CREW ACCOMMODATIONS
Jody Compton - Chairperson
 Crew
Accommodations Committee Updates
(also see current E-Lines for Hotel
Alerts)
CREW ACCOMMODATIONS REPORT June 2009
06/08/09
Dear Members,
In my last e-line I mentioned a few site inspections that had been completed and
were awaiting decisions by the company. May I just remind everyone that
USAirways signs contracts with hotels. Sometimes, when everyone involved is
happy and the company feels they can't get a better price elsewhere, they just
renew the contract and we end up staying at a hotel for a very long time.
Sometimes we don't. Normally, when a contract expires, we do a site inspection
in that market of the hotels which have chosen to bid our business at the
rate this company is willing to pay. AFA does not choose which hotels
are to be sited, we inspect the few hotels the outside broker has found and give
the company our input. Sometimes there are quality hotels to choose from,
sometimes, not so much. We inspect them all. The following are what the company
has chosen:
We have three new markets, Oslo, Birmingham and Tel Aviv. In all three cities, 4
hotels were sited and in all three markets the company went with AFA's first
choice. As you know, this is not a secure website so I can't mention them by
name but, if you have any questions, please e-mail me and I will get back to you
with any details you need. All three are quality hotels and I think you will all
be very pleased. Unfortunately, BHX has already had some issues with room waits.
They have assured us they are fixing this problem so, hopefully, it was just a
bump in the beginning of the road. I haven't heard anything lately so, no news
is good news. If you're having any problems (with this or any other hotel)
please go onto the Hub, to Divisions, Inflight, Forms & Publications and fill
out a form. Thank you in advance - your feedback is our only way to stay
informed.
In PBI, short, we sited 6 hotels and recommended staying with the
incumbent. Since we're still there, I have to assume the company went with our
recommendation.
In TPA long, we sited 3 hotels and the company went with our first
choice.
In ALB long, many people were unhappy with where we were stuck after the
last change here. Happily, we are back at our old incumbent so, thanks for all
the feedback regarding the lack of suitability of a long overnight in
Schenectady NY.
SLC - This was another "problem child" hotel. I don't think I ever heard
one piece of positive feedback on this overnight. We have changed to a hotel
right across the street which was AFA's first choice and, again, I think
everyone will be happy with this.
MHT Short - This hotel was literally falling down around us on our
overnights. The restaurant had been closed and it was clear that no money was
being put back in for repairs. After literally months of complaining, they
finally moved all crews to the incumbent Long overnight hotel.
PHL Short - This hotel had started some renovations and we were hopeful
they could pull it together but I think everyone can agree that never happened.
The transportation there was a constant problem. We have moved to a hotel that
is right across the street from this one so everyone is already familiar with
the area. One note about this new hotel: They offer a "Park & Ride" program for
passengers so there are many, many hotel vans circling the airport. They have a
dedicated van for crewmembers only. If, while waiting for your dedicated van,
one of their "Park & Ride" vans comes along, you are welcome to take it but,
please keep in mind, those vans make frequent stops to pick up other passengers
and take them to the parking facility. If you don't want to do that, please wait
for your dedicated crew van.
And now let me tell you all about LAS. As you know, once the company had
east and west crews to contend with our incumbent couldn't handle the volume of
rooms so, the company kept east and west longs at the incumbent and moved east
and west shorts to a hotel that generated a great many complaints (Not as many
as PHX but then no hotel has EVER generated as many complaints as PHX) The
company had decided to move the shorts from this hotel and a site inspection was
held. By site inspection, I mean the company had an AFA and USAPA hotel
committee rep travel to LAS to look at one hotel for shorts only. One hotel.
Both reps agreed the hotel would be acceptable for shorts only. The company has
instead decided to house ALL east crews (long and short) at this new hotel
(which is a block away from our incumbent) They have also decided to house all
west crews (long and short) at our old incumbent hotel. This makes absolutely no
sense at all to me. When I called the company about it I was told it was "too
difficult" to separate longs and shorts/ east and west. Again, I'm baffled by
this since that is exactly what is done in CLT, PHL, SFO, LAX, ORD, etc, etc.
any market that both east and west service longs and shorts. The new hotel we
are in has 24 hour food availability as well as an in-house casino, both things
some f/a's have complained about not having at the old hotel. I have already
received some feedback but would genuinely like to hear from you if you
overnight here. Again, only if you actually overnight here. I agree that
speculation, conjecture and rumor can be fun but for now, just the facts please.
We are still waiting for our grievance on PHX to be heard. In the interim, thank
you to everyone who has continued to write-up all the problems there Thank you
also for the photos, they have been enlightening. I refuse to give up on this
until we are provided with our contractually guaranteed acceptable lodging.
We will continue to work hard so you can rest easy.
Jody Compton
AFA MEC Crew Accommodations Chair
jcompton@afausairways.org
724-719-0936
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