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United Airlines warns of massive layoffs without federal aid

ALiberalModerate

ALiberalModerate

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The airline’s CEO, Oscar Munoz, its president and four union officials said Friday that without federal help this month, “our company will begin to take the necessary steps to reduce our payroll” to match a 60% reduction in flying planned for April.
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United Airlines warns of massive layoffs without federal aid

Obviously our domestic airlines industry is going to require a pretty significant bailout if they are to survive this. However, we would be crazy not to put some conditions on it. For example, they should have to agree to do away with domestic baggage fees.
 
Drawdown said:
Okay but if they are flying far fewer flights then they should lay those people off anyway. No use flying empty planes.
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They don't have to fly empty planes. Ideally, those that are laid off would be able to get some kind of sub-pay, and kept as employees so that when this over, they have a job waiting for them.
 
SouthernDemocrat said:
They don't have to fly empty planes. Ideally, those that are laid off would be able to get some kind of sub-pay, and kept as employees so that when this over, they have a job waiting for them.
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I don’t think, even printing money non-stop, that the government can keep the wolves from the door financially.
 
SouthernDemocrat said:
United Airlines warns of massive layoffs without federal aid

Obviously our domestic airlines industry is going to require a pretty significant bailout if they are to survive this. However, we would be crazy not to put some conditions on it. For example, they should have to agree to do away with domestic baggage fees.
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Baggage fees are good, it allows lower ticket price. And besides if you fly with a good airline like Alaska and have the signature card then you pay no bag fees
 
EMNofSeattle said:
Baggage fees are good, it allows lower ticket price. And besides if you fly with a good airline like Alaska and have the signature card then you pay no bag fees
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I have a Delta Skymiles Amex, and so I never pay baggage fees and always get priority boarding when I fly Delta or any of their affiliates. However, that said, I never check a bag anyway. I carry on a backpack even when traveling internationally.

However, my point is that our domestic airlines treat us worse than domestic airlines do in any country I have traveled to on earth. We are nickel and dimmed here simple to increase profits, its not passed on in the form of cheaper tickets. Hell we only have 3 large domestic carriers now, they almost function like monopolies and the only time they really compete on price, is with certain international flights where they most compete against international carriers (example, flights to Shanghai where they compete against Chinese carriers).

Anymore, Delta is the only major domestic carrier that doesn't treat its customers like ****.
 
Rexedgar said:
I don’t think, even printing money non-stop, that the government can keep the wolves from the door financially.
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IMO the chickens are coming home to roost. Years of financial mismanagement will eventually be punished.
 
SouthernDemocrat said:
United Airlines warns of massive layoffs without federal aid

Obviously our domestic airlines industry is going to require a pretty significant bailout if they are to survive this. However, we would be crazy not to put some conditions on it. For example, they should have to agree to do away with domestic baggage fees.
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Gee, with their record profits and corporate tax cuts, I'm surprised rhey aren't in a position to weather the storm. What happened to all that money?
 
Thoreau72 said:
IMO the chickens are coming home to roost. Years of financial mismanagement will eventually be punished.
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We can't just give up our domestic airlines industry though. Can you imagine a situation where United gets bought up by say, China Southern, and American gets bought up by China Eastern, leaving Delta as our only major domestic carrier.
 
SouthernDemocrat said:
I have a Delta Skymiles Amex, and so I never pay baggage fees and always get priority boarding when I fly Delta or any of their affiliates. However, that said, I never check a bag anyway. I carry on a backpack even when traveling internationally.

However, my point is that our domestic airlines treat us worse than domestic airlines do in any country I have traveled to on earth. We are nickel and dimmed here simple to increase profits, its not passed on in the form of cheaper tickets. Hell we only have 3 large domestic carriers now, they almost function like monopolies and the only time they really compete on price, is with certain international flights where they most compete against international carriers (example, flights to Shanghai where they compete against Chinese carriers).

Anymore, Delta is the only major domestic carrier that doesn't treat its customers like ****.
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That is not correct.

I’ve flown LAN in Chile and SAS in Norway, the service is identical. Actually SAS is worse because they charge for beverage service.

In both these airlines you need to upgrade or pay for a higher level of ticket to get a checked bag.
 
Rexedgar said:
I don’t think, even printing money non-stop, that the government can keep the wolves from the door financially.
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Well they can for a short period of time.

After a month the lockdowns will have to be lifted. This cannot be a permanent solution. Airlines are very profitable when people are traveling
 
SouthernDemocrat said:
We can't just give up our domestic airlines industry though. Can you imagine a situation where United gets bought up by say, China Southern, and American gets bought up by China Eastern, leaving Delta as our only major domestic carrier.
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Needing all this tax money suggests to me that poor business practices are a factor. Stock buy-backs are a prime example.

I have several friends flying for United, American and Southwest, so I'm hoping for the best.
 
EMNofSeattle said:
Well they can for a short period of time.

After a month the lockdowns will have to be lifted. This cannot be a permanent solution.Airlines are very profitable when people are traveling
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I’ll file this away under Profound Statements! Thanks.
 
Thoreau72 said:
Needing all this tax money suggests to me that poor business practices are a factor. Stock buy-backs are a prime example.

I have several friends flying for United, American and Southwest, so I'm hoping for the best.
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Stock buybacks is a very wise business practice. They wouldn’t have done it otherwise.
 
SouthernDemocrat said:
United Airlines warns of massive layoffs without federal aid

Obviously our domestic airlines industry is going to require a pretty significant bailout if they are to survive this. However, we would be crazy not to put some conditions on it. For example, they should have to agree to do away with domestic baggage fees.
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I think we're crazy for bailing them out. Either we're full-on-boogie "capitalist", or we're not. I'm tired of "capitalism" for the citizens, but "socialism" for corporations & the so-called "hallowed job-creators". We get burnt, every time.

Screw it. Let them play by the same rules as us. If they fail, and we deem their failure to much to stomach, then change the general rules on how we implement capitalism. Either we make it work for everyone, or not at all. Because right now our current implementation is not working for the greater good of society. Not at all.
 
EMNofSeattle said:
Stock buybacks is a very wise business practice. They wouldn’t have done it otherwise.
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Many disagree with you. Time will tell whether our corporate leaders are wise or just greedy. IMO the evidence is building rapidly.
 
j brown's body said:
Gee, with their record profits and corporate tax cuts, I'm surprised rhey aren't in a position to weather the storm. What happened to all that money?
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Bingo! They took our money and ran! Now, they want more.

"Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me"

No money. Not if I have my way.
 
EMNofSeattle said:
That is not correct.

I’ve flown LAN in Chile and SAS in Norway, the service is identical. Actually SAS is worse because they charge for beverage service.

In both these airlines you need to upgrade or pay for a higher level of ticket to get a checked bag.
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I travel a lot. It has been my experience that we have some of the worst domestic flight service on earth in the United States.
 
EMNofSeattle said:
Stock buybacks is a very wise business practice. They wouldn’t have done it otherwise.
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Then let them do it without our money. Let them be wise on their own dime.
 
SouthernDemocrat said:
I travel a lot. It has been my experience that we have some of the worst domestic flight service on earth in the United States.
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Not an argument. You cannot point to any objective way that is true.
 
Chomsky said:
I think we're crazy for bailing them out. Either we're full-on-boogie "capitalist", or we're not. I'm tired of "capitalism" for the citizens, but "socialism" for corporations & the so-called "hallowed job-creators". We get burnt, every time.

Screw it. Let them play by the same rules as us. If they fail, and we deem their failure to much to stomach, then change the general rules on how we implement capitalism. Either we make it work for everyone, or not at all. Because right now our current implementation is not working for the greater good of society. Not at all.
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Your post is incoherent, uneducated and makes no sense.

It is not socialism to compensate businesses that are failing because of a temporary crisis necessitating massive government action.

You cannot point to anyway you’ve been “burnt” If an airline receives an interest free loan to keep employees on staff.
 
EMNofSeattle said:
Not an argument. You cannot point to any objective way that is true.
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Ha, irony.... You just gave a personal example as an argument yourself, and then you tell me I can't do the same.
 
Thoreau72 said:
Many disagree with you. Time will tell whether our corporate leaders are wise or just greedy. IMO the evidence is building rapidly.
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Many wrong people disagree with me, what’s the point?

You act as though disagreement means anything of itself. Most people have wrong opinions.
 
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