computer guy
Member
- Joined
- Feb 4, 2006
- Messages
- 39
- Reaction score
- 0
Long time lurker, first time poster. I'm convinced that Tempe does not understand the market in the east. From where I live it's about a two-hour drive to EWR or PHL. My home airport is served by all of the major legacy carriers save AA. So if I fly from there it's a connection no matter who I take. If you look closely at where the population is located in this part of the country you will find most of the people are in this category (Within a two hour drive to an airport with choices). I've been to PHX, a two hour drive gets you nowhere that has a choice. You're stuck flying out of PHX.
I've asked Tempe, with the changes they've made to their program, why as a CP should I continue to fly US? I've told them that in order to keep my business they need to answer that very simple question. I don't think it is an unreasonable question, but when I've asked it I've gotten silence in return.
Let's look at this logically:
If I fly CO, I get a traditional meal in Y, 100% bonus miles at mid level, and 125% miles at their top level elite status. I still get the unlimited domestic upgrades as I go with US. They even provide a 50% bonus in status miles on their full fares.
NW is the same as CO without the traditional meal service in Y.
DL is very similar to NW and CO except they top out at 100% bonus miles for all of their elites.
AA gives mid and top level 100% bonus miles and you earn 500 mile upgrade certificates. They give their top level 8 SWU.
If I fly UA, I get 100% bonus miles at mid level and 6 SWU at their top elite level. Additional I have the potential to earn 2 more SWU for every 50,000 status miles I earn beyond the 100,000 miles. They still give bonus status miles on Y & B fares. They are rewarding people that give them more money then may be necessary for a Y ticket.
If I fly US, as a GP I would get only 50% bonus miles. I get no bonus for flying on a Y or B fares. As an elite I get unlimited upgrades, but with many of the routes going to RJs what good is this benefit if you can't use it? I get 2 TransAtlantic upgrades from US.
BoeingBoy hit the nail on the head when he said, "What these folks are seeing is not a reduction of cost with little reduction in value. They're seeing a reduction in what they perceive as having value without a corresponding reduction in their cost."
I'm paying the same or more to fly on US then any of the other carrier, from all of the airports I can get two by driving two hours or less, and I am getting less then I would at any other carrier. Enough is enough. If they can't answer the simple question "Why as a CP should I continue to fly US with the changes they made to the program?" They don't deserve my business.
I can answer that same question in a heartbeat to all of my customers in my line of work. They may not agree with my answer but I can give them an answer as to what I believe the value is. Tempe is either unable to respond or unwilling to respond to a basic question.
They are acting like they don't want VFFs to fly them. There are primarily two different types of customers: transaction and relationship. A transactional customer is one who is primarily interested in price. They have no loyalty. This type of customer will leave you for a penny’s difference in price. They may spend hours on the Internet researching before they buy to make sure they get the best deal.
The other types of customers are the relationship customers. These are people who are looking for a company that they can trust. They are seeking companies with reliable products – people who recognize them, remember them, do favors for them, who build a relationship with them. Once this type of customer has found a supplier they tend to give them most of their business. They know they could save money by shopping around but they find the process wastes too much time and emotional energy. This type of customer if properly cultivated, will stay with your company for a lifetime. Most of the mid and top tier elites fit into this category.
Relationship customers stop buying when as a company you stop loving them as a customer. This is why many of them, myself included, were willing to put up with such things during the two bankruptcies, such as dirty planes, and InFlight Café in first class. Right now as a VFF, I feel like I am being handed my hat and as such I am walking towards the door. Once I leave, how many other customers will US have to attract to replace the business I gave them? It is always cheaper to retain an existing customer then to attract new ones.
As long as the fares are equal to the other majors, and the other majors are providing a superior service or benefits at the same price point. It is no longer worth flying on US and once VFFs start building a relationship with another company it will be very expensive to try and get them to return.
I've asked Tempe, with the changes they've made to their program, why as a CP should I continue to fly US? I've told them that in order to keep my business they need to answer that very simple question. I don't think it is an unreasonable question, but when I've asked it I've gotten silence in return.
Let's look at this logically:
If I fly CO, I get a traditional meal in Y, 100% bonus miles at mid level, and 125% miles at their top level elite status. I still get the unlimited domestic upgrades as I go with US. They even provide a 50% bonus in status miles on their full fares.
NW is the same as CO without the traditional meal service in Y.
DL is very similar to NW and CO except they top out at 100% bonus miles for all of their elites.
AA gives mid and top level 100% bonus miles and you earn 500 mile upgrade certificates. They give their top level 8 SWU.
If I fly UA, I get 100% bonus miles at mid level and 6 SWU at their top elite level. Additional I have the potential to earn 2 more SWU for every 50,000 status miles I earn beyond the 100,000 miles. They still give bonus status miles on Y & B fares. They are rewarding people that give them more money then may be necessary for a Y ticket.
If I fly US, as a GP I would get only 50% bonus miles. I get no bonus for flying on a Y or B fares. As an elite I get unlimited upgrades, but with many of the routes going to RJs what good is this benefit if you can't use it? I get 2 TransAtlantic upgrades from US.
BoeingBoy hit the nail on the head when he said, "What these folks are seeing is not a reduction of cost with little reduction in value. They're seeing a reduction in what they perceive as having value without a corresponding reduction in their cost."
I'm paying the same or more to fly on US then any of the other carrier, from all of the airports I can get two by driving two hours or less, and I am getting less then I would at any other carrier. Enough is enough. If they can't answer the simple question "Why as a CP should I continue to fly US with the changes they made to the program?" They don't deserve my business.
I can answer that same question in a heartbeat to all of my customers in my line of work. They may not agree with my answer but I can give them an answer as to what I believe the value is. Tempe is either unable to respond or unwilling to respond to a basic question.
They are acting like they don't want VFFs to fly them. There are primarily two different types of customers: transaction and relationship. A transactional customer is one who is primarily interested in price. They have no loyalty. This type of customer will leave you for a penny’s difference in price. They may spend hours on the Internet researching before they buy to make sure they get the best deal.
The other types of customers are the relationship customers. These are people who are looking for a company that they can trust. They are seeking companies with reliable products – people who recognize them, remember them, do favors for them, who build a relationship with them. Once this type of customer has found a supplier they tend to give them most of their business. They know they could save money by shopping around but they find the process wastes too much time and emotional energy. This type of customer if properly cultivated, will stay with your company for a lifetime. Most of the mid and top tier elites fit into this category.
Relationship customers stop buying when as a company you stop loving them as a customer. This is why many of them, myself included, were willing to put up with such things during the two bankruptcies, such as dirty planes, and InFlight Café in first class. Right now as a VFF, I feel like I am being handed my hat and as such I am walking towards the door. Once I leave, how many other customers will US have to attract to replace the business I gave them? It is always cheaper to retain an existing customer then to attract new ones.
As long as the fares are equal to the other majors, and the other majors are providing a superior service or benefits at the same price point. It is no longer worth flying on US and once VFFs start building a relationship with another company it will be very expensive to try and get them to return.
