United pilots go extra mile as airline struggles By Chris Woodyard, USA TODAY At the start of the holiday rush, three United Airlines pilots shook hands with passengers in a Denver International Airport terminal to thank them for their business. One brought an instant camera to snap photos of families.Later that same day in Los Angeles, another United pilot was seen in the concourse directing passengers to their departure gates.Some passengers say they think the recent acts of kindness show United flight crews have gone on a charm offensive as the airline fights for survival in bankruptcy court."In the several hundred flights I've taken in the past few years, I've never seen them greeting passengers before," says Thom Nulty, president of Navigant International, who witnessed the friendly pilots in Denver and Los Angeles.United spokeswoman Chris Nardella says customer service remains "a strong focus given our financial issues," but that no special orders have gone out.Actions in United's bankruptcy reorganization could dampen the employees' enthusiasm: Friday, United filed a motion seeking to scrap labor agreements if it is unable to reach voluntary cost-cutting deals with its unions. A hearing is scheduled for today. The airline seeks to cut $2.4 billion in annual costs prior to a Feb. 15 deadline set by lenders.Saturday, union leaders urged pilots and flight attendants to accept United's proposal to keep their contracts in exchange for voluntary pay cuts. Heads of United's branch of the Air Line Pilots Association said they approved the proposed 29% pay cut and will send the pact to pilots for ratification. Officials of the Association of Flight Attendants agreed Saturday to recommend members approve an interim 8.16% cut in base wages. Four of United's six unions have now reached concession agreements with the airline. Members of the unions will vote over the next 10 days, and the cuts would take effect this week. No deal has been reached with the International Association of Machinists (IAM), United's largest union representing nearly 40,000 workers.Herb Hunter, a spokesman for United's pilots, says their union has been working with management for months to find a solution.He adds that pilots are trying hard to show their appreciation. He says he always walks the aisle of his United Boeing 777 to shake hands with passengers. "It's something that I would think the company would want us to do," he says. *************************************************** The owner of Roger's Trinbago Site/TnTisland.com Roj (Roger James) : escape email mailto:ejames@escape.ca Trinbago site: www.tntisland.com Carib Brass Ctn site www.tntisland.com/caribbeanbrassconnection/ Steel Expressions www.mts.net/~ejames/se/ Site of the Week: www.tobagoweddings.com/ TnT Webdirectory: http://search.co.tt *********************************************************