US Giving Away Status

[SS255]

I do not wish any ill on US....I still have many friends who work there. As another poster stated earlier in this thread, many of us former Chairmans' Preferred and other elite members went out of our way to support US and its employees over the years...I spent time and money trying to communicate with both management teams (CCY and Tempe)...While there was some headway made with CCY, the same cannot be said with the current team.

This is my 7th year as a GP. Being based in LA, I have a choice of EVERY carrier. I chose US out of emotion, since they were my "hometown" airline while I was growing up in AVP. I stuck with US out of loyalty, all through the cuts and service degradations. I have visited the CP desk (with Krispy Kremes!), and flew across the country twice to attend employee retirement dinners.

US went way overboard with their cuts in 2008. US could not have sent a more clear message if Doug Parker and Scott Kirby had flown to LA, taken me out to dinner at Spago, and asked me personally to switch to CO. I listened loud and clear, and I expect to drop to US Dirt Preferred in 2010.

I am glad to see that things are improving from an operational standpoint. But I must say that out of all of the legacy carriers, US seems to be the only one that is gifting status to those who have not re-qualified. That is pretty telling.

I think that the biggest mistake which US management made is not thinking like a business traveler. I hope they have learned their lesson.

 

[vantheman63]

1988 - Dirt
1989 - Priority Gold
1990 - Priority Gold Plus
1991 - Piriority Gold Plus
1992 - Priority Gold Plus
1993 - Priority Gold Plus
1994 - Priority Gold Plus
1995 - Priority Gold Plus
1996 - Priority Gold Plus
1997 - Preferred Plus
1998 - Chairman's Preferred
1999 - Chairman's Preferred
2000 - Chairman's Preferred
2001 - Gold Preferred
2002 - Gold Preferred
2003 - Chairman's Preferred
2004 - Chairman's Preferred
2005 - Chairman's Preferred
2006 - Chairman's Preferred
2007 - Chairman's Preferred
2008 - Chairman's Preferred
2009 - Chairman's Preferred ("Gifted" as a one time courtesy)

I earned something like 65,000 PQMs during 2008 and stopped flying the airline almost entirely by June of 2008.

10,000 of my 65,000 PQMs were from the US Airways BoA card, which I charge about $60K per year on.

I received "Gold Preferred" credentials prior to our travel manager contacting US on my behalf, I was offered to "buy up" to "Platinum" for $789.00.

I have a "Million Mile" luggage tag in my files...no one from US has ever noted it on my FF cards nor in any other form of communication. I now have over 2,000,000 miles on the airline.

I have not yet received my 2009 CP card....it's not something I'm running to find in the mail box either.

I have 2 segments on US YTD, have spent $0.035/mile....

2010....I'll be back to the status I was in 1988...."Dirt."

The management has spoken LOUD & CLEAR about their product and feelings toward the VFF and High Yield customers....I heard, got the message and moved on to CO and WN...until those airlines send a "we don't care about you" message, I'm not turning back. In fact, I found I quite prefer WN for short an medium hops to all other airlines...and CO for long haul is much better. To Europe, I do Icelandair...FI. Very good value. Check that, EXCELLENT value.

Miss the great people working at PVD.

 

[Travelpro72]

Well all you ever hear is how a full plane doesn't equate to a profitable flight. I sure hope with the big reduction of VFF's flying and relying on more cheap fares in coach keeps US alive. US has made their bed and now will have to sleep in it. As for giving away status....we all know that the "new" FF's, ya know the ones who mainly rack up points through shopping and not necessarily biz to US don't bring in as much cash. I hope US is satisfied with their choices. I honestly think it's a bit late in the game to get folks like US1YFARE and ART back. There is NOTHING....NOTHING folks, that would make prior VFF's wanna come back to US. Like I said in another thread a while back, "It means NOTHING if you get someone from point A to B on time if they HATE and despise you in every step of their journey. I really don't think it's a hard concept. You CATER and kiss the ARSE of your most loyal customer and lose the arrogance. 🙄

 

[SS255]

There is NOTHING....NOTHING folks, that would make prior VFF's wanna come back to US.

I disagree with this, on a couple of levels:

Some VFF's have been wooed back by the return of bonus miles & 500 mile minimums, because US is either the most convenient and/or the ability to upgrade is far easier on US, due to the defection of so many elites.

If US hopes to convince the "Art"s and "Van"s of the world to come back, they would need to provide a product which is both reasonably priced AND offers a good value relative to their competition. This includes but is obviously not limited to:

Clean cabins
Excellent customer service
Proactive re-accomodation in the event of irregular operations
Preemptively allowing customers to change their flight plans in the event of forecasted weather issues
Reasonable meal service in F (both quality-wise, and quantity-wise) for flight over 90 minutes
State-of-the-art IT infrastructure
Fleetwide 110V in-seat power
AVOD
Closets and 38" pitch in F
Free alcoholic beverages in the Clubs
Free wifi in the Clubs
The ability to access RCC's without paying a surcharge
A competitive top elite tier qualification requirement (120 segments for CP? Come on!!!!)
A million miler program in which lifetime status is conferred upon achieving this milestone (and subsequent milestones)
Listen to their customers and mean it

If US were to accomplish all of the above, I think that alot of business travelers who swore that they would "never" come back to US would probably (and hopefully happily) eat their words. Unfortunately it will take a long time and a significant monetary investment to undo a lot of damage which has been done to US in the name of chasing the leisure traveler. And from where I stand, free wifi in the Clubs is the only improvement which appears to be on the horizon in the next year. But I guess they've gotta start somewhere!

 

[luvthe9]

For the first time in 10 years, I am nothing to US--zippo.

Welcome to our world. (employees)

 

[Travelpro72]

I disagree with this, on a couple of levels:
If US hopes to convince the "Art"s and "Van"s of the world to come back, they would need to provide a product which is both reasonably priced AND offers a good value relative to their competition. This includes but is obviously not limited to:

We have a better chance of seeing Mars colonized in our lifetime before we see Tempe reinstate even HALF of what is on that list. I agree totally that much off that list would bring VFF's back but we all know that it won't happen.

 

[DrBeth]

1989-1997 - Dirt Preferred
1998 - Preferred Plus
1999 - Gold Preferred
2000 - Gold Preferred
2001 - Gold Preferred
2002 - Gold Preferred
2003 - Gold Preferred
2004 - Gold Preferred
2005 - Chairman's Preferred
2006 - Chairman's Preferred
2007 - Chairman's Preferred
2008 - Platinum Preferred
2009 - Silver Preferred, received complimentary Gold Preferred

I am earned Gold Medallion with Delta in 2009.

Received my earned Silver Preferred packed March 3 and am waiting on the faux Gold packet for the status that was bestowed on me for 2009.

I've never been a member of the US club. They just started inviting me with promos in 2008 and 2009 (once they realized I had cut back?)

I miss my TRI peeps!

 

[Travels2mch]

Well I'm very disappointed that I wasn't gifted status before I hit DIRT status last week (for the first time in 15 years). Not that I would use it mind you, only so I could tell them no thanks. Delta's my new home. Although I still have 400K miles to ditch so I'll probably be on the scareways bus a few more times.

 

[Travelpro72]

Now look at the top tier fliers here that have posted. There are hundreds and hundreds that DON'T post on usaviation nor know anything about it. Imagine how many VFF's have truly left that felt the same way. It's not just the posters here folks. It's a HUGE majority of the "original" US VFF's. US shot themselves in the foot and though they would NEVER, EVER in out lifetime admit it. They know the truth in CHQ. Don't worry.

 

[nycbusdriver]

Well I'm very disappointed that I wasn't gifted status before I hit DIRT status last week (for the first time in 15 years). Not that I would use it mind you, only so I could tell them no thanks. Delta's my new home. Although I still have 400K miles to ditch so I'll probably be on the scareways bus a few more times.

Can't you use them on another carrier with an affiliated FF miles system? United? Star Alliance?

 

[Travels2mch]

Can't you use them on another carrier with an affiliated FF miles system? United? Star Alliance?

That is an option, but between the 911 fee, the award ticket fee and the fee to talk to someone on the phone because you can't book Star Alliance award tickets online, it's probably easier to just buy a ticket or suck it up on us.

 

[whatkindoffreshhell]

They give away FF status so that they can tell the stockholders and BOD that they are doing a great job in retaining the high-yield FF.

DING DING DING we have a winner!

Same bureaucratic manuever as the Detroit automakers selling thousands of cars to the rental fleets at no profit.

Both companies should permanently depart.

 

[Doc]

I'm am only speaking for myself but I'm sure many will agree that we are happy that you have found a better place on CO's board.

We really miss you.

ditto

 

[Travels2mch]

Didn't US at least offer you a buy-up to Silver?

Well lo and behold........here's the email I got tonight:

Here's your chance to get Silver Preferred status. You didn't quite earn enough miles to maintain your 2008 Preferred status. However, we want to invite you to get Silver Preferred status for just $568.68.
You've only got until April 30, 2009 to upgrade your Preferred status. To get all the privileges that come with Silver Preferred status call the Dividend Miles Service Center at 800-856-1621.
Sincerely,
Fernand Fernandez
Director, Marketing Programs

Now......like I would pay for that....they are smoking some serious crack!! And where did they get that amount......JUST $568.68???? All for the privilege of stellar and outstanding silver service! Get real!! That's the joke of the day!

 

[Dog Wonder]

Fernand Fernandez
Director, Marketing Programs

I bet he looks Mahhhhvalous!!