Airways Magazine Jan 1999

[crj58]

I just hauled out an old Airways magazine article featuring USAirways.
Apparently US's inflight service was regarded as exemplary in those days
and even recieved accolades for its ENVOY class.
At the time US was under Wolf/Gangwal who with all the criticism against them
at least understood the value of providing a high standard of pax service
internationally.
Nowadays US seems to be a carrier fighting a ludicrous losing battle to position
itself as a low rent Allegiant Air with the overhead of a Northwest.
I know this has been gone over,rehashed, and flogged a thousand times but when
will DougWeiser get it?

 

[PHL]

It'd be interesting to pick Wolfie's brain today to see how he would have continued to run the airilne. Remember, however, that he was despised by the employees. Would they still be putting up with his employee-unfriendly attitudes all these years?

1999 was just 2 years after Envoy debuted on the 767, and was pretty much ahead of most of the domestic carriers at the time. Then a year later the A330's started coming online and really proved US to be a serious contender in the TA premium market.

 

[Bobbie]

If I recall correctly, the magazine was called Attache in 1999.

 

[FlyOnWall]

He's not talking about the inflight magazine, he's talking about an actual magazine that is called Airways.

 

[singh4us]

Ah, those were the days!!!

If anyone is interested, there are still copies available in very limited supply for $5.00 plus shipping:

http://airwaysmag.com/catalog/product_info...products_id=356

 

[Bobbie]

Well, don't I feel silly! I was reading that post and I was thinking "US Airways boasting about their international service in their own magazine?"

Thanks for clarifying!

 

[crj58]

It'd be interesting to pick Wolfie's brain today to see how he would have continued to run the airilne. Remember, however, that he was despised by the employees. Would they still be putting up with his employee-unfriendly attitudes all these years?

1999 was just 2 years after Envoy debuted on the 767, and was pretty much ahead of most of the domestic carriers at the time. Then a year later the A330's started coming online and really proved US to be a serious contender in the TA premium market.

Unfortunately(or fortunately) I have not experienced ENVOY class.
I use US to commute to work but all my other domestic travel I
prefer Continental and internationally Lufthansa or Air France.
The irony is I work for US! None of them have devolved to the nickle and dime
stage(yet). It's more expensive but really not by that much.
I've also bought full-fare tickets on them so I don't get stuck in Europe
when my time off is tight. AF and LH do not automatically upgrade but CO seems to be very generous. Just be extra nice to the check-in staff!

 

[PHL]

... AF and LH do not automatically upgrade but CO seems to be very generous. Just be extra nice to the check-in staff!

See, I always was under the impression (from my early days as a NONEpass member) that international upgrades were EXTREMELY hard to come by even with points or certificates.

I don't know if it's still true, but they used to not even allocate seats for BizFirst award travel to Europe, or F travel to Hawaii, until 30 days prior to the flight date. Maybe things have changed.... But at the time of Envoy's roll out, it was superior to CO BF product at the time in many ways.

 

[whatkindoffreshhell]

It'd be interesting to pick Wolfie's brain today to see how he would have continued to run the airilne. Remember, however, that he was despised by the employees. Would they still be putting up with his employee-unfriendly attitudes all these years?

Wolfe would have sold the airlines years ago and the employees scattered to the wind.

 

[ringmaruf]

It'd be interesting to pick Wolfie's brain today to see how he would have continued to run the airilne. Remember, however, that he was despised by the employees. Would they still be putting up with his employee-unfriendly attitudes all these years?

Wolf may have been unliked, but Gangwal (the one actually running the airline) was very well respected.

 

[john john]

Wolfe would have sold the airlines years ago and the employees scattered to the wind.

_____________would have sold the airlines years ago and the employees scattered to the wind. (insert CEO)

 

[signals]

I just hauled out an old Airways magazine article featuring USAirways.
Apparently US's inflight service was regarded as exemplary in those days
and even recieved accolades for its ENVOY class.
At the time US was under Wolf/Gangwal who with all the criticism against them
at least understood the value of providing a high standard of pax service
internationally.
Nowadays US seems to be a carrier fighting a ludicrous losing battle to position
itself as a low rent Allegiant Air with the overhead of a Northwest.
I know this has been gone over,rehashed, and flogged a thousand times but when
will DougWeiser get it?

I think it was US Air back then...Unfortunately, Still Allegheny In Reality . I was looking at an old US Air mag with the Maui location on the cover when US catered to Robin the Leech and company? Yes, that was when US Air began with U but was all about US

High standards? For who? U or the pax? Those were the days when customers were ticked-off but understood they were fighting a losing battle. US had an image problem and customers were shipped to Bend Over, Indianus!

Yeah, good times for U but not Us!

 

[PHL]

Wolf may have been unliked, but Gangwal (the one actually running the airline) was very well respected.

You mean Mr "There is no plan B" Gangwall, when asked what the alternatives are if the 2000 UA-US merger proposal failed??

 

[ussnark]

You mean Mr "There is no plan B" Gangwall, when asked what the alternatives are if the 2000 UA-US merger proposal failed??

I believe the duo were hired with the sole mission to consummate a UAL/US merger, something that was too far along for a "plan B". It was the wrong question, like a plane that has gone past it's equal time point, returning is not an option.

 

[REACC1]

You mean Mr "There is no plan B" Gangwall, when asked what the alternatives are if the 2000 UA-US merger proposal failed??

Dude,"There is no plan B". That was Dave Seigal (sp), cashing in and running us down.