17 Years, 17 Trips and a "new" United Airlines

Dear Friends -

Tuesday marks the 17th anniversary of the attacks on September 11, 2001.  On that day, four planes, two from United Airlines, and two from American Airlines, were commandeered by Al Qaeda terrorists.  Two 767's, United Flight 175 and American Flight 11 were flown into the twin World Trade Center towers in New York.  The damage they caused eventually led to the collapse of those towers and thousands of lives were lost.  

American Airlines Flight 77, a Boeing 757, crashed into the Pentagon in Washington DC.  Hundreds were killed in that attack.  On the fourth plane, United Flight 93, another 757, passengers and crew members decided to take a stand against the hijackers and the plane came down outside of Shanksville, Pennsylvania.  All on the plane were lost, what is unknown is how many lives may have been spared by an attack that the brave people on that plane were able to stop.

None of the above is new, for those of us of old enough, what happened on that day is burned into our memories.   I don't know about all of you, but for me, everything changed on that day, and there is a little sadness that I probably will always carry.  This Tuesday, I will be keeping to my tradition of flying to New York and back on United Airllines.  I will have Starbuck's cards for the employees I meet with a simple note saying "thank you."   This is my good deed to honor what is now called "Patriot Day."

What is new this year is that one of the last lines of separation between United and Continental employees is coming down.  Effective October 1, 2018, flight attendants at United will no longer be separated and kept from flying on each other's metal.  SubUA and SubCO flight attendants will be finally working with each other.  It took eight years, but the time is finally here.  

Even though October 1 is the first day they will be "working together," and call it a coincidence if you will, on September 12, United's flight attendants will receive their information for bidding their lines for October.  This will be the first real taste of what the two groups can expect working for a "new" United (I will get back to this term).  SubUA flight attendants are the most apprehensive right now.  Crew scheduling will now be handled under "Continental's" CCS system.  SubUA flight attendants have had to train and practice to be ready for September 12.  Seniority is changing and the new system separates geographical domiciles further into separate domestic and international "bases."  International Pursers will have their own separate "base" and will be bidding against other Pursers for lines separate from the other positions.  Also new for subUA flight attendants is "Position Bidding."  Not only will flight attendants bid for lines telling them when and where they will work, they will also have to bid for the position they will work on the plane.  At United, positions were assigned based on seniority just before a trip, but now that even changes.  It is micro-managing, but it is how they did at Continental.  Tuesday will be a difficult day for United's flight attendants, but it will be expecially difficult as they wait to find out more about what it is going to be like to work for the "new" United.  

So now what do I mean when I say a "new" United?  Back in May of this year, United's President, Oscar Munoz, made an appearance at a training event for flight attendants at United's World Headquarters in the Willis Tower.  At a point where Mr. Munoz was taking questions, a subCO flight attendant commented on how much they missed the way they did things at Continental. That sentiment was echoed by subUA flight attendants at the same event.  Mr. Munoz responded by saying that there is no longer an old Continental or an old United, there is only this "new" United Airlines.  He was telling them that it was time to look ahead, and not back.  

I can understand why Mr. Munoz made such a statement, but if that is the attitude of management and the Board of Directors, I think they are missing the mark again.  Both airlines have a proud heritage and legacy, and employees from both sides are proud of their time and experiences at their respective airlines.  Both sides have a lot to offer this "new" United and its customers.  Both sides have a lot to teach each other.  New ideas and new, more efficient ways of doing things are always good, but a good manager that came over from Continental Airlines should embrace what worked at United, not set is aside.  

On the outside, this "new" United is definitely a different airline than the one flying on September 11, 2001.  I do miss the "old" United, but what keeps me coming back are all those employees I call friends and have advocated for since 2001.  They are proud of their time at United Airlines and they are used to big changes every time there is a change in leadership.  These employees also remember what it was like for them on September 11, 2001.  On that day they lost souls who were their co-workers and friends, and every September 11 brings back some measure of sorrow or pain.  To Mr. Munoz and Mr. Kirby, you may call this a "new" United Airlines, but there is a legacy that is unique to those who were on the front lines at United Airlines on 9/11/2001.  There will always be a part of the "old" United Airlines that should never be forgotten and a part of the the "old" United that needs a real, long-lasting, tribute to the United employees lost on that day.  I will repeat my challenge to Mr. Munoz and Mr. Kirby to honor those souls with tulips on just 20 of the planes in the fleet.  

What happened on September 11, 2001 had a profound effect not only on the employees at United and American Airlines, but all airlines around the world, and that includes Continental Airlines.  They too grieved for their compatriots that were lost, and they too understood how working at their airline was never going to be the same.  Now, as part of this "new" United, they bring with them something in common with their subUA associates.  As part of this "new" United they share the responsibility to honor those lost, and they share the responsibility of making every flight safe and secure.  This is a part of the "old" Continental that will never go away.

It was eight years ago this month that the merger of United and Continental Airlines went on the books.  It has taken eight years, but the last of the dividing lines is coming down.  In the last eight years, there have been a lot of new, young flight attendants hired to work on both sides.  This last point is for these "newbies" - many of you were in elementary school on September 11, 2001, and the day may not carry the same measure of sorrow for you that is does for us old folks.  Your senior co-workers have very vivid memories of that day.  They are going to remember what it was like to have their flights grounded in locations all over the country, and those flying international are going to remember being stuck away from home for as much as a week, or being on a flight that was forced to land in Canada or Mexico until they were permitted to enter the United States.  Some of them will have personally known the flight crews and other United employees that were lost on that day. Take a moment to say "thank you," and take some time to find out what that day was like for them.  Working at United Airlines is not just a job, you are part of an airline with a proud legacy.  Being a part of the "Friendly Skies" is a privilege.  Embrace that privilege and do the best job you can to honor the legacy that you inherited when you put on those wings.  

September 11 is not just about loss, it was also a day that everyone came together.  For those on the front lines at United and Continental it is a day where their jobs changed significantly.  It was a filled with grief and uncertainty, but they also pushed through that to come together with a singular focus on safety and security for us passengers.  I do what I do every September 11 just to say "thank you" and let them know I do understand what the day means for them.  September 11 has become a day where everyone is supposed to do a good deed.  Big or small, these good deeds bring people together.  This is a day to thank our first responders charged with the task of keeping us safe.  This is a day to thank our military, police departments, fire departments, hospitals, EMTs, the TSA, Homeland Security, and airline Pilots and Flight Attendants. This is also a day where we have to teach our children why it is important that we "Never Forget."  May this Tuesday be a good day for all of you.