What would you do if you replaced Parker?
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usabusdriver
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FLL, Yea baby, maybe even make it a domicile!
I would also require that all SVPs, VPs, and Directors enter the "job for a day" program on the front lines for one day, minimum 8 hours, once a week, and they must rotate positions, but not until they have worked the same position for a 4 consecutive weeks. Let them experience some of the joy the rest of us do! They must combine two days together when working as inflight to experience the lovely hotel and transportation situation for crewmembers.
Hey.. Chill Out
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Make my millions at all of your expense.... What? Y/ou would all do it too, dont lie
Art at ISP
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This is a good question-its a shame that some of you won't take it seriously.
Now if I were CEO of US Airways, here's what I would do:
1. Immediate 30% pay cut for executives--and no bonuses unless the employees got theirs first. Any incentives I put in place for management will not be at the expense of the rank and file. The executive team and all managers above a certain level will need to reinterview with me or my immediate staff to keep their jobs, and past performance WILL be reviewed.
2. I would get ALL the labor reps in a room, and lay it out on the table: we will sit down in a room with all of labor, and announce a schedule for individual unions to sit down one by one in a room with padded walls where we won't come out until we have SOME sort of a deal. We will give you a pay increase--it may not be everything you want, but you will have an incentive to earn more if things get better. In return you will give me work rule changes that I need to get the company running efficiently. Again you may not like all the things I ask for, but the name of the game will be compromise--NO POLITICS. If you want something from me you should be darn sure I want something from you. You can also be sure that if the union tries to get tough with me I will get tough with them...but it will all be out in the open and on the table. Mess with me I will mess with you. This process will be based on RESPECT and TRUST--I will not betray either but YOU better not...and for the pilots, cut the crap, put your big boy briefs on and let's fix this mess. I will do what I can to get the furloughs back to work, but you will need to help me do it.
3. I would solve the identity crisis once and for all--what kind of an airline are we going to be when we grow up? This hybrid LCC thing is BS and utter nonsense and it cannot work. There will be ONE culture at this airline, and it will comprise the BEST of each of the former airlines. And once it is set, that is it. You either go along with it or get out. We will have a clear idea of product, market and will adjust the system accordingly. All CUSTOMERS may not like what we choose to be, but we will make a fair and sensible decision, not one driven by greed and avarice. We will KNOW we cannot be all things to all people, but we will CHOOSE which it is to be-and then EXCEED customer expectations.
4. The infrastructure will be reconstructed, beginning with a reservations system and website that work and that will contribute to efficiency and customer service rather than cost money and future business. We will spend WHATEVER we have to to make that happen, and the hubs and stations will have the tools, equipment and staffing needed to do their jobs and take care of the customers. I'll give you the tools, but I want results. There will be accountability down the chain...I will take responsibility overall, and won't play a blame game but you better not hang me out to dry either....
5. I will LISTEN to employees and customers. I will do everything I can to make you want to come to work, and to make customers WANT to fly this airline. I will say THANK YOU to the employees and mean it. I will say THANK YOU to the customers and mean it.
6. I will fly in the last row middle seat to Europe in a 330, and if I am as uncomfortable as it has been reported, I will adjust the cabins accordingly.
7. I will rationalize the fleet once and for all--if Airbus is a better product the orders stay--if Boeing makes more sense for us, so be it. I will get rid of as many 50 seaters as I can, and I will take a hard look at the Q400 etc. I will rationalize the route system--get rid of what doesn't work and adjust things to work better. We will do our end, you do yours.
Bottom line: The employees come first, the customers come second, and if I do that right the Shareholders will be very happy. It will NOT work the other way around, nor would I expect it to.
YOU want a CEO to walk in and fix things...if you want ME to be that CEO, you better be on board and work with me, cause if you're not on board, I will get someone who is to do your job...
RESPECT me I RESPECT you...I will earn your trust--I am not all talk and no action and I will put my money where my mouth is, but you better come to the table with an open mind as well....
I will run the place as if my future depends on it--cause it does, and so does yours, and I respect that... I want you to succeed so I can succeed. I want you to be happy so I can be happy....
There now--that wasn't so difficult now was it?
Now if I were CEO of US Airways, here's what I would do:
1. Immediate 30% pay cut for executives--and no bonuses unless the employees got theirs first. Any incentives I put in place for management will not be at the expense of the rank and file. The executive team and all managers above a certain level will need to reinterview with me or my immediate staff to keep their jobs, and past performance WILL be reviewed.
2. I would get ALL the labor reps in a room, and lay it out on the table: we will sit down in a room with all of labor, and announce a schedule for individual unions to sit down one by one in a room with padded walls where we won't come out until we have SOME sort of a deal. We will give you a pay increase--it may not be everything you want, but you will have an incentive to earn more if things get better. In return you will give me work rule changes that I need to get the company running efficiently. Again you may not like all the things I ask for, but the name of the game will be compromise--NO POLITICS. If you want something from me you should be darn sure I want something from you. You can also be sure that if the union tries to get tough with me I will get tough with them...but it will all be out in the open and on the table. Mess with me I will mess with you. This process will be based on RESPECT and TRUST--I will not betray either but YOU better not...and for the pilots, cut the crap, put your big boy briefs on and let's fix this mess. I will do what I can to get the furloughs back to work, but you will need to help me do it.
3. I would solve the identity crisis once and for all--what kind of an airline are we going to be when we grow up? This hybrid LCC thing is BS and utter nonsense and it cannot work. There will be ONE culture at this airline, and it will comprise the BEST of each of the former airlines. And once it is set, that is it. You either go along with it or get out. We will have a clear idea of product, market and will adjust the system accordingly. All CUSTOMERS may not like what we choose to be, but we will make a fair and sensible decision, not one driven by greed and avarice. We will KNOW we cannot be all things to all people, but we will CHOOSE which it is to be-and then EXCEED customer expectations.
4. The infrastructure will be reconstructed, beginning with a reservations system and website that work and that will contribute to efficiency and customer service rather than cost money and future business. We will spend WHATEVER we have to to make that happen, and the hubs and stations will have the tools, equipment and staffing needed to do their jobs and take care of the customers. I'll give you the tools, but I want results. There will be accountability down the chain...I will take responsibility overall, and won't play a blame game but you better not hang me out to dry either....
5. I will LISTEN to employees and customers. I will do everything I can to make you want to come to work, and to make customers WANT to fly this airline. I will say THANK YOU to the employees and mean it. I will say THANK YOU to the customers and mean it.
6. I will fly in the last row middle seat to Europe in a 330, and if I am as uncomfortable as it has been reported, I will adjust the cabins accordingly.
7. I will rationalize the fleet once and for all--if Airbus is a better product the orders stay--if Boeing makes more sense for us, so be it. I will get rid of as many 50 seaters as I can, and I will take a hard look at the Q400 etc. I will rationalize the route system--get rid of what doesn't work and adjust things to work better. We will do our end, you do yours.
Bottom line: The employees come first, the customers come second, and if I do that right the Shareholders will be very happy. It will NOT work the other way around, nor would I expect it to.
YOU want a CEO to walk in and fix things...if you want ME to be that CEO, you better be on board and work with me, cause if you're not on board, I will get someone who is to do your job...
RESPECT me I RESPECT you...I will earn your trust--I am not all talk and no action and I will put my money where my mouth is, but you better come to the table with an open mind as well....
I will run the place as if my future depends on it--cause it does, and so does yours, and I respect that... I want you to succeed so I can succeed. I want you to be happy so I can be happy....
There now--that wasn't so difficult now was it?
Jetsetter2Ord
Senior
Well stated Art!
YVINTERN
Veteran
You go ART! ART for US CEO!
Art, that has to be the most sensible, intelligent, and well thought out approach to curing most, if not all, of the ills at this airline. Now how do we get you to Tempe and introduce you to the BOD and the shareholders??
I'm curious though. Would corporate HDQ be moved to Long Island??
I'm curious though. Would corporate HDQ be moved to Long Island??
art , this is perfect. i love it. i just sent it to kirby and parker. we will see if they respond. i will let you know what they said .
Art at ISP
Veteran
Wow. Thanks for the responses and comments folks.
ETOPS, Scott and Doug know me--so thanks for getting me banned for life 😉
And 903, no worries, I would not move the HQ, but I would commute. The goal would be to cause as little disruption and unnecessary expense as possible.
The funny thing is that I wrote this while half awake, trying to get over the jet lag from my trip to China this week. In retrospect, going over on Monday and returning on Friday was a little tight!
Trip reports are on the FFOCUS boards if anyone is interested.
That said, what I wrote is all common sense, and comes from the heart as well as the mind. The Respect Me I Respect You part is after all part of the Golden Rule isn't it?
Thanks again for the kind words folks.....I wish and pray for all of you that some of it actually happens, and that I can be proud to be a US customer again one day.
My BEST to you all.....
ETOPS, Scott and Doug know me--so thanks for getting me banned for life 😉
And 903, no worries, I would not move the HQ, but I would commute. The goal would be to cause as little disruption and unnecessary expense as possible.
The funny thing is that I wrote this while half awake, trying to get over the jet lag from my trip to China this week. In retrospect, going over on Monday and returning on Friday was a little tight!
Trip reports are on the FFOCUS boards if anyone is interested.
That said, what I wrote is all common sense, and comes from the heart as well as the mind. The Respect Me I Respect You part is after all part of the Golden Rule isn't it?
Thanks again for the kind words folks.....I wish and pray for all of you that some of it actually happens, and that I can be proud to be a US customer again one day.
My BEST to you all.....
hp_fa
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Art has basically nailed it, but I would add one. I would summerily fire any member of management that I found was acting as a yes man, or woman, in reporting up the chain of command. If bad information is flowing up the chain of command then I am getting bad information on which to make executive decisions. I need to make absolutely sure my management team understands that real ships do indeed rock and you had better not be passing along smooth seas forecasts when that is not true.
Art at ISP
Veteran
hp_fa,
I agree, that was part of my trust statement....I didn't specify every detail, but that was the idea. I would also add that the whole thing about sitting and reading a paper while the gate next to you waits due to "zones" would never happen on my watch....
That said, again, I hope at least SOME of it comes to pass for you folks.....
I agree, that was part of my trust statement....I didn't specify every detail, but that was the idea. I would also add that the whole thing about sitting and reading a paper while the gate next to you waits due to "zones" would never happen on my watch....
That said, again, I hope at least SOME of it comes to pass for you folks.....
First of all the ramp in PHL cant be outsourced, it is contractually the IAM Fleet Service works.
Two do you realize ramp service companies pay less and would attract worse workers than US Workers?
Three do you realize a vendor does not care about the flights, as US' own employees do?
i think he was being sarcastic .
JAMAKE1
Veteran
Just adding to what Art has already said:
This list is what is known as rocket science...
- Hire a top-notch branding firm like Landor Associates to re-brand the airline and define the company's identity. Consider a name change back to USAir. It's cleaner and crisper and easier to pronounce (USAir has broad name recognition).
- Target the 20% customer base that generates 80% of the revenue.
- Investing in IT infrastructure that is user-friendly to the employees and customers who use it (read, scrapping SHARES).
- Provide tangible incentives through monthly/quarterly bonuses to get each employee on the same page: Working together to reduce delays, baggage mishandling, and consumer complaints.
- Revamping Chairman's club rooms at airport locations as well as providing free wi-fi in clubrooms and airport terminals.
- Shedding elements that cheapen the product such as adverts on tray tables, video poker machines in club rooms, credit card hawkers giving away teddy bears in airport terminals.
- Forging stronger ties with Star Alliance partners to reflect consistent product standards and incorporate joint-purchasing decisions with member carriers to reduce costs.
- Standardizing aircraft fleet configurations that reflect qualities of a customer-driven company (closets in F/C, standardized seat pitch, etc.).
- Sending members of the executive team and directors out on system-wide field trips regularly to gauge and report employee, customer, and supplier input.
- Clearly define, communicate, and execute the company's vision to every level of the organization so that everyone is orientated toward the goal: Excellence in customer service, both internally and externally.
This list is what is known as rocket science...
