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Galley Gossip: Advice for the employees of US Airways
Heather, Yesterday the flight attendants got terrible news at US Airways. THREE base closures. Mine included. In all these years, I've never commuted. And now, gone early next year: BOS, LGA and LAS. We got the news in the crew room. Some of the senior girls started to tear up. One cried, "I have thirty years, I've never commuted." The base is closing and we didn't even receive any information on base transfers, voluntary furloughs, whether or not we can keep our parking lot space, bidding packets from the other bases and seniority lists to help make a decision. Any tips? Prayers? An Article to educate us newbies?
Sincerely,
In shock
Dear in shock,
I'm sorry to hear about the unfortunate news. I understand why you and your colleagues are frustrated and upset. Honestly, I'm not sure which is worse, your airline closing three bases or the fact that they did not alert employees until the last minute, only to do so with little to no information. These are your lives we're talking about, not just base closures! While commuting is not always easy, it is doable, and chances are you might even become a better flight attendant because of it. I know I did. First, here's the prayer you're looking for. And now for a few tips...
1. EMBRACE IT - Now that you'll be traveling like a real passenger....wait a minute, take that back, you're the farthest thing from a real passenger. You're at the bottom of the standby list and there's nothing you can do about it. So stop fighting it and learn to enjoy it - as much as you possibly can. I do so by reading - a lot.
2. CHOOSE A BASE WISELY: Don't choose the base with the best flying if you won't be able to get there easily. Pick a base that offers several flights a day from your home city. And don't go where everyone else who has just been displaced wants to go! I can't tell you how many Dallas commuters think I'm crazy for commuting from California to New York. Yet their standby list is insane compared to mine. Not only do I always get on a flight, I usually end up with a pretty good seat! That's because there aren't that many LA commuters who work in New York. It also means in a worst case scenario the jump seat is mine!
3. GET CREATIVE: Because the flights are usually full, it's not always easy getting to work. Prior to 9/11, I would fly to Toronto and connect to New York in order to avoid holiday traffic. Yeah, that was a little crazy, but it worked, even during the busy Christmas season! And don't forget that sometimes those "thru" flights really aren't thru flights at all. Many often stop at a hub city. Get to know these flights well, the ones that are scheduled to arrive in Kansas City but actually make a quick stop in a hub city, and then jump off and connect to where you really need to go.
4. BACK IT UP: Commuting can be stressful, which is why I arrange my schedule so that I'm only commuting once a month. I'll back up my trips and work for several days in a row, flying as many hours as I can until I get the hours I need for the month. Sure it's a killer, and half the time I have no idea where I am, whether I'm coming or going, but when I'm done I have the rest of the month off to recuperate. Don't t waste your "days off" trying to get to and from work.
5. BID SMART: Forget about layovers. They no longer matter. Bid for "commutable trips." Look for late departures and early returns. The layovers might be short, but this will enable you to travel to and from work on the days you're scheduled to work, allowing your days off to remain just that - days off. That's why we took this job, isn't it - for the days off? If you do choose to back up your trips, look for a late departure on the first day of your first trip and an early return on the last day of your last trip. This will make bidding easier because what you work in-between these two trips won't matter in terms of commuting.
6. FIND A CRASH PAD: If on reserve, find a crashpad and you won't have to sleep in flight operations. I'm sure there's a bulletin board somewhere in ops where you can find fliers from fight attendants looking for roommates. A crashpad usually averages around $150 per month. Or try calling airport hotels / motels offering free shuttle service to and from the airport and ask if they offer a "crew discount" on rooms that will only be occupied for a few hours. Once I overheard a pilot refer to this as an "emergency crew rate." He got the room for next to nothing. Share the room with a fellow commuter to save a little cash.
7. GET TO KNOW THE GATE AGENTS: Agents have power, big time power, because they're the ones controlling the seating chart. They decide whether or not you'll get a middle seat - or if you get on a flight at all. Do yourself a favor and make friends with these people. It won't be easy. They're just as overworked as we are and they hear the exact same moans and groans from passengers as we do, so tread lightly, don't become another one of their problems, and always, ALWAYS, respect the counter. Stand at least ten feet away. Remember, whether you're an agent or a flight attendant, we're all on the same team. Let's try to treat each other that way.
8. WATCH THE WEATHER CHANNEL - It's important to know what's going on weather-wise around the country. If there's a storm in the forecast on the day of your commute, you might want to get out a day earlier. If that's not possible, make sure to get on the first flight of the day! Do not get caught up in delays that are bound to come later on in the day. A cancellation will nine times out of ten ruin your chance of getting to work. Save the "missed trip" for a time you really need it.
9. TRIP TRADING: If you don't know how to do a "trip trade" you better learn quick! Often times, while commuting, there's not enough time to ask for help when you desperately need to change your schedule. Otherwise you can do what I do and pay someone to do the dirty work for you. If I'm at the airport and unsure if I'm going to make it out, I'll call my "trip trader" who will either drop the trip or trade it for a different trip later on in the month. If not for my trip trader, I don't know what I'd do. She truly works magic and is worth every penny.
10. BECOME A BETTER FLIGHT ATTENDANT: Now that you're stuck in a crap seat with nothing to do but analyze the flight attendants, you'll have a better understanding of how the other half lives. I can honestly say I've mellowed out because of my commuting lifestyle. I now have a lot more patience and empathy for passengers than I did when I first started flying. Not only will this make you a better flight attendant, it will make you a more rounded individual. That, I think, is a gift.
Once you get over the initial shock, you and your colleagues will be just fine.
Good luck!
Heather Poole
Photos courtesy of carribb - US Airways, Heather Poole - woman reading & crashpad fliers
Filed under: Airlines, Transportation, Airports, Galley Gossip
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Katrina Nov 6th 2009 1:09PM
Hi Heather, I had a question regarding this post. I am flying to Las Vegas in January from Pittsburgh on US Airways. This is my first flight to Vegas, and only my third flight in my lifetime. I was wondering if this will affect travelers as well? Should I be making alternate arrangements? Thanks!
Heather Poole Nov 6th 2009 2:14PM
KATRINA - As far as I know it won't. "In shock" stated that the base closures won't happen until early this year, and your flight is in January, so I wouldn't worry about a thing. Just because the bases are closing doesn't mean scheduled flights won't be taking off. The airline will probably create trips for crews to lay over in the cities that are no longers bases for employees in order to man those flights. If there is a problem, and I doubt there will be, the airline, I'm sure, will call you to inform you of any changes.
Linda Nov 6th 2009 4:42PM
I worked for Usairways for 32 yrs as a flight attendant based in BOS, PIT and CLT. I commuted for 26 yrs. What I remember most is asking a non commuter to work a flt for me so I could go home when I was in my hometown and a dead heading crew was on. Most graciously said yes but most memorable were the judgemental ones who said no, you should live in a crew base, I do. I would inform them that I had kids and no family members in the base and I did commute for my families best interest, not mine. Now those same flight attendants are facing commuting, and to them I say, what goes around, comes around. No flight attendant enjoys commuting, but it is very doable with determination and planning. It does give you a better perspective on the daily annoyances of frequent flyer's. I noticed over the years that commuters often had more empathy towards the passengers and yes, this made them better flight attendants. Over the years I have met many fascinating people as seat mates with great stories, and also I've learned to shut them out and get some much needed rest.
Best Wishes on your commute, it isn't easy, but it is doable!
Jo Nov 7th 2009 3:33AM
As a long-time commuter, my best advice is...do the best you can....leave all your angst and anxiety at home.....and buy a Kindle. My Kindle is loaded so that I never run out of reading material and have to purchase really expensive airport books and best of all - it only weighs 12 oz. Check out amazon.com - they now have refurbished Kindles and they come with the full factory warranty, sealed in the box for about $149...it keeps me sane. Good luck!
twoclippedwings Nov 7th 2009 12:31PM
Thanks for responding to our plight. I am a reserve based in one of the northeast crew bases being closed. There are a couple of complications for reserves. One is that we are waiting to find out if we will be displaced TWICE as NYC is closing in January & BOS is closing in May. Displacement means money which reserves don't have. Some of are on B scale pay (substantially less than A scale) #2 is commuting while paying rent in the most expensive region to live AND to pay for a crash pad or hotel is cost prohibitive on B scale.
I am planning on moving to live in base but the uncertainty of which base & when is quite distressing. Displacement is temporary & we don't know if the company will contribute to moving expenses. The whole situation is a mess and even more disruptive to those who have kids and families with established lives in these bases. Commuting is even more difficult than ever as much of our flying has been outsourced to small jets which are packed. Times have certainly changed (I've been in the business since the late 70's but junior at USAir).
We are an adaptable work group & will make it work...somehow. The lack of information is a huge problem.
Bob the semi-talented singing pilot Nov 9th 2009 11:15AM
Yay, commuting!
I got thrown into that boat when they closed my DFW base forcing me to commute to ATL.
Although there are lots of non-stop flights a day on three different airlines between those cities, there are also about 2000 people commuting that city pair. All the seats are usually full, and getting either a cockpit or FA jumpseat is nearly impossible.
It is brutal.
I am seriously considering Heather's advice and bidding a NYC base as there are fewer commuters between DFW and NYC.....on my airline. On Heather's airline, that's a different story.
Good luck to all of us commuters!
frank96 Nov 9th 2009 3:41PM
What a wonderful, helpful post, as usual, Heather.
I never non-revenue, let alone commute. Heck, I dont even know how to pull up flights on my airline's computer system to check loads. Why bother, most flights are full. But, I've watched the commuters over the years, they get very ingenious on how to get to work or get home. So many flight attendants do it, apparently most of the time you can and will get to work. Getting past the FEAR and BELIEVING in the process is part of that success of having it work. I was chatting with a commuter on the jumpseat just yesterday, getting her perspective.
How sad to the F/A's of US, base closures are emotional.
GOOD LUCK to everyone.
May your flights always be ON TIME.
Nikki Nov 19th 2009 4:38AM
Here is a tip from a former gate agent/ ramper/ opp person/ bso and tc girl who happened to get laid off a year ago... Because the gate agent is probably one of the more stressed out people you'll ever meet be there well in advance of your dpt. We cant wait for a jump seater because its our butts on the line when the cabin door is shut even a minute late. We dont like having to deal with having to choose who flys and who doesnt, so mostly it is a first come first serve basis unless another crew member is willing to give up their seat. The smartest FA i have ever met was flying out of ONT to AUS then back to ONT before trying to comute home to GEG. before leaving ONT she had that jump seat filled out for her GEG flight and gave it to me. she got the first and only open seat. Actually i think she may have just carried a whole bunch around in her pocket which idk if i would advise because of security reasons and all that... but it worked for her, and it might work for you too. Just ask the GA very nicely when they have time and not in the middle of boarding a flight to notate the time you are checking in on the slip. Hope it helps!