103 mil loss

[nycbusdriver]

I've no problem paying extra for extra. US right now is nothing more than a poorly run airline with its hand out for money that IMO is UNEARNED based on the service provided.

It's very clear that Tempe has never understood the concept of the "high cost of cheap."

LCC is the poster child for it, and they can't even see it.

 

[diamondcutter]

Do you read or just react?

I am well aware of the precarious financial position of Midwest and TPG group and the challenges that a 25 plane airline face.

The Slogan "Best care in the air" mostly refers to the attitude towards customers. You're familiar with customers aren't you? I often refer to them as "Salary Providers". Midwest has a culture not unlike WN or CO as opposed to US's customer as the enemy approach.

Also if you'd have taken the time to actually READ my posts you'd note that I spent considerably more on Midwest on various amenities because of perceived value then I've ever spent on US.

You seek to attack me as a person as opposed to actually engaging in a civil debate and that's cool by me as it exposes the high cost of cheap mentality of the current crop of price of everything, value of nothing executives currently residing in Tempe, AZ.

So in the spirit of the boards please enlighten us as to how an airline (US) can have the highest CASM in the industry can call itself LCC on their stock ticker??

Could it be more smoke and mirrors from a morally bankrupt management team?

we have the highest CASM because we are consentrated on the east coast with many short haul flts... and take offs and landings per day...go dig up the cost on that!

 

[luvn737s]

I am well aware of the precarious financial position of Midwest and TPG group and the challenges that a 25 plane airline face.

25???

Try 9. They sold most of their flying off to Republic in E-170's (ex Midlantic A/C).

Shrinking to profitibility?

 

[USA320Pilot]

US Airways Group, Inc. Q1 2009 Earnings Call Transcript

Click here to read the transcript.

Regards,

USA320Pilot

 

[FWAAA]

Then you'd be wrong...

But BoeingBoy, don't you realize that WN attracts nothing but hillbillies? Country bumpkins heading on their once a year flight to Podunk? Southwest wouldn't recognize a business traveler if one bit them the rear end. 😉

As I'm sure you know, lots and lots of suits on those WN early morning and late afternoon short haul flights between major cities. Those hillbillies and bumpkins sure dress up nice when they fly. 😀

 

[luvn737s]

While true it misses the point regarding the attitude of the staff towards customers and that is most of my point. That if you're well treated you will overlook a heck of a lot of nickle & dime fees.

How long could any staff keep smiles painted on their faces when the tools they work with and the system that they operate in is unreliable, stretched too thin, and adequate only as long as everything works perfectly?

To get a system that works and people (customers and employees) believe in and support takes money and committment. If you're constantly looking for the next big merger deal, you're bound to neglect to invest in what you have. Didn't some politician recently quip, "Who has ever washed a rental car?"

It's time the stewards of this company decided what kind of "car" best meets their needs, buy it and then take meticulous care to ensure it's reliability, not merely "drive it like you stole it".

Build a robust operation that doesn't require the employees to constantly work under a broken system, or be pre-occupied with worrying about it breaking down. Then the good employees you carefully choose (part of building the operation) can be great!

 

[jcw]

I didn't think I was "Complaining" so pardon me.

As a non stop apologist for the shortcomings of US Airways you fail to see that the issue is NOT the $5.00 fee increase or the weak spin placed upon it in the e-mail I received.

I did not say you were complaining. I just said let the complaining begin for everyone to start.

Thanks for calling me a "non stop apologist" - it was very kind of you to blast me.

 

[HPearlyretiree]

Do you read or just react?

I am well aware of the precarious financial position of Midwest and TPG group and the challenges that a 25 plane airline face.

The Slogan "Best care in the air" mostly refers to the attitude towards customers. You're familiar with customers aren't you? I often refer to them as "Salary Providers". Midwest has a culture not unlike WN or CO as opposed to US's customer as the enemy approach.

Also if you'd have taken the time to actually READ my posts you'd note that I spent considerably more on Midwest on various amenities because of perceived value then I've ever spent on US.

You seek to attack me as a person as opposed to actually engaging in a civil debate and that's cool by me as it exposes the high cost of cheap mentality of the current crop of price of everything, value of nothing executives currently residing in Tempe, AZ.

So in the spirit of the boards please enlighten us as to how an airline (US) can have the highest CASM in the industry can call itself LCC on their stock ticker??

Could it be more smoke and mirrors from a morally bankrupt management team?

They can call themselves anything they want Bob. US always had high CASM, for years they just made up for it with yield. HP had low CASM, but that was offset by low yield.

I READ your posts Bob, and whoopee de doo that you spent lots of money on Midwest, I'm not impressed. Nor do I really care for your superior tone. If you love all these other airlines, then go fly them, please, go. But, don't continue to be obsessed about US, it shouldn't be your problem any more. If they are morally bankrupt, then, even you can't save them. 🙄

I'd love for US to have tons of food and bigger seats and hot cookies and all that, but someone has to pay for it, and Midwest sure ain't pulling in tons of revenue to justify all those extras.

 

[Bear96]

Do you read or just react?

. . .

You seek to attack me as a person as opposed to actually engaging in a civil debate . . .

I, for one, saw nothing in HP's post which could be portrayed as an "attack on [PineyBob] as a person."

 

[galley princess]

I will grudgingly acknowledge that Tempe has managed to keep US afloat despite its poor morale, poor operating systems and bad decisions.


So can we address the above any time soon?

They've painted and buffed up the planes, the absence of food and blankets tends to keep them cleaner, and bags are arriving somewhere near the zip code intended. Wonderful. The thing is, didn't a recent study state that the flying public still has a very bad view of US?

That Christmas meltdown + Disastrous SHARES cutover really did its work didn't it?

The thing is, I think that it is more than that, I think it's the fact that the employees are REALLY REALLY unhappy, and no one likes to patronize an unhappy place, they'll do it if it's cheap enough, but it isn't your first choice is it?

If US wants to make the turn and change its image and return to a desirable airline to fly, it simply has to address its poor employee morale. There is no way around this. They've proved it. They've tried putting lipstick on the pig.

It's still a pig.

 

[freedom]

Tempe has done a better than average job , they've done MAGIC ... right now i think we should all be happy just to have jobs ... and i know we all hear that refrain time and time again these days ... but it's still true .. now i know that won't make anyone's day easier ... but stop and consider what it might be like if things weren't as good as they are now ... GM's making their people take 9 weeks off and here in arizona one of our local food chains is going to close 9 stores laying off 1300 people ..


Let's all of us on the front line focus on working harder so that way we can earn another 100 dollars! that should help morale a tad ..

 

[goodfellow]

Freedumb, Keep smokin your peace pipe!

 

[HPearlyretiree]

The point regarding Midwest is as usual missed. It's the ATTITUDE of the Company and it's employees towards customers that makes the difference.

For years and years HP had/has the mentality of doing things "Good Enough". In that respect they are like my 14 year old Timmy who does just enough homework and class work to get a C and pass the class. He has no thoughts of ever striving to be the best at anything he does, whether it be school work or chores around the house. Just does enough not to get reamed out by Mom or I.

My older stepson Will is not nearly as bright and busts his ever loving assets and for the first time he made Principal's List and we framed the letter.

It occurred to me that certain airlines are a lot like my step kids. Will busts his butt and comes up a winner. Think of him as WN or CO

While Timmy is US Airways personified. Could just blow WN and CO away but just muddles along & is content with being "good Enough".

This is why, while the numbers are a pleasant surprise, I still fear for their long term viability as those at the top want to play Merger Mania which is much more sexy then Running an Airline 101 is.

Uh, no, Timmy is not US Airways personified, he is a cheap prop you are using to justify something that won't be. What is good enough today, is to make money and stay in business. US employees could bust their butts, but then, the entitlement union goons would complain about it.

How many full service airlines have we seen go bust in the last 20 years? Regent, Legend, MGM Grand, McClain, Air One, and more. We saw Alaska drop their high quality service and same for Midwest. As I said, I'd love it to be 30 years ago and get a nice free meal on a PHX-LAX flight, but that ain't happening, and bemoaning that loss won't bring it back. Passengers will, by an overwhelming majority choose the cheapest flight. Even if it means just a few bucks difference. That is the market. I love to flight in First Class, its swell, especially trans atlantic or trans pacific, but..... this is a tough economy, and what's a few hours. That is the mentality of the majority of fliers. Sorry you aren't pampered like you want, but, that's life. And, if you find a better carrier, go fly there, give up on US. Because things change, you can whine about them, but you aren't gonna change them. To do so is a monumental waste of time.

 

[UPNAWAY]

If US wants to make the turn and change its image and return to a desirable airline to fly, it simply has to address its poor employee morale. There is no way around this. They've proved it. They've tried putting lipstick on the pig.

It's still a pig.

I agree with this but how do you do it? PB thinks we just need some training and a CS focus. But no way the old crowed that hates their job will do anything different. I think we really need massive turnover and influx of new and younger more positive workers. But even then, how do you accomplish that and keeps things running smoothly?
I think we are stuck and can only expect baby steps and maybe with a lot of time things will gradually change. This is also not unique to US but is a problem through out the US Airline Industry.

 

[Richard]

Keep talking about the ISSUE here, and stop the personal remarks/attacks.