stepchild

Not all of us are "kids". Yes, I do see your quotes around kids but don't understand why.

I am still trying "break into" the industry and can't even get an interview with a regional. Most of my retired military contemporaries have hung up the wings and pursued a jacket and tie job.

I don't have a crystal ball but the airlines may return to it's beginnings of most pilots being home grown. These pilots may become the standard.

stepchild

But you seem quite happy to continue to beat it.

DeadHead

In a nutshell, it was a poor decision to decide to fly/work for Skybus.

In my opinion, Skybus's entire business model was a joke.

stepchild

And their business model is different from most airlines these days how? Which major is charging for bags? Which major enjoys undercutting the competition? If it is all about $$, then FDX and UPS are the only ones holding up the bar. What about regionals picking up some big domestic flying that majors used to do?

I can go on but I am throwing around some BS to make a point. I can find many threads that flame just about any company. Everybody can have an opinion which is the great thing about them.

If you would have stated SX model was too risky I could have bought that. Same for the management team not being ready for prime time. I think your assessment of your comments being over the top was accurate.

Flame away if you desire, I'm unemployed. I may walk away from ever getting into the industry because it is not to my liking. What will you do?

Not a shot but a simple question.

Take care,

SC

DeadHead

Yeah, I can see your point, I often post in one straight string when I should probably re-word or edit my points every now and then. What I said came out more like a knee-jerk reaction, I didn't mean to insinuate anything against the people who worked at Skybus.

When I first heard of their business model, I checked out their website.
First off offering $20 airfares, seemed outrageous to me.
(granted not every fare was $20)
Secondly, stripping customer service down to the bear minimums:
Electronic check-in
Minimal gate agent duty/responsibility
Relying heavily on automated phone/internet services to handle customers
Inexperienced management team

Just on that basis I struggle to understand how the company would handle weather cancellation or delays. Point in case, look at the Christmas weather fiasco, a lot of people had no one to turn to for help and ended paying other carriers prime last minute holiday fares to get to their destinations.
http://www.kgw.com/sharedcontent/APS...D8TP7S401.html

I think the concept was their, but trying to undersell Southwest was not something a start up ever had a shot at successfully succeeding at. Southwest has an good amount of expandable cash reserve on hand, as well as the volume to sustain their business model.

That being said, it's just my point of view and I don't intend on thumbing my nose at any pilot, so I apologize if that's how I came across.
I sincerely wish you the best, and hope you can settle into a good flying job in the near future.

MiGBoy

.... not the time... economy...

... not the time for this. It's terrible to do this, hire the employees, charge for 12 months and fire everyone after they just got done relocating, changing their lives... going though types.....

Not the time.

Moonwolf

whoa 16 million lost from start up to september...thats quite a bit.
I agree with MigBoy, its terrible the way you change your life to fly and have it change it again once skybus goes tits up.
But I guess thats aviation...

Skyone

With the success of RyanAir and EasyJet in Europe, I believe that Skybus was trying to emmulate both of them. Take a look at what RyanAir charges and what "frils" they don't have. And they have been wildly successful. A combination of oil and questionable leadership probably lead to their failure. Just like EOS, MaxJet, and a few others, just a bad damn time to start an airline.

But on the other hand, RyanAir pays very nicely.

HercDriver130

Its always a bad time to start an airline.... I think the number is like 180 airlines that have come and gone since deregulation...... a few have made a good run at it..... the vast majority no longer exist. so that poses the question... is there EVER a good time......?????

Justdoinmyjob

Keep in mind too, that the Europeans are used to a very different style of flying than Americans. People who were used to getting spoiled before will not tolerate the Ryanair product when things go wrong.