Inflight Service--Is the snack basket dead or dying?

[US1YFARE]

If it's THAT intolerable, go ahead, vote with your feet. I dare ya!

But somehow I bet you'll still be here a year from now.

I guess you have not been getting copies of the receipts since November showing my bookings on other airlines because of the changes they made.

 

[legacy-to-LCC]

Exactly.
And if you're still here after all that, you'll tolerate losing the Big Basket O' Junk Food too. And they know it. People like you aren't going anywhere. You are addicted to the miles to get the free vacation flight once in a while, or to the nonstop schedule out of whatever hub city you fly out of. Sure you'll #### and moan about losing what few scraps are left that they throw at you, but they know you're hooked. It ain't pretty.

If it's THAT intolerable, go ahead, vote with your feet. I dare ya!
But somehow I bet you'll still be here a year from now.

doug? dougie? is that you?!?!?! what a great retort!!! screw those fflyers!!! everything you say is soooo true!!! we love you dougie!!!(and you are so cute!!!)
ps-can't we sell advertising on the toilet seats??? please dougie???

 

[US1YFARE]

Oh, and Bear, why don't you ask how many US3's are getting upgraded to FAKE CLASS these days--from what I hear, lots. Must be a reason for that.

 

[Bear96]

I guess you have not been getting copies of the receipts since November showing my bookings on other airlines because of the changes they made.

No, and if you have been diverting your business elsewhere only since November 2005 (after YEARS of previous degradations in service), it has nothing to do with a RUMOR of potentially getting rid of the Junk Food Basket some time in 2006.

Oh, and Bear, why don't you ask how many US3's are getting upgraded to FAKE CLASS these days--from what I hear, lots. Must be a reason for that.

Uh, OK.

How many US3's are getting upgraded to FAKE CLASS these days?

:huh:

 

[Bear96]

I'm not sure if you're just trying to bait the FF'ers on here or trying to add to the debate.

But consider this. Sometimes it's the littliest thing that becomes the final straw.

For me personally the snack basket may well be it!

Bob you know I love ya ... but ...

FOR GOD'S SAKE, GO ALREADY!!!!

Haven't we had this conversation, every few months or so since the slide began several YEARS ago? With you saying, "That's it -- this is the LAST STRAW! If they keep this up I'm outta here!" for each little perk that disappears? And yet you're still here?

But THIS is the REAL last straw?

Riiiight.

You're as bad as the machinists / pilots / F/As that say "They better not cut that [pay / pension / work rule] or we're walking!" Yeah, sure you are.

As I have said before, you're not going anywhere, no matter what they do (well, as long as they give you that slightly larger -- though still filthy -- F seat regularly, and as long as there are still lots of nonstops out of PHL), and they know it. You keep proving it over and over.

 

[mdsbear]

Amen, Bob.

 

[Bear96]

Oh and this:

In the interest of being positive I'll communicate what would make me a happy camper in the front of the bus.

Bob, I'm surprised at you.

As I would have thought you knew, U / LCC / whatever doesn't give a crap what makes you a "happy camper" or feel warm and fuzzy. The just want to know what the bare minimum is that makes you buy a ticket next time. They see no need to do anymore. And really, can you blame them?

Isn't this what you are on here telling the employees all the time? An airline isn't there to make you happy, and doesn't give a crap about you? And if you show up for work tomorrow at the wages they are offering, obviously on some level the employees are "accepting" what the airline is offering?

Seems like you have been accepting the F "concessions" like a good boy. And they'll keep coming back for more. Why shouldn't they? After all, don't they owe it to the shareholders to keep costs as low as possible?

At some point, they may find that bottom, and you'll actually make good on your threats and trot yourself on over across the concourse to fly WN. Then they'll start adding back just enough to bring you back. (Maybe a green lime will do it. Or an XOXO bar. Pathetic.) But it seems that point hasn't been reached yet.

Isn't that about what you like to tell the employees?

 

[FCYTravis]

Not all of us fly US for "the nonstop flights" or whatnot.

I'm a new convert to US who lives nowhere near any of the airline's hubs - my home base is SFO or OAK. Every trip I'll take this year but one will require at least one connection, sometimes two. But I selected US Airways/America West because I felt the airline could give me a fair deal, I've had good experiences from all the airline's employees and I appreciated their upgrade policy.

Screw up First Class and I'll go find another airline. Delta through Salt Lake City might be looking good.

 

[ringmaruf]

Before the new FF program was announced, I was planning on busting my butt to requalify for Chairman's. After it was announced, I said to hell with it, it wouldn't happen, and it wasn't worth the trouble.

I briefly considered trying for Platinum, and decided that wasn't worth the trouble for the minimal benefits. As it was, I barely qualified for Gold. This year...if things don't get a lot better, real fast, I'm probably not even going to do that. I'll make Silver in my sleep doing the PHL-PIT shuttle every few weeks, but other than that, I won't be going to great lengths to stay on US.

And don't think it's just me. I'm sure the other FFs here and the flight attendants here will agree with me. For a year or so after 9/11, the F cabins were usually mostly empty. But from 2003 until a few months ago, they were *always* full or nearly so. In the last few months, the loads up front have plummeted. I've had an empty seat next to me more often than not. Last week, I flew a PIT-PHL, between two focus cities with tons of elites, a route that used to be a crapshoot for me to upgrade on back when I was a Gold. I was the ONLY PERSON up front.

And as for me flying US for the nonstops because they're more convenient? Most of the FFs here fly US even when it's *dramatically* less convenient. I needed to go to BTR in November. US hasn't served BTR in three years or so. Before, I wouldn't have given it a second thought--I would have flown US into MSY (no PIT-MSY nonstops, either), and then had to worry about how to get to BTR. It would have been way bigger of an inconvenience, but it wouldn't have even considered doing anything else. Now? I flew CO to BTR. And I got a hot meal in coach on PIT-IAH.

And as for flying US for the miles to get to exotic destinations? I've got news for you, everybody else offers them too. And most of them will give me a bigger elite bonus than US now does, so I'll rack them up even quicker.

 

[Dog Wonder]

FOR GOD'S SAKE, GO ALREADY!!!!

What airline do you work for?

 

[FlyUs]

What airline do you work for?

A pot stirrer from UA.

 

[AstroLounge]

And as IF they have room to talk.....February will be here before you know it and LET'S SEE the EMERGENCE from BK! (If said individual does work for UA,should refrain from issues that DON'T pertain to them). Taking care of OUR FFlyers is OUR business, not His!

 

[legacy-to-LCC]

or hers 🙂

 

[Singleflyer]

As a CP with 118 segments last year US makes up about 45% of my flying. I do have a choice on about 60 segments I fly. I will still be flying US this year. With all of the changes, the "optional" legs may go to another carrier. I am really waiting to the end of Feb to decide if it is worth staying CP or not, maybe just fly enough to make gold

 

[Bear96]

(If said individual does work for UA,should refrain from issues that DON'T pertain to them).

Could you point out the USAviation rule that says you can only post about issues that "pertain" to you? (HINT: There ain't one. But feel free to start your own website and have rules like that if you want to.)

For the record, I don't work for UA, and haven't for some time now, although I used to at one point.

Taking care of OUR FFlyers is OUR business, not His!

In my new, post-airline life, I will soon be in a position to do a lot of business travel, and I live in a part of the country that has a heavy concentration of USAirways options. But I have seen how you take care of FFlyers, and based on that, believe me, I won't be choosing U over the other options that are out there.

But keep up the great work! I hear the USAirways F product is second to none!

Screw up First Class and I'll go find another airline.

I'm sorry to be the one to break it to you (and I'm surprised you haven't noticed yet), but U's F has been screwed up for some time now.