Midwest to ground all MD80's by the fall [MERGED]

[Inkmahm]

A reporter on WISN Channel 12 interviewed him too and asked about Orlando destinations last nite. Brophy said the same thing. The reporter mumbled after, that he needed to go rebook-and was told to wait a few more days.

Can you image if flights to Florida get dropped all together. It is going to be a mad dash to find anything open.

I would think that if they weren't planning on dropping Orlando, there would be more reassuring comments coming from someone at Midwest. They aren't saying anything other than that they will try to acommondate people on other airlines for destinations that are eliminated. That's just horrible public relations work.

 

[CarolA]

What I really don't get is the "we aren't releasing the schedule for 'competetion' reasons"? What would that be? The desire to RUN all your passengers to the competetion because they don't have a CLUE what you are doing???

 

[faberj]

What I really don't get is the "we aren't releasing the schedule for 'competetion' reasons"? What would that be? The desire to RUN all your passengers to the competetion because they don't have a CLUE what you are doing???

I don't understand either, if they know already then just tell the public and be done with it. I can only imagine the hold times they are going to have after it does finally get released. I am sure there are thousands of people that are going to need new flights to get where they want to go.

 

[Inkmahm]

What I really don't get is the "we aren't releasing the schedule for 'competetion' reasons"? What would that be? The desire to RUN all your passengers to the competetion because they don't have a CLUE what you are doing???

Maybe they are trying to keep Air Tran etc from being able to add flights in advance where Midwest is dropping them? But if they are giving up on a market, why would they care who takes over?

 

[McDISer]

I don't understand either, if they know already then just tell the public and be done with it. I can only imagine the hold times they are going to have after it does finally get released. I am sure there are thousands of people that are going to need new flights to get where they want to go.

We will be on hold, finding out if they will help us or if we get our money back, or nothing at all.

I don't think it will be to hard, if we need to find our own flights. So I guess we will have to play their stupid waiting game. If Midwest does survive and only has business flights, I will never, ever fly with them again.

 

[PRINCESS VIJA]

Can you image if flights to Florida get dropped all together. It is going to be a mad dash to find anything open.

I know, it will be crazy, and that is one of the reasons I booked with another airline. Please, everyone, if you can, look up what an alternative flight might be with another airline, out of another airport possibly... just to have a contingency plan in place if you need to scramble.

I am still hoping for refunds! If not, I'll have another flight somewhere... wherever their business flights go...

 

[DisOrBust]

It may have not been meant to be rude but it comes off abrupt/ the "read it again" comment. One of the problems with cyberspace.

Everyone involved of this thread have their own agenda those with tixs are praying they keep the MCO routes, others who booked backup are praying they don't. What the end product is no one knows for sure. We will all have to wait until anything is official. I have heard they are keeping the MD 80 at 7:55 and 2:55 to MCO and the 12:15 and 7:20 to MKE from someone who works at MDW but I really don't think even MDW knows what they are doing yet. Especially when they have the fare at over 700$ a tix!!

 

[DisDarling]

I wasn't rude at all, but I think you are with that comment.

The "Read it Again" sounded like it to me, like a sarcastic comment. If it wasn't meant, than I apologize.

 

[Inkmahm]

The "Read it Again" sounded like it to me, like a sarcastic comment. If it wasn't meant, than I apologize.

It was a simple comment to read it again because the poster read it wrong the first time. No opinion involved at all, he just read the article wrong. I thought a link to the article with the read it again comment was logical.

 

[Grace&Carolinesmom]

Is there any chance they might be working with Northwest to add flights where Midwest is eliminating flights? That would make a little more sense in light of the "competition" comment. If they want to reroute everyone on NWA to keep the dollars from running to competing airlines. Just a thought....They already have some "legs" being picked up by NWA in IND.

 

[McKelly]

It may have not been meant to be rude but it comes off abrupt/ the "read it again" comment. One of the problems with cyberspace.

Everyone involved of this thread have their own agenda those with tixs are praying they keep the MCO routes, others who booked backup are praying they don't. What the end product is no one knows for sure. We will all have to wait until anything is official. I have heard they are keeping the MD 80 at 7:55 and 2:55 to MCO and the 12:15 and 7:20 to MKE from someone who works at MDW but I really don't think even MDW knows what they are doing yet. Especially when they have the fare at over 700$ a tix!!

I am SO keeping my fingers crossed that this is true, because this will cover my flights, I have the 7:55 and the 7:20 back. I just checked my messages on my answering machine and there was one from Midwest telling me my flight in December had been changed. My heart dropped, BUT, it was only to tell me that my flight home had changed by like 20 minutes. I am hoping that this is a good sign. Why would they send me a message when they are going to out right cancel it three days later......unless it is all automated, which the call was. Don't know.

I just have another question for people booking additional airfare on other carriers to "cover" yourself. Are you buying refundable airfares? I can't afford to buy another four tickets on another carrier if I don't know for sure if I am going to get a refund from Midwest, just curious how everybody is doing that. I even looked at Amtrak, but I am not interested in spending two days on a train, then I will drive and probably make it down there quicker, although, it will be more expensive.

 

[cbjl]

Is there any chance they might be working with Northwest to add flights where Midwest is eliminating flights? That would make a little more sense in light of the "competition" comment. If they want to reroute everyone on NWA to keep the dollars from running to competing airlines. Just a thought....They already have some "legs" being picked up by NWA in IND.

I think this is an interesting idea - I know most airlines are looking at cutting flights vs. adding, but, if Midwest drops all/most leisure destinations from MKE, that leaves a big bunch of customers looking for a carrier. Lots of snowbirds up here bouncing back & forth between WI & FL or AZ.

Didn't NWA used to fly a nonstop once a day between MKE & MCO - even fairly recently? Anyone remember?

It sure would be a nice outcome - at this point, I'd gladly give up my nice legroom and seat pitch (& cookies) if I could fly nonstop....

 

[leeann32]

If Midwest cancels our flights and wants to re book us on different ones, do we have to fly out of MKE?
Could I choose to fly out of Madison instead?
NWA has better times out of Madison for me on my dates of travel. I'm trying to look at my options.
It's too bad there are no non-stop flights
And the times on other airlines stink!!!

 

[PRINCESS VIJA]

I just heard on our local news (NBC channel 4) that Midwest would announce this Friday to their staff which destinations are going to be eliminated, and then the flight changes early next week.

Good luck everyone!

McKelly, to answer your question,

I just have another question for people booking additional airfare on other carriers to "cover" yourself. Are you buying refundable airfares? I can't afford to buy another four tickets on another carrier if I don't know for sure if I am going to get a refund from Midwest, just curious how everybody is doing that. I even looked at Amtrak, but I am not interested in spending two days on a train, then I will drive and probably make it down there quicker, although, it will be more expensive.

We did not book refundable fairs, our situation is a bit different... I wanted to bump up our departure date when this all started, so I was going to have to pay $100 change fee per ticket anyhow. When this started, I found a different flight with better times for us. I double booked, hoping that I could use our airfare credit (+ the 100 change fee I was already willing to spend) for our vacation out west next year. well now I know that since they are probably going to be eliminating the Western flights, I will be sitting on extra airfare. I told DH that we would just use the credit and fly somewhere over the winter for a long weekend. It will have to be somewhere where Midwest flies for their business travelers. In a way that could be kind of fun to fly somewhere just for the fun of it. But ideally I hope to get a refund.

 

[CarolA]

If Midwest cancels our flights and wants to re book us on different ones, do we have to fly out of MKE?
Could I choose to fly out of Madison instead?
NWA has better times out of Madison for me on my dates of travel. I'm trying to look at my options.
It's too bad there are no non-stop flights
And the times on other airlines stink!!!

As a general rule no. What they will have tried to do is purchase a "block" of seats out of MKE to cover this mess. They won't have done that out of Madison, but it never hurts to ask. The worst that can happen is they say no.

 

[Inkmahm]

http://www.620wtmj.com/news/local/25487649.html



Midwest Pilots and Flight Attendants Still Waiting
By Tim Lethlean

Story Created: Jul 16, 2008

Story Updated: Jul 16, 2008

Midwest Airlines' plans for big cutbacks are becoming a bit clearer. The company is already sending letters to many workers telling them if they'll be cut, or their job is safe.

But for pilots and flight attendants, their future depends on what Midwest announces Friday. Company officials intend to release what airports they'll stop serving all-together. Couple the pull outs with an overall scaled-back flight schedule, and staffers with many years of service under their belts could be given their walking papers. Union stewards are predicting layoffs will impact those pilots and flight attendants with about or less than 10 years on the job.

So what would those laid-off employees do next? Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett is hoping other local businesses will pick them up, saying "I want them to stay here. I don't want the brain drain to get worse."

 

[Inkmahm]

I am SO keeping my fingers crossed that this is true, because this will cover my flights, I have the 7:55 and the 7:20 back. I just checked my messages on my answering machine and there was one from Midwest telling me my flight in December had been changed. My heart dropped, BUT, it was only to tell me that my flight home had changed by like 20 minutes. I am hoping that this is a good sign. Why would they send me a message when they are going to out right cancel it three days later......unless it is all automated, which the call was. Don't know.

I just have another question for people booking additional airfare on other carriers to "cover" yourself. Are you buying refundable airfares? I can't afford to buy another four tickets on another carrier if I don't know for sure if I am going to get a refund from Midwest, just curious how everybody is doing that. I even looked at Amtrak, but I am not interested in spending two days on a train, then I will drive and probably make it down there quicker, although, it will be more expensive.

I have not purchased back up tickets for my DH and me for October, but I did purchase backup tickets for our Dec trip with 3 other family members. For that one, I had too many other expenses already paid (Discovery Cove tickets, MVMCP tickets, points I'd lose in DVC for accomodations, etc.) that I was NOT going to be scrambling for airfare if Midwest cancelled us. If they end up flying and not offering me a refund, we'll have credits to use on another Midwest flight in 2009. I never buy refundable tickets.

 

[OhMari]

I have not purchased back up tickets for my DH and me for October, but I did purchase backup tickets for our Dec trip with 3 other family members. For that one, I had too many other expenses already paid (Discovery Cove tickets, MVMCP tickets, points I'd lose in DVC for accomodations, etc.) that I was NOT going to be scrambling for airfare if Midwest cancelled us. If they end up flying and not offering me a refund, we'll have credits to use on another Midwest flight in 2009. I never buy refundable tickets.

I never saw the price of refundable tickets with Midwest. I only saw the e-tickets non-refundable. Are they a lot more?

 

[Inkmahm]

I never saw the price of refundable tickets with Midwest. I only saw the e-tickets non-refundable. Are they a lot more?

Refundable tickets would normally be a lot more, yes. Business people would use them, especially if they have a lot of schedule changes. I really have no idea if Midwest has refundable tickets or not though because I never buy them, even for business. As an example though, go to Air Tran. See the difference there in the cost between non-refundable and refundable tickets.

 

[tkoran]

There is a Midwest employee who posts in the comment section of a blog I read and she said some employees of Midwest were told already on Monday that they were losing their jobs and when. She is one of the employees who is losing their job (Sept. 13th), but I don't know what type of position she holds.