Combined Travel Policy Q

Combined Travel Policy Q&A

America West and US Airways announced to employees the combined airline’s pass policy.

Employees are bound to have questions, so following are a few that have already come our way.

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Q: Who really wins out here, US Airways employees or America West employees?

A: Honestly (and we’re not just being cheerleaders), it’s an advantageous policy for employees coming from both airlines. The new policy introduces innovations like a registered partner option (new to AWA) and “vacation passes,” which are new to US. In addition, both will enjoy reasonably-priced “guest passes” and the retiree policy reflects AWA’s generous age allowance, along with US’ leeway for family eligibility. As for boarding priority, the “try it out” period will allow employees to test each airline’s method – first come/first serve on AWA and seniority on US – for about a year’s time. See the entire communication for clarification. Bottom line – and to quote Doug Parker – this is the best travel policy in the industry.

Q: Why is the policy coming in phases?

A: Merging the two policies requires a tremendous amount of technical work behind-the-scenes. Imagine, not only do all employees, dependents, etc. have to be compiled into one system, but the technologies group is also working to make online PBTs, listing, and check-in possible for all employees.

Still, we know employees are anxious to try out the new route system, so an Oct. 5 interim plan has been put into place, which includes free travel (ID100) on each other’s airlines.

Q: When will the second phase be in place?

A: In the announcement, we said “early 2006,” meaning the first quarter of next year. However, employees deserve to know a firm date…you need to make your springtime travel plans, after all! We expect to know a firm date in the coming weeks, and we’re committed to getting the word out to all employees once that date is determined.

Q: Why are you being wishy washy with the boarding priorities? It sounds like you took the easy way out by simply pushing out a final decision.

A: You are certainly welcome to have that view, but we don’t agree with it. Here’s why: First, non-rev boarding is a program that doesn’t cost the company anything. Whether we board on a first come/first serve or by using seniority, the costs are the same. It’s really a matter of what employees prefer and what we are used to.

Airlines are split on how they board. For example, at Southwest, American, and JetBlue, employees board first come/first serve. At Northwest, Continental, United, Delta and Frontier, employees board using seniority. US uses seniority today and AW uses first come/first serve. This is our reality and since we are going to be one big family very soon, we’re going to have to find a good compromise or a solution that either makes everyone mad or that people say, ok, I can deal with this. Besides, we thought it was unfair for a bunch of bosses to say, “It’s going to be THIS way,” selecting a policy without employee input. So, we’re trying on both for size.

While we all think we don’t like the other airline’s system, the truth is you really don’t know until you try it out. If you are a junior employee at US, you may very well like the first come/first serve. If you are a senior AW employee, the opposite might be true. All we ask is that you hold your criticism momentarily, appreciate that management is looking to your feedback to help guide the decision, and go out and fly!

Q: First come/first serve reminds us of those line tickets you used to get in the 70s and 80s…you had to get a line ticket to go get in another line to buy a ticket to see Peter Frampton, Loverboy, Van Halen…all of the old greats! Sounds like we’re taking a step backwards because we’ll have to go out to the airport to check in for a flight four hours ahead of time, every time.

A: Luckily you won’t always have to go to the airport four hours prior. We are working very hard with our technology team to automate travel for all employees. As we move forward, we’ll have one employee web site where employees can do the following:

Check loads
List for flights
Check in via the web

We will ultimately have a great online travel center that employees will find easy to access and easy to use.

Q: What happens on connecting flights? Let’s say I’m going from PHX-PHL on AWA, but then taking US to London. How am I boarded and is there priority given to through or connecting passengers?

A: Since the two companies will remain on separate reservations systems for an interim period, connecting from one airline to the other will require two completely separate reservations. Unfortunately, until the reservations systems are merged, there’s no way of giving priority to connecting passengers. Still, remember that, if you’re connecting to AWA, you may be able to check in online prior to your first leg, since you’re allowed to check in up to four hours prior.

Let us illustrate: If you’re flying from CLT to MRY, with the CLT-PHX flight on US and the PHX-MRY segment on AWA, check in for the PHX-MRY leg prior to leaving CLT. That way, you’ll get to PHX will a few hours under your belt in the first come/first serve system.

Q: Why are AWA employees getting fewer Flexi Passes? That seems like a takeaway.

A: Flexi Passes are being replaced with Guest Passes, which come with simplified pricing, meaning they’re easier and less expensive to use. So, true, employees may have fewer, but we anticipate that employees will find more value in them.

Q: Are old Flexi Passes useless?

A: The benefits folks are determining the plan for old Flexi Passes, which will likely include a trade-in program. However, at this point, they’re still working out the details and we’ll communicate progress with employees. In the meantime, continue to use the passes and don’t throw them away. We’ll announce the plan soon.

Q: Can you explain the registered guest program?

A: Yes, this is a program that allows an unmarried employee who does not have an eligible domestic partner to select one person annually (once selected, you are stuck with the registered traveler for the year; you can change your registered traveler each year). That registered traveler then travels at the employee’s boarding priority as a non-rev.

Q: How can I provide feedback? I want to have a say in the final decision on boarding priorities.

We’ve set up an email box just for you – row23middle@usairways.com. Feel free to send your comments regarding which boarding pass you prefer – first come/first serve or seniority. Who knows?! You may like one more than you expect.

We won’t be able to reply to each email; however the information will be compiled regularly and presented to the Steering Committee, in anticipation of a permanent policy a year or so from now.

Q: Will I have to re-register for my benefits at any point?

A: At this point, we’re not sure. There’s a chance that one group or the other (AWA or US) will have to re-do their paperwork for consistency sake. But, we don’t know details at this point, so we’ll communicate the answer with employees as soon as possible. In the meantime, you may just double check that you have copies of birth certificates, and other documentation, so it’s not a mad rush come registration time.