US Further devalues Elite Status

[aredeeyou22]

Ok, FWIW, DL describes the fee as a "temporary fuel surcharge". US describes it as an award processing fee. Minor difference maybe, but if Tempe would figure out how to communicate with customers, then maybe their customer service numbers wouldn't be so horrible

I love it! So, now it's ok that DL dropped to some of the disgusting depths of LCC, but it's completely justifiable that DL charges, because DL says it's "temporary". Just like the fuel crisis is temporary, right? I am sure that US just added the fee because they are trying to increase their current profitability, and not because of fuel, right?

Which LCC FA dumped you?

 

[US1YFARE]

Let's hope that elites will regain some of their bennies when the airlines are able to charge fares comparable to the cost of operation when industry wide capacity comes out of the domestic system this fall....

There is one thing you ignore. What US charges for FC is either the same as or more than other carriers and they provide NO value for what you pay for. Your FC service and Envoy services is horrendous compared to your competitors. Your treatment of US1's is lousy compared to the way your competitors treat their most FF's--especially those that spend a lot on their tickets. I don't buy a lot of cheap tickets and I understand that $49 from PHL-MCO is just plane rediculus--but, frankly, the airlines got themselves into that mess. Anyway, my biggest gripe with US is that they do everything to chase away the premium fare customer. If you pay high fares like I generally do, you are insane to fly US. So, I don't see how you can say that Tempe really wants premimum fare customers because their actions speak volumes to contradict your belief.

Low fares aren't going away anytime soon gurl! They were around during deregulation and they will be around in the future.

 

[aredeeyou22]

There is one thing you ignore. What US charges for FC is either the same as or more than other carriers and they provide NO value for what you pay for. Your FC service and Envoy services is horrendous compared to your competitors. Your treatment of US1's is lousy compared to the way your competitors treat their most FF's--especially those that spend a lot on their tickets. I don't buy a lot of cheap tickets and I understand that $49 from PHL-MCO is just plane rediculus--but, frankly, the airlines got themselves into that mess. Anyway, my biggest gripe with US is that they do everything to chase away the premium fare customer. If you pay high fares like I generally do, you are insane to fly US. So, I don't see how you can say that Tempe really wants premimum fare customers because their actions speak volumes to contradict your belief.

Low fares aren't going away anytime soon gurl! They were around during deregulation and they will be around in the future.

Why are you bringing that up? Focus. (Or FFOCUS )

I have no argument that our FC is light years behind CO, AA, etc.... I am talking about the award surcharge that DL implemented, sinking to the depths of LCC, as well as CO being #19 in OT for the month...... BUt its ok, because DL's is only temporary, right? Will it end next Sunday? In November? Just wondering where the outrage is on the CO/DL boards? Where is da outrage? Guuurl?

This makes me want to go and pi$$ on a grave.....

 

[US1YFARE]

Which LCC FA dumped you?

Oh, you must have me mistaken for someone else. I don't wait around to get dumped. I sneak out in the middle of the night with a pair of wings.

 

[aredeeyou22]

Oh, you must have me mistaken for someone else. I don't wait around to get dumped. I sneak out in the middle of the night with a pair of wings.

Now those wings... are they free wings? Did u have to pay a fee to book those free wings on DL, even though they are touted as "award" (read: free) miles?

This race to the bottom is disturbing. LCC may have started it, but they are all scrambling... Stay tuned...

 

[US1YFARE]

Now those wings... are they free wings?

Well, I do have to pay a $5 copay when I fill the RX for a Z-pack, so, no, I guess technically they aren't "free"

 

[aredeeyou22]

Total ASMs Produced per Employee - US finishes last in this category at 2.21 ASM's per employee versus 2.42 for CO. NOTE: US actually led in this category prior to the merger. Got to love that Tempe Touch

Does this not mean that US has added employees, thus increasing the amount of employees per pax? Is that a bad thing? Am I reading this wrong?

Total ASMs Produced per Dollar of Employee Compensation - [/b]Next to last in this category, although all but the laggard AA are bunched together tightly. NOTE: When you consider the lower wages US pays versus others it further points to lack of operational acumen.

Agreed. Sad, if true. Compensation is an abomination.

Competitive Advantage (Disadvantage) in Pilot Productivity 2007 - Again US is next to last in this category beating out CO while being crushed by the rest. If you factor in the LCC's. The data points out that if If US were to fly its network at WN's average pilot block hours per month, then it would need to reduce total pilot headcount by 802

Does not this have to do with the hub/spoke system, which is deemed less efficient than the WN point to point system?

 

[Be Careful What You Wish For.]

Just a personal observation but the "dead employee walking" syndrome has been here for a while.

There are the ones who want to be here and care and those who have a "job".

Many have left "the building" a long time ago-regardless of if it were good times or bad.

 

[vantheman63]

Right.. I am still shocked that DL is lowering itself to LCC standards, aren't you? I mean, charging their top tier fliers for "free" earned travel? Bet the DL elites never got like, flowers, and stuff....

Annnnnnd, how about this? Elite fees, matching LCC, *and* complaints? Who knew? I hope FFOCUS is, like, totally all over this:

http://www.ajc.com/services/content/busine...c=7&cxcat=6

Can you take it?

Oh, and this one bears repeating: I thought PHL was the armpit, delay prone airport of the world! Could it.... be..... no... wait.... like, EWR? Guuuuurl......

http://blog.cleveland.com/business/2008/07...dominant_c.html

aredeeyou22....whoever you are...

Look, here's the bottom, bottom line....

The product LCC puts out in the market place is, at a minimum, one of the worst values in American Aviation. Period.

You and PB and US1 can go 'round and 'round and 'round...but the bottom line, LCC has flown a once proud carrier right into the crapper...

Lets count the ways.....shall we?

1.) Ruined the A321
2.) Downsized the F cabin on nearly every aircraft
3.) Removed coat closets and stowage space
4.) F-ed up the seat pitch, EVERYWHERE, even in the Emergency exit rows (I didn't even know that was possible!)
5.) Removed glassware
6.) Served ridiculous, pretend meals in F while the rest of the industry serves better food
7.) Removed IFE
8.) Gutted the DM program
9.) Removed service....basic WARE f-ing service FOR GOD'S SAKE!!! in the Y cabin
10.) Taken all the bonuses away from "Preferreds."
(I could add 40 more "enhancements" these "well intended" jacka$$es have made to the product, but I'm bored.)

So, you can needle PB and US1 ALL you want about how this is happening and that is happening...

But guess what?

Yeah, the Sand Fleas infesting the Sand Castle are working TRIPLE time to get to 150 way to make US the WORST product in the history of American Aviation....and frankly, my money is betting on them to accomplish that mission and goal.

Serious....I LOVE US Airways...the people anyway...but if you think for a half second the product being assembled by the "brain trust" in Tempe is something frequent business travelers are "anxious" to buy....you may well consider a trip to a psychologist...'cause ur wrong! And if you think the other airlines are anxious or purposely following US into the depths of the hell you are creating, then think again...after today's announcement that US is pulling IFE from the aircraft, US officially took out the ONE, last thing it had on WN...and now WN has, in EVERY way, a superior product. HOW DO YOU NOT SEE THAT?!?!?

Dear GOD, how is that lost on you people? And how do you NOT see this plan to fly this airline into the crapper was what the Sand Fleas infesting The Sand Castle have wanted to do all along????

I've moved on...and for the love of God...I need to "move on" from these boards...lol

 

[Be Careful What You Wish For.]

Van this place was flown into the "crapper" a long time ago.

Remember "Metro Jet", "Project High Ground"?

No management has been able to make this thing work since the East lost it's monopoly of the east when WN invaded.

High end, low end, it didn't make a difference.

It seems to me if you can't spread the high price of flying in the east over a larger network(like others can do) it will not work-at least not yet.

 

[Art at ISP]

Here's a thought. This is an airline not a marketing company. They seem to have lost sight of that at the Sand Castle.

So they claim there is too much liability out there in miles to continue the 500 mile minimum, but they give away status with marketing gimicks-so you can get it without flying a mile in a US Airways seat. BRILLIANT...not.

Now they refuse to give out bonus miles for L O Y A L customers flying the airline, but will gladly give miles for buying things or using partner services....again, they are clueless as to the REAL purpose of this company.

So the ACTUAL customers of the airline are seeing the rewards for actually using the airline taken away, while people who might never fly in their lifetimes more than once can earn miles and become elite members of the FF scheme....does anyone ELSE see what's wrong with this picture?

I guess they figured out they don't know how to offer the appropriate value to their REAL customers so they will continue to sell/give away status and miles to people who DON'T fly.

Brilliant. I can't wait to see this in the future textbooks at Wharton on how NOT to run a business.

 

[US1YFARE]

I can't wait to see this in the future textbooks at Wharton on how NOT to run a business.

So, Art, how was WN today? How does business select compare to A la Crap Airways.

 

[Art at ISP]

So, Art, how was WN today? How does business select compare to A la Crap Airways.

Actually, US1Y, it was not bad......not bad at all.

Trip report in the WN forum later.

If I were US though, I would be worried....I am liking B6 more and more, and I MIGHT use WN again!

Just want they want from their "loyal" elites, based on their moves of late.

 

[jcw]

So, Art, how was WN today? How does business select compare to A la Crap Airways.

Please move the topic to the CO or WN board. This does not apply here. The passengers have moved so no need to discuss on a US board.

 

[Art at ISP]

Chill, JCW,

The topic remains the same, and I did not post my trip report here.

The point of the comment is that US by their current marketing mistakes, are helping their competition--and basically ASKING loyal customers to leave--so we are........