US Airways Pilots Oust Union of 59 Years Over Seniority Ruling
JetBlue Expands West Coast Routes, Ups Competition
Praying Passenger Removed From Plane
Nickel-and-Diming Award: US Airways to Charge for Window & Aisle Seats
Can’t Miss Camp: Tourist Traps Americans Love
US AIRWAYS PILOTS OUST UNION OF 59 YEARS OVER SENIORITY RULING - NPR
The battle for seniority between pilots of American West and the former US Airways came to a head Thursday when pilots replaced their union of 59 years. A new union, the US Airline Pilots Association, which is dominated by pilots from the former US Airways, replaced the ousted Air Lines Pilots Association. Three years after the companies merged, the US Airways pilots are still battling America West over seniority disputes. The past three years have seen shouting matches, threatening emails and even physical shoving matches among pilots and their supporters. Pilot disputes have “made almost every merger in the past messy, expensive and time consuming for management,” Calyon Securities analyst Ray Neidl said. “If you can get them in the boat and paddle with you, mergers would go so much smoother.” Pilots from the former US Airways have claimed that they no longer wanted to concede pay and benefits over the past years and wanted pilot seniority ranked according to when they joined the company—which would put many former US Airways pilots over those from the much-younger America West.
Link: National Public Radio
JETBLUE EXPANDS WEST COAST ROUTES, UPS THE COMPETITION – Los Angeles Times
JetBlue will begin flying next month from Long Beach, California up and down the west coast, in a move that has is upping the ante for rival carriers. The low-fare carrier is adding six flights from Long Beach to San Jose, Seattle and Austin, connecting major technology centers—a risky decision in today’s world of skyrocketing fuel prices. Meanwhile, budget carrier Virgin America began service from LAX to Seattle, and Southwest added four flights from LAX to San Francisco. The competition for Southern California travelers can be fierce: “You’ve got a lot of competition out there unlike the East Coast where subpar service allowed JetBlue to make inroads by treating customers well,” aviation consultant Michael Boyd said. “Alaska and Southwest are also known for treating customers well.” Steve Jarvis, vice president of marketing for Alaska Airlines said, “We’re going to fight it toe to toe.”
Link: Los Angeles Times
PRAYING PASSENGER REMOVED FROM PLANE - Salon
A passenger who left his seat to pray in the back of a San Francisco-bound plane before takeoff was removed from his flight at JFK on Wednesday night. The passenger, an Orthodox Jewish man, ignored flight attendants’ orders to return to his seat as he prayed near the lavatories. Two friends tried to tell the attendants that the man couldn’t stop his prayers before he was finished; when the man stopped paying, he told the flight attendants that he wasn’t trying to be rude. He was removed by an airport security guard and flew to his destination the next morning.
Link: Salon.com
NICKEL AND DIMING AWARD OF THE MONTH: US AIRWAYS TO CHARGE FOR WINDOW AND AISLE SEATS – Business Travel News
Following in the footsteps of Northwest, US Airways will charge customers at least $5 per leg for window and aisle seat assignments in the first few rows of coach starting May 7. Though this new program is entitled “Choice Seats,” there’s not a lot of choice in the matter: About 8 percent of coach seats will fall into this category. Elite frequent-flier members won’t be charged for these seats and the seats will be assigned for free if no other seat assignment is available upon check-in at the airport. This policy won’t be applied on shuttle flights or those on Saab 340 aircraft.
Link: Business Travel News
CAN’T-MISS CAMP: TOURIST TRAPS AMERICANS LOVE – Budget Travel
Sometimes there’s a good reason that a destination is crawling with fanny-pack-wearing visitors. A September poll revealed travelers’ favorite tourist traps in America. Some of the top choices? The ocean side Cliff House in San Francisco, the historic Fort Mackinac and Mackinac Island, Michigan (complete with fudge shops and horse-and-buggy rides), and Dolly Parton’s Dixie Stampede in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. Oh, and don’t think you’re too cool for New Orleans. Another favorite is Mardi Gras World, a museum that showcases some of the best floats from the past and workers busily constructing upcoming creations.
Link: Budget Travel
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