Comments on: United and Aer Lingus Earn a Cranky Jackass For Plan Which Could See Their Crews Disappear

By: UA-Insider

UA-Insider — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 14:37:50 +0000

United Flight Attendant union (AFA) is using it’s lobbying resources to go door-to-door on capital hill to all the Senators/Congressmen, and show them what this deal really means. The UAL/Aer Lingus spin is that’s it’s creating new jobs in a poor economy… when in reality it’s outsourcing jobs to the lowest bidder via legal loopholes. Finally, some of the Senators/Congressmen are coming around, and seeing the truth behind this crooked deal. There is a bill in the works, but it still needs more support before going to the floor for a vote. CRANKY FLIER: Have you though about writing a press release? I bet there are some reporters who would love to get in on a story like this.

By: lyn

lyn — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 15:26:12 +0000

Imagine…Tilton and his cronies can head United into the future. It becomes a virtual airline. Suits can book on United, earn points, save face, pay less than what it’s worth, not have to deal with unhappy, overworked employees, and probably even insist that flight attendants pass weight-check…after all, U.S. laws won’t apply.
Maintenance, food, cleaning…all farmed out to the lowest bidder. No strikes to worry about. And, with what is left over Tilton can give himself more bonuses and hire a private jet to fly himself and his family safely to vacation spots all over the world.

By: A concerned person

A concerned person — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 06:30:13 +0000

P.S.: They are hiring people from all over the country to fill IAD spots, not just the DC area…

By: A concerned person

A concerned person — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 06:28:23 +0000

I actually was offered an interview with Aer Lingus, not knowing any of the inside red tape like this before hand. I am already with another airline (and trust me the pay is low there too), but I wasn’t aware of the union concerns with Aer Lingus, hmm…

By: UA-Insider

UA-Insider — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 07:06:27 +0000

@ Nicholas Barnard: The flight attendants have been hired off the street in DC, non-union, low wages. They will be wearing Aer Lingus uniforms, but are being trained in the UAL training center in Chicago. UA financed the deal, Aer Lingus provided the aircraft. UAL has managed to pull a fast one here by trying to bypass union contract language prohibiting not only foreign ownership interests in US airlines, but hiring non-union flight attendants to work what is being advertised as a "UAL" flight. The "real" Aer Lingus (unionized) flight attendants + pilots filed a lawsuit. Pilots won, flight attendants lost... so the illegal/unethical hiring began. UAL flight attendant union (AFA) has hired a lawfirm to investigate and hopefully put an end to this blatant outsourcing of US jobs. (Yes, they are US citizens, hired in DC, but at minimum wages with minimum qualifications, and because of a big nasty legal loophole... for now).

By: Fontakis

Fontakis — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 15:05:08 +0000

Debi
please get your facts straight, the AFA is not paying for Delta organizing, the CWA is, with its unlimited funds. Imagine DEL/NWA the largest carrier not organized, that would set the standard, and that would only make you as good as your last trip..no thanx

By: Fontakis

Fontakis — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 15:03:12 +0000

@ Debi Shaw:

By: United flight Washington to Madrid operated by Aer Lingus - Musings of The Global Traveller

Mon, 01 Feb 2010 01:50:46 +0000

[...] Cranky Flier has given a good explanation of why this is not a good idea for the airlines (except for Ryan Air!). Assuming it gets off the ground, I also think it is a bad idea for [...]

By: emilia Focht

emilia Focht — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 12:06:19 +0000

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By: Steve

Steve — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 15:10:50 +0000

Hi Cranky,

I picked up the free newspaper here today, and noticed that Aer Lingus is now flying to lots of shorthaul destinations from London Gatwick. A bit more googling shows that this is a pretty new thing: http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2008/dec/19/transport-theairlineindustry

Looks like Aer Lingus is trying to throw what they can against the wall and see what sticks…