REVENUE CATCHING IDEAS

[Travelpro72]

Ok lets see if we can come up with some serious ideas that we can possibly use to increase our revenue without it turning into a 20+ page disaster. I'm sure with all of our front line employees and employees that work below the wing we can come up with some great ideas that could make a difference collectively.

 

[flybynite]

We could start with using smaller cups like we used to thus using less soda and ice.

Also, we could recycle cans and newspapers. The passengers are always asking why we don't recycle.

 

[Iheartflying]

They pay consultants to come up with revenue generating ideas. I give away enough to this company already...my lips are sealed. Let the people that are paid to do this actually start doing their jobs.

 

[700UW]

Start carrying Hazmat again instead of shipping all hazmat aircraft parts via FedEx and Air Taxi.

 

[Travelpro72]

Here's one. How about requiring all passengers that are traveling with a pet to have a boarding pass of sorts to pass through security. We are allowed to have I believe two pets in coach and one in first class on any given flight. With all of these trendy carriers that look like fancy luggage they are getting past the agents. You can have 4 pets on one flight. At $100.00 a pet that is lost revenue. If we implemented this the passenger could be turned away at security to retrieve a pass from the counter.

I also agree with the smaller cup. If your NOT giving the can then get more cups out of that can. I have said that from day 1.

 

[Piedmont1984]

1 Move company HQ and incorporate in another country and start paying for fuel in something other than US$. International carriers seem to be weathering the fuel storm quite well. Tempe to Toronto.

2 If the current airline model no longer works, change the model. The freight/package industry has a much more rational pricing policy with only a few players where each controls a much larger share of the market. Much has been said regarding the need to consolidate in general and for USAirways to merge with UAL in particular. Doug Parker should not place his ambition and ego above the survivability and health of this company. He may aspire to run one of the largest airlines in the world - but maybe he should step aside and allow these two companies to move forward together. Settle for best man instead of groom.

3 Get rid of innefficient, money losing express carrier affiliations. By hook or by crook.

 

[flybynite]

I'd like to see some spiffy advertising. Radio and TV. I know it costs but it pays off in the long run.

 

[safety stud]

1. Include airport landing fee's, a percentage of terminal rental csots, and utility expenditure to each ticket. This way if the city want's to have jet service to their community, then the passenger will have to pay for it.

2. Make cargo, a huge priority other than just an after thought... Cargo can pay for an aircraft faster than passengers ever will...

3. Bring back "Ideas That Fly". Don't put a target number to reach and quit the program. Your best asset has, and always will be the front line employee. Besides, it's never a bad thing to find out if you can do something better, cheaper, and more cost efficient, even if it comes from a lowly flight attendant, mechanic, pilot or agent as opposed to managment who is supposed to be thinking of these things.


Just my opinion...

 

[robbedagain]

how about charging for blanket and pillow use or do away with them. also, may be charge for soda. charge mgmt to ride space positive and first class I also agree with 700 bring back hazmat

 

[Piedmont1984]

Start carrying Hazmat again instead of shipping all hazmat aircraft parts via FedEx and Air Taxi.

I believe Hazmat will be coming back this summer.

 

[giantfan]

1. Include airport landing fee's, a percentage of terminal rental csots, and utility expenditure to each ticket. This way if the city want's to have jet service to their community, then the passenger will have to pay for it.

2. Make cargo, a huge priority other than just an after thought... Cargo can pay for an aircraft faster than passengers ever will...

3. Bring back "Ideas That Fly". Don't put a target number to reach and quit the program. Your best asset has, and always will be the front line employee. Besides, it's never a bad thing to find out if you can do something better, cheaper, and more cost efficient, even if it comes from a lowly flight attendant, mechanic, pilot or agent as opposed to managment who is supposed to be thinking of these things.


Just my opinion...

Excellent post....I agree 100%, again though, I would also add bring back the transporting of pets. But will Tempe listen to us "lowly" workers?

 

[FlightChic]

Smaller cups

Limit beverage service in Coach to Coke, Sprite, Diet Coke, Sprite Zero, Water (in larger bottles), Orange Juice and Apple Juice (in bigger containers). We don't need coffee or hot tea and the water on the airplane is nasty anyway. I know eventually they are going to start charging for all beverages but this could work for the time being.

Take off pillows and blankets ASAP! Sell prepackaged clean ones with a Bed, Bath and Beyond or some other brand logo that customers can take home with them.

Raise ticket prices to cover costs. What difference does adding a few dollars to each ticket make? Doug has already said this isn't going to happen. Oh well!

Eliminate the US Airways magazine. No one reads it anyway since it's nothing but advertisements.

Sell more food/snacks, sell premium beverages and alcohol (actually I wish they would eliminate alcohol because of all the problems it causes but we know that's not going to happen!), children's activity kits on longer flights, pillows and blankets, and if mgmt were to offer flight attendants a commission, I guarantee some of them would be working the aisles because they need the money so bad.

Offer buyouts with medical and flight benefits for our senior workforce that would like to leave but can't. Then more junior f/as who are making minimum wage can work more and the company will still be paying less.

Stop allowing certain workers to work 150 flight hours a month so more junior flight attendants and workers can work those trips.

Treat our frequent flyers like VIPS. It doesn't cost a thing to send a more personalized letter/email of appreciation, make a quick phone call, go the extra mile for them...then you will retain their business and loyalty and will perhaps gain even more ffers.

Work to increase morale and show appreciation to your employees. Let's face it, many do the absolute minimum (if even that) around here because they are always asked to do more for less and never get any appreciation from anyone ever! Making just a few changes around here and showing us that you do appreciate our efforts is a small investment that would pay off dividends.

Look at more lucrative business models like Southwest's and follow their lead.

 

[hp_fa]

Include airport landing fee's, a percentage of terminal rental csots, and utility expenditure to each ticket. This way if the city want's to have jet service to their community, then the passenger will have to pay for it.

That stuff is already in the costs of a ticket, or are you suggesting that the airline has an aircraft depart and then take up a collection, while in flight, to raise the funds to pay the landing fees?

 

[SolidCactus]

These are really great ideas. I hope management reads this board. I want to agree with flybynite - television advertising. Now I know it is expensive BUT it doesn't have to be. Advertising through cable companies like Comcast and Time Warner is virtually dirt cheap and can reach huge markets. They run your ads on their own alloted slots, usually on networks like CNN and the Travel Channel, which are both good networks for air travellers.

From a pax standpoint, US has improved ten fold from 2005/2006. US needs to tell people who aren't flying it how good they are doing. Unfortunately, just like the poor customer service ratings - all of my friends who are biz travellers always make a face at me when I say I'm going US. These "images" are hard to change. It takes advertising to influence people. US needs a "Fly with US" ad campaign, where they show smiling, friendly employees giving wonderful service.

I probably wouldnt kill US Magazine. Chances are, as useless as this publication appears, I would bet that it is a nice profit center. Advertising can command some really large dollars... Im sure this magazine makes some nice $$$ for US.

 

[gaucho99]

I agree with with bringing Hazmat back and looking at ways to increase cargo revenue. Also, each station and departmet should be required to trim middle management. We have too many supervisors whose main job is to make sure the employees are doing their job. Cut back on management and make each employee more responsible. I don't know what the ratio is for the number of employees per supervisor, but I expect it is low. We can learn to get by with 1 sup per 30 or 40 agents.

Cut back on service where we compete head to head with WN until their fuel costs catch up with the rest of us. Use these aircraft to increase service to international destinations where widebodies are not needed such as Mexico, Canada and Central America. We hardly touch Central America now...We can add service to Panama, Nicaraugua and El Salvador....and in Mexico we can add service to cities like Veracruz, Merida, Monterrey and Tampico.