Current Economy/Job Security

I read in a recent post from another member that he'd been transitioned to Part-time. This happened to me and a few co-workers last month. I have the same flight bennys, but that's it.

I was wondering how everyone is doing. If you feel safe, are concerned, or have already received the short straw. If you're optimistic for the future or not looking so bright. If it's as easy to provide quality customer service to the pax screaming at you that paid $200 r/t transcon, with the knowledge that you're paying a much higher cost in lost salary and benefit reductions.

Obviously should you not wish to comment, that's your call.

Just wondering everybody's take.

I keep hearing "No Front line employees will be furloughed" and a few... other bits and bobs, and honestly, even though I can keep a bright demeanor at work, I AM worried, and incredibly depressed.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Jumper @ Nov 12 2008, 12:32 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

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I keep hearing "No Front line employees will be furloughed" and a few... other bits and bobs, and honestly, even though I can keep a bright demeanor at work, I AM worried, and incredibly depressed.[/b]

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Actually this merger is the possible bright future for me. My situation is the result of schedule reductions independent of the merger.

DL CONX and NW Airlink are handled by 2 different companies in my station. So, within the next couple months, I should learn who gets the new contract and if I again have a full-time job, or no job. Either way, all the local employees of one company will be out of a job, but nobody is a Delta employee, thus, this statement still holds true.

Whilst the economic crisis has hit us pretty bad (in terms of front end load factors) there doesn&#39;t seem to be much concern about lay offs or reduction in hours etc. Tightening of the purse strings, cancelled christmas functions etc yes (which i don&#39;t necessarily agree with, but i&#39;m not going to go there). The company survived SARS without reducing workforce, so think it will survive this.

Although being a foreign carrier operating in US, i dare say our experience will be far better than US airlines in general. Some of my friends in US from other airlines have been furloughed and found jobs, some haven&#39;t which is quite disappointing.

I was planning to come to US for a working holiday next year before my chance to get that visa runs out. Yet if FT/PT airline workers are being shafted, there will be little opportunity for me to try this i guess.

I really feel unaffected by the state of things. In fact I&#39;m pretty optimistic about my current situation. Not only is there virtually no threat of hour reductions or layoffs, but there&#39;s pay increases and better job security on the horizon. It&#39;s a union gig with a strong union, I know that I&#39;ll be making $27 (at least) an hour as a ramp agent in 8 years based on the pay scale, have top notch medical, 401k with dollar for dollar match up to 7.3%, profit sharing, and it&#39;s all but guaranteed. There would have to be a catastrophic collapse of the entire airline industry that would cause EVERY major American airline to fold in order to threaten my position at my job.

We&#39;re really not feeling the heat at Southwest at all. We&#39;re operating in the black and even expanding, opening MSP this spring and beginning code shares to Canada and Mexico within a year or so..

Have any of you guys ever applied at Southwest? Don&#39;t give up on the airline industry, there&#39;s still a future in it. No matter how bad things become, there&#39;s no way air travel in the US is going to go away. It&#39;s vital for the economy for there to be air transportation. The federal government would never allow all of the airlines to just go out of business.. Eventually things are going to turn around and be better than ever before. And for those of us who stuck around, we will be rewarded greatly.

Usually what happens in these periods of recession is there is a rebound. Things might be bad for a while, and maybe get even worse before they get better again, but then there will be a rebound. Take the great depression for example. It was by far the worst period in American history, but the decades to follow were by far the highest. There was no higher point in time to be an American than in the 1950&#39;s. We might have to slum it out for the next few years, but when things come around and we&#39;re all full tenured airline employees in a booming economy, we&#39;ll be on top..

In the mean time, come over to Southwest to alleviate some of the grief http://www.nonrev.net/forums/style_e...R#>/tongue.gif

I just work p/t for the benefits. Most people in RES at CO are there as a job so it is kind of nice for me. With it being slow it is easier to give up my hours. In fact I haven&#39;t worked since...September. I love it. Long term though I don&#39;t think that we have seen the last airline close its doors but I think most if not all of the majors will weather the storm.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (num1bearsfan @ Nov 13 2008, 05:04 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

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In the mean time, come over to Southwest to alleviate some of the grief http://www.nonrev.net/forums/style_e...R#>/tongue.gif[/b]

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If i could get a work visa, i&#39;d be out of here in a second http://www.nonrev.net/forums/style_e...DIR#>/wink.gif

Not worried.
My family and I live within our means and have no debt except for our mortgage. My wife is a teacher and that job will never go away. I would be sad to lose the free flights though!

I worked for SWA for 3 years and yes, it is a great place to be. I did not care for the pass benefits though. In the 3 years there, I was only able to travel international 4 times. In 3 years at 9E/NW, I have traveled international more than 15 times. I also like being able to purchase passes right from any ticket counter, even last minute. At SWA, I had to buy them through the pass bureau so I had to allow a few days to get them via Fedex. That may have changed now.

Good luck to everyone! I do not want to see anybody lose their job.

I recently left Delta and returned to school because too me I do not see frontline jobs at airlines as being a career choice anylonger...seems that corporate is looking for folks to come in and work a few years and then move on to other things or only want a part-time job to supplement another income...After 5 years with Delta I left with a smaller paycheck then when I started being cut from 40hrs to 35 to 32 and then to 30...I have heard that the next bid will have some lines around 25-28 hours per week...

I currently am a contractor for Air Canada (no bennies) only because 1 flight aday is a great schedule to work around school and hope to return to Delta or another airline after finishing school so I can have the flight bennies or get such a great job at a hospital that I will have the money and the time to travel...lol...