Ways to generate revenue...

[twoturnin]

Happy pilots can turn into "PROFIT MANAGERS" as S Wolfe used to call them----given now the high price of fuel whats wrong with this .

 

[bagchucker]

coin operated lavs

 

[gaucho99]

Offer unlimited travel for a year for a set amount, say $10,000 for domestic and $20,000 for domestic and international. You'd get tons of people who look at their travel budget and realize they spend more than that in a year and would go for it. That would create a ton of revenue all at once. It would also create loyalty. If you have unlimited flights on US, you'e not likely to go to an oal just becasuse they have a more convenient schedule or glassware instead of plastic.

You might lose revenue on some passengers in the long run( because they would have spent more on a flight by flight basis) but you might get a lot of pax that would never have given us that much money for the year that would jump on it. Then, after they've paid their money, you could disclose a certain class of service must be available....and then make sure its never available so they have to buy tickets on top of their annual fee.

OK, just kidding on the last part...but something like this might work.

 

[The Bagfather]

Two ideas:
1. Get rid of both the easties and westies and replace them
with northies and southies.
2. Chain Doug Parker to a mid-row seat in the back and charge
customers $50 extra to sit next to him while they taunt him.

 

[Travelpro72]

Being totally realistic I think we'll see the cabins of our a/c go cashless very soon. The company was already planning this a while back. Well that being said maybe they'll roll it out in two years. Wait, it generates revenue so cabins will go cashless as quick as yesterday. I think it is a very true reality that we'll see beverages sold in the coach cabin minus transatlantic and Hawaii. Here is an idea though....if you are a passenger that pays more than the average fare of those around you on the plane you should automatically be able to have comp coupons printed at the kiosk so your not charged. That would be fair to those NOT paying Expedia priced tickets. Also on top of f/a's having card readers for purchases why not offer coupons good for drinks at the kiosk to. Save a lot of time in the air. Listen I know passengers don't want to be nickel and dimed but airlines are backed into a damn corner right now. Raise the fares and there certainly ARE a lot out there that would shy away from flying. You raise fares to add revenue and end up shooting yourself in the foot. Until the average vacationer accepts the reality of whats going on around them its "Nickel Night" at Usairways. 😉

 

[CubsFanJohn]

1. Cashless Planes less paper etc
2. Sell Berverages
3. Sell Ads on the Traytables, didn't AWA do this/still does?

 

[Art at ISP]

Here's a unique idea.....PRICE THE PRODUCT properly. Price according to average cost plus markup. Allocate a handful (and I mean 10% or less) of seats in a market to be priced BELOW cost, and price everything else at or above cost. You would solve the revenue problem overnight and you might actually be able to NOT nickel and dime customers or bombard them with useless advertising. Then you wouldn't have to CHARGE for every stinking amenity.

If we used an AVERAGE cost of 15 cents per seat mile, which I assume would be high for a transcon, one would see that the ACTUAL cost of transporting one passenger the 2401 miles between PHL and LAX is $360.75. Allocate a few promotional fares below that--let's say between $450 and $650 R/T and price the rest above. Yes the price will be too high for some kettles, but so be it...it's called natural selection. The AVERAGE fare paid on the route would rise, and the flight would become profitable, or at worst, break even. Those who cry over the $300 r/t transcons need to realize that those days are gone, and that if you want to fly you need to pay.

Then again--this is US Airways--who can't decide if they want to be a marketing company with planes or an airline who does some marketing.

Bottom line is yield management formulas HAVE TO CHANGE. Current systems don't allow airlines to run profitably.

Fares have to go up---sorry, but it's a cold hard fact.

As a business traveler, I am sick and tired of being gouged so Ma and Pa Kettle can go on vacation without going bankrupt. No offence to the Kettles, but it's time to pay your own way.

My BEST to you all...

 

[cltrat]

Art interested in a job running an airline?

 

[phx___it]

I agree with someone who said charge for non-revs. Too many of our employees jump a flight to have dinner in SFO.
Sure it's a great benifit, but people abuse it. Why add weight to the airplane just to eat and add weight to yourself.

Charge a nominal $30 charge. It won't hurt the employees, it'll help the bottom line and it'll keep people from just hopping around for no reason.

Or start them off at SA7P and for $20 dollars move up to an SA3P and for $20 more an SA2P.

 

[700UW]

BS,

They employees sacrificed to keep this company in business, why dont you charge them for working there too?

 

[gaucho99]

Here's a unique idea.....PRICE THE PRODUCT properly. Price according to average cost plus markup. Allocate a handful (and I mean 10% or less) of seats in a market to be priced BELOW cost, and price everything else at or above cost. You would solve the revenue problem overnight and you might actually be able to NOT nickel and dime customers or bombard them with useless advertising. Then you wouldn't have to CHARGE for every stinking amenity.

You are correct, but the problem is, suppose US does this but other airlines do not follow? The end result is customers will go elsewhere and we will be forced to lower fares to remain competitive. The only answer I can see is what the airlines are trying to do. Consolidate and merge so there are fewer seats on the market. That is the only way I can see for the airlines to get to the point where the fares charged can sustain profitability.

 

[galley princess]

Go to open seating a la Southwest but charge for windows and aisles for those who want them. Build in exceptions like business travelers (-like SWA) and FFs, let them board first along w/ those who paid for a window/ aisle and then everybody else starting with families with small children, then who checked in first.

I realize that it's ugly but we're becoming a poor copy of SWA anyway, why not just go there?

 

[Art at ISP]

You are correct, but the problem is, suppose US does this but other airlines do not follow? The end result is customers will go elsewhere and we will be forced to lower fares to remain competitive. The only answer I can see is what the airlines are trying to do. Consolidate and merge so there are fewer seats on the market. That is the only way I can see for the airlines to get to the point where the fares charged can sustain profitability.

Gaucho,

My point exactly. Those customers who care more about reliable service, network amenities (interlining, alliances etc), will remain, while those who travel once or twice a year will go--and if they choose to go elsewhere so be it...

No doubt consolidation will help, but if you keep taking the little things away, or start charging ala carte, you remove value from the proposition. I for one would never pay extra for a choice seat....that is a cost free amenity which retains my FUTURE business...and I personally would never fly an airline with open seating, but that's just me.

If you offer some value for the additional fare over the no frills carriers, you will wind up with a win win....steady business from loyal customers, who provide enough overall revenue to help you survive and thrive.

It's time to stop marketing to the Kettles and become a desirable carrier for the business traveler--something which US has not learned as yet, and the declining preferred numbers (those who actually EARN IT by flying that is) are bearing that out.

 

[Harry Callahan]

BS,

They employees sacrificed to keep this company in business, why dont you charge them for working there too?

+1

 

[Black Magic]

I agree with someone who said charge for non-revs. Too many of our employees jump a flight to have dinner in SFO.
Sure it's a great benifit, but people abuse it. Why add weight to the airplane just to eat and add weight to yourself.

Charge a nominal $30 charge. It won't hurt the employees, it'll help the bottom line and it'll keep people from just hopping around for no reason.

Or start them off at SA7P and for $20 dollars move up to an SA3P and for $20 more an SA2P.

Are you serious? Screw that! Its hard enough to fly non rev as it is with all the full flights. Im certainly not going to pay for it.