Huge new Delta order imminent!

[jtrain609]

Originally Posted by surreal1221

No, I know, and I thought about that exact thing.

People upgrading, and at a 125 plane order. . .that's a lot of upgrading.

Don't get me wrong, I'll enjoy the sight, but I want the employees to be respected for what THEY have done. It hits real close to home, hell, it nearly hits home exactly - I just don't live under the roof anymore.

Any talk about pay rates yet?

I'll bet you there's been a payrate on these things since before they were in production, or a pay rate for a similar sized aircraft will be used. Remember, this isn't the regional route where the 787 is fitting a new size of aircraft for the company, it's simply a replacement as Brand X stated.

But many companies will have pay rates for aircraft that are larger than they currently operate. Skywest has a 120 seat rate already in place and I believe that Express Jet already has a 70 pay rate in place in their contract should the equipment ever show up on property.

[bike21]

Originally Posted by jtrain609

Skywest has a 120 seat rate already in place

True.

For better or for worse, I believe it is a question of when and not if. All I'm saying our group better stand up and get a solid pay rate for whatever happens.

[NJA_Capt]

Originally Posted by tonyw

Plus, you get more loyal travelers who aren't gonna ditch you for ten bucks.

If US airlines treated their passengers better we would be more loyal and it would take more than 10 bucks to lure me (us) away. Passengers have stated for a long time that they would be willing to pay more for better service. I have resigned myself to the fact that US carriers are a dieing breed. They have denigrated themselves to Flight Attendants peddling VISA cards, airline commercials on the TV monitors, and advertisements on the tray tables. We used to be proud or the "hometown airline," no more.

For personal travel I would gladly pay $10 more to ride a carrier that respected me as a passenger. Not the one that asks me to clean the seat pockets because they are too cheap to hire cleaners. Face it, airline employees could work for FREE and the carrier would still lose money.

Want proof that people will "pay what it takes" for a higher level of service? Look no further than the 2000 fractional aircraft flying around.

[Velocipede]

Originally Posted by NJA_Capt

They have denigrated themselves to Flight Attendants peddling VISA cards, airline commercials on the TV monitors, and advertisements on the tray tables.

You got that right. The VISA thing is the single most irritating "addition" to commercial service in the last 15 years. Of course, one of our F/As made $30K extra doing it. Given that incentive, it isn't stopping any time soon.

Not the one that asks me to clean the seat pockets because they are too cheap to hire cleaners. Face it, airline employees could work for FREE and the carrier would still lose money.

Once again, right on the money. But that's the only place airlines have any effect on costs...labor. Fuel is fixed (even with hedges) and capital is fixed. You know you're in trouble when the airline adds "Enhance shareholder value" to the core values statement.

Want proof that people will "pay what it takes" for a higher level of service? Look no further than the 2000 fractional aircraft flying around.

Third time is the charm. If you have the money, you can avoid the unpleasentness of the general population. That's why private Pullman railroad cars existed in the 1800s. That's why they build limosines. Of course, your service is far above the average airline "cattle car/bus depot" experience. However, I don't think that is all that draws the fatcats.

Flying into White Plains instead of EWR, no TSA, on call service and distance from the "great unwashed" are probably just as important to your clients. And given the direction of the airline pilot lifestyle, I'd say working for Netjets gets more attractive by the day. My advice to you (if you even care) is think long and hard before you give up that gig.

[tonyw]

Originally Posted by NJA_Capt

Want proof that people will "pay what it takes" for a higher level of service? Look no further than the 2000 fractional aircraft flying around.

Hey, you'll get no argument from me that you get what you pay for and there are some of us -- myself included -- who would gladly pay more for less crowded aircraft that leave when we want them to.

Unfortunately, airlines haven't gotten the message yet. They're trying to be Wal-Mart instead of Nordstrom just like so many American businesses.

Management at many companies has decided that they'll provide crappy service but low prices. They have decided, correctly for the most part, that Americans care more about getting some piece of crap on sale than paying full price for a quality product.

If I were in charge of an airline, I'd rebrand it. There's a reason why people pay $800 for a Coach purse which really isn't all that different than an $20 purse at Wal-Mart.

I'd be going after the folks who buy the Coach purses and getting them better service and amenities instead of going after the Wal-Mart crowd.

[mtsu_av8er]

Originally Posted by NJA_Capt

If US airlines treated their passengers better we would be more loyal and it would take more than 10 bucks to lure me (us) away.

Now, now - you know we don't say that around here. The failure of the industry is the fault of the dirty, smelly, uneducated passenger.