• CARRY ON BAG PROBLEM
• F/A TIME-LINE FOR SEPTEMBER 2009
• Accessing The Hub

• AFA Local Numbers

Dear Members,

CARRY ON BAG PROBLEM

As we all know, the recent decisions by airline executives to charge ancillary fees for checked bags, food and reservations, not made online, have provided a revenue stream for airlines. Clearly the revenue provided by this "a la carte" model ("pay for what you want"-in airline executive speak) provides airlines with a way to cope with a challenging economic environment. However, even more clearly, airlines have failed miserably in planning for and administering the charges. Their failure has caused problems for our passengers and our Flight Attendants.

Poor planning by US Airways has resulted in not enough Buy of Buy on Board product on almost every flight. It is a fact that while US Airways proudly advertises to our passengers, food and snacks are available for purchase, the undisputed truth (now acknowledged by US Airways executives and managers) is that limited quantities of "product" are boarded based on a cost factor- thus leading to a false advertising practice as only a small percentage our passengers have the chance to purchase a meal or snack.

The airline essentially sets the Company up for failure- and by doing so- sets the Flight Attendants up for an angry passenger experience. Executives and managers in charge of these decisions read the complaints and reports- but they don't live their failures like you do. It is one thing for executives and managers to analyze problems, but quite another to deal with the failures in person. They leave that up to their Flight Attendants and passengers.

Additionally, fees for checked bags have caused a myriad of problems. When the Company made the decision to charge for checked bags, the Union was told US Airways employees would be stationed outside of security to monitor the bags passengers were attempting to bring through security checkpoints and passengers were going to be restricted from trying to board airplanes with carry-on bags that were too big or too many. That has not happened. The result is an inconsistent bag policy that puts our Flight Attendants in harm's way on almost every flight. The failure to follow through on their promise also angers our passengers- and our passengers take their frustration and disparate treatment out on the Flight Attendants.

Airline executives have a job to do, but the job encompasses more than touting the dollar amount of revenue generated through the ancillary charges. As this is customer service business, the job is to take care of their passengers and employees and provide service.

The Chicago Tribune has posted a story about Congressman Dan Lipinski (D-Ill.) and his efforts to help us in the fight to limit excessive carry-on baggage. Included with the story on the website http://www.chicagotribune.com/ is an online poll. Please take the time to vote in the online poll that there should be a limit on the size and number of carry-on bags. Also, it would be great if you could post comments after the article about why such restrictions are needed. There is an open forum comment section immediately after the article.

Let's show Congressman Lipinski that he's doing the right thing for us. Please vote, spread the word and comment on the article. Let's prove there is no question that this is the right thing to do. The Congressman hits the nail on the head.

Below is an excerpt from the Chicago Tribune article. To read the entire article and participate in the survey, please click on the following link: http://www.chicagotribune.com/travel/chi-getting-around-29-jun29,0,3988617.column?page=1

"The congressman's recommended carry-on dimensions match regulations in place in Europe, and they actually are more liberal than some airlines' existing 45 linear-inch policies, although a few carriers permit carry-ons of up to 55 linear inches.

But Lipinski's point is that the airlines rarely enforce those voluntary standards, which vary from airline to airline, but are generally at 45 linear inches.

At issue are passenger inconvenience and safety, he said, especially because more people are toting more carry-ons aboard planes since last year, when most airlines began charging for checked baggage.

"The passengers who board the plane last often don't have any place to stow their carry-ons because the people who got on first fill the overhead bins with oversize roll-on bags," Lipinski said.

He is also worried that huge bags being removed from overhead bins could fall, hitting passengers like a ton of bricks.

Officials representing the major airlines are quick to remind Lipinski that the airline industry was deregulated in 1978 and, besides, his idea makes no sense to them.

"Why set standards that apply to both a large wide-body plane and a regional jet?" said David Castelveter, spokesman for the Air Transport Association.

Meanwhile, the Federal Aviation Administration reauthorization bill that passed the U.S. House contains a provision inserted by Lipinski requiring the comptroller general to study baggage delays and look at possible mandatory compensation from airlines in cases of "unreasonable delay."

Lipinski sought the study after attempting unsuccessfully to negotiate voluntary standards from the airlines, he said. He suggested that the fee for checked baggage should be refunded if luggage isn't delivered within 30 minutes of a plane's arrival. In fact, he said airlines should just eliminate the charge for checked bags, implemented in the summer of 2008 because of skyrocketing fuel prices.

He calls the checked bag fee, which generally ranges from $15 to $25 at most airlines, a "hidden cost" that some passengers are not aware of when they book flights. Asked how the airline industry, which is not expected to turn a profit this year, would survive without ancillary fees, Lipinski said the fairest move is to increase airfares.

"It's more transparent to raise fares than to impose hidden costs for all these add-ons like checked baggage and food service," said Lipinski. But should all travelers pay higher fares to subsidize fellow passengers who pay nothing to check their bags? The airlines liken it to including the price of popcorn in a movie theater ticket, even though not all patrons want popcorn."

Thank you,

Mike Flores, President
The US Airways Master Executive Council
AFA-CWA

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F/A TIME-LINE FOR SEPTEMBER 2009

PRIMARY
OPEN - 17 JUL/1800
CLOSE - 23 JUL/1800

SAP
OPEN - 24 JUL /1800

CLOSE - 30 JUL/1800 (PHL,BOS)
CLOSE - 31 JUL/1800 (CLT,DCA,LGA)

SECONDARY
OPEN - 07 AUG/1800
CLOSE - 12 AUG/1800

SECONDARY LINE AWARD
OPEN - 13 AUG/1800

SECONDARY LINE OVER-PROJECTION DROPS
OPEN - 14 AUG/0700
CLOSE - 30 AUG/1800

SECONDARY LINE AUGMENTATION
OPEN - 14 AUG/0700
CLOSE - 21 AUG/1800

RESERVE LINES
OPEN - 15 AUG/1800
CLOSE - 21 AUG/1800

ETB
OPEN - 22 AUG/1800

NFL AWARD
OPEN - 23 AUG/0700
CLOSE - 27 AUG/1800

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AFA Local Numbers
 
Council 41 DCA 703-212-8090
Council 69 BOS 781-289-8454
Council 70 PHL 215-492-0840
Council 82 LGA 315-736-3483
Council 89 CLT 704-527-0325

New Hotline Number Toll Free: 866-USA-AFA2
US AIRWAYS Benefits Information 800-872-4780

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