What Next?

[Ukridge]

First: Great joke about Interflug Cosmo - it did not fall on deaf ears. For those who are not familiar, Interflug was the 'official' airline of the Deutsche Democratic Republic, the DDR - yes indeed the very East Germany so famous for its customer service 😛 Just one star in the East Bloc firmament of friendly air carriers!

Second: I do not have a horse in this race but seriously IntelligentObserver - do you wet your nappies at night? Not everyone on this board as Cosmo stated is employed by United. I need to repair to my medical friends for advice to learn if it is theoritically possible that a human can have such thin skin. I read the post of magsau and did not take his remark to be anything other than a gentle push yet you are throwing your toys from the pram. A little verbal swordplay in the course of a discusson serves to enliven it. If you think that is an insult I ask that you alight upon our fair shores someday and spend a mere 30 minutes reading even the better broadsheets. You will soon learn the power iof the pen. Now, nanny is going to put the toys back in just this once!

 

[magsau]

IO,

The lead line of my post was a poke at fun. Did not mean to twist your knickers into a knot. I guess when you call yourself Intelligent Observer and then proceed to not know history of why things came about (all played out on the media page in the past two years) it did not add up.

Sorta like me calling myself "johnholmes" for a user ID and then having to produce the goods............No matter how many times I try that Austin Powers contraption I still could not live up to the moniker. 😉

It was ment in humor and not in harm. My apologies for offending you.

 

[novaqt]

Didn't the United Shuttle start around 1994 or 1995?

And, in the 1970's, I think the name was "Friendship Express," or something like that.

Since it's 2004, and they are trying it again...what do you think the name of the new "airline within an airline" will be in 2014? Seems like United does this every ten years.

Intelligent Observer:

Maybe, just maybe, every ten years or so, there is a recession caused by war or busines cycle. Perhaps the airlines must lower their costs because the business man isn't flying as much and the airlines are looking at new markets. In this case, with the aging baby boomers, the new market will be the leisure traveler which is projected to last over a 20 year period. Those borne between 1946 to 1964. Read the Age Wave by Dychtwald. If you are truly an intelligent observer, you will see that all businesses in one way or the other will be catering to the baby boomers. Business 101 follow the flow of money.

BTW, it is not necessary to come on the board and tell United employees that they are rude because you do not like their responses. If you can't say something nice, then take the high road. If you want to appear that you are above rudeness than act like it!

 

[atabuy]

Unfortunately, I have flown UA, and see that, sadly, your rudeness is not restricted to you among UA employees.

IO,
It seems that you already have a bias towards Ual and your post was nothing more than a flame at them.
There was nothing intelligent about your post. It was pure sarcasm.

The FA must not have given you crayons last time you flew Ual.
So much for IQ. Change your name to emotional traveler.

It fits your posts better.

 

[Dea Certe]

In this case, with the aging baby boomers, the new market will be the leisure traveler which is projected to last over a 20 year period. Those borne between 1946 to 1964. Read the Age Wave by Dychtwald. If you are truly an intelligent observer, you will see that all businesses in one way or the other will be catering to the baby boomers. Business 101 follow the flow of money.

novagt,

Good post! Thanks for the book recommend.

Thanks for the stock tip too. Does Johnson and Johnson make "Depends"?



Dea

 

[IntelligentObserver]

IO,
It seems that you already have a bias towards Ual and your post was nothing more than a flame at them.
There was nothing intelligent about your post. It was pure sarcasm.

The FA must not have given you crayons last time you flew Ual.
So much for IQ. Change your name to emotional traveler.

It fits your posts better.

Only the typically angry United employees would find sarcasm in an innocent observation. As usual, this bitter bunch read way too much into some idle conjecture.

My bias against UA though has nothing to do with my post, but has everything to do with the attitudes I have seen here. They do nothing more than cement and justify my opinion of UA and its employees.

Again...

Signed,

Former 1K

 

[IntelligentObserver]

BTW, it is not necessary to come on the board and tell United employees that they are rude because you do not like their responses. If you can't say something nice, then take the high road. If you want to appear that you are above rudeness than act like it!

And there is no reason for them to react with bitterness and sarcasm at an innocent, innocuous post.

They are here representing their employer by identifying themselves as UA employees. Great public relations.

 

[IntelligentObserver]

IO,

The lead line of my post was a poke at fun. Did not mean to twist your knickers into a knot. I guess when you call yourself Intelligent Observer and then proceed to not know history of why things came about (all played out on the media page in the past two years) it did not add up.

Sorta like me calling myself "johnholmes" for a user ID and then having to produce the goods............No matter how many times I try that Austin Powers contraption I still could not live up to the moniker. 😉

It was ment in humor and not in harm. My apologies for offending you.

And, my post, too, was meant in humor (a little conjecture on the crazy airline industry) and no harm, and you started the barrage of sarcasm and nastiness from you and your fellow employees.

I am well aware of the issues regarding Shuttle and Ted. Your indication that I do not is further insult where none is necessary.

As I said, you represent your company well.

 

[magsau]

Not sure where you saw sarcasm in my original post other than the opening line. However, if it is OK for you to use sarcasm, then why can't I? Just want to make sure we have balanced playing field.

Like I said I ment no offense, just like you said you did not. Forums lack that great communicatint tool of tone. While you might think someone ment something one way the lack of inflection can not be placed into a written conversation. Especially here where most try to keep it short and win the battle of wit and humor.

At UAL I think the employees are super sensitive to perceived attacks. We have been unfairly bashed by previous CEO's and made the scape goat for ill thought business plans. (Avolar, US Air both come to mind). After so much has been loaded onto the employees they wish to let everyone know that UAL is a great airline with great people.

If I knew who you worked for and walked into your office or perhaps visited a web forum that concerned your company and took what you perceived to be pot shots would you not want to defend it?

Just curious as to how you would react to a knock on your company?

Thanks

 

[novaqt]

Intelligent Observer:

Again...

Signed,

Former 1K

I see you are trying to drive your point home that you are a "former 1K" by choice (or maybe it wasn't by choice). I am truly sorry that you feel that you had to take this action. Needless to say, United has a lot of happy and very understanding 1K's who play by the rules and realize that there are times when things don't run very smoothly, especially during bad weather and cancelled flights due to mechanical. They don't turn heels and run to another company.

Your reaction on this board to United employees is overblown to say the least. It wouln't be the first time that in you life that you have encountered rudeness and it won't be the last. If United employees have been rude to you, I am sorry. I am also sorry that you feel it necessary to blame all United employees for the rudeness of a few in a public forum. Your time would be better spent if you looked for the good in people, rather than the bad. Hmmmmm..........

 

[IntelligentObserver]

Intelligent Observer:

Again...

Signed,

Former 1K

I see you are trying to drive your point home that you are a "former 1K" by choice (or maybe it wasn't by choice). I am truly sorry that you feel that you had to take this action. Needless to say, United has a lot of happy and very understanding 1K's who play by the rules and realize that there are times when things don't run very smoothly, especially during bad weather and cancelled flights due to mechanical. They don't turn heels and run to another company.

Your reaction on this board to United employees is overblown to say the least. It wouln't be the first time that in you life that you have encountered rudeness and it won't be the last. If United employees have been rude to you, I am sorry. I am also sorry that you feel it necessary to blame all United employees for the rudeness of a few in a public forum. Your time would be better spent if you looked for the good in people, rather than the bad. Hmmmmm..........

Typical rude response from novaqt.

After several years of bad service from United, and its employees, starting with the summer from H*ll, I decided to take my substantial business and move it to another airline, where, if not perfect, at least, I am treated with a modicum of respect. So, therefore, it was MY choice to leave United.

There is no indication in any of my posts that I do not play "by the rules." You seem intent on trying to make a claim that I was somehow cast off by United. Nothng can be further from the truth.

If you think UA can continue to alienate 1Ks, and still remain in business, think again. And if you think your rudeness and vain attempts to assess blame on the customer are somehow limited to you, guess again, as well.

 

[IntelligentObserver]

Not sure where you saw sarcasm in my original post other than the opening line. However, if it is OK for you to use sarcasm, then why can't I? Just want to make sure we have balanced playing field.

Like I said I ment no offense, just like you said you did not. Forums lack that great communicatint tool of tone. While you might think someone ment something one way the lack of inflection can not be placed into a written conversation. Especially here where most try to keep it short and win the battle of wit and humor.

At UAL I think the employees are super sensitive to perceived attacks. We have been unfairly bashed by previous CEO's and made the scape goat for ill thought business plans. (Avolar, US Air both come to mind). After so much has been loaded onto the employees they wish to let everyone know that UAL is a great airline with great people.

If I knew who you worked for and walked into your office or perhaps visited a web forum that concerned your company and took what you perceived to be pot shots would you not want to defend it?

Just curious as to how you would react to a knock on your company?

Thanks

Agreed...but you are the only UA employee on this board, who has tried to engage in a feeding frenzy over my post, who has tried to explain his/her defensiveness.
Agreed. I can understand that, and I appreciate your candor. I still don't see how you could take any insult from my innocuous post. Your characterization of my initial post as a "pot shot" is inaccurate, at best, misleading, at worst.

Once again, my initial post was not intended to slam or malign United. Although I have my issues with the carrier, I was merely making an observation. The response, however, indicates to me that United employees are still too tightly wound, which would serve as a disincentive to me to return my business to United.

Unfortunately, the attitudes of those UA employees I have encountered on this thread seem to be typical of what the average UA passenger encounters. Very sad.

 

[magsau]

Thanks for the conversation. I do think the computer hampers our true intentions. My apologies for your dissatisfaction with UAL. Would like to see you try once again and see if you notice a difference. We have been through alot and I do realize the 1K were once a huge portion of our bottom line. Unfortunately that is not the case anymore and the focus has drifted somewhat from the core of revenue we once had.

In an ideal world we could have just concentrated on the business traveler. The problem was that after 911 and the SARS problems UAL found itself short of the business traveler and not a great identity with the pleasure flyer.

It will be interesting to see if we can strike that balance between the two and return to profitability.

Take care.

 

[Borescope]

My bias against UA though has nothing to do with my post, but has everything to do with the attitudes I have seen here.

Although, I don't want to see anyone lose their job, I was please to see the hard times (BK) come to our company. So many of the employees had the attitude that our S**T doesn't stink, I have seen many of my co workers humbled by the process. Now however, I see many of those same people going right back. We still have a long way to go and we are far from the edge of the woods. Maybe IO has a point.

 

[USFlyer]

If you think UA can continue to alienate 1Ks, and still remain in business, think again.

One note: If you think UA has alienated 1Ks, you obviously haven't seen what DL, US, etc. have done to their respective elites. UA's program is still fairly intact with the same requirements and benefits. My loyalty to US would be unfaltering if US's service were more like UA's.