft Drinks, Coffee and Milk (in little blue carafes) and give those out while picking up TRASH. It is not a Clean or Sanitary Practice. UNITED F/A would SUE AFA if they had to do the Water and Juice Services like we do in Coach.Not to mention Breakfasts on South American Red-Eyes. I also have flown them both and speak from expierence. AMR this last July 04 SAP/MIA and UAL during the winter of 98 JFK/GRU.
Anyway, I have had to much coffee and I am getting off the subject. The point is that if these airlines that do not operate a true hub in NYC can make money on this route than why can't we. Larry wants to make sure we show a profit for the 4Q and till this day it may look like we take a very small loss(Single Digit) for the 4Q( All the other carriers will show tremendous losses in the Hundreds of Millions of Dollars). But that very samll loss breaks our continuos record of profitablity Quarter after Quarter and what it all comes down to is making money.

The start up costs of placing 2 A/C dedicated for BA even if we tagged SCL to it represent a lot of money. Remember Guys that you can fly a route up to 6 times a week to Europe with just one plane. Yes, 12 crossings, 12 round trips. "C" checks are every 60-80 hrs. How many hrs from EWR to LGW to EWR?

There are only 3 days left to appeal the EZE route. We will see what happens.
I am so glad I got that off my big chest. I think I should try Decaf for a while.

Besitos to all
Gras Bisous images/icons/wink.gif

[airwiz]

Aaaah… Cara Mia FlyMy…. usted también es mi más azul de los cielos azules….., flotando a través de mi visión. Si mi azúcar es dulce mi amor, su tan dulce como usted,

Y,como usted dijeron en su otro mensaje, (uniforms post) del you olor siempre bueno! como lilas en un día del resorte.

God....I almost forgot how to flirt..I think I'll run out and buy a gallon of Grecian Formula and maybe a couple of extra long Nathan's Famous..

You might want to explain a "C" check to those who aren't familiar with Pratt & Whitney....but I can't fault the logic in your hypothesis....I've got days off so I'm going to do some sniffing around (uh oh!.see what you started, now I'm even thinking like a dawg)and try to find out if someone's got a master plan which may encompass some of your ideas...As for your keen observation about the service differential btw us and them...it's no secret that every time we go head to head against AA in a SA or CA market, we begin to erode their market share
immediately. Remember, it was barely a year ago when that portion of the AA Pilot's manual which warned that "Latin Types" were capable of phoning in bomb threats to delay a flight, was leaked to the press. If you talk to folks in MIA and SJU, you will find that there is a feeling that AA displays arrogance...in that they have so much of the lift. As for UA, well, if they don't begin to pay attention to their core business (Hello!!! it's an airline!!) all these pax they have, who are locked in due to Frequent Flyer miles, are going to chuck those miles in favor of getting an on time flight and true passenger service for a change. I haven't been to ORD in a long while, which must be worse, but I can tell you, if you want to hear bitching, screaming, put-out and genenerally fed up pax, just stand around the United Premier counter at SFO.. ON ANY DAY OF THE WEEK...Its frightening from our standpoint to think that the poor UA F/A's are going to have to deal with a cabin full of these people in short order...and I'm not BS'ing...this is an everyday occurrance at the 1st Class Check-in. I find it ironic that an airline which once flew only domestically and Hawaii (and it it well) picked over the corpse of PAA to get routes they didn't know how to fly, continued to fly them badly but wound up being the "largest airline in the world"...only to eventually have to surrender that title to AA, who earned it by rescuing TWA and saving jobs along with their corporate expansion goals...instead of spending alomost a billion of the employees' dollars on a half-assed attempt to get back in bed with Stephen Wolf...which was doomed from the very start...and everyone knew it!
United does not scare me in the least. They could actually rework an old DL slogan for their own: "We're Learning to Fly...and it shows" AA on the other hand not only is smart, they're savvy (and, unlike UA, they've got their own (NOT OPM) dollars in the bank to go to war with. They can and will respond maturely...and quickly. I personally think the reason AA has been letting us kick some Eagle butt without making much noise is Carty and crew had one eye on the St. Louis ball and the other on the UA/US debacle...although I'm pretty sure they knew it was dead on arrival (late)..but as we all have learned...nothing is certain in our world until La senora gorda canta!!

Now, with the merger deader than the proverbial door nail, (and UA trying to remember exactly what it does for a living..Biz Jets is the latest..oh brother...Fly My...does biz jets sound familiar to you?..does to me..does Sabreliner ring any bells?) AA is going to come back into the ring with a vengence and we'd better be ready. (If anyone thinks that AA/BA is a dead issue...start reading again)
ok...enough is enough...

Also, to our friend in SLC, There is nothing wrong with it being about you..because without you, there wouldn't be an us....and that would really suck...

Cara Mia...you never fail to get me excited...

Ziw images/icons/tongue.gif images/icons/tongue.gif

[FLYMY767]

Ahh Wiz.

I had to take a cold shower after that.

Anyway if you need a laugh today please go to;
Flyforums.com

Click left on Continental Forums(Not Express)

Click on Crewroom and scroll down to

"CAL Chili Cook-Off" by B. Purvis.

Actually his name is Theodore Brad PurvisIII. He is a very nice F/O. Very serious man that was very well educated.I flew with him once.

I never knew he had such a great sense of humor.

I found his Cook-Off to be the best therapy today. I laughed so much I was crying, its a must read before bed tonight. images/icons/grin.gif images/icons/grin.gif

[ 08-02-2001: Message edited by: FLYMY767 ]

[airwiz]

For FLYMY/CO757/FROB2 and the two Chrises where ever they are in Blighty:

Thought you might like this. I'ts been stolen and reprinted in a thousand iterations, but here's the original (and yes, my brother is senior and works for the very briefly-largest airline in the
world


“If Airlines Were Hardware Stores”


As I was fated, long ago, to be an “airline rat” (Phylum: Rodentia Pecuniaris) I also am acknowledged as the penultimate recognized, admitted, unrequited vagabond in my circle of friends, (The ultimate being my older brother who not only has familial seniority but a hire date eight years earlier than mine (and higher digits before the comma on the paycheck). I don’t, therefore, find it at all surprising when many of those friends have asked me, from time to time in the intervening years since the advent of airline “deregulation”; to offer a logical explanation of the complicated, convoluted and dreaded Hydra which is airline ticket-pricing.

Fat chance. The only logic to be gleaned from the mess the airlines have brought forth on the traveling public is a closely-guarded secret, known only to a select group of airline insiders called “Revenue Management Specialists” who toil away, night after night (night is important, because it’s beneath that cloak of darkness that they practice their nefarious rituals which result in your quoted fare the next morning having absolutely nothing in common with the one you received before the Revenue Management Specialists began stirring their cauldron of confusion.

If I had the space, I actually could explain it. It has to do with RASM’s CASM's (and other assorted ASSEMS), “hub and spoke” marketing stratagems and a whole host of additional, generally acronymical terms which the reader neither will remember nor spend much time trying to decipher.

Instead, I’m going to provide you with an analogy which will shed absolutely no light on the reasons why the system is so screwed up; nor will it evoke an Epiphany in your understanding, but might well bring forth a small chortle as you try to make sense of your ticket from HIT to YON.

I live near a hardware store on Russian Hill in San Francisco. Brownie’s Hardware is a congenial spot where most of the neighborhood’s do-it-yourself-ers commiserate with each other and the staff every weekend, seeking solutions for all sorts of projects-gone-wrong. As I was passing through the paint section last week, I was struck by a thought: What if I had to buy this stuff in the same way the revenue pax buy an airline ticket.

A normal transaction at Brownie’s would generally consist of this type of scenario:

Me: Hi George, how much for a gallon of Sherwin Williams flat latex white?
Clerk: Well, I’ve got the standard for $14.00 a gallon, but your walls are old wood and you’re gonna need at least three coats, so you’re lookin’ at five gallons…$70 bucks plus tax. BUT…I’ve got the deluxe on sale for $20.00 and it’s fortified with vitametavegemin so you’ll only need to two gallons to do your place right!

Me: Let’s do it. $40.00 plus tax. And I’m outta there!

If I were to attempt to buy that same paint from United, American or even my beloved Continental, the colloquy would more likely go like this:

Hi! Nice uniform. How much is your flat latex white?

That depends.

Ok, what does it depend on?

Lotsa things

O.K. give me an average, a “ballpark price”.

Whew! You got a toughie there…the lowest price is $12.00 per gallon and then we have 123 different prices all the way up to $1000 per gallon.

There must be a hell of difference in the quality.

No. It’s all the same.

Well, then, give me two gallons of the twelve-buck variety.

To do that, sir I need to have just a little more information, like when did you plan to use the paint?

Tomorrow, I'm beginning days off!

Tomorrow’s paint is 323.45 plus tax and “cannage” fees also called container facility taxes.
Oh. Well, if that’s the case, when would I have to paint my apartment to get the $12.00 stuff?

In three weeks, with the advance purchase today. But remember, you also have to agree to begin painting before the Friday of that week, and you must paint continuously until at least Sunday after 8:00pm.

Awright!!!! Where’s Allen Funt!…come on now this is absurd!

Sir, here at TransGlobal Hardware we don’t joke! Customer service is our life! And besides, I don’t know if we have any of that paint available. I’ll have to check before I could possibly sell it to you.

Waaddya mean…. you’ve got loads of that stuff…I can see it on the shelf!

Ahh, but sir, just because you see it, does not, in any way, express or imply that I can sell it. It may well be the same paint, but We have very definite restrictions on how many gallons I can sell for that particular weekend you want to paint. And, by the bye, the price for that particular paint just went up to $16.00 according to my computer.

The price went up while we’re talking?

Yep, the Revenue Management Specialists have just determined that 38 other people want to paint during that same time. You are now dealing with a “Peak Painting Period”. And, since you haven’t actually purchased and walked out with the paint, that’s the cost, for the moment. (The clerk leans over the counter and whispers to me in a very entre nous voice…”and”, he whispers, “if you don’t want the same thing to happen in the next three minutes, I suggest you get off your ass and buy the paint now. How many gallons do you want?”

Well, I’m not sure, exactly, maybe four gallons, maybe five to be sure.
Oh, sir, you just don't get it do you? You can’t do that. You must purchase the exact amount. You see, if you purchase the paint, but don’t use it all within the specified time....and, God forbid, bring back a full, unused can, you’ll be charged a penalty fee which likely will cost more than the original paint.... And the rest of the paint might be no good anyway.

I truly don’t believe this! Where’s your supervisor? Is that him pulling the levers behind the green curtain? I mean, what’s the big deal. I pay you for the paint. I walk out. What does it matter if or when I use it?

There’s no point in raising your voice sir. That’s just the way it is. We make profit projections predicated on the idea you will use all of the paint and use them over the designated painting days . And when you don’t, it just causes all sorts of grief for the Revenue Management Specialists and you see how they get when they get cranky!

This is bogus…. I’m going over to the UniMerican Airways counter and buy my paint!

Good luck, sir. We all have the same rules. It’s called predatory pricing and the Justice Department has given us all a wink. So, chill out, pull out your wallet and buy it from us while the paint’s still $16.00…By the way, we’ll throw in a full half-sandwich to eat while you paint. The other guys just give you peanuts.


Good night to all!! and sweet dreams!
(2146 hrs PDT) images/icons/wink.gif images/icons/wink.gif images/icons/wink.gif

wizzerino

[FLYMY767]

Thank You Wizzie.

It was like bright light. Something that you have to accept. Like an awakening.They tell me that those Revenue Managements Specialist dont sleep much since airlines try to change their Ticket prices at night. In the morning you wake up and have a La Garbage to Baton Rouge for $99.00 . While LGA to DCA is $345.00 and LGA to IAD is $79.00. Who Knew?
I call United (Divided) American (Alligence Not) and my friends at both those companies call us CONT (pronounced with a U). Anyway its nice to know that there are men like you with Brains and Brawn. I am off on a 3 day. I will work on my Tan. I hopeto hear from you when I get back.

Gros Bisous images/icons/wink.gif

[airwiz]

Good Morning Ladies and Gents...What were we saying right here, among the world's most well informed group of F/A...just a couple of days ago...something about watch out for AA/BA to heat up again after the UA farce: I herewith offer you this tidbit from today's Manchester Guardian:

British Airways PLC and AMR Corp.'s American Airlines have renewed their bid to establish a new alliance in what some experts believe is a further assault on legal barriers to transnational airline mergers. The two airlines announced yesterday they hope to combine code-sharing, and share profit on nine routes from London to the United States But the deal will need approval from regulators in the U.K., the European Commission and the United States.
Both carriers already form the nucleus of the One World airline alliance, however, they have been unable to win antitrust immunity that would allow them to fully exploit the relationship.
In 1999, the pair were denied immunity in the United States because they refused to surrender prized slots at London's Heathrow airport, raising fears the combination would have too much power in the North Atlantic. Executives from the carriers argued yesterday that the world has changed since. Rod Eddington, British Airway's chief executive, said there had been "dramatic changes" on the transatlantic route since 1996, with rival alliances now enjoying preferential terms. "Regulators are increasingly looking at competition between alliances rather than individual airlines," he said.
The Star Alliance, One World's chief rival, is stronger for the moment, said Louis Gialloreto, a professor at McGill University. There is a more pro-business government in Washington and One World's North American presence has been diminished with the collapse of Canadian Airlines. However, those same sources add, the recent astoundingly clumsy and, they say privately, embarrassing and inept attempted buyout of US Airways by UAL Corp, (parent of United Airlines), has placed that company, which is the Star Alliance’s flagship carrier, in a vulnerable fiscal position, perhaps only temporary, but nonetheless severe enough to prevent a serious challenge to any aggressive Star Alliance moves as United retires to lick its wounds.
"The perception on the One World side is that the governments may be more amenable to giving them some form of antitrust exemption," he said. But competitors including Virgin Atlantic Airways were already complaining yesterday. Richard Branson, the airline's chairman vowed to fight the combination "tooth and nail."
Air Canada already has profit sharing on some of its routes within its Star Alliance -- with Lufthansa, SAS and Mexicana -- but the effort to get approval on a route in the United States is trickier because of the country's tough antitrust laws.
Experts suggested yesterday the agreement is evidence that airlines will increasingly push against the nationalistic laws that prevent global mergers of major carriers and bring consolidation to the industry. "This is a lot more serious than filling the aircraft. They are now really signalling to the world they have ambitions to operate as one airline," said Douglas Reid, a professor at Queen's University.
"This is more an indication of two airlines that would really love to do a merger deal but can't. So what can you do that's close enough or looks like one?"

Are we precient or what....not just a group of pretty faces!! Talk about the hyenas in for the kill...couldn't happen to a nicer bunch of "enlightened management" folks.


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[FLYMY767]

Hi Guys

Now the analyst say we are buying KLM to fight off AMR's deal with BA PLC. images/icons/shocked.gif


Good Night!

[airwiz]

Hi gang:

And in the opposite corner...weighing in with 300 Masseuses dressed in red....

BRANSON VOWS TO FIGHT BA "TOOTH AND NAIL"


As expected, Sir Richard Branson fired his opening salvo against his ongoing NO WAY AA/BA campaign, vowing to “fight BA tooth and nail' to scupper the planned alliance between British Airways and American Airlines.
Branson claims an aliance - which was previously over-ruled by anti-trust rules in the US - would stifle smaller carriers, such as Virgin.
He said: 'This proposal was withdrawn three years ago and nothing has changed since then. We will fight it tooth and nail.
'Between them [BA and AA], they control over 60% of the Heathrow-US market - 100% on several key routes - and around 70% of peak-time slots used for North Atlantic services.
'I'm confident that our Government together with the US and European regulators will see through this announcement and give it the short shrift it deserves.'

(© Associated Newspapers Ltd., 05 August 2001)
####

It's going to be interesting group...this time old Sir Richard doesn't have the bucks he did three years ago...all of his Virgin Express routes have been bleeding copious amounts of red ink, draining away from the carrier's cash flow...not to mention any war chest.

Wiz
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