Base closures?

[airhostess1000]

Anyone have any info on the rumors about Delta closing PDX/SEA and several other bases? Please share... images/icons/blush.gif

[PArefugee]

I've heard these rumors as I've been hearing rumors pretty much everyday I've been flying. It's pretty much a given we'll be seeing some serious cost cutting but let's wait until we see something in writing before we panic.
I personally hope Delta does some cutting and soon as the longer you postpone action the less effective it is. I worked for a carrier that acted like everything was fine right up to closing. If a base is costing more than they earn close it.

[Skymaid]

Listen to the recording of the latest Sharon Wibben conference call. On it they talk about what all they know and don't know about the future plans. As of 9/26 they still had a lot of figuring out to do based on unknown factors ie: future marketing plans, etc.
I don't know about y'all but the suspense is about to kill me!

[bluemerle]

The suspense is killing me too!! Sharons next call is on the 08Oct, and we will have more details. I heard they wanted to downsize the smaller bases and not close them. Apparantly, they have long term leases signed with the different airports and they would lose even more money if they left.

[wrengeaux]

I just got back from a west coast trip and in the galley there was the discussion of west coast base closings as well as which hubs were not very profitable. There is nothing concrete yet in regard to SEA, PDX etc. . However it was mentioned by a west coast regional VP to the F/A's on one of the flights that DFW and CVG were not cost effective due to excessive sick leave costs. Also on the way out west I sat next to a non-rev F/A , both he and his wife were F/A's and he was talking as though the SEA issue was more probable and was thinking of looking at a different line of work.

Just a note, I am just a PAX and anything I posted was just casual conversation with the crew. With that said, I hope that these are just more pieces of the puzzle not to be construed as fact.

[AtlFlyBoi]

Ok--so I just got back from a PHX layover, and we had some commuters on who told me all about Sharon's little meeting with the PHX area f/a's. Here's what she said. They are for sure seriously thinking about closing the smaller non-profitable bases. I bleive that means that the costs of having a base are out-weighed by hotel costs if we didn't have a base there. Then she said that they were thinking about opening up small satelite bases in San Diego, San Francisco, Las Vegas, Minneapolis, Washington D.C., & Phoenix. These would be supervisor-less bases with just f/a's. These wouldn't be anytime soon, like in 2 years or so. She also said that commuters should seriously think of taking leaves because commuting is about to be hell. I suppose because of the flight cutbacks. Sharon said that pay cuts were pretty much out of the question. She also said that Sharon really wants to do a retirement package, but the company won't let her. (You choose whether or not you want to believe that one) She said she's submitting a retirement deal to management for a third time. Anyway--that's the latest scoop! images/icons/mad.gif atlflyboi@aol.com

[Skymaid]

Don't expect any details or definite info from the 08Oct conference call. There was a notice in the IFS website stating that although there will be a conference call they still do not have any definite plans or info to tell us.
"Thank you for your patience"

[airhostess1000]

images/icons/smile.gif Thanks to everyone for sharing the news...
I have a friend of a friend who attended the PHX meeting and we're waiting to hear the particulars.
So we're not to anticipate anything solid from the the conference call on the 8th??? Whats taking them so long to make a decision???

[AtlFlyBoi]

Just heard that the leaves won't start until January and will probably be like 6 months. images/icons/mad.gif

[bluemerle]

I heard that they will not have the leave packages ready until mid-Nov. It irritates me that they make all these announcements and are STILL not prepared. I also heard that the line sharing will be 6 months on and 6 months off and aux will be in place of this new job share. I am also shocked that they are taking away jobs in the USA and giving them to the Philipines and India. Leo is crying to Congress for more USA taxpayer money and he takes jobs from USA DL people and gives them to other countries!

[Skymaid]

Originally posted by bluemerle:
I I am also shocked that they are taking away jobs in the USA and giving them to the Philipines and India. Leo is crying to Congress for more USA taxpayer money and he takes jobs from USA DL people and gives them to other countries!<font size="2" face="Arial, Verdana ">What jobs are you talking about? I haven't heard anything about this.

[AtlFlyBoi]

They are going to open some Res call centers in India and the Phillipines. They haven't announced that they will lay off any US Res people, but this can't be good for them. Another thing along the same line of that idea is the India based f/a's. You would think that they should lay off those before they should lay off those of us based in the US. US based pilots cover those flights, so why couldn't we cover them from here too. Just a thought.

[bluemerle]

Our India based flight attendants are unionized! Hint Hint!

[AtlFlyBoi]

Did you guys hear that they ARE going to be offering a retirement package? This is GREAT!!! I had heard that they couldn't because of it only having been 1 year since the last one, but the email I just got said that they are going to offer a retirement package along with the leaves and voluntary severance. I couldn't believe that the voluntary severance comes with 5 years of flight benefits. That seems like a long time to me. Maybe this retirement thing will help us get the number of f/a's we need without furloughs. I really think that the more senior people in the smaller bases that could close will really think long and hard about retiring before commuting to ATL from their homes. This is finally some good news. I hear that the detailed packages will be coming out on Monday or Tuesday. images/icons/shocked.gif

[airhostess1000]

Hi! Thanks for your input...I've heard the company is looking to reduce 2,500 f/a's... The 'fine print' is what the senior F/A's are looking at...something to do with the gaurantee of benefits, and I"m referring to the last early out package that was offerred...Let's hope the company comes up with something we can all live with... images/icons/shocked.gif

[DLguy140]

I hope that a lot of senior people will retire, but, I am afraid it's probably not as good as the package they offered last time...The email they sent out said something about a retirement package , with certain MEDICAL PREMIUMS waived or something to that effect...Sharon has already said several times that they could not offer the same retirement package like last time because it costs too much $$$$....Maybe if they offer the right kind of pass benefits some will take it..And how about the leaves, it does not sound like they will offer medical with those either..That will make a lot of people think twice unless they have a spouse with full medical...Let's hope for the best.

[flybaby]

Listened to the conference call this afternoon. New Orleans, Houston, Chicago, Seattle and Portland will close in March, 2003. Sounds like they will have the option of commuting to either New York or Atlanta.

[AtlFlyBoi]

I totally hate this for those f/a's based in those cities, but I see this as good news for those of us on the bubble of being fired. I think that many of the people in the closed bases will choose to retire if the have enough years. This makes me feel much safer about my job. Commuting is sooooo difficult, especially from the west coast.

[airhostess1000]

images/icons/frown.gif Well, the rumors where officially confirmed...PDX & SEA, amoungst others, will be closing images/icons/frown.gif images/icons/frown.gif images/icons/frown.gif
Its so very sad and upsetting to think about the future...commuting is a bitch!!!
While it may weed out a few very senior people I wouldn't count on it yet...lets wait until the retirement packages come out...lots of former Western people with high seniority are only credited by half so someone with 30 years flying is only credited 15 towards retirement benefits...
Guess its time for me to get pregnant and go on welfare.... images/icons/rolleyes.gif

[Mystere IV A]

Delta Air Lines (DAL) will shut its flight attendant base in New Orleans next year, a moneysaving moving that will force about 250 attendants to fly each day to begin their routes in another city, the company says.
In addition to New Orleans, Delta also will close its attendant bases in Chicago, Houston, Portland and Seattle, airline spokesman Dan Lewis said.
Attendants begin their service each day at the bases. Flight attendants will still be able to live in New Orleans and the airline will pay for their commutes, Lewis said.
"What this does is reduce the complexity of the system, simplify the way we're organized and reduce significantly the costs associated with that complexity,"Lewis said. "It's purely an organizational restructuring. It's no reflection of any plans for a change in our schedule or network."
It isn't unusual for flight attendants to live in one city and be based in another, said Michelle Duffourc, a spokeswoman for the Louis Armstrong International Airport.
"They don't lose their jobs, they just have to commute," she said.
Delta is the second-largest provider of air service in New Orleans and the only airline to have a flight attendant base at the airport.

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[Mystere IV A]

Delta Air Lines will eliminate about 350 employees in Portland, mostly flight attendants, among 2,000 people in five cities nationwide, local employees said Tuesday.
Portland's flight attendant base will have its last day March 1 and will be closed by the next day. Flight attendants affected by the announcement were notified Tuesday, according to the sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity.
Other flight attendant bases being shut down are in Seattle, Houston, Chicago and New Orleans, the
sources said. Bases are offices where employees are required to report to work. A flight attendant could, for example, live in Eugene and report to work in Portland.
Flight attendants will be able to apply for jobs at Delta's other bases, which include New York and Atlanta, but it was unclear late Tuesday if there would be enough jobs for all current employees. The bases are remnants of markets where the airline once had a larger presence.
Atlanta-based Delta had a much larger presence in Portland when it housed its U.S. gateway for nonstop flights to Asia here. The airline had about 1,200 employees at the Portland base when its Asian hub closed in March 2001. Employment was expected to fall to about 870 after the hub closed and has been reduced substantially since then as airlines remain mired in a financial crisis.
Delta and other airlines have suffered from weak air travel demand since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, made worse by a weak U.S. economy. U.S. airlines lost $7 billion in 2001 and are expected to lose at least as much this year, analysts say.
Delta has slashed 21,000 jobs, or about 25 percent of its work force, since the terrorist attacks. It was unclear whether the jobs in Portland and the other bases were included in an announcement Oct. 17 that Delta would cut an additional 7,000 to 8,000 jobs companywide.

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[airhostess1000]

images/icons/confused.gif Here we are being uprooted and/or furloughed and now there is a post re Skywest hiring FA's??? I wonder if this has anything to do with DA's new lost cost carrier plans...
I'd be interested in hearing your thoughts... images/icons/confused.gif

[airhostess1000]

images/icons/confused.gif Mystere??? I just read your post re the New Orleans base closure. According to the conference call held by Duff O'Dell, director of F/A - West this last Tuesday, Delta will NOT be paying for any commuting costs nor offer any positive space passes to FA's affected by base closures. They will be offering a lump sum of money to any FA that choses to relocate to the area of their new base. I believe you must live within 125 miles of the new base in order to qualify for this allowance.
I'm currently PDX based and will probably be forced to fly out of either ATL or NYC...a nightmare either way. It will be my choice whether to commute (on standby) or quit...
If you have anything in writing that you could pass on regarding the statements made by Dan Lewis, I'd certainly love to get a copy...
Thanks

[CO757]

I'm sorry to hear about your bases being closed. At CO we know all to well how that goes. Is it impossible to get into the SLC or LAX bases?

What are the thoughts over at DL regarding the alliance with NW & CO. I wonder if all these changes are leading to the merger of the three carriers?

[Mystere IV A]

airhostess1000,

Sorry all the information I got were in my posts.I have nothing more for the moment.
I'll keep an eye on it and will pass on to you anything I can get about.

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[AtlFlyBoi]

more bad news--i just heard from a pilot who had spoken with the chief pilot in ATL that the new low-cost operation is going to be staffed by contract f/a's. I thought this was going to be a good thing for current Delta f/a's, but I guess it's not. He said that they would have 5 year contracts with no benefits, and at the end of their contract they would be paid a lump sum for completeing their contract. If anyone else hears about this let me know.

[airhostess1000]

images/icons/mad.gif The Pot Thickens.....so many rumors... I think we Delta employees are going to get royally screwed by this new 'lost cost' carrier... I have a gut feeling that the company is going to do a lot of layoffs...then do a 're-organization' and 'give' us the opportunity to work for this low cost airline at a low cost pay scale...
As an old air bag with 17 years seniority, I'm going to wait out the ride...maybe take a leave or go on AUX... images/icons/mad.gif

[bluemerle]

I agree, I also thought it would be good for the people on leave, but I have heard so many rumors and they all all bad! What happened to the family? I was pissed to see DL gave a 2 1/2 cent dividend to it's stockholders. Even thought I hold quite a bit of stock, I am ashamed at a time like this they are doing this!

[AH]

Originally posted by AtlFlyBoi:
more bad news--i just heard from a pilot who had spoken with the chief pilot in ATL that the new low-cost operation is going to be staffed by contract f/a's. I thought this was going to be a good thing for current Delta f/a's, but I guess it's not. He said that they would have 5 year contracts with no benefits, and at the end of their contract they would be paid a lump sum for completeing their contract. If anyone else hears about this let me know.<font size="2" face="Arial, Verdana ">AtlFlyBoi:

Everyone involved with the LCC had to sign a confidentiality agreement. So it is doubtful that the Chief pilot said this to a pilot or anyone who had not signed an agreement.

However, it is possible that he said that all options are being looked at, including the one that you mentioned.

Keep in mind that the LCC would have to start slowly and gradually build if it has to train contract flight attendants. If Delta is going to launch it quickly, it will need to use us on the A/C.

[nwacrew]

Recently the majority of Delta flight attendants voted against joining AFA; prefering to remain non-union.
But rumors of Delta staffing a start-up carrier with minimum wage new hires - at a time when Delta mainline flight attendants are on furlough - might cause some of those anti-unionists to pause and consider the value of a union contract with ironclad scope language.

The idea that management is some sort of "Daddy" who will take care of employees is hopelessly out of date. More than a few loyal Delta flight attendants are going to find that out the hard way; in the unemployment line...

[bluemerle]

nwacrew: I hope you are right! Even scarier is that we have a new revised seniority ist with all of the people out on leaves taken off the list. Very scary! We are still waiting for a decision from the NMB on a Laker ballot. Wish us luck!

[AtlFlyBoi]

The sad thing is that some of us did vote for a union, and because some people thought Delta would always put the employees first we're going to get screwed. It's ignorant to think that a corporation isn't out to make money and money only. images/icons/mad.gif

[Skymaid]

Amen to that, AtlFlyBoi!

[nwacrew]

Wasn't it just a few years ago that Delta employees were so enamored with their company they chipped-in and bought the Big Boys in Atlanta a brand spanking new 767?

I'd ask for it back.

[Skymaid]

Originally posted by nwacrew:
Wasn't it just a few years ago that Delta employees were so enamored with their company they chipped-in and bought the Big Boys in Atlanta a brand spanking new 767?

I'd ask for it back.<font size="2" face="Arial, Verdana ">That was way back in 1983. A totally different place in time.

[airhostess1000]

images/icons/grin.gif NWA - LOL! "The Spirit of Delta" is the given name of the A/C. Some say it's haunted as there's always one thing or another going wrong with it!
I don't know who started the campaign to purchase the A/C but I've had several people (especially ground personnel) say that they were questioned when they declined to pitch in.
The days of Delta being a 'family' are long over. As a former Western f/a, we were always the ugly step children anyways! images/icons/grin.gif

[bluemerle]

Even though i'm jr at DL (under 10 years) I feel the company has treated the senior people and the VL leave people disgracefully! Closing all the senior bases and leaving them no option but NYC! Also, the people who helped out the company by taking leaves are being removed from the seniority list. They should have called back ALL the leaves and then furloughed out of seniority order. By the senior people NOT having bumping rights, it's much better for the junior people. Even though it helps me, I think it's a kick in the teeth to their loyal employees and I think it's awful. When are the DL flight attendants going to wake up and vote Yes for a union? We will get another chance soon, and I don't want to hear any excuses this time!

[airhostess1000]

You are absolutely right, Blu! While a union doesn't guarantee our jobs, I think it would help to have a 'voice' in the decisions.

[AtlFlyBoi]

So I got my letter from mgmt today about some sort of legalities regarding my furlough. Evidently they have to warn me that I could be furloughed at least 60 days before it actually happens. It says that, "Currently, we anticipate that any flight attendant who has an In-Flight Service adjusted seniority date of May 25, 1999, and a seniority number of 16,934 or higher, he/she could potentially be impacted by a possible furlough, depending on the take rate for the voluntary programs." So those of you above these #'s should breathe a sigh of relief.

[airhostess1000]

images/icons/frown.gif AtlFlyBoi...I'm so sorry to hear that and very surprised at the sime time. I guess since my seniority # is above that, I did not receive that letter.
I'm still leaning heavily towards taking the 1 year leave as I know the commute to NYC or ATL will kill me, but I'm very concerned about what will be available to me in the future...
Whether you have 20 years or 5 years, we're all screwed (some worse than others). I hope that you'll be able to hold a position in a base and that it won't kill you or break the bank in order to get there...