Southwest Travel Benefits "Suspended" - Awesome

[Washu234]

Found out today that SouthWest standby Travel Benefits have been "temporarily suspended" due to violation of travel rules by FedEx employees. Does anyone have any idea what kind of violation would cause a system wide suspension or when it will be lifted?

This is a major downer as I think my travel benefit is one of the biggest perks of FedEx so part of my 'compensation' was effectively cut

I think I read mention of this happening once before. How long did that suspension last?

[Ricochet1a]

Originally Posted by Washu234

Found out today that SouthWest standby Travel Benefits have been "temporarily suspended" due to violation of travel rules by FedEx employees. Does anyone have any idea what kind of violation would cause a system wide suspension or when it will be lifted?

This is a major downer as I think my travel benefit is one of the biggest perks of FedEx so part of my 'compensation' was effectively cut

I think I read mention of this happening once before. How long did that suspension last?

A FedEx employee that was using interline travel benefits either was drunk or had some psychological problems and "disrobed" while the aircraft he was traveling in was enroute. No safety problems resulted, but Southwest suspended the interline travel privileges for Express employees. Southwest airlines employees still have discount shipping with FedEx. Since it was a FedEx employee at fault, FedEx isn't going to pull interline shipping benefits for Southwest.

The statement didn't give a definate date but it is looking like it will remain in effect through Christmas. The unofficial word is that interline travel will be restored after Christmas or "on or about" January 1st.

[Ricochet1a]

Originally Posted by FedEX 4 Life

Lies,there are no travel benefits at Fedex.

Why don't you just go away. If you don't even know about the interline travel benefit with Southwest....

[Sleeve_meet_Heart]

Originally Posted by Ricochet1a

Why don't you just go away. If you don't even know about the interline travel benefit with Southwest....

He was being sarcastic, at least I think he was.

I agree with the "go away part" wholeheartedly.

[DorkHead]

Originally Posted by FedEX 4 Life

Ah Shadup.

I remember when I first came to this forum and mentioned one of the perks of Fedex was flying and all you morons jumped on me and calling me a liar saying there are no flying benefits at Fedex.

TROLL

[MrFedEx]

Originally Posted by FedEX 4 Life

Ah Shadup.

I remember when I first came to this forum and mentioned one of the perks of Fedex was flying and all you morons jumped on me and calling me a liar saying there are no flying benefits at Fedex.

That's because you said you had just returned from a free flight on JetBlue. You've been caught in lies so many times, yet you persist, and keep right on telling more of them. TROLL.

[DOWNTRODDEN IN TEXAS]

Originally Posted by DorkHead

TROLL

Ding ding ding ding ding we have a winner!!!! Pack it up fraud, go home and tell your goldfish how Great Uncle Fredward has you in his will for tens of dollars or your portable pension hoax.

[DOWNTRODDEN IN TEXAS]

Originally Posted by Washu234

Found out today that SouthWest standby Travel Benefits have been "temporarily suspended" due to violation of travel rules by FedEx employees. Does anyone have any idea what kind of violation would cause a system wide suspension or when it will be lifted?

This is a major downer as I think my travel benefit is one of the biggest perks of FedEx so part of my 'compensation' was effectively cut

I think I read mention of this happening once before. How long did that suspension last?

This can be caused by being disrespectful to their employees, not dressing properly, being beligerent...so many ways, it lasted a year the last time, I think....

[MrFedEx]

We give SWA and the other airlines 75% off regular rates, but when we fly interline they take 75% off their highest rate, making it less of a deal than it seems.

That said, some FedEx people do act like idiots when they fail to realize that they are standby passengers. I've been in my seat on a SWA airplane getting ready for pushback and asked to get off the plane because a paying passenger showed-up at the last minute. That's just the way it is. Other times, I've waited for 5 or 6 flights and had to go home because there weren't any no-shows.

[Washu234]

Originally Posted by MrFedEx

We give SWA and the other airlines 75% off regular rates, but when we fly interline they take 75% off their highest rate, making it less of a deal than it seems.

That said, some FedEx people do act like idiots when they fail to realize that they are standby passengers. I've been in my seat on a SWA airplane getting ready for pushback and asked to get off the plane because a paying passenger showed-up at the last minute. That's just the way it is. Other times, I've waited for 5 or 6 flights and had to go home because there weren't any no-shows.

I'm not sure what airport you fly out of MrFedEx but I'm glad to hear you use the travel benefit. Its my favorite part of FedEx hands down but you gotta be good at it.

I often use Flightstats.com "Seat Availability" tool to figure out the 'likelyhood' of me making a flight. If there are 6+ seats you'll most likely make it.

If you're flying jetBlue call out as far as you can to list standby. Globaltravel won't tell you (but jetBlue will) that you can list for their flight as early as you want to (I think its upto 90 days out). Also, call-call-call. jetBlue crew support is always incredible when I talk to them. Sometimes they won't tell me the numbers, but they will make good suggestions (like if I'm flying from Boston I sometimes hop down to JFK for a better chance). I have yet to miss a flight with JetBlue. Infact one time they asked a pilot flying coach to fly jumpseat when they found out I was with FedEx.

I, however, have been bumped from flights. The worst was an AirTran flight where they told me to go on and find the one empty seat, I looked around and didn't see one, then the flight attendant asked if I was non revenue. When I said I was she walked me to the jetbridge and asked me to wait and slammed the door in my face. Talk about disheartening. The plane just backed away without me.

A LOT of People at Express don't use the flight benefits, I feel like its one of those things that makes FedEx worth it.

[Washu234]

Originally Posted by Ricochet1a

A FedEx employee that was using interline travel benefits either was drunk or had some psychological problems and "disrobed" while the aircraft he was traveling in was enroute. No safety problems resulted, but Southwest suspended the interline travel privileges for Express employees. Southwest airlines employees still have discount shipping with FedEx. Since it was a FedEx employee at fault, FedEx isn't going to pull interline shipping benefits for Southwest.

The statement didn't give a definate date but it is looking like it will remain in effect through Christmas. The unofficial word is that interline travel will be restored after Christmas or "on or about" January 1st.

I heard about this on the news! That was a FedEx employee!?

[olcc]

http://www.connectmidmissouri.com/ne...aspx?id=340301

[MrFedEx]

Originally Posted by olcc

http://www.connectmidmissouri.com/ne...aspx?id=340301

If he was a FedEx employee, how did he ever get hired (or keep his job) with that kind of record? This is a perfect example of getting what you pay for in terms of employee quality.

[fredly00]

Originally Posted by Washu234

...

If you're flying jetBlue call out as far as you can to list standby. Globaltravel won't tell you (but jetBlue will) that you can list for their flight as early as you want to (I think its upto 90 days out). Also, call-call-call. jetBlue crew support is always incredible when I talk to them. Sometimes they won't tell me the numbers, but they will make good suggestions (like if I'm flying from Boston I sometimes hop down to JFK for a better chance). I have yet to miss a flight with JetBlue. Infact one time they asked a pilot flying coach to fly jumpseat when they found out I was with FedEx.
...

Unfortunately FedEx is the bottom tier when flying standby, meaning paying customers, jet blue employees, other airline employees go before FedEx... there might be a few other levels in there, I found out the hard way, and it wasn't Jetblue's fault, because JFK canceled landing privs for like 25% of the flights that day.

Luckily Jetblue is pretty cheap to begin with.

[Brown287]

Wow just another example of how ground drivers get hosed. Flight benefits...heck they would be happy just to have medical benefits.

[MrFedEx]

Originally Posted by Brown287

Wow just another example of how ground drivers get hosed. Flight benefits...heck they would be happy just to have medical benefits.

The flight benefits aren't that great. Personal jumpseat was a much better deal in my opinion. Staying up all night wasn't all that fun but the price was right (free). Sometimes I think the only reason FedEx keeps them is to shore-up their claim that they are an "airline" (which they are not).

[Testicular Fortitude]

Originally Posted by MrFedEx

If he was a FedEx employee, how did he ever get hired (or keep his job) with that kind of record? This is a perfect example of getting what you pay for in terms of employee quality.

He is probably a manager or a member of Freds extended family.

[MrFedEx]

Originally Posted by Testicular Fortitude

He is probably a manager or a member of Freds extended family.

Then Fred has some explaining to do. Check out the guys picture.

[uniformchoice]

They can keep their so called flight benefits,pay the money like everyone else.They probably just took the guys pension or something!Do us another favor and suspend all of those worthless so called flight benefits,this isnt the first time, just an embarrasment to all of us.The guy is an airline employee right so he should know?See how this is not an airline?Anyone who flies,maintains a/c,maintains GSE at a location that operates an a/c,supports onload/offload andy other positions at an airport that supports air ops is the airline period.Everyone else ,sorry but you guys just do what you do,and have nothing to do with the word airline.Part of the reason why jumpseat is gone non-airline employees from all over on a live flight acting a fool.First chance of getting that changed the flight crews jumped at the opportunity.

[MrFedEx]

Originally Posted by uniformchoice

They can keep their so called flight benefits,pay the money like everyone else.They probably just took the guys pension or something!Do us another favor and suspend all of those worthless so called flight benefits,this isnt the first time, just an embarrasment to all of us.The guy is an airline employee right so he should know?See how this is not an airline?Anyone who flies,maintains a/c,maintains GSE at a location that operates an a/c,supports onload/offload andy other positions at an airport that supports air ops is the airline period.Everyone else ,sorry but you guys just do what you do,and have nothing to do with the word airline.Part of the reason why jumpseat is gone non-airline employees from all over on a live flight acting a fool.First chance of getting that changed the flight crews jumped at the opportunity.

Good points. The crews never liked jumpseaters that much unless they were attractive females. True airline employees understand interline etiquette and policies, quite unlike Meth (PCP?) Man on that Southwest flight. Keeping the interline benefits are just another way that Fred "proves" we're an airline when we're not. If we go union, the flight benefits will disappear immediately. No further need to pretend.

[Washu234]

Originally Posted by MrFedEx

Good points. The crews never liked jumpseaters that much unless they were attractive females. True airline employees understand interline etiquette and policies, quite unlike Meth (PCP?) Man on that Southwest flight. Keeping the interline benefits are just another way that Fred "proves" we're an airline when we're not. If we go union, the flight benefits will disappear immediately. No further need to pretend.

This is like the only thing that makes me NOT want to unionize. I like my flight benefits. We're still the worlds cargo airline and until very recently were the worlds largest airline (in number of planes) - Delta + Northwest merger stole that title.

I hop a flight at least once a month. I gotta say though, most employees in my station don't know how to use the benefit.

[ilovepurple]

Originally Posted by uniformchoice

They can keep their so called flight benefits,pay the money like everyone else.They probably just took the guys pension or something!Do us another favor and suspend all of those worthless so called flight benefits,this isnt the first time, just an embarrasment to all of us.The guy is an airline employee right so he should know?See how this is not an airline?Anyone who flies,maintains a/c,maintains GSE at a location that operates an a/c,supports onload/offload andy other positions at an airport that supports air ops is the airline period.Everyone else ,sorry but you guys just do what you do,and have nothing to do with the word airline.Part of the reason why jumpseat is gone non-airline employees from all over on a live flight acting a fool.First chance of getting that changed the flight crews jumped at the opportunity.

Jumpseat priviledges ended shortly after 9/11.

[MrFedEx]

Originally Posted by ilovepurple

Jumpseat priviledges ended shortly after 9/11.

Correct. Please inform FedEx4Life because he still flys for "free" whenever he wants. Since that's the only way we've ever flown for free, I guess he must be mis-informed. Or maybe he's just LYING.

[uniformchoice]

Not suspended now for pilots and mechanics,but partially true.

[MrFedEx]

Originally Posted by uniformchoice

Not suspended now for pilots and mechanics,but partially true.

As far as I know, personal jumpseat is gone for good. Business jumpseat still exists.