Crew scheduling's new motto is, "work 'em until they drop!" It is against their rules to let us have duty days where we used to sit at home waiting for the phone to ring. Now...I had three days left on my schedule and they gave me a three-day trip. It was a good one! Hmmmm...let me see if I can remember where I went. Oh yes! I did a Milwaukee turn and a Phoenix overnight. The next night I did a Dallas overnight, and then we did a Phoenix turn...and I was released to my two days off. The three flight attendants stayed the same during the entire trip, but we kept swapping CPTs and FOs but that was okay.
After my two days off, they gave me a REALLY WEIRD two-day trip. I started out deadheading to Milwaukee (flying as a passenger instead of working the flight), then I worked a turn to LaGuardia and spent the night in Milwaukee. The next morning we deadheaded back to Denver. Weird. The passenger sitting next to me commented on how our planes seem to be filled with other Frontier crewmembers!
Fortunately, I was released to my three days off at 10AM. Yahoo! There was a union membership meeting for a couple hours and then a reserve roundtable meeting. I went to both, and the first one didn't have a lot of new information to report. But the second meeting was a great opportunity to share our feelings about having been on reserve for 3.5 years. We gave a lot of constructive criticism and a lot of good ideas. All this for the union contract that won't be created for another 3-5 years. In the meantime, we're holding on as best we can under the current work rules.
But now I'm off for a few days, and I actually got to go to the cabin in Breckenridge for a couple days with my hubby - believe it or not! We haven't been up here together in FOREVER. He's out skiing, and I'm hanging out with the doggies. It is snowy and cold here, and SUNNY. Yay!
Friday, January 21, 2011
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Delays, Delays and More Delays
Well, I THOUGHT I'd be back in Denver at 7:30AM on Monday morning. It didn't quite happen that way.
We had a 5:05AM van time at the hotel - at about 4:50AM, I took a quick look at my schedule to see if crew scheduling had given me a turn once I returned to Denver. They didn't, but what I did see was that our 6:30AM flight time for IND-DEN was now listed at 8:30AM.
Instead of going downstairs, I called the CPT and asked if he was aware our flight was now at 8:30AM. He wasn't. So he told me to stay in my room, called whoever it is that he calls to find out what the heck is going on, and then he called me back and tried to reach the rest of the crew. We were now going to take the 7:15AM van to the airport. Yay! The First Officer had to go downstairs to tell the other two flight attendants to go back to their rooms, while the CPT called the limo service to reschedule our ride.
We actually did leave the hotel at 7:15AM - but we still had another 2 1/2 hours of sitting around in the airport and on the plane. It seems that we were waiting for a part, and it didn't arrive until around 9:40AM. Why the heck couldn't we stay at the hotel until that time? And why didn't we get word about this from crew scheduling? We should have been told the night before so that we could have gotten a good night's sleep! It turns out that the part had to be driven from Milwaukee to Indianapolis. I just don't understand.
However, I did enjoy my crew. I fully expected to be given a turn afterwards, but was released to my days off. Woo hoo! I just finished those and got to sit the couch from 6AM until Noon today. It was delightful! I'm now waiting to see what crew scheduling has in store for me for the next three days...♥
We had a 5:05AM van time at the hotel - at about 4:50AM, I took a quick look at my schedule to see if crew scheduling had given me a turn once I returned to Denver. They didn't, but what I did see was that our 6:30AM flight time for IND-DEN was now listed at 8:30AM.
Instead of going downstairs, I called the CPT and asked if he was aware our flight was now at 8:30AM. He wasn't. So he told me to stay in my room, called whoever it is that he calls to find out what the heck is going on, and then he called me back and tried to reach the rest of the crew. We were now going to take the 7:15AM van to the airport. Yay! The First Officer had to go downstairs to tell the other two flight attendants to go back to their rooms, while the CPT called the limo service to reschedule our ride.
We actually did leave the hotel at 7:15AM - but we still had another 2 1/2 hours of sitting around in the airport and on the plane. It seems that we were waiting for a part, and it didn't arrive until around 9:40AM. Why the heck couldn't we stay at the hotel until that time? And why didn't we get word about this from crew scheduling? We should have been told the night before so that we could have gotten a good night's sleep! It turns out that the part had to be driven from Milwaukee to Indianapolis. I just don't understand.
However, I did enjoy my crew. I fully expected to be given a turn afterwards, but was released to my days off. Woo hoo! I just finished those and got to sit the couch from 6AM until Noon today. It was delightful! I'm now waiting to see what crew scheduling has in store for me for the next three days...♥
Sunday, January 9, 2011
Winter Craziness
I had a very nice couple of days visiting with Jen, James and Liza before they headed back to NYC. However, on their last night, crew scheduling struck again...
There was a Spokane stand-up that needed a crew - it was scheduled to leave Sunday night at 8PM. I received a call in the afternoon from crew scheduling trying to junior assign me to the trip. If I had answered the phone, I would HAVE to take the trip. I didn't want to leave on my day off, even though it would have been at overtime pay. So I let voice mail pick up the message.
A few hours later, I get another call from crew scheduling. This time they're telling me that I've been assigned to a Spokane turn, with a show time of 2:00AM. Are they kidding me? My duty start time is 12:01AM, and they're wanting me to hop in my car, drive to DIA, and work a flight? Huh? To fully understand, I call the Inflight Manager on Duty. Let's just say that I didn't hear what I wanted to hear.
So I kissed my family goodbye and headed to DIA. The other two flight attendants were just as bad off as I was. The flight was just a little more than half full - when we got to Spokane and all the passengers deplaned, we turned off the lights and set up little beds for ourselves for a quick hour's nap.
I was woken up by crew scheduling calling me. They said that when I was back in DEN, I was being assigned to a PHX overnight. Let's just say that they kept giving me trips, taking them away, and then giving me others. Finally, I was given a PHX overnight. For real. For sure. No more changing it.
Once in PHX, I get another call from crew scheduling - by this time, I had been awake for 36 hours, aside from the hour's nap that I took on the plane. This time they told me that I was going to do a CUN turn when I got back to DIA. Are they kidding me?!?!? I tried to get them to give it to someone else, but no luck. So I waited until I saw how I felt the next morning, and THEN I called in FAT. Otherwise known as "fatigued."
On Monday, I worked a 13.5 hour day, and they were wanting me to do the same for Tuesday. What am I? A super hero or something? Ha!
I already had Tuesday scheduled off, and then managed to get assigned to the C couch on Thursday (4PM until 10PM). While sitting the couch, I found out that I was awarded a 4-day trip that I'm currently working now - at first we did a turn to ATL, then we had a layover in SLC. Yesterday, we left SLC and flew back to DEN. After that, we went on to San Diego for the night. And now we are in Indianapolis! I surely get around.
The crew I am working with is good, and I'm enjoying getting to know them. But I'm also hoping to be released when I return to Denver tomorrow morning at 7:30AM. HA! I laugh because it is snowing in Denver as I write this. And it's supposed to be snowing when I leave here in the morning.
Before I sign off, I do have to say that my ATL-DEN flight on Friday was weird. Totally weird. There were at least 50 Auburn fans - Auburn is playing Oregon on Monday in the Fiesta Bowl in Phoenix, AZ. These people were crazy!
And there was a family of 4 that acted weird, too. Of course, they were not seated together and the gate agents were letting us take care of the situation. There were two young girls, a younger boy and their mom. I settled the boy and mom together in one row, and the two girls in another row a couple rows back. Well...those little girls were probably the worst behaved girls I have seen in quite awhile! They were in jammies, were barefoot (even when going to the bathroom), and each and every time I walked by (especially when my hands arms were full). They wanted headphones, they didn't want to sit there, they wanted to know how long the flight was going to be...and the last time I "serviced them" I was collecting trash. One of the girls asked for, "Ice cold water" and I told her to wait until I was done. I was in the back when I finished and stayed to chat for a few minutes. Then the little girl shows up, tells me I had promised her a nice ice cold glass of water....Sheesh! Unfortunately, my employer does not look too kindly on employees drop-kicking children back to their seats. :)
There was a Spokane stand-up that needed a crew - it was scheduled to leave Sunday night at 8PM. I received a call in the afternoon from crew scheduling trying to junior assign me to the trip. If I had answered the phone, I would HAVE to take the trip. I didn't want to leave on my day off, even though it would have been at overtime pay. So I let voice mail pick up the message.
A few hours later, I get another call from crew scheduling. This time they're telling me that I've been assigned to a Spokane turn, with a show time of 2:00AM. Are they kidding me? My duty start time is 12:01AM, and they're wanting me to hop in my car, drive to DIA, and work a flight? Huh? To fully understand, I call the Inflight Manager on Duty. Let's just say that I didn't hear what I wanted to hear.
So I kissed my family goodbye and headed to DIA. The other two flight attendants were just as bad off as I was. The flight was just a little more than half full - when we got to Spokane and all the passengers deplaned, we turned off the lights and set up little beds for ourselves for a quick hour's nap.
I was woken up by crew scheduling calling me. They said that when I was back in DEN, I was being assigned to a PHX overnight. Let's just say that they kept giving me trips, taking them away, and then giving me others. Finally, I was given a PHX overnight. For real. For sure. No more changing it.
Once in PHX, I get another call from crew scheduling - by this time, I had been awake for 36 hours, aside from the hour's nap that I took on the plane. This time they told me that I was going to do a CUN turn when I got back to DIA. Are they kidding me?!?!? I tried to get them to give it to someone else, but no luck. So I waited until I saw how I felt the next morning, and THEN I called in FAT. Otherwise known as "fatigued."
On Monday, I worked a 13.5 hour day, and they were wanting me to do the same for Tuesday. What am I? A super hero or something? Ha!
I already had Tuesday scheduled off, and then managed to get assigned to the C couch on Thursday (4PM until 10PM). While sitting the couch, I found out that I was awarded a 4-day trip that I'm currently working now - at first we did a turn to ATL, then we had a layover in SLC. Yesterday, we left SLC and flew back to DEN. After that, we went on to San Diego for the night. And now we are in Indianapolis! I surely get around.
The crew I am working with is good, and I'm enjoying getting to know them. But I'm also hoping to be released when I return to Denver tomorrow morning at 7:30AM. HA! I laugh because it is snowing in Denver as I write this. And it's supposed to be snowing when I leave here in the morning.
Before I sign off, I do have to say that my ATL-DEN flight on Friday was weird. Totally weird. There were at least 50 Auburn fans - Auburn is playing Oregon on Monday in the Fiesta Bowl in Phoenix, AZ. These people were crazy!
And there was a family of 4 that acted weird, too. Of course, they were not seated together and the gate agents were letting us take care of the situation. There were two young girls, a younger boy and their mom. I settled the boy and mom together in one row, and the two girls in another row a couple rows back. Well...those little girls were probably the worst behaved girls I have seen in quite awhile! They were in jammies, were barefoot (even when going to the bathroom), and each and every time I walked by (especially when my hands arms were full). They wanted headphones, they didn't want to sit there, they wanted to know how long the flight was going to be...and the last time I "serviced them" I was collecting trash. One of the girls asked for, "Ice cold water" and I told her to wait until I was done. I was in the back when I finished and stayed to chat for a few minutes. Then the little girl shows up, tells me I had promised her a nice ice cold glass of water....Sheesh! Unfortunately, my employer does not look too kindly on employees drop-kicking children back to their seats. :)
Saturday, January 1, 2011
Happy New Year!
Little did I know that all hell was breaking loose in Denver on the 30th! We got back to DEN from SNA about a half-hour late, but then our MCI overnight got delayed about 3 1/2 hours due to a combination of mechanicals and weather. We FINALLY arrived in MCI at around 2AM local time, and found out that our 17 hour layover was being reduced to 8 1/2 hours (the minimum according to the pilots' union contract). Our SAN turn for the 31st was re-crewed, so my fellow flight crew got released when we returned to DEN at noon, AND they got full pay for the flight that got re-crewed.
But...since I'm STILL on reserve, I got assigned to sit on the couch for FIVE HOURS and then do an LAX turn. I was NOT a happy camper when I found out. But after holding a "pity party" for myself, I decided that I was going to have a GREAT DAY...and I did!
The other two flight attendants on my LAX turn were wonderful, friendly, easy to talk to - it was so nice! And I had some crazy passengers on board, too! One entire row of passengers absolutely LOVED me - they thought I was funny! So I gave them comment cards with our website address so that they could make a comment to the company. As everyone was deplaning, another passenger came up to me and told me that I should be teaching flight attendants how to be flight attendants! Wow. That one left me speechless! It was the perfect way to end 2010.
The flight back to DEN was also a good one - I even had one passenger give me a drumroll as I poured the 6th and final drink for his family, without having to ask for any hints as to what they ordered! I stretched my mind to its limit! Woo hoo! When we returned to DEN, the shuttle bus to the parking lot just leaving, but he made a u-turn to come get us! Wasn't that sweet! Seeing how it was -2 degrees in DEN, we really appreciated it.
The drive home was a mix of "tipsy drivers" and icy roads, but I managed to get home unscathed. The only problem I faced was that my windshield washer fluid was frozen - thank goodness there wasn't a lot of crud being kicked up by the drivers in front of me. At one point between Castle Rock and Colorado Springs, the outside temp dropped to -12 degrees! Ouchie wow wow!
I have today and tomorrow off, and I fully expect crew scheduling to call and try to junior assign me (force me to take a trip but with time-and-a-half compensation), but I want to stay home and enjoy the last two days at home with my little girl, her fiance, and my grandpuppy! So I will not be answering my cell phone or home phone unless I know 100% it is you calling!
Happy 2011...
But...since I'm STILL on reserve, I got assigned to sit on the couch for FIVE HOURS and then do an LAX turn. I was NOT a happy camper when I found out. But after holding a "pity party" for myself, I decided that I was going to have a GREAT DAY...and I did!
The other two flight attendants on my LAX turn were wonderful, friendly, easy to talk to - it was so nice! And I had some crazy passengers on board, too! One entire row of passengers absolutely LOVED me - they thought I was funny! So I gave them comment cards with our website address so that they could make a comment to the company. As everyone was deplaning, another passenger came up to me and told me that I should be teaching flight attendants how to be flight attendants! Wow. That one left me speechless! It was the perfect way to end 2010.
The flight back to DEN was also a good one - I even had one passenger give me a drumroll as I poured the 6th and final drink for his family, without having to ask for any hints as to what they ordered! I stretched my mind to its limit! Woo hoo! When we returned to DEN, the shuttle bus to the parking lot just leaving, but he made a u-turn to come get us! Wasn't that sweet! Seeing how it was -2 degrees in DEN, we really appreciated it.
The drive home was a mix of "tipsy drivers" and icy roads, but I managed to get home unscathed. The only problem I faced was that my windshield washer fluid was frozen - thank goodness there wasn't a lot of crud being kicked up by the drivers in front of me. At one point between Castle Rock and Colorado Springs, the outside temp dropped to -12 degrees! Ouchie wow wow!
I have today and tomorrow off, and I fully expect crew scheduling to call and try to junior assign me (force me to take a trip but with time-and-a-half compensation), but I want to stay home and enjoy the last two days at home with my little girl, her fiance, and my grandpuppy! So I will not be answering my cell phone or home phone unless I know 100% it is you calling!
Happy 2011...
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