Likelyhood of the 1:50 FA Ratio being changed

[WJWinglett]

Does anyone want to speculate if this is going to go through or not in Canada???

[True North]

Assuming you mean the 1:40 rule changing to 1:50 then yes, I believe it is inevitable. There is already a precedent for it and all the airlines want it. It's just politics.

[Airbrake]

I suspect it'll be a spec ops that is approved on individual circumstances.

[North Shore]

Ohh, Maaannnn. Does this mean it'll take even longer to get my pretzels and lukewarm pop on the next flight?

[mbav8r]

I heard the phrase "crew to load" being used regarding this, when I asked what exactly that meant, it was as obvious as it sounds. If booked to 90, x amount of time from date of flight, only crew with 2 FAs, meaning only 10 seats available for use/booking. If this is true, it could be very bad for commuters, because I don't imagine when crewing to load you would include stand-bys.
I also heard this could mean layoffs for FAs, welcome to re-apply at encore.
Any thoughts/comments from the WJetrs?

[Lateralus]

I heard the phrase "crew to load" being used regarding this, when I asked what exactly that meant, it was as obvious as it sounds. If booked to 90, x amount of time from date of flight, only crew with 2 FAs, meaning only 10 seats available for use/booking. If this is true, it could be very bad for commuters, because I don't imagine when crewing to load you would include stand-bys.
I also heard this could mean layoffs for FAs, welcome to re-apply at encore.
Any thoughts/comments from the WJetrs?

Have not heard a word about layoffs.

[Bede]

mbav8r,

I wouldn't be concerned about that at all. WJ already books some flights to 119 and puts 3 FA's on the -700 potentially leaving commuters behind. However, if an FA is commuting, not only do they let her operate the flight to get to work, but pay the FA to work allowing the rest of the plane to be filled with commuters. I don't know any other company who is willing to incur labour costs to get commuters to work.

[TheStig]

mbav8r,

I wouldn't be concerned about that at all. WJ already books some flights to 119 and puts 3 FA's on the -700 potentially leaving commuters behind. However, if an FA is commuting, not only do they let her operate the flight to get to work, but pay the FA to work allowing the rest of the plane to be filled with commuters. I don't know any other company who is willing to incur labour costs to get commuters to work.

Bede, absolutely awesome information, would you mind forwarding that to president@aircanada.ca?

As a side note to the original post, US airlines have been at 50:1 for a while now. Didn't seem to slow down the evacuation on the Hudson River that much, despite only using half the doors (and having one wheelchair passenger!) Additionally, the DHC-8-300 and CRJ-200 operate at 50:1 in Canada, so it's not completely without precedent.

[CD]

I'm not much for speculation (starting a good rumour on the other hand, is always fair game... )

As this isn't the first time the issue has come up for discussion in Canada, it should be interesting to see what happens this time around... Here are a few links from the past:

Montreal Gazette: Better air safety would cost peanuts - August 13, 1997
AvCanada: Airlines may be allowed to use fewer attendants - May 8, 2006
Globe and Mail: Ottawa may allow airlines to use fewer flight attendants - May 8, 2006
Calgary Sun: WestJet seeks rules change - February 12, 2009
FlyerTalk: WestJet seeks rules change for fewer flight attendants - February 12, 2009
Canada.com: From flight attendant to WestJet CEO: Gregg Saretsky's career takes off - March 24, 2010