Aeronautical Insanity: switching to secondary tolerances

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Blistex: Oct 30, 2003; Macho Business
Donkey Wrestler

Cygni posted:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tPzRPga6uDg
probably better on mute, but amazing

Never seen that video, but I have seen the real deal more than once in China. Typically instead of courier packages it's people's actual luggage being tossed and rolling off the conveyor belt. What I find hilarious is that the guy in the video probably took twice as long to do it that way than actually picking them up and setting them on the conveyor.

Also, just got the email that her flight has been confirmed for the 20th. All it took was for me to pretend to be a dentist's receptionist asking for the supervisor's extension to confirm an appointment, had one of his underlings give it to me, then call back again (so as to not get caught in a lie) and ask for his extension directly from the Air China operator, let him know the situation, and 3 minutes later there was a confirmation in my email.

He said that there have been a lot of complaints, and he will deal with it (didn't sound very convincing). I'm guessing his hands are tied and he's just operating a "visa farm" for rich kids who want to live in LA.

# ? Jun 17, 2013 18:34

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# ? Apr 25, 2024 17:03

sellouts: Apr 23, 2003

Blistex posted:

So for the past 4 days I have been trying to get the credit I have from that missed flight put towards a new one, but the customer support in the LA office is just full of the daughters of wealthy Chinese Nationals who want an excuse to live in the US without having to go to school.

Kinda hard to feel sorry for you with this type of unfounded stuff. Sorry you've had a bad time with them but you don't know much about their backgrounds.

The rule for foreign carriers to me is always confirm, confirm, confirm. 24 hours before flight? Confirm. Especially when their solution was to move the flights a week(!) because of a late incoming flight. "Your person told me a week ago" is a terrible defense for anything, and it's possible that they did put her on the same flight number and in a week they adjusted times for seasonal winds/weather, connections, etc.

# ? Jun 17, 2013 20:26

Blistex: Oct 30, 2003; Macho Business
Donkey Wrestler

sellouts posted:

The rule for foreign carriers to me is always confirm, confirm, confirm. 24 hours before flight? Confirm. Especially when their solution was to move the flights a week(!) because of a late incoming flight. "Your person told me a week ago" is a terrible defense for anything, and it's possible that they did put her on the same flight number and in a week they adjusted times for seasonal winds/weather, connections, etc.

Yah it was partly her fault for not confirming, but the person at the desk told her to keep the eticket from the previous one as, "all the times are the same, just the date is different, when they type the ticket number into the system it will route to the new one". Also the flight didn't change times, it was always leaving at that time, the person at the desk just didn't notice that they were not the same times. I've instructed my wife to phone the day before, and show up 4 hours before her flight minimum.

sellouts posted:

Kinda hard to feel sorry for you with this type of unfounded stuff. Sorry you've had a bad time with them but you don't know much about their backgrounds.

No, I'm guessing I'm right. This is pretty common with a lot of the employees of Chinese multinationals stationed in places like LA, New York, and other locations seen as being desirable. I used to tutor a rich kid in China who had older cousins working in what we would consider menial jobs with very low hours in New York and London. There are actually forums and job postings all over the Chinese internet (especially government official message boards) about "easy jobs" for older kids going abroad. All that's usually required is being bilingual, a few ten-thousand RMB to grease the wheels, and "boom" work visa for 20 hours a week at minimum wage. Not that it is ever about the pay, but being able to live in those cities. Given the poo poo they were pulling on the phone, and the defeated tone in their supervisor's voice, I'm guessing I'm probably right. I've never encountered this kind of horrendous service in China or when calling Chinese companies in Toronto, Chicago, or other places not deemed "desirable". The people on the other side of the phone either didn't care about their jobs, or they didn't fear losing them. Considering the thousands of people in China who apply for any manner of job overseas, I'm sure Air China can find a crew with a better attitude than what they have right now.

# ? Jun 17, 2013 22:02

ChickenOfTomorrow: Nov 11, 2012; god damn it, you've got to be kind

So AA are refitting their MD80s and 73Xs to squeeze in more seats.

I was hoping they'd retire their Mad Dogs soon so someone else could get them (I like MDs but dislike flying AA). Guess that's a 'no.'

# ? Jun 17, 2013 22:12

hobbesmaster: Jan 28, 2008

ChickenOfTomorrow posted:

So AA are refitting their MD80s and 73Xs to squeeze in more seats.

I was hoping they'd retire their Mad Dogs soon so someone else could get them (I like MDs but dislike flying AA). Guess that's a 'no.'

As a mad dog lover you should fly Delta. They still have loving DC-9s in service!

# ? Jun 17, 2013 22:23

Bob A Feet: Aug 10, 2005; Dear diary, I got another erection today at work. SO embarrassing, but kinda hot. The CO asked me to fix up his dress uniform. I had stayed late at work to move his badges 1/8" to the left and pointed it out this morning. 1SG spanked me while the CO watched, once they caught it. Tomorrow I get to start all over again...

Anyone like trainers?

I got a lot more of these if you'd like to see

# ? Jun 17, 2013 23:37

SybilVimes: Oct 29, 2011

Bob A Feet posted:

Anyone like trainers?

Yes, but I'd prefer to see a chipmunk or provost in that livery. Is that Linton-on-Ouse?

# ? Jun 17, 2013 23:42

KYOON GRIFFEY JR: Apr 12, 2010; Runner-up, TRP Sack Race 2021/22

ChickenOfTomorrow posted:

So AA are refitting their MD80s and 73Xs to squeeze in more seats.

I was hoping they'd retire their Mad Dogs soon so someone else could get them (I like MDs but dislike flying AA). Guess that's a 'no.'

Those are going straight to cargo when they retire if they're not worn ragged. Allegiant doesn't even want them.

Also, Delta will have four types of mad dog in service at once in Q4 of this year - DC-9-50, MD-88, MD-90-30, MD-95.

# ? Jun 17, 2013 23:47

MrYenko: Jun 18, 2012; #2 isn't ALWAYS bad...

KYOON GRIFFEY JR posted:

Also, Delta will have four types of mad dog in service at once in Q4 of this year - DC-9-50, MD-88, MD-90-30, MD-95.

Logistics? What the gently caress is that?

# ? Jun 17, 2013 23:48

KYOON GRIFFEY JR: Apr 12, 2010; Runner-up, TRP Sack Race 2021/22

MrYenko posted:

Logistics? What the gently caress is that?

Delta certainly marches to the beat of a different drummer. Their mentality is basically: who gives a gently caress about logistics cost when your acquisition cost is so low that your theoretical commonality savings will never pay off the acquisition cost savings.

I do think that airlines overrate fuel econ and parts commonality, especially when they outsource so much heavy maint.

# ? Jun 18, 2013 00:00

sellouts: Apr 23, 2003