Air Canada serves lockout notice to pilots

[Flacker]

Originally Posted by puckluck

I find it funny that just yesterday I visited a bunch of travel agencies and every single one of them straight out told me if you're trying to get the best deal we will try to avoid Air Canada.

And they wonder why they are always in financial crisis? When travel agencies avoid you to get the best deal, you have a serious problem on your hands.

If you are a halfling then by all means take your travel agent's advice. By the sounds of it you will be getting a charter fare which in my experience will not be a comfortable experience if you are over 5' 10".

[Maritime Q-Scout]

last summer I bent the ear of a friend of mine who is a flight attendant for Jazz, and he said that cell phones, cameras, etc don't really interfere with the plane and pilots. He told me it could be an annoyance like how sometimes when you're talking on a cell phone and you turn on the microwave can cause a small popping noise in your ear.

Admittedly two years ago I few to Ottawa and forgot to turn my cellphone off. Shockingly the plane didn't crash in flames and kill us all.

On the way back I may or may not have got video of the flight taking off.


On another unrelated note Ryan Coke, why did WestJet change their YYZ-YQY flight from mid-afternoon to an overnight? I mean I know two flight attendants that will be bidding that flight as often as possible to get home and see family more often. Additionally, if the Flames make and are still in the playoffs, and you're on that route, shoot me a PM and we'll catch the game.

[Ryan Coke]

Like I said, the risk is very small, but it is real.

I have no idea on the reason for the sked change into YQY, that is handled by the route planners and marketing people in the Calgary Campus. When does the flight start? It's seasonal right?

Thanks very much for the offer--if I happen to get an overnight there, I'll be in touch!

[STeeLy]

And... this didn't take long.

Supposed to start the reading process tonight.

http://www.ctv.ca/CTVNews/TopStories...ration-120312/

[sa226]

^^^^^^
Yep and further to the above the latest
This article basically tells the latest story
http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/p...ng-march-break

And this as well
This blog hashes out some important points in the tabled bill.
http://www.yorku.ca/ddoorey/lawblog/?p=4908

Also have a gander at this
This column I think is the best read.
http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/p...-canada-strike

I think it is important to get this stuff out there. A majority of the traveling public will see the headlines and be happy that their travel plans will not be disrupted which is fine, holidays are important. But this is a kick in the nuts to our very freedoms. They are completely abusing the "Health and Safety" clause to pass this legislation.

Many people agree that Air Canada needs a complete overhaul and that their business model is unsustainable. This legislation will allow them to continue, and the workers are taking the brunt of it.

The headline of thestar.com article is completely misleading. Which is directly related to some shrewd manouvering on the part of Air Canada. The pilots didn't ever give strike notice, the baggage handlers and maintenance workers did. The pilots were offered an insulting contract which they turned down and in turn Air Canada gave them an ultimatum and notice of lockout. So the public perception is that the pilots want to strike, when in fact they wanted to return to the bargaining table and negotiate a fair contract.

I understand that most people won't pay much attention to all of this, but at least read the points on Bill C-33.

In my opinion it is downright scary.

[Notorious Honey Badger]

Air Canada's shameful treatment of it's employees is a black mark on labour in Canada

[bomber317]

Originally Posted by Notorious Honey Badger

Air Canada's shameful treatment of it's employees is a black mark on labour in Canada

I would say the government's involvement is the black mark on labour in Canada.

You would have to blame both sides in the dispute, AC and the unions. AC and their hardball tactics and apparent unwillingness to negotiate and the Unions grasp on the new economic realities, lack of public opinion management and their apparent unwillingness to negotiate.

This is just my outside view of what is going on, I do not know what is going on behind the negotiating doors.

[Fire]

Originally Posted by sa226

^^^^^^
Yep and further to the above the latest
This article basically tells the latest story
http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/p...ng-march-break

And this as well
This blog hashes out some important points in the tabled bill.
http://www.yorku.ca/ddoorey/lawblog/?p=4908

Also have a gander at this
This column I think is the best read.
http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/p...-canada-strike

I think it is important to get this stuff out there. A majority of the traveling public will see the headlines and be happy that their travel plans will not be disrupted which is fine, holidays are important. But this is a kick in the nuts to our very freedoms. They are completely abusing the "Health and Safety" clause to pass this legislation.

Many people agree that Air Canada needs a complete overhaul and that their business model is unsustainable. This legislation will allow them to continue, and the workers are taking the brunt of it.

The headline of thestar.com article is completely misleading. Which is directly related to some shrewd manouvering on the part of Air Canada. The pilots didn't ever give strike notice, the baggage handlers and maintenance workers did. The pilots were offered an insulting contract which they turned down and in turn Air Canada gave them an ultimatum and notice of lockout. So the public perception is that the pilots want to strike, when in fact they wanted to return to the bargaining table and negotiate a fair contract.

I understand that most people won't pay much attention to all of this, but at least read the points on Bill C-33.

In my opinion it is downright scary.

You read the Toronto Star? Sorry you lose all credibility.

[jar_e]

Though this has nothing to do with the pilots (though a bunch of them called in sick and caused some significant delays today)...

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manito...a.html?cmp=rss

Aveos Fleet Performance Inc., which maintains many of Air Canada's aircraft, shut down its plants on Sunday, locking out about 2,400 workers and telling them not to return to work.
The majority of the affected employees — about 1,800 — are based in Montreal, while 350 are in Winnipeg and 250 are in Vancouver, says the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers.
Aveos posted a sign on the door of its Winnipeg plant on Sunday, stating, "We regret to advise you that effective immediately, Aveos Fleet Performance Inc. has ceased the operation of airframe maintenance."
Employees found outside the facility told CBC News they were told by management on Sunday afternoon that the facility was closing immediately. They were instructed to leave the building and not return to work on Monday.
Union officials in Vancouver confirmed that employees at the Aveos plant there were told to go home and leave all their equipment and personal items behind.
Lorne Hammerberg, president of the union local in Winnipeg, told CBC News he fears total job losses at Aveos, as there had been no talk of restructuring the company.
Aveos was Air Canada's maintenance division until it became an independent company in October 2007. It has been doing all of the heavy equipment maintenance for the airline's Airbus and Embraer fleet, Hammerberg said.
Hammerberg said union officials had heard no indication that a total shutdown was in the works.
The union does not know what the latest development could mean for Air Canada's maintenance program, he said.

I presume this isn't good...

[WhiteTiger]

Alright, back from vacation, and this time Westjet brought us back. The flights were on time and we didn't get our flights swapped around at the last minute. Our flight from Toronto to Calgary was even 15 minutes early landing, which was nice after a long day of travelling.

My gripe with WJ is the seat size. We were in a plane that had 6 seats across (3 on each side) and they were TINY. The trip from Ft. Lauderdale to Toronto was pretty bad with my poor wife squished in between myself and another very broad shouldered gentleman. From Toronto to Calgary, since the flight was about half full, as soon as we got into the air and could take our seatbelts off, we swapped over to a 3-pack of seats that was unoccupied and quite enjoyed the trip.

[Northendzone]

Originally Posted by jar_e

Though this has nothing to do with the pilots (though a bunch of them called in sick and caused some significant delays today)...

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manito...a.html?cmp=rss



I presume this isn't good...

kudos to AC for screwing these folks......

[STeeLy]

Originally Posted by WhiteTiger

Alright, back from vacation, and this time Westjet brought us back. The flights were on time and we didn't get our flights swapped around at the last minute. Our flight from Toronto to Calgary was even 15 minutes early landing, which was nice after a long day of travelling.

My gripe with WJ is the seat size. We were in a plane that had 6 seats across (3 on each side) and they were TINY. The trip from Ft. Lauderdale to Toronto was pretty bad with my poor wife squished in between myself and another very broad shouldered gentleman. From Toronto to Calgary, since the flight was about half full, as soon as we got into the air and could take our seatbelts off, we swapped over to a 3-pack of seats that was unoccupied and quite enjoyed the trip.

WJ exclusively fly 737 in that seat configuration. If you've flown AC, you could have been flying something like a A330 with 8 abreast seating in 2-4-2 configuration or am Embraer 190 which is a smaller jet that has 4 abreast seating in a 2-2

I don't find the seat size width differ too much between Economy class of AC and WJ. But between AC economy and WJ, WJ does seem to have a tad more leg room than AC, but for a guy with my stature, that makes little to no difference.

[WhiteTiger]

Originally Posted by STeeLy

WJ exclusively fly 737 in that seat configuration. If you've flown AC, you could have been flying something like a A330 with 8 abreast seating in 2-4-2 configuration or am Embraer 190 which is a smaller jet that has 4 abreast seating in a 2-2

I don't find the seat size width differ too much between Economy class of AC and WJ. But between AC economy and WJ, WJ does seem to have a tad more leg room than AC, but for a guy with my stature, that makes little to no difference.

We flew out on AC, and the first plane was a 2-2, the second was a 3-3. I felt that AC has more room for shoulders, while WJ did have more room for feet.

[The Goon]

Update - looks like pilots are staging a mass sick call this morning. Check your flight info before heading to the airport.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/story/...s.html?cmp=rss

[Hack&Lube]

Flying from Regina to Edmonton to catch a connecting flight to Calgary with Westjet. My plane lands in Edmonton and I see the flight that I'm supposed to catch parked next to my plane at the next gate. As we are disembarking, I see it taxi out and take off!

The plane left 30 minutes early! I've never heard of a plane leaving early but apparently they had to do so because of some issues with weight/fuel/weather and a certain window to land in Calgary. They decided to leave off all the passengers who were on the Regina plane.

Somehow they are booked full for Edmonton to Calgary flights so Westjet gives me $50 to buy food at the airport (turns out I could also use it at CHOP Steakhouse at the hotel but nobody told me), taxi and accomodations to the Sandman Signature hotel (quite nice), $10 breakfast voucher, and $150 travel credit. I'm quite happy with that but I guess that's normal practice?

[GP_Matt]

Originally Posted by Ryan Coke

One last thing, it took quite a lot of testing of cell phones on during taxi to get Transport to allow cell phones to be turned on after landing on the way to the gate. And as you can imagine, running an airplane around just on the ground for a number of hours gets very expensive.

Testing that sounds like a very exciting job for the pilot. I want you to taxi around the runway for then next 4 hours while I sit here and chat with my wife on the phone. Let me know if you crash.

[Senator Clay Davis]

Originally Posted by Hack&Lube

Flying from Regina to Edmonton to catch a connecting flight to Calgary with Westjet. My plane lands in Edmonton and I see the flight that I'm supposed to catch parked next to my plane at the next gate. As we are disembarking, I see it taxi out and take off!

The plane left 30 minutes early! I've never heard of a plane leaving early but apparently they had to do so because of some issues with weight/fuel/weather and a certain window to land in Calgary. They decided to leave off all the passengers who were on the Regina plane.

Somehow they are booked full for Edmonton to Calgary flights so Westjet gives me $50 to buy food at the airport (turns out I could also use it at CHOP Steakhouse at the hotel but nobody told me), taxi and accomodations to the Sandman Signature hotel (quite nice), $10 breakfast voucher, and $150 travel credit. I'm quite happy with that but I guess that's normal practice?

Its only normal practice for WestJet. My dad has had several issues on Air Canada flights with delays or connections and they usually give a free snack or appy. WestJet when we were going to Montreal for a funeral there was some issues that prevented us from catching a connector and we got put up in the Crowne Plaza in Toronto (nice hotel) and gave us $100 in food vouchers. I've always been more loyal to WestJet but this really sealed it for me.

[Art Vandelay]

Originally Posted by Hack&Lube

Flying from Regina to Edmonton to catch a connecting flight to Calgary with Westjet. My plane lands in Edmonton and I see the flight that I'm supposed to catch parked next to my plane at the next gate. As we are disembarking, I see it taxi out and take off!

The plane left 30 minutes early! I've never heard of a plane leaving early but apparently they had to do so because of some issues with weight/fuel/weather and a certain window to land in Calgary. They decided to leave off all the passengers who were on the Regina plane.

Somehow they are booked full for Edmonton to Calgary flights so Westjet gives me $50 to buy food at the airport (turns out I could also use it at CHOP Steakhouse at the hotel but nobody told me), taxi and accomodations to the Sandman Signature hotel (quite nice), $10 breakfast voucher, and $150 travel credit. I'm quite happy with that but I guess that's normal practice?

Probably due the Ground Delay Program into YYC yesterday. Each flight is allocated a time that they have to have their "wheels up" at. If you don't make the time by +5 mins the flight would have to get a new time which may be an hour or more later than the original time.