Quote:
Originally Posted by jimworcs
I assume this means that you feel American companies should not be allowed to own foreign companies also. So US airlines should not be allowed to own foreign carriers. This will be a significant blow to many US airlines who have a number of wholly and partially owned companies. It would also be a blow to other US corporations who have extensive overseas interests as we all retreat into protectionist policies. Ironically, the biggest loser of a protectionist world would be the great industrial trading nations, the largest of which is the USA.
Virgin were prevented from starting a US based carrier and had to satisfy stringent rules just to allow a US based company to use their brand. Can we clear up this old canard. The labor laws which apply to the US airlines would also apply to foreign owned carriers. Foreign owned companies operating in the US do not have any exemption from US laws. BMW and Mercedes for example build cars in the US and have some of the most modern facilities and best working conditions of any employers. The implication that foreign owned companies operating in the US enjoy any special priviledges is nonsense. To further clarify, lets clear this up. Foreign ownership of an American company does not confer on the employer any rights to bring into the US foreign labour. The immigration laws are the same for all employers. This is a bogus protectionist argument.
Air fares would not double if they banned overbooking. This is a nonsense. JetBlue, hardly the most expensive carrier in the US does not overbook. This is an argument put forward to create fear of reform. The solution is to amend the terms and conditions of tickets to manage this situation. Why does the overbooking argument not apply to other finite resources, such as concert tickets, theatre, etc. Some people don't turn up for these, but the venues cannot oversell on that assumption. The airlines appear to keep pleading special status and it is simply not merited.
|
I would like for overbooking to stop too. I hate working the ticket counter, or gate, when flights are overbooked. Maybe you are right, and I've just been led to believe that overbooking would cause fare increases. I didn't realize JetBlue didn't overbook. I thought it was common practice for all airlines to overbook. I stand corrected.
I believe I am being misunderstood, when it comes to my concern about labor. I do not believe that foreign airlines will set up shop, within the U.S., and begin paying Chinese wages. I realize that labor laws exist, and apply to all companies, within the U.S., foreign owned, or not. This isn't the concern.
My concern, is that if foreign airlines begin operating, within the United States, the current U.S. Airlines, will begin contracting their flying, to these foreign carriers, eliminating the need for the U.S. Airlines to employ workers. Just because British Airways begins operating flights, within the U.S., doesn't mean they have to set up shop here, and begin hiring U.S. workers, to operate the flights. They can use their pilots, and their crews.
I liken it to the current thing, which is major airlines outsourcing their flying, to regional airlines. It eliminates the need for the major airline to hire crews, and have airplanes flying those routes. They simply pay a set rate, to those regional airlines, per flight they operate, and that regional airline operates their airplane, and their own crews. At least, in this example, the jobs are still their, for the American pilots. I fear the major airlines may try to enter into this type of contracting/partnership, with foreign carriers, where they will operate these flights, with their crews, and airplanes, eliminating the need for the U.S. Airlines to hire crews, at all. The U.S. Airlines will simply sale the seats.
Instead of buying a ticket on American Airlines, that says, "operated by American Eagle", you'll start seeing, "operated by British Airways". I just see it as another potential way for U.S. Airlines to circumvent labor.
Maybe I am wrong though. Maybe it isn't even worth being concerned about. I do reiterate .. IT IS A CONCERN. It has nothing to do with any agenda I have with not wanting foreign airlines in the U.S. I couldn't care less. I just don't want these jobs to go to foreign labor, but want them to stay here, at home.
I feel like when I express any of these type of things, I get jumped on, like I have some agenda, regarding the airlines. I couldn't care less. I just have concerns, like anybody does, that some of these things could come with negatives. I'm not speaking in finites, Im simply expressing concerns, of things that should be discussed, and taken into consideration, before certains things are just, put into place. If my concerns are way off base, and there is some reason anybody sees, to put these to rest, make me aware. BUT, I assure you I have no agenda. AND, if I have been brainwashed, by the airlines, from working for them, for a few years, educate me on the issues.