Any "Latest & Greatest" about Delta?
09-22-2009, 06:20 AM
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Makes perfect sense that it would be a great terminal. Looks like a beautiful, modern design. I'm definitely not trying to promote ATL as the ideal airport design, but if DTW handled the same number of pax as ATL, a longitudinal arrangement is a luxury it might not be able to afford.
I find ATL to be breathtaking in it's ability to pump planes and people in and out. And I find JFK to be breathtaking (literally, if it's more than 70 degrees outside) in it's ability to squander square footage, and convert dollars into delays.
I find ATL to be breathtaking in it's ability to pump planes and people in and out. And I find JFK to be breathtaking (literally, if it's more than 70 degrees outside) in it's ability to squander square footage, and convert dollars into delays.
AA
09-22-2009, 06:23 AM
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Don't you think the new international terminal would accomplish the same thing by sending a good portion of the people to enter and exit on the East side? That's going to add a lot of square footage to the equation, and give better access all around.
It seems to me that we're already doing what you want, not in the way you want it. Maybe it's hard for me to see the problem in ATL, because it looks so innocent when compared to the quagmire at JFK.
It seems to me that we're already doing what you want, not in the way you want it. Maybe it's hard for me to see the problem in ATL, because it looks so innocent when compared to the quagmire at JFK.
Oh, I agree with you. JFK is a nightmare. But we have to remember, ATL is the flagship of DAL. If ATL keeps going downhill and someday becomes a JFK, we are screwed.
Ironically, this just isn't an airport issue. It is an overall infrastructure issue that our country doesn't seem to get. NYC only gets uglier in the future unless they start tomorrow on a major recapitilization on infrastructure. The existing major roads, trains, subways, bridges, and tunnels barely get the job done now. What does the future hold?
I still think we go into the water off long island and build a new giga airport (think Hong Kong). Close JFK and make LGA a private / business field. The kicker is, the new airport has REAL mass transit to all places people need to go, NJ, the 5 boroughs, EWR, CT, and Long Island --- WITHOUT the use of cabs. I know, I'm dreaming.
09-22-2009, 06:26 AM
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I agree. The gate areas are always borderline "Mumbai", and the gate agents use their soothing voices to ensure you feel like you're in siome sort of juvenile correctional facility.
However...
If I was expending limited resources, I would have on my list of priorities facilities that are true hinderances to a smooth network, like JFK. Next would come improving the on-board experience, such as by providing better service, better seats (i.e. the CozySuite seats that have mysteriously dropped off the radar screen), more internet service, etc. Highest on my list would be to bring the small end of the network in-line, probably by eliminating the 50-seat fleet, and (as long as I'm dreaming) folding the surviving DCI carriers into mainline, to offer a streamlined product. Let's not forget that passengers spend most of their time in airplanes, and most of our flights are operated by the JV. Where the onboard service, against all odds, is even worse.
As you can see, we don't disagree that ATL could be much better. I just don't feel improving it is very high on the list. I'd rather dollars be spent on areas that offer a better ROI.
Like my paycheck.
However...
If I was expending limited resources, I would have on my list of priorities facilities that are true hinderances to a smooth network, like JFK. Next would come improving the on-board experience, such as by providing better service, better seats (i.e. the CozySuite seats that have mysteriously dropped off the radar screen), more internet service, etc. Highest on my list would be to bring the small end of the network in-line, probably by eliminating the 50-seat fleet, and (as long as I'm dreaming) folding the surviving DCI carriers into mainline, to offer a streamlined product. Let's not forget that passengers spend most of their time in airplanes, and most of our flights are operated by the JV. Where the onboard service, against all odds, is even worse.
As you can see, we don't disagree that ATL could be much better. I just don't feel improving it is very high on the list. I'd rather dollars be spent on areas that offer a better ROI.
Like my paycheck.
09-22-2009, 06:27 AM
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I see we're typing at the same time. I agree with your last post.
Take care.
Take care.
09-22-2009, 06:29 AM
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Position: Legacy FO
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Very good points all around.
09-22-2009, 06:30 AM
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Indeed. If only more of our trips were hard-time trips... Because nothing is as fun as eating into your 3 hours of credit time on the way home, as you wait for a gate. Especially one that will be vacated by the plane that's making up your commute home.
09-22-2009, 06:30 AM
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I spent 8 glorious hours trying to get out of ATL yesterday. Landed at about 1430 on a flight from Munich after three days of Oktoberfesting so you can imagine what kind of shape I was in. Very nasty t-storms just after arrival, so I knew it was going to be a mess but it really exceeded my worst expectations. I was trying to get to CAE, which is currently only served by 50 seaters. Lots of crew delays and gate changes, which shouldn't be a surprise. Nothing launched until after 1000pm, then had three flights within about 30 minutes of each other. I thought I was going to make the second one when they stopped the pax loading at 36 max for weight and balance! We then had to do the run from D34 to C50 in about 10 minutes. I think we got on the last one only because most of the revenue standby's couldn't make the run to C50 fast enough.
I do like the DTW terminal design, but it would be much better if the tram ran the full length of the A concourse.
I do like the DTW terminal design, but it would be much better if the tram ran the full length of the A concourse.
09-22-2009, 06:38 AM
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AA
09-22-2009, 06:51 AM
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Ouch, that really sucks.
09-22-2009, 07:48 AM
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South Guys,
As this AE deadline approaches and I am wondering if I am doing the right thing by NOT bidding MSP where I would be much more senior, I have one last second question before the 2 pm deadline.
For your monthly bidding during holiday months (Christmas, Thanksgiving, 4th of July) does the computer program assign a point on the bid list where EVERYONE must work?
Up North, if you were somewhere around the bottom 1/3 of the list you would be assigned a trip over the holiday no matter what. How does that work when you can bid block or reserve and about how far up the list do you have to be to get holidays off? Thanks.
New K Now (with fisrt AE jitters)
As this AE deadline approaches and I am wondering if I am doing the right thing by NOT bidding MSP where I would be much more senior, I have one last second question before the 2 pm deadline.
For your monthly bidding during holiday months (Christmas, Thanksgiving, 4th of July) does the computer program assign a point on the bid list where EVERYONE must work?
Up North, if you were somewhere around the bottom 1/3 of the list you would be assigned a trip over the holiday no matter what. How does that work when you can bid block or reserve and about how far up the list do you have to be to get holidays off? Thanks.
New K Now (with fisrt AE jitters)
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