Dividend Miles benefits returning

[gaucho99]

US is reinstating Bonus Miles and the minimum 500 mile policy.....I think retroavctive too.

 

[gaucho99]

More details tomorrow.

 

[N965VJ]

Wake the kids and call the neighbors, Tempe just admitted a mistake!

The obvious question is if it’s too late.

 

[PhxMama]

Ive always said I didnt care about adding the additional fees, just dont take away the min 500 miles from preferred and keep the bonus miles. My only concern is that they must be really forecasting a bad 2009 due to the economy and realize they need their preferred. Not that recognizing preferred is bad but if they think the economy will be that bad what about poss job losses? Maybe Im just reading too much into it and maybe they just saw the bottom line on the spreadsheet! Mama

 

[BoeingBoy]

Maybe Im just reading too much into it and maybe they just saw the bottom line on the spreadsheet! Mama

If true (and the OP changed it to "Expect an announcement tomorrow....") I suspect that they've finally realized just how many elites have left and how big an effect it's having on the bottom line.

If there's really gonna be an announcement of this tomorrow, I hope there's somebody in Tempe that's capable of turning this into at least a little good PR and make it sound like they listened to elites rather than responding to a spreadsheet trend. Something like "You talked and we listened, so....." ("We heard you loud and clear" is what DL used when they reversed their policy of charging elites for their 'Choice Seats'.

Jim

 

[Art at ISP]

I hope this is true, for those still flying US. I remain somewhat skeptical, however, and will believe it when I see it.

Let's hope that if true this is the beginning of a paradigm shift in the way they deal with customers.

 

[SS255]

If there's really gonna be an announcement of this tomorrow, I hope there's somebody in Tempe that's capable of turning this into at least a little good PR and make it sound like they listened to elites rather than responding to a spreadsheet trend. Something like "You talked and we listened, so....." ("We heard you loud and clear" is what DL used when they reversed their policy of charging elites for their 'Choice Seats'.

Jim

Oh, if there is one thing at which US excels, it is spin. If this rumor is true, I am sure that the spinmeisters are hard at work now, sitting around a conference table throwing out ideas on how to spin this to make it seem like they "heard us loud and clear," and that their decision was 100% based in honesty, integrity, and doing the right thing by their elites.

I only wish that they had listened to me when it really counted, though. Now it is too late, as I have moved my business to CO. But they could have kept me as a loyal customer if they had only listened to me......and the thousands of other elites like me whose complaints fell on deaf ears.

US will likely find that the majority of elites that have already moved on are happier with their new carriers, and will NOT come back. But this should at least stem some of the bleeding for people who have not yet gotten around to status matching.

But better late than never!!!

And just to clarify: When US announced "choice seats," they never said that elites would be charged. It is important to give credit where credit is due -- even when US is right! 😉

 

[BoeingBoy]

And just to clarify: When US announced "choice seats," they never said that elites would be charged. It is important to give credit where credit is due -- even when US is right! 😉

You are correct as usual, my dear, but I think DL initially charged elites when they announced their version of "Choice Seats".

Jim

 

[vantheman63]

Wake the kids and call the neighbors, Tempe just admitted a mistake!

The obvious question is if it’s too late.

Its too late for me...I'm done. Gone. Finito. Basta.

There are about half a dozen things that would need to change before I would go back to US Airways. I'll "never say never" and I'm sure I'll fly US again...but it's far, far, far from my "airline of choice."

That designation goes to CO and WN....with or without DM, they are just better products, plain and simple.

What's the old saying? "If we don't take care of our customers, someone else will!"? I think that's it...

CO has taken AWESOME care of me...as has WN....I'll have logged in over 85,000 EQMs on CO when it's all said and done, re-upping for Platinum, year 3...and almost all in PAID F fares.

I did manage 53,500 PQMs on US....but I did most of those at the beginning of the year. The rest of my flying went to DL and WN...

2009 will be my first year not being CP since...1996 maybe? Something like that. And while I learned a long, long, long time ago, "never say never," I doubt I'll ever be CP again...I find no need to based on the quality of the product, or lack thereof.

 

[Singleflyer]

If it is true, it too little to late for me.

I was a 9 year CP and logged 30 segments by march 1st this year and have not added any since.

Paying over $500.00 to fly MHT_LGA on a Saab and getting 185 miles and pay $2.00 for a coke is nuts. I left

DL has received over 150,000 MQM from me with an average of $1.10 per mile. At least 2/3 of that could have been US but the removal of the 500 mile made me leave.

Just last week I needed to book BHM-CHS-BHM. fri-sun. DL was almost $1,200.00 and US was $258.00 (not quite the same time) and my boss approved the DL flight. He lives in PIT and dislikes US even more.

Maybe if they comped me CP for a year they could get me to try again.... maybe.

 

[SS255]

You are correct as usual, my dear, but I think DL initially charged elites when they announced their version of "Choice Seats".

Jim

Northwest started it prior to US announcing "Choice Seats," got a ton of backlash, and then made it free for their elites.

Then DL tried it a few weeks ago, and saw the light.

US was the only airline that implemented the surcharge, and never charged their elites. Go figure!!!

+1 to US.

 

[US1YFARE]

Northwest started it prior to US announcing "Choice Seats," got a ton of backlash, and then made it free for their elites.

Then DL tried it a few weeks ago, and saw the light.

US was the only airline that implemented the surcharge, and never charged their elites. Go figure!!!

+1 to US.

Well, DL and NW hadn't up to that point nickled and dimed their elites to death. Heck, NW treats me as a CO Plat (as of today but not much longer) almost as good as it treats its own Plats. US thinks it writing the book in how to keep elites captive and obviously it isn't working. Another poster said he/she doesn't know what it would take to go back. That's what US is missing. Once you lose the customer, more changes than would have originally been required to keep the customer are now needed to get back the customer. Bringing back min miles and bonus miles is like putting a cotton ball on a gunshot wound. People have already left. Each change they made has pushed people away. One of my partners flew NW with me and could not believe how he was treated. He is ready to switch to CO and he is a longstanding CP who buys FC tickets ONLY. He's had it. I think this year was the breaking point for a lot of US customers. The planes are dirty and the service is lousy. He flies envoy and goes to nice restaurant before the flight because the service is so bad. He encourages other people to fly BA because US is so bad. Even if they gave me comped CP status, there would need to be a lot more improvements before I would come back.

 

[Dog Wonder]

Can stupid be fixed?

 

[SolidCactus]

It is very sad. I stuck it out on US up until a few months ago.

I started flying CO on Sept 1 as a status match, and I am now up to speed on all the different policies and procedures. I didn't know how awesome CO was. It would take a LOT more than just bringing back the 500 to get my business back.

I am not here to rub anything in the face of all you guys who work really hard doing the best you can to make US a better airline. Maybe they will give you the tools you need to make US a great airline again... I never say never to anything, but in all honesty, CO really has a great product. I pay for the FC on CO, no questions asked. It is almost impossible to upgrade there. I can honestly say, this is where all the US FF's went.

If anyone from US management is reading this thread and really wants the FF's back, these are the reasons I won't go back.

Incredible PDA website.
Full meal service in FC on flights over 1.5 hours.
Sandwiches or Pizza in coach on flights during lunch and dinner hours.
Spotless planes.
IFE even on short legs.
Great mileage program.
A website that works really well, one where you can change your reservations, do upgrades, and defer flights.

 

[US1YFARE]

It is very sad.


, these are the reasons I won't go back.

Incredible PDA website.

+1
The pda website is awesome. CO will NEVER give an upgrade out of elite order.

The y-up and r fares are great for FC.


I was on a transcon recently where they served shrimp appetizer, salad, choice of 3 entrees (I had osso bucco) and ice cream sundaes. Drinks flowed and service was outstanding. 2 movies were shown. In fact, one movie didn't work and they showed a movie that we wouldn't see on the return. Once people fly CO they realize just how bad US is. They take good care of their best customers. The big complaint at CO is that they only have 3 choices of entrees instead of 4 on transcons. 😱