How was picketing? State of negotiations?
05-05-2023, 04:48 PM
#61
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Joined APC: Sep 2011
Posts: 4,815
Ok allow me to explain why that’s there. You know international business class right? It’s that lie flat pod thingy. Well at AA we have that, but also on only 20 aircraft (777-300ER) there’s a small first class cabin as well (8 seats). The seat is slightly even bigger, it swivels to face the window to create a desk, and you get PJs. Some other soft touch items included like Flagship First dining in a private section of the lounges where you have a designated chef etc. That product is sold as “First”. That’s why our contract mentions business and first class.
Now because the business class product over the years has improved, the gap between Flagship Business and Flagship First has just about closed. So passengers are less likely to pay the extra for that Flagship First product. Now that cabin is mostly filled with upgrades. So the solution is that AA will be reconfiguring those 777-300ERs to eliminate that little 8 seat section, and will now have about 70 “Flagship suites” instead. Basically the new name for long haul international business class.
Gosh this is way more than I ever expected to get into this, but man please tell me you get it now!
Now because the business class product over the years has improved, the gap between Flagship Business and Flagship First has just about closed. So passengers are less likely to pay the extra for that Flagship First product. Now that cabin is mostly filled with upgrades. So the solution is that AA will be reconfiguring those 777-300ERs to eliminate that little 8 seat section, and will now have about 70 “Flagship suites” instead. Basically the new name for long haul international business class.
Gosh this is way more than I ever expected to get into this, but man please tell me you get it now!
05-05-2023, 06:11 PM
#62
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Joined APC: Mar 2013
Posts: 393
All this arguing about “First” vs “Business” class is comical. The most logical reason I’ve heard that “First” is going away and everything will become “Business”, and I can confirm this was the case at a previous employer from many years ago, is that companies will often pay for employees to travel in Business class, but not First class. Even if they’re the same product with the same prices but with different names it makes a difference. A previous employer I had would provide for Business class, but not First class, travel. If the aircraft only had Economy and First, you were bumped down to Economy. Semantics, I know.
05-05-2023, 06:43 PM
#63
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Joined APC: Nov 2016
Posts: 2,490
I understand why a company would not go for first class. The implication is unnecessary extravagance. And if we’re talking about a third party company buying tickets, I get it. But AA controls the classes and controls the terminology. And semantics DO matter. For AA pilots, the goal should be “highest class” because even “business class or better” can be abused by the company with semantics and WE can’t buy tickets on another carrier like that third party can.
05-08-2023, 06:22 AM
#69
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Joined APC: Mar 2021
Posts: 1,739
The negotiating committee seems to think like we are getting close, but most of the membership sees it differently from the agreed upon terms. They are horrible. It seems like they are going for something that will pass 51%.
05-08-2023, 06:30 AM
#70
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Joined APC: Dec 2019
Posts: 1,318
Just out of curiosity, which parts have you found “horrible”?
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