Airlines’ operations are being pushed to the limits this summer, as airlines are struggling to sufficiently staff flights and keep schedules running reliably. A glitch with American Airlines’ crew scheduling technology is causing quite the kerfuffle between management and the union representing pilots, and it could have implications for American’s reliability.
Continue reading: American Airlines’ Pilot Scheduling Glitch Fiasco
Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.
The APA seems intent on snuffing-out any goodwill that remains with the flying public towards pilots
I’m thinking you mean the goodwill towards AA management. This is their mistake and problem to fix. I’m sure if a pilot accidentally messed up their own schedule to the benefit of the airline, AA would bend over backwards to fix the mistake.
First, it is hard to believe that American has not fixed the automation that allowed this to happen before. AA used to be a leader in aviation automation but apparently that has been lost.
Second, this incident as well as the discussion yesterday about Delta pilots shows the reason why the Railway Labor Act governs air transportation and not normal labor-mgmt rules. When a union has the power and uses it to try to stop an airline as large as American, the rules cannot be the same as for other types of business.
Third, there are clearly a small handful of pilots that think the world should revolve around them and their unions all act like it; the arrogance that pilots have must be checked about their own self-importance.
Fourth, everyone wants a massive raise because of the decades high inflation that is going on right now but given that most airlines did a fraction of the usual workload while benefitting from billions of dollars in public aid, the public is not impressed by pilot union demands about how much they should be compensated now.
Pilots and the union have no responsibility to clean up AA management's mess
They made the mistake, now they gotta own the consequences, if it was the other way around we'd see the exact same thing.
Honestly, I have a lot of compassion for FAs when they demand better pay and working conditions. Merely the fact that they are largely unpaid until the cabin door closes seems egregious, to say nothing of coping with mounting bouts of flight rage and pax noncompliance and hostility, and even the risk of assault. But when AA mainline pilots are making $350,000 - $450,000 for about 80 hours of work per month, safely ensconced behind locked cockpit doors, and much of that work consists of paying only moderate attention to the controls while at cruising altitude, and of taking extensive breaks in the pilot rest areas on long-haul, I can muster absolutely no sympathy for their causes. AA is a mess but the pilots’ union are just greedy and taking advantage of the mess.
If technical glitches are non negotiable, AA can introduce a new glitch reducing pilot pay to $1
Given that American has the lowest number of cancellations today of the big 3 - and none are over 50 cancelled mainline flights as close to noon central time - it appears that the line pilots are more committed to supporting the company than the union. It is certain that there were many pilots that had today in as a day to drop flights and then had them reinstated.
Maybe the post holiday outcome will be different but I would bet that the union's advice is something that individual pilots aren't willing to do.
The only folks making that are widebody captains….less than 5% of the workforce at American. Everyone else makes less but I suspect you know that.
Secondly, I agree about flight attendants! My sister is one and it’s not an easy job.
They aren’t getting paid well to turn on the autopilot. They are paid well to know how to keep everyone alive when the autopilot goes bonkers, an engine falls off, a sensor malfunctions, there is suddenly severe windshear on short final, etc.
Yes, they are glorified bus drivers most of the time. But in the instances when expertise and skill matter, they REALLY matter.
As for the breaks and 80 hr months … fatigue at most jobs is a relatively minor thing that doesn’t have severe consequences. A fatigued airline captain is how you kill people.
I’ll take the highly paid, well rested airline pilot because I want to live, thanks.
The airlines and all of its employees gladly accept taxpayer bailouts, and in return screw the flying public/taxpayers as soon as possible.
Seem interesting that this happened a few years ago and now its happening again? Inside job? Pilots are going to drive this once great company into bankruptcy! I guess that 17% raise I heard a few days ago may come back in bankruptcy court as this is where AA is headed!
AA signed a contract they routinely violate. There are numerous grievances about contract violations and implementation.
The trips were dropped as per the contract, they will not be allowed to ‘put them back.’
Time for AA to negotiate in good faith. This contract has been under Luke-warm negotiations for 3.5 years! Time to put up or shut up.