I Guess They Really Need The Money

[Hope777]

I will when you grow up and realize that its okay to disagree with you.

And the discussion has been posted elsewhere, and reaction is mixed.

Art,
How does this Differ from what UAL/CO Do ? They ask EVERY TIME you check in,if you would like to Double your miles for a Fee or Triple your miles for even more money.

 

[BoeingBoy]

Art,
How does this Differ from what UAL/CO Do ? They ask EVERY TIME you check in,if you would like to Double your miles for a Fee or Triple your miles for even more money.

US does that as well, although I don't know if it's part of the check-in (either OLCI, kiosk, or agent.

Jim

 

[tadjr]

I've been thinking about this and dont think its a bad thing. How many times on here (and other travel/FF websites) have I seen someone tell another FF to write in and ask for a COMP Status? How is that not detrimental to all the FFs who have actually earned status AND it gives $0 to the airline for comping. At least with this the airline is getting some $ out of it. I personally get asked about this every now and then. Its usually someone who just got a new job or got transfered to a new assignment and are now having to fly somewhere new where their "old" carrier doesnt fly. If someone wants to buy status, let them have it. And no FF is going to know who "bought" their status or who earned it or who actually PAID to sit in FC unless they ask or eavesdrop. If they dont like others having status above them, they're free to buy up also.

 

[tadjr]

US does that as well, although I don't know if it's part of the check-in (either OLCI, kiosk, or agent.

Jim

I havent heard of this being done on checkin. I can verify kiosk and agent DONT do it. Maybe OLCI, but I have never heard anyone mention it or have ever seen any memos or notices about this program if it is being done. Where have you seen/heard this is occuring?

 

[BoeingBoy]

How many infrequent flyers are going to shell out that amount of money. For anyone that travels frequently and is switching to US there's the paid trial for a lot less money - I think it's between $200 and $300 for the silver trial then fly x segments/y miles and you're chairman's preferred.

Jim

 

[USFlyer]

I am no troll--I am merely calling it as I see it---last I checked it's still a free country--and board...

I don't call you names for drinking the koolaid now do I?

Did I miss something? Who called you names?

 

[Bear96]

Fares need to reflect the cost of providing the service--which today they do not.

Why should they? And what is this "need" to do so you are talking about?

Very few businesses in a free market system set prices according to what it costs to provide their services or make their products. They set prices based on what the market will bear. (Does it really cost a restaurant $45 to serve me a bottle of wine I can buy around the corner for $15? Does it really cost the local convenience store only 20% more to provide me with a 16 oz. styrofoam cup of coffee to go instead of an 8 oz. cup, even though it is 100% more coffee?)

If over time their market-bearing prices do not cover costs, they go out of business. Otherwise they are profitable.

 

[AstroLounge]

I've been thinking about this and dont think its a bad thing. How many times on here (and other travel/FF websites) have I seen someone tell another FF to write in and ask for a COMP Status? How is that not detrimental to all the FFs who have actually earned status AND it gives $0 to the airline for comping. At least with this the airline is getting some $ out of it. I personally get asked about this every now and then. Its usually someone who just got a new job or got transfered to a new assignment and are now having to fly somewhere new where their "old" carrier doesnt fly. If someone wants to buy status, let them have it. And no FF is going to know who "bought" their status or who earned it or who actually PAID to sit in FC unless they ask or eavesdrop. If they dont like others having status above them, they're free to buy up also.

Agreed. It all comes down to 'someone' (I could leave a laundry list of names) of people who feel 'they are entitled'. I like the point of EAVESDROPPING too.......these same people need to MYOB.......read a book, do a puzzle, stuff your piehole with Whatever suits You.........just stop concerning tourself with the who/what/why and how did so in so get upgraded. Who the F cares? 🙄

 

[UPNAWAY]

Lets look at Art's title and see if he is just expressing a thoughtful opinion.

"I guess they really need money".

Just finished a profitable year. Sitting on a ton of cash and are probably in the best financial shape in at least 10+ years if not more. Now this is the airline industry and it is always precarious but relatively speaking your title couldn’t be more wrong and just plan lacking in any kind of knowledge of the business environment or the airline history. It appears to be just an immature attempt at bashing not much of an “opinion” as you claim.

“Blatant selling of status”

I am not sure what is blatant about it. Something they have been doing and most everyone else is doing is not “blatant”, but more likely business as usual. This seems pointless but added by you for some kind of dramatic effect I guess.

And last but not least: “Fix the operational problems first, my personal favorite.

They did fix this Art. They are running the best Airline out there now and have been for some time. Again I guess this is just your opinion, which everyone is entitled to but you seems to ignore most facts.

 

[SparrowHawk]

They did fix this Art. They are running the best Airline out there now and have been for some time. Again I guess this is just your opinion, which everyone is entitled to but you seems to ignore most facts.

Much was fixed and much is left to be done. They are "Managing the numbers" NOT the airline. Doing things like backing 3 feet off the gate to show an on time departure while we are grazing in the PHL conga line looks good on paper but says nothing about the operation being sound. This has happened on every segment this year.

So let's "Look inside the numbers" Let's compare the block times between city pairs against other carriers. US if often a bit longer, Again managing numbers and not an airline.

DP and company are great at spreadsheets. Less great at things like the truth, employee satisfaction, customer satisfaction and operating an airline instead of a spreadsheet.

This is the reason Delta got $1,387.00 for a last minute trip.

$1,387.00 buys about 90 thirty racks of Bud Light.

 

[700UW]

Pushing a plane back three feet doesnt show an ontime departure. The engines have to be running and wheels moving.

 

[Singleflyer]

All I know is: $1,208.37 is a lot of money to buy gold status. I received an e-mail this morning informing me I could buy status.

It has been over a year and a half since I flew on US. Today is my first and probably only flight on US this year.

 

[SparrowHawk]

Pushing a plane back three feet doesnt show an ontime departure. The engines have to be running and wheels moving.

OK, I've been told different, so who knows. I do find it damn peculiar why we push off the gate and sit for 5 to 15 minutes before being marshaled the rest of the way out. There is a reason it happens and it happens a lot at the US hubs as well as hubs of other major airlines like MSP where we push back, then sit.

 

[BoeingBoy]

The way it used to work was doors closed and parking brake released - movement captured as an out time confirmed by engine oil pressure. This would allow movement to trigger an out time on a normal departure. However, if the plane was being towed to a hanger it would capture an out time but cancel it when a door opened at the hanger because there had been no oil pressure to confirm the out time.

I have no idea if that's changed since I retired - the acars software captures all this so the parameters can be changed - so maybe one of the active pilots will chime in.

Jim

 

[UPNAWAY]

A lot of anecdotal evidence but no facts.

Fact, US has been reducing block times in a program that started over a year ago. United has significantly higher block times.
Our block times are well within industry standard if not better than most.