What changed? What's the new variable in the logistical flow chart? Vaccines. That's the MAIN thing that's no doubt causing this. Look at vaccine injured, pilots and air traffic controller who don't want to have a medical exam that could cost them their job and the number of employees who refused to get jabbed - plus those who "retired early" (a number which no doubt would include plenty of employees who didn't want to submit to the Covid vaccine mandates and BS protocols). Parts shortages are probably also playing a fairly prominent role.
I am kind of, deep down, a little happy about this....A LOT of people I know took the shots to TRAVEL...not even for job security in case of mandates at work....I have called them the Bucket List vaccines from Day One......so most of the people stuck in this mess are the ones that took the easy way out and thought that would solve their travel issues...oh, well.....they have lots of time coming up with all the excuses about the delays as they sit and wait for their dream vacation to begin.....
nowadays, the only "obligation" that corporations feel for their consumers (politically correct term: customers,) is the obligation to take as much money from them as possible, keep it in interest-bearing bank accounts as long as possible, then refund most of it (minus fees and et cetera,) after pocketing the interest on the money they should never have been allowed to take in the first place.
Pilots are one part of the issue. There's also going to be a shortage of everyone else that affects whether a plane takes off or is delayed/cancelled. The guy that loads/unloads your bags. The guy who pumps fuel. The people that clean the plane. The people who check you in. The people at the gate. The maintenance people for the planes. The flight crew.
We can't find people to make a coffee at Starbucks or put carts away at the grocery store. We aren't going to find people to do the non pilot stuff either.
How about part shortages for planes? Manufacturing is getting slammed with part shortages. We're a little more fault tolerant when it comes to a broken pump or valve. How many planes get grounded due to scrambling to find parts and someone to fix it.
There's a lot going on in these systems and we're only starting to see it. Go stay at a moderately high end hotel and just look at what's broken and not being fixed or cleaned.
Regardless of what the shortage is -- and to be sure there are more shortages for the airlines than just pilots -- none of them are "unexpected".
The airlines are, for whatever reason, scheduling flights that have no realistic hope if happening, then blaming everyone else when the cancellation comes.
Just speculating. Maybe they don't have a choice but to sell the tickets and hope. They're stuck in a love triangle of share holders, government, and airports. With the consumer being the least important.
Let's say united says "we can't make the Atlanta to SF run daily anymore." If I remember from early 20, the Gov forced airlines to keep a minimum number of empty planes flying certain routes because they were obligated or theres a regulation. The shareholders would see it as a bad sign and shares would start to tank. The airports on both ends could pull their gates and drop their priority for landings and takeoffs. So because they know they have a captive market in the person who needs to get from Atlanta to SF they hope they can get them out eventually even if it's days late on another airline.
I think we'll see consolidation in airlines as this goes on. Like we will in manufacturing. Kelloggs spinning off cereal portion was signaling that they're looking for a buyer for the brand and looking to ditch a part of the company they can no longer maintain. Combine United and Delta to save Delta kinda thing.
Just thinking things through here. I can see a similarity with where I work.
They're selling because they're not admitting the staff shortages are due to the you know what?
Here in Canada, we have an added feature created by the government: Mandates and apps. Plus the short staff. Yet, people are making plans as if nothing. Hard to get a handle on what's happening.
Once again, I seem to be the only one around my circle that is calculating it may not be the best time travel. But people seem to really, really want to travel as if it's a necessity. I think we have bigger problems than satisfying our self-entitlement desires. But that's me. What do I know?
What changed? What's the new variable in the logistical flow chart? Vaccines. That's the MAIN thing that's no doubt causing this. Look at vaccine injured, pilots and air traffic controller who don't want to have a medical exam that could cost them their job and the number of employees who refused to get jabbed - plus those who "retired early" (a number which no doubt would include plenty of employees who didn't want to submit to the Covid vaccine mandates and BS protocols). Parts shortages are probably also playing a fairly prominent role.
I am kind of, deep down, a little happy about this....A LOT of people I know took the shots to TRAVEL...not even for job security in case of mandates at work....I have called them the Bucket List vaccines from Day One......so most of the people stuck in this mess are the ones that took the easy way out and thought that would solve their travel issues...oh, well.....they have lots of time coming up with all the excuses about the delays as they sit and wait for their dream vacation to begin.....
There is a certain irony in accepting a toxic injection for the curious luxury of spending holidays in an airport waiting lounge.
Karma has a most perverse sense of humor.
It's the same up here in Canada
nowadays, the only "obligation" that corporations feel for their consumers (politically correct term: customers,) is the obligation to take as much money from them as possible, keep it in interest-bearing bank accounts as long as possible, then refund most of it (minus fees and et cetera,) after pocketing the interest on the money they should never have been allowed to take in the first place.
Pilots are one part of the issue. There's also going to be a shortage of everyone else that affects whether a plane takes off or is delayed/cancelled. The guy that loads/unloads your bags. The guy who pumps fuel. The people that clean the plane. The people who check you in. The people at the gate. The maintenance people for the planes. The flight crew.
We can't find people to make a coffee at Starbucks or put carts away at the grocery store. We aren't going to find people to do the non pilot stuff either.
How about part shortages for planes? Manufacturing is getting slammed with part shortages. We're a little more fault tolerant when it comes to a broken pump or valve. How many planes get grounded due to scrambling to find parts and someone to fix it.
There's a lot going on in these systems and we're only starting to see it. Go stay at a moderately high end hotel and just look at what's broken and not being fixed or cleaned.
Regardless of what the shortage is -- and to be sure there are more shortages for the airlines than just pilots -- none of them are "unexpected".
The airlines are, for whatever reason, scheduling flights that have no realistic hope if happening, then blaming everyone else when the cancellation comes.
I agree with you, for sure.
Just speculating. Maybe they don't have a choice but to sell the tickets and hope. They're stuck in a love triangle of share holders, government, and airports. With the consumer being the least important.
Let's say united says "we can't make the Atlanta to SF run daily anymore." If I remember from early 20, the Gov forced airlines to keep a minimum number of empty planes flying certain routes because they were obligated or theres a regulation. The shareholders would see it as a bad sign and shares would start to tank. The airports on both ends could pull their gates and drop their priority for landings and takeoffs. So because they know they have a captive market in the person who needs to get from Atlanta to SF they hope they can get them out eventually even if it's days late on another airline.
I think we'll see consolidation in airlines as this goes on. Like we will in manufacturing. Kelloggs spinning off cereal portion was signaling that they're looking for a buyer for the brand and looking to ditch a part of the company they can no longer maintain. Combine United and Delta to save Delta kinda thing.
Just thinking things through here. I can see a similarity with where I work.
Not an implausible scenario, but an unethical one for sure.
They're selling because they're not admitting the staff shortages are due to the you know what?
Here in Canada, we have an added feature created by the government: Mandates and apps. Plus the short staff. Yet, people are making plans as if nothing. Hard to get a handle on what's happening.
Once again, I seem to be the only one around my circle that is calculating it may not be the best time travel. But people seem to really, really want to travel as if it's a necessity. I think we have bigger problems than satisfying our self-entitlement desires. But that's me. What do I know?
It may be a push to travel while they still can. Because deep down we all know what's coming.
So we're on the same page....which is?
Take your pick:
More lockdowns for the midterm selection.
Devalued dollar/hyperinflation or Great Depression until only the elite can afford to travel or the airlines shut down
Neocon dream of limited nuclear war on Russia results in a visit from Mr. Sarmat