Changes in First Class Catering?

[Barbell]

OK, let's define LCC. It doesn't mean that US will always have the lowest fare. It doesn't mean that US will always have the lowests costs. What is means is that US will strive to have the lowests costs possible so as to provide safe, convenient air travel at a reasonable fare.

Are fares across the system rationalized yet? By no means, but it took nearly two full years of analysis before Legacy HP's fares were rationalized, and almost another before the same happened in F. We are only just seeing the tip of the iceberg on the East fare revamps. Trust me on that.

Will US F rival that of UA, AA, CO? Never. I get that those of you posting get that. Again, a lot of the service changes we've heard about on this board are the fruit of rumors when someone said, "What if we ____?" Such as "What if we changed the name of Envoy Class to Business Class to reflect our new business casual environment?" Well, it was a question posed, and now it's off the table. Envoy Class remains Envoy Class for the foreseeable future.

Because we will take a fanatical approach to keeping costs low, some things will go away. Study after study has proven that the vast majority of customers look first at convenience then price when choosing an airline product. So, if you like to connect in PHX and LAS over DEN, or connect in DEN on a UA codeshare instead of taking the nonstop for the nice quick massage, or prefer the nonstop out of PHL instead of the connection through IAD or ATL or CLE, then you decide if the fare offered is of value for that convenience. Then a much smaller group of customers decide if they like the service on that particular carrier based on past experience to use it again. Some do, some don't. We know that, and as long as tickets are purchased at the fare offered, then we'll continue to charge it. That's pretty much the way it's done at most carriers.

The difference is, we believe that so long as UA or AA or whomever else matches our fares, and here's where it gets tricky, because fares are fares and sometimes they're high and sometimes they aren't for a thousand reasons, and the new US philosophy would be to lower fares (hasn't happened systemwide yet, see above). When other carriers match a fare the perception would be that US doesn't have the lowest fare. We can't help that. The point is that UA/NW/CO/DL/AA can't give the level of service they're giving and continue to offer the fares we will forever, and by then you'll be hooked. And maybe they'll make cuts, and maybe they'll go out of business. That's anybody's guess.

Sure, some of the things UA is doing doesn't appear to cost any money. Well, they do. They choose to do business one way, US will do it another. You decide which you'd prefer to pay for. If you can't justify paying to fly US, then don't. Thanks for your loyalty, it is appreciated, and your business is always welcomed, when you choose to grace us with it.

And as for not getting the service you want from Consumer Affairs, guys, be fair, be honest, be truthful. You are complaining to the wrong group of people. Travis Christ and the managers of the new DM program are in PHX, East Consumer Affairs is in INT and many of their agents have already left leaving them understaffed, West Customer Relations is in PHX. Now, connect the dots: complaining to East CA is like talking to a brick wall. In this issue, that department (not the people in it) is irrelevant. Stop coming on here and saying that they aren't taking care of you and you're going to complain to the DOT. While that may be a fact, it's not the truth. Complaining to the right group of people is the right thing to do, and then you would be telling the truth.

 

[Twicebaked]

Or maybe you are falling in line with a growing group of US employees that are actually trying to drive your best customers away. If that's the case, then you are certainly doing a great job at it!! Congratulations!! :angry:

I honestly could care less whether you stay or go. I don't know you. I feel no pitty for you in this pitty party.
I am sorry, but I just don't. I have been beat up by this company too and yes, I have a choice to stay or go too. I do my job quite well with what they give me to work with. I do it, go home, and enjoy my life.

 

[Bear96]

Ah nice to see the NEW Version USA320Pilot is here pontificating on everything.

Let's see. We both signed up about the same time, and you have about FIVE TIMES as many posts as me.

Now, who is "pontificating on everything"?

🙄

 

[Bear96]

You know Barbell it's like a buddy of mine said when he was in Viet Nam, he didn't ask what division they were from if they had black pajamas on he shot them. Get the Analogy?

Very nice.

And you wonder why you can't get anyone in Tempe to take you seriously.

Note to new USAirways senior management: In case you are feeling tempted, DON'T! Do not engage PineyBob! He is way more trouble than he is worth and will never be satisfied! Save your energy! He craves attention. But the thing is, if he gets a little attention, that doesn't solve anything; that just makes him want more! The more attention he gets, the more he needs -- it's a never ending vicious cycle. You can't win. Continuing the "ignore" strategy is the wisest thing you can do.

And the best part is, he will keep spending $ on USAirways anyway, no matter what you do to him. Don't take his threats of leaving seriously -- he's been making them for literally YEARS and isn't going anywhere. All bark and no bite.

 

[longing4piedmont]

OK, let's define LCC.

Ok, let's......

LCC=Low Class Carrier

 

[Singleflyer]

Barbell,

Please explain what part of the following is Low cost for the business traveler. These are fact, not a whin, or complaint. Also not any different from other legecy carriers.

MHT-PHL fare $98.32 Miles 290 RPM $0.339 (Competes w/SW)
PIT-BOS fare $628.30 Miles 496 RPM $1.27 US- No Comp
LAS-DTW Fare $462.50 Miles 1749 RPM $0.264 AW

All tickets purchased between 36 and 1 hour befor flight time, and are in a varity markets.

This averages to br $0.469 per mile in revenue. With a break -even and profit goal of about $0.15 RASM, theat leave the New US with $0.319 in excess profit from my business. Multiply that by 845 miloes per segment and 113 segments last year. US received $30,464.00 over and above a profitable RASM of $0.15.

SO how many people are we business travels still subsidizing? Therefore don't complain when we are looking for something that compares with other legecy carriers like UA, CO, AA for service. We dso pay for it.

I flew a total of 287 segments last year, and I divide my business between three carriers US, NW, and DL. With a little going to partners, and 19 segments to AA. If the new US wants me to keep them as my #1 carrier of choice, they need to offer the same as others, or reduce the price.

For now I am staying put and waiting to see what happens. At the worst for me I would reduce US to Gold, but I am still planning to stay as a CP this year.

I chose the AW flight LAS-DTW for two reasons, I wanted to see AW's First Product, and I thought it would be better than NW. I was right, it had a meal, and a movie, (A320) the NW 757 I took out three days before had neither of those in first.

What the new management must do is to convey the message to the people that have flown the carrier for years durring the good, the bad, and the ugly we still want your business, and we will offer you a GREAT VALUE.

Like others, I don't require much for food but a sandwich or a snack, I don't drink but real glass would be nicer but not necessary, but I still miss the hot towels (and they will never be back).

Just show the VALUE of the product with reasonable fares, and that you compete or are better than the competition for the same flight.

 

[usairfa05]

Again US Airways is faced with what they want to become. Are we going to be a competive no friles airline like that of southwest or are we going to try to be a legacy airline but slimmed down. Just becuase we have changed the stock symbol still doesn't mean that there is a plan to keep our East Coast customers happy. Just becaused Crystal is gone and Tempe is now the center of the US aviation industry ( :blink: ) doesn't mean that anyone is listening out west. The entire model of the airline is changing. The east coast bussiness person is no longer the concern of Tempe. The family who travels once or twice a year or even the monthly gambler to Vegas out of Phoenix; is who they want to pursue. How does it look for a low cost operation to fly people in suites and ties versues the powerful cut off and T-shirt wearing crowd. Do you think Mr. Parker wants anyone at the airline to think he is nothing more than a working man. We must also consider the corp office workers feelings. As they stroll down Mill Ave to have their starbucks or dine on the balconies they want to fit in with the college crowd of ASU. NO Ties or Coats for them; no that would make them stand out. It is Casual Dress so when the long day is over they can head up to the Devils Martini in Scottsdale. The transformation is not one of Savings but of downgrading and making our Bread and Butter customers uneasy. At one time First Class at US Airways was a pleasure and a privilage to work. Menus, linens, glasses and a choice of wines made our product the best out there. Now we are nothing more than a third rate product with First Class prices.

 

[Travels2mch]

I honestly could care less whether you stay or go. I don't know you. I feel no pitty for you in this pitty party.
I am sorry, but I just don't. I have been beat up by this company too and yes, I have a choice to stay or go too. I do my job quite well with what they give me to work with. I do it, go home, and enjoy my life.

I'm not asking for pity....and if pity is the issue, I have had much pity for the outstanding employees this airline has had in the past and currently. 95% of the employees I have encountered have been great, especially given how they have been treated....I definitely commend them all (and do it all the time to your management).

But for the few of you that have the attitude where you 'don't care if we stay or go', if we go, so does a lot of $$ that creates your paychecks. Fortunately for the company, you are the minority and the other majority are fantastic....that's what has kept a lot of us with you. I just hope your attitude doesn't spread further, for the future of the airline.

 

[Twicebaked]

Fortunately for the company, you are the minority and the other majority are fantastic....that's what has kept a lot of us with you. I just hope your attitude doesn't spread further, for the future of the airline.

Goodbye then! Last I checked, this is America and I (or anyone else) have a contstitutional right to express my opinion. And the last I check, the United States doesn't have royalty. So, royalty you are not, you just fly alot. The self deserving attitude of the few of you..I could do without as well. I enjoy most of my FC customers, not the ones that think they deserve more than what they get. It seems to me that I have probably had many on here.

That would be if I actually work at US that is. 🙂

 

[AstroLounge]

The jaded attitude of "Twicebaked" is exactly why US is going NO WHERE Fast! And to think you work up in F/C........I'd rather be molested by the parish priest than be subjected to YOU and the "stellar" service YOU claim to provide. LMMFAO!

 

[Travelpro72]

All this being said, I still don't understand how the company can justify selling a f/c ticket for the price they do with the service we provide. With as many FF's as we have that pour hundreds of thousands of dollars collectively into US, why do some feel that the FF's don't have a right complain? These people that are ticked off are the ones who have stuck with us through the thick and the thicker. How can someone feel that our most loyal customers are being a pain in the @$$ for complaining? They keep paying the high business fares yet are getting MUCH less in terms of service and lets not even mention the DM program. Unbelievable how some think. Sure we as employees have been beaten down hard by management over the years but it is NOT the FF's fault. They for the majority show compassion and know what we have gone through. Because we got royally screwed does not mean that we should have the "oh well" attitude towards their displeasure with US.

 

[TheWatcher]

All this being said, I still don't understand how the company can justify selling a f/c ticket for the price they do with the service we provide. With as many FF's as we have that pour hundreds of thousands of dollars collectively into US, why do some feel that the FF's don't have a right complain? These people that are ticked off are the ones who have stuck with us through the thick and the thicker. How can someone feel that our most loyal customers are being a pain in the @$$ for complaining? They keep paying the high business fares yet are getting MUCH less in terms of service and lets not even mention the DM program. Unbelievable how some think. Sure we as employees have been beaten down hard by management over the years but it is NOT the FF's fault. They for the majority show compassion and know what we have gone through. Because we got royally screwed does not mean that we should have the "oh well" attitude towards their displeasure with US.

the company cannot decide if its a low cost carrier or a low fare carrier. it still isnt to late the get the act together, but time is running out fast!

 

[luvn737s]

Let me see if I can sort this out for myself. If we start from the principal that 1) everything costs something and 2) revenue must exceed costs to stay in business then:

If you maintain higher cost amenities to retain otherwise coach paying passengers, then you have essentially lowered your coach fares since you are giving away a premium over and above the original fare. FF may see this as a volume discount, which is fair. You could actually lower fares to offset the reduction in amenities (as some on here are saying). It would be a small reduction because it would apply to all customers, frequent and otherwise (maybe no more than the venti latte at Starbucks would have cost).

But would this small reduction in fares buy any real loyalty? If substantial fare reductions are implemented, then retaining the premium services is even more expensive. And with LCCs huge exposure to WN as market price maker, all extra costs restrict price competition.

So now the question becomes is it better to increase the value of the primary service (by lowering fares across the board) or the perq keeping the FC and FF amenities while maintaining higher Y fares)? Figuring this one out earns you the CEO bucks.

I hope that LCC can provide the value that promotes loyalty and the friendly customer service that earns it.

 

[RowUnderDCA]

I'm wondering about two premise (primii?)

1) do airlines think that the can charge more for first simply as a way to differentiate customers from each other... as in the main benefit you get with sitting in first is that you sit with others that sit in first and not with those that don't. This would largely be a measure of how often you fly and how much you spend.

2) do airlines think that as choices start to dwindle (a possibility) that passengers will sort themselves out by which carriers that they prefer... so that once an airline settles on a set of service options, the passengers will self-select loyalty. I think this is what WN has actually been most successful at. By simply being different they are able to TRAIN their own market to be ammenable to WN's own product. If choices dwindle, it will be easier for LCC to 'train' its own customers through self-selection.

 

[Singleflyer]

I am not sure about #1 yet, but I agree with statement #2.

LLC is trying to get us to accept less (as other Legevy carriers). It will still be more than WN, but less, and they hope we won't mind. I'm glad i am retiring in a year or two because I think some carriers will have straps like subways, and you will have to pay more for a seat.