Comments on: US Airways fires skycaps, replaces them with Wall-E http://www.elliott.org/blog/us-airways-fires-skycaps-replaces-them-with-wall-e/ Consumer advocate Christopher Elliott's site. Fri, 10 Feb 2012 05:25:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Wv2patty http://www.elliott.org/blog/us-airways-fires-skycaps-replaces-them-with-wall-e/comment-page-1/#comment-75205 Wv2patty Fri, 22 Jul 2011 21:10:00 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=5086#comment-75205 Skycaps are a HUGE help to people like myself who disabled.  Being partially paralyzed due to a spinal cord injury, I must use forearm crutches to walk.  Without the help of these great guys/gals with getting my bags to the counter for check in--I would be totally unable to fly!!  The $ 2-4 tip is WELL worth it to me.  SHAME on you US Airways!!  When you put profits well above all else, including a little human compassion--I wish you nothing good.  Note to self:  "NEVER FLY US AIRWAYS AGAIN!!!!!!" Skycaps are a HUGE help to people like myself who disabled.  Being partially paralyzed due to a spinal cord injury, I must use forearm crutches to walk.  Without the help of these great guys/gals with getting my bags to the counter for check in–I would be totally unable to fly!!  The $ 2-4 tip is WELL worth it to me.  SHAME on you US Airways!!  When you put profits well above all else, including a little human compassion–I wish you nothing good.  Note to self:  ”NEVER FLY US AIRWAYS AGAIN!!!!!!”

]]> By: pete gamra http://www.elliott.org/blog/us-airways-fires-skycaps-replaces-them-with-wall-e/comment-page-1/#comment-67466 pete gamra Sat, 02 Apr 2011 02:53:39 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=5086#comment-67466 i was a skycap checking bags at the curb for us airways .we worked hard in very cold and very hot weather . i made 2.83 an hour with no benefits and unpaid vacation . the only income i had was the tip. the airline put a $2 charge for each bag which cut my tips from $80 a day to $40 when skycaps started complaining and some filed a lawsuit they fired all of us.yes i am bitter and us airways is being run by a first class bunch of SCUM. i was a skycap checking bags at the curb for us airways .we worked hard in very cold and very hot weather . i made 2.83 an hour with no benefits and unpaid vacation . the only income i had was the tip. the airline put a $2 charge for each bag which cut my tips from $80 a day to $40 when skycaps started complaining and some filed a lawsuit they fired all of us.yes i am bitter and us airways is being run by a first class bunch of SCUM.

]]> By: tripso.com | Are airline ticket agents an endangered species? Yes, but … http://www.elliott.org/blog/us-airways-fires-skycaps-replaces-them-with-wall-e/comment-page-1/#comment-13166 tripso.com | Are airline ticket agents an endangered species? Yes, but … Mon, 07 Jul 2008 11:03:23 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=5086#comment-13166 [...] check-in be implemented in the United States anytime soon? Maybe. As Chris Elliott wrote in his blog, US Airways may already be starting. He reports that some of the airline’s skycaps will be [...] [...] check-in be implemented in the United States anytime soon? Maybe. As Chris Elliott wrote in his blog, US Airways may already be starting. He reports that some of the airline’s skycaps will be [...]

]]> By: mark blake http://www.elliott.org/blog/us-airways-fires-skycaps-replaces-them-with-wall-e/comment-page-1/#comment-13106 mark blake Thu, 03 Jul 2008 22:12:31 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=5086#comment-13106 US Airways just doesn't get it...the skycaps make curbside check-in a breeze. I find the trouble begins once you enter the airport..long lines, flight delays and a feeling of why do I travel for a living. I feel for the skycaps and only hope that more airlines don't do the same. US Airways just doesn’t get it…the skycaps make curbside check-in a breeze. I find the trouble begins once you enter the airport..long lines, flight delays and a feeling of why do I travel for a living. I feel for the skycaps and only hope that more airlines don’t do the same.

]]> By: Mary H http://www.elliott.org/blog/us-airways-fires-skycaps-replaces-them-with-wall-e/comment-page-1/#comment-13039 Mary H Tue, 01 Jul 2008 20:05:23 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=5086#comment-13039 Remember the end of Coors Beer as a major player??? Sounds like all the old Coors management and board, when riffed, went into airline management. (Read a book called "Silver Bullet.") Back in the dinosaur age, when i was in nursing, we always joked that the hospital would be a good place to work if we didn't have to deal with patients. What was a joke has turned into real life.....without passengers life would be so much easier for the airlines. Remember the end of Coors Beer as a major player???
Sounds like all the old Coors management and board, when riffed, went into airline management. (Read a book called “Silver Bullet.”)

Back in the dinosaur age, when i was in nursing, we always joked that the hospital would be a good place to work if we didn’t have to deal with patients. What was a joke has turned into real life…..without passengers life would be so much easier for the airlines.

]]> By: Jschu http://www.elliott.org/blog/us-airways-fires-skycaps-replaces-them-with-wall-e/comment-page-1/#comment-13023 Jschu Tue, 01 Jul 2008 16:07:34 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=5086#comment-13023 @Joe Farrell The airlines should be reversed: USAir/United/Continental, aka, USUC. If someone wants to add a 'K' that would clearly explain how I feel about this airline. @Joe Farrell

The airlines should be reversed: USAir/United/Continental, aka, USUC. If someone wants to add a ‘K’ that would clearly explain how I feel about this airline.

]]> By: kc7 http://www.elliott.org/blog/us-airways-fires-skycaps-replaces-them-with-wall-e/comment-page-1/#comment-13021 kc7 Tue, 01 Jul 2008 15:51:08 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=5086#comment-13021 @Joe Farrell: That was back in 2004--before I started reading this wonderful site! I was a frightened, naive student and, when Lufthansa told me that all they could do was "maybe get me to [my] destination this week," I believed them. *sigh* @Joe Farrell:
That was back in 2004–before I started reading this wonderful site! I was a frightened, naive student and, when Lufthansa told me that all they could do was “maybe get me to [my] destination this week,” I believed them. *sigh*

]]> By: Charles http://www.elliott.org/blog/us-airways-fires-skycaps-replaces-them-with-wall-e/comment-page-1/#comment-13014 Charles Tue, 01 Jul 2008 12:44:06 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=5086#comment-13014 Unbelievable. Just when I thought USAirways couldn't sink any lower, they pull this. Are they trying to become the new SkyBus or something? Oh and yeah, sure, removing the skycaps had absolutely NOTHING to do with the pending litigation going on now. Unbelievable. Just when I thought USAirways couldn’t sink any lower, they pull this. Are they trying to become the new SkyBus or something?

Oh and yeah, sure, removing the skycaps had absolutely NOTHING to do with the pending litigation going on now.

]]> By: Joe Farrell http://www.elliott.org/blog/us-airways-fires-skycaps-replaces-them-with-wall-e/comment-page-1/#comment-13013 Joe Farrell Tue, 01 Jul 2008 12:02:15 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=5086#comment-13013 Hey - KC - you definitely needed to know your contract rights - Rule 240 might have actually still existed back then. There is ALWAYS a seat in business or first open in summer . . . Hey – KC – you definitely needed to know your contract rights – Rule 240 might have actually still existed back then. There is ALWAYS a seat in business or first open in summer . . .

]]> By: Jasper http://www.elliott.org/blog/us-airways-fires-skycaps-replaces-them-with-wall-e/comment-page-1/#comment-13004 Jasper Mon, 30 Jun 2008 19:53:26 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=5086#comment-13004 @ Joe, Chicky: Shall we add change UCUS into "Marvelous" UnitedContinentalUSAir, aka MUCUS? @ Joe, Chicky:

Shall we add change UCUS into “Marvelous” UnitedContinentalUSAir, aka MUCUS?

]]> By: Chicky http://www.elliott.org/blog/us-airways-fires-skycaps-replaces-them-with-wall-e/comment-page-1/#comment-12997 Chicky Mon, 30 Jun 2008 14:57:59 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=5086#comment-12997 Good one, Joe! I found an additional paragraph, by the way. "In order to ensure passenger safety and comfort, UCUS will be offering premium safety belts, sponsored by United Launch Alliance. UCUS will charge a $10 fee for each passenger, to ensure the safety belts are properly installed and maintained. An additional $5 fee will be levied for flight attendant training in proper delivery of the safety presentation. Passengers who do not wish to pay the $10 safety belt maintenance fee will be seated on the floor of the aircraft next to the lavatory." Good one, Joe! I found an additional paragraph, by the way.

“In order to ensure passenger safety and comfort, UCUS will be offering premium safety belts, sponsored by United Launch Alliance. UCUS will charge a $10 fee for each passenger, to ensure the safety belts are properly installed and maintained. An additional $5 fee will be levied for flight attendant training in proper delivery of the safety presentation. Passengers who do not wish to pay the $10 safety belt maintenance fee will be seated on the floor of the aircraft next to the lavatory.”

]]> By: kc7 http://www.elliott.org/blog/us-airways-fires-skycaps-replaces-them-with-wall-e/comment-page-1/#comment-12996 kc7 Mon, 30 Jun 2008 14:11:28 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=5086#comment-12996 Ditto on Joy's comments. I can remember, a few years ago, in college, I was trying to get form Chicago to Germany. A mechanical issue on my first flight caused me to miss a connection that led to 3 DAYS of being denied boarding on overbooked flights, getting shuffled to 3 East Coast cities, and sleeping on the airport floor. On the second day, I was booked standby on 2 flights. The first flight sent me away, so I had 25 min to get to another terminal, check my bag, and make the flight. When I got to the terminal, the check-in line was out the door. I begged the Skycap to check my bag curbside, even though that's not allowed for international flights. But he did. And my bag reached Germany a day and a half before I ever did. Ditto on Joy’s comments. I can remember, a few years ago, in college, I was trying to get form Chicago to Germany. A mechanical issue on my first flight caused me to miss a connection that led to 3 DAYS of being denied boarding on overbooked flights, getting shuffled to 3 East Coast cities, and sleeping on the airport floor.
On the second day, I was booked standby on 2 flights. The first flight sent me away, so I had 25 min to get to another terminal, check my bag, and make the flight. When I got to the terminal, the check-in line was out the door. I begged the Skycap to check my bag curbside, even though that’s not allowed for international flights. But he did. And my bag reached Germany a day and a half before I ever did.

]]> By: Joe Farrell http://www.elliott.org/blog/us-airways-fires-skycaps-replaces-them-with-wall-e/comment-page-1/#comment-12981 Joe Farrell Sun, 29 Jun 2008 15:26:46 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=5086#comment-12981 "UnitedContinentalUSAir" is proud to announce that in response to customer demand effective November 15, 2008 we shall be removing aircraft operators from inclusion within the ambit of the ticket price. Assuming you wish your flight to be stocked with an aircraft operator, a surcharge of $50 per passenger shall be applied to all tickets purchased online or from a UCUS ticket office. In the event all passengers shall not opt in to the aircraft operator selections, your flight shall be subject to cancellation. In the event that weather affects the flight, the surcharge shall be increased to $75 to cover the cost of the additional training required for the aircraft operator to operate the aircraft in inclement weather conditions. section 887, subpara 65, of the customer carriage agreement shall apply to these operations. Further, aircraft making stops in locations other than UCUS hub cities shall immediately be required to pass the hat for jetway service immediately upon arrival. We further expect that fuel costs in excess of $1.99 per gallon shall be paid via a variable surcharge upon tickets which shall be collected prior to departure. Those unable to cover these expenses shall be denied transportation and their refund shall be processed in accordance with paragraph 7775, section IV, subpara 7, sentence 5 thereof. Finally, we are pleased to announce that we have upgraded the service available in our onboard lavatories. As part of this enhancement of service, which includes lighting, working door locks, removal of security cameras and softer toilet tissue sponsored by "Diamler Chrysler," we shall be adding a charge of $2 per use. We urge our customers to buy a multiple use card for $10 which provides 6 uses of the onboard lavatories for the price of 5. As always, we recommend that passengers rent the oxygen concentrators, available at every seat , to ensure continued consciousness on board. " "We look forward to seeing you on a UCUS flight soon." “UnitedContinentalUSAir” is proud to announce that in response to customer demand effective November 15, 2008 we shall be removing aircraft operators from inclusion within the ambit of the ticket price. Assuming you wish your flight to be stocked with an aircraft operator, a surcharge of $50 per passenger shall be applied to all tickets purchased online or from a UCUS ticket office. In the event all passengers shall not opt in to the aircraft operator selections, your flight shall be subject to cancellation. In the event that weather affects the flight, the surcharge shall be increased to $75 to cover the cost of the additional training required for the aircraft operator to operate the aircraft in inclement weather conditions. section 887, subpara 65, of the customer carriage agreement shall apply to these operations.

Further, aircraft making stops in locations other than UCUS hub cities shall immediately be required to pass the hat for jetway service immediately upon arrival. We further expect that fuel costs in excess of $1.99 per gallon shall be paid via a variable surcharge upon tickets which shall be collected prior to departure. Those unable to cover these expenses shall be denied transportation and their refund shall be processed in accordance with paragraph 7775, section IV, subpara 7, sentence 5 thereof.

Finally, we are pleased to announce that we have upgraded the service available in our onboard lavatories. As part of this enhancement of service, which includes lighting, working door locks, removal of security cameras and softer toilet tissue sponsored by “Diamler Chrysler,” we shall be adding a charge of $2 per use. We urge our customers to buy a multiple use card for $10 which provides 6 uses of the onboard lavatories for the price of 5.

As always, we recommend that passengers rent the oxygen concentrators, available at every seat , to ensure continued consciousness on board. ”

“We look forward to seeing you on a UCUS flight soon.”

]]> By: Michael http://www.elliott.org/blog/us-airways-fires-skycaps-replaces-them-with-wall-e/comment-page-1/#comment-12971 Michael Sun, 29 Jun 2008 03:37:54 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=5086#comment-12971 Honestly I forgot they even have skycaps - I walk right under the depature lane and into the terminal, use a kiosk, walk to the plane, and get out of dodge. So what was the business need for the Skycaps? I only remember my grandmother needing their help of getting luggage from the car and checks so she didn't have to carry them. If we're talking about having a "premium, fast lane" then by all means just make it an additional queue where customers can pay to get to the front of the line if they're running late for their flight. But don't opperate a seperate staff, location, and service structure. Honestly I forgot they even have skycaps – I walk right under the depature lane and into the terminal, use a kiosk, walk to the plane, and get out of dodge. So what was the business need for the Skycaps? I only remember my grandmother needing their help of getting luggage from the car and checks so she didn’t have to carry them. If we’re talking about having a “premium, fast lane” then by all means just make it an additional queue where customers can pay to get to the front of the line if they’re running late for their flight. But don’t opperate a seperate staff, location, and service structure.

]]> By: Elizabeth Smith http://www.elliott.org/blog/us-airways-fires-skycaps-replaces-them-with-wall-e/comment-page-1/#comment-12969 Elizabeth Smith Sun, 29 Jun 2008 02:23:23 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=5086#comment-12969 More bad news from my least favorite airline! I was saddened to hear this news. Skycaps have been true "flight savers" for me, when lines were long and I had little time to get to the gate. More bad news from my least favorite airline! I was saddened to hear this news. Skycaps have been true “flight savers” for me, when lines were long and I had little time to get to the gate.

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