Thread: God I sure miss Nwa

In my time as a Comair gate agent, I got to learn DLmatic and was "taught" AOP. I feel that AOP is probably easier to use, but it was very hard to transition to. DLmatic is more difficult to use for a beginner, and probably pretty difficult to transistion to. It was very frustrating as a gate agent to want to do something for a customer, and not know how to make the computer do it. CJ, I experienced that frustration every day. What I liked about DLmatic was the ability to do what you needed to do. Now, my training on AOP was pretty much "this is the "check-in" button, it checks people in, now you're trained." I knew enough to get by for 1 flight in a perfect situation without much frustration. The issue was when I was the only gate agent working, and I had 3 oversold departures from 2 gates in 2 computer systems within 40 minutes in the summer time so all 3 flights have pax that need rebooked. You don't bend the rules for every pax, but at times it is necessary. I used to be able to do that in DLmatic, but couldn't do it in AOP. I really prefered DLmatic to AOP for that reason. In the last few months I noticed that DL started really closing doors in DLmatic. They made it so difficult to rebook pax. I've had flights divert and cxl and no way to rebook pax, I've held 2 flights at the gate once while I waited on hold with the help desk to reticket a res. It was extremely frustrating the last few months I was there.

CJ, I think I've been where you are and I think I know how you feel. I had been chasing a job down for a few months at that point that just so happened to pan out, and thus I left DL/OH/REAS. Had that job not panned out, I'm not certain what I would have done, but I'm thinking I probably would have left by now.

I hope you don't get too much attitude from DL agents. I know they look at the regionals like garbage. It was pretty funny when I was nonreving and had to show a mainline agent how to do something in the computer. I'm now a frequent customer of DL, and will shortly hit Medallion status. I really appreciate the agents out there that care and try to give the best service they can. Your frustration shows me that you care about what you do.

And I don't think you represent DL on here, I think you represent you, and we should be able to be honest on this forum about our feelings good or bad. Good luck with everything.

I concur that this is a forum for airline employees and not for the flying public but seems anyone can really join here so you don't know what you really got. First I'd like to say that I have the upmost respect for you REDCOATS out there. I see them dealing with the public and you guys have a very tough job. I couldn't do it and I wouldn't want to do it. I am glad to deal in Maintenance where my interaction with the public is quite limited. HOWEVER, I have to understand systems for parts ordering, entering paperwork and signing off work completed. Then I also have to be able to look up things in the maintenance manuals REALLY FAST to have a plan of attack on how I intend to take care of a situation with maintenance inbounds. Sometimes its battle. I think I'm in a foxhole somewhere in Vietnam in 1966 about to be overran around my perimeter and I'm shooting bullets twinkling on the barrel to keep it from boiling and melting away. Here is a trick on what I do. Ask questions, and DON'T GET IN A HURRY. At times I feel like this situation is just not going to happen, so after I regroup and take my time, I methodically think my way out of the situation. Try and do the same on the computer. In other words, don't let it kick you in the butt. You control the computer, don't let it control you. Now with that attitude, you can't lose. Have a nice day.

Originally Posted by cjjohnson

I'm so sorry if I sounded whiney to you but sometimes the truth comes out that way. When even the dl agents don't like and struggle with the computer system I feel like it is a system problem not my problem. I have had to learn other systems in my time such as sabre and picked them up pretty quick so again it is a systwm problem. As for the customers being spoiled you can certainly tell an old nw customer from a dl customer. Nw customers would use the kioks and be in and out in no time instead of waiting in line for an agent just because they don't feel like doing it for themselves,Then yell at the agents cause it took so long to get waited on. I treat the customres like gold and give whatever i can but this is a forum for airline employees not for the flying public and we should be able to express our opinions freely here. I am a redcoat professional and act the part at work but it is good to express the frustration somewhere.

Thanks for the support guys. I really appreciate it. I do love my job and continue to do it to the best of my ability. It is nice to have a place to sound off and say what we really think and feel. I will continue to work with the system and will conquer it eventually. The merger is supposed to be the best of both companies and that is true with the employees. They are the best and work very hard to get the job done.

cj, I'm sorry to hear you feel that way (Didn't know how good you had it). I hope in time you will grow to feel the same about DL.

Personally, I dont mind the "vent", as long as you don't let it boil over onto the customers. I think we all vent at some point- to friends, at work, and even on line. But instead of just letting it out here how about trying to get yourself and your coworkers a better system. Does your division have a "Call in Show"? Maybe you can voice your opinions to the leadership using that avenue. I've done here in TechOps. It hasn't worked every time, but it has worked on some major issues. Just be respectful, have your facts in order, and keep pressing.

To those who are still mad at cj; Remember how hard everyone pushed to block the USAirways takeover? How would you feel if the court had let that happen?

One last thing- Welcome to Delta.

I'd like to add a little something .......

As a former Pan Am'er ... DL absorbed many of the employees. UA didn't. They realised that error when they reached the UK & absorbed 'us'.
They sent a huge team from Chicago to the building - which was called Clipper House ( Those old enough to remember,errrrrm ) , a ' Pro Team '.
During the course of their stay, they remained late one night, after everyone had left. Went into the Reservation office and ripped off the walls and desks Pan Am route maps, every piece of stationary
and just about any piece of Pan Am they could find.
When Res Agents came in the morning, there were tears. Naturally. The question on everyone's lips was simply, we would have taken it down/removed the items as keep sakes if asked.

But ... that was then ... it was all new to UA.

Most Pan Am'ers had a great love for the airline - I stress the airline, since Management was hell bent on destruction.

So, from 1991 - present. It was a long road. The fundamental issue that remains is that Pan Am was an international carrier, UA was domestic and that domestic mentality has improved, but
often there remains a detach. Americans travelling the globe always felt a ' piece of home ' entering a Pan Am ticket office ... remember, there weren't too many American in Abidjan, Damascus & Lagos back then. Dare say it was the same for TWA.

I never felt a ' them ' and ' us '. What I did feel was ' These guys have a lot to learn '. A choice had been made and without a doubt, it's a two way street. A boyfriend/girlfriend hate to be compared to a previous one .... I'm thankful for the Pan Am memories, but that's all they are now.

As for the Pan Am'ers that still remain, they still feel a twang of heart strings for Pan Am ... I don't think you ever lose the affinity & love of the carrier you joined, over time, you stop
comparing the 2 and start to grow with your new employer. Hell, you may even begin to like them:-)