Before I start my rant, let me say that I am generally a big fan of US (as most of you know). I think that service on US is a step above most other carriers in the USA. Additionally, as a Gold DM member, the benefits are usually much better than comparable status on other domestic carriers and I have been well-treated in the past.

That being said, I think that US is being less than forthright (I hestitate to use the word lieing) regarding planned schedules. I understand that we are now in a very trying time. However, I think US is not accurately portraying loads or intent to operate specfic flights in the near and semi-near future. I don't think that the reservations folks that I talk to are trying to mislead me, but I do think that they are being given information that, at the least, is inaccurate.

Here are two examples:
1. My wife and I are currently booked BTV-PIT-LAS-PHL-BTV outbound on 10/13 with a return on 10/16. I initially purchased the tix about a month ago and planned on upgrading with a couple of US20 certificates. I wasn't paying attention and found out later that there was only one 'G' class upgradeable seat availabile the PIT-LAS segment. As a result, I have been closely following that particular flight hoping that another G seat would open up (I will be the one in coach if no upgrades are available - the duties of a husband http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif ). Up until two days ago, there were 5 seats available in F for that particular flight. Suddenly, there is no availability in either F or C. Likewise, there are absolutely no seats available from PIT or PHL to LAS on 10/13. Every other carrier that operates non-stops to LAS from the east coast has availability on every flight for that date. The US reservations folks tell that every PHL & PIT flight to LAS on 10/13 (and the return on 10/16) are suddenly oversold. The difference seems mighty strange to me. Other carriers has lots of availability on 10/16 too.

2. We planned a trip to Barbados in December (7-11). My wife didn't need the miles to requalify for status for next year so we used an award ticket for her a few weeks ago. I planned on purchasing a ticket for myself (and upgrading with a US30 certificate) when introductory fares were announced. At this point, there are no introductory fares in sight and I wanted to use an award ticket for myself (and use a mileage run to requalify for status). I called US to request the award and was told there was no availabity for the return on 12/11, a Tuesday. The reservations agent that I talked to told me that this flight was overbooked by 17 pax and the next day's flight was overbooked by 12 pax.

This seemed strange so I did some checking online. For the first 3 weeks in December, US has no availability (to or from) for BGI on any Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday. On Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, and Mondays there are seats available and the load factors are all less than 50%. Fri-Mon are the typical travel days for leisure travel. Once again, the other airlines offering service to BGI have plenty of seats available on the days US does not.

This all leads me to believe that US is being less than honest about load factors and whether they plan on operating certain flights.

I must admit that I am very disappointed in US. I know that it is a very difficult time for the airlines. However, I am an adult and can deal with the vagaries of travel. I expect my airline (US) to deal with me as an adult and be as forthright as possible. If a business deliberately lies to or misleads me, they will lose me as a customer for life. Unfortunately, I think this is what US is doing.

Keep in mind that, from what I read, a lot of stuff out of Charlotte is getting cancelled, and that DCA is still not open. So, those people may be flowing through flights out of, or to, PHL and PIT.

Djlawman

I spoke this evening to a very nice woman in Gold reservations. When availability gets zeroed like that, they are planning to change either to a smaller plane or to a non-flight (ie you're going to be canceled).

I think I saw somewhere that Barbados flights were being reduced. Perhaps the passemgers who were flying on the cancelled days have been alloted seats on the few days US will actually fly the route? Just speculation...

I believe a huge part of this has to do with the fact that DCA is still closed and Metrojet flights are being pulled. Passengers with reservations out of DCA or on MetroJet are now having to connect thru PHL or PIT. I ran into this problem myself for a flight in two weeks. MetroJet BWI-BDL has been pulled from the schedule so we are now routing IAD-PIT-BDL. Although those flights are listed as SOLDOUT when you try to book them, US Air reservations had no problem re-accomodating us on those flights.

Bill-
The Barbados flights HAVE BEEN REDUCED and will only operate on Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday. My wife and I were booked to BGI on Thanksgiving Day (a Thursday, obviously) and we got a call last week from the International CP desk advising us that the schedule had been reduced to four flights, instead of seven and would not operate Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursdays. Unfortunately, we could not change our schedules to meet US Air's, so we rebooked to Aruba, with no change fee or difference in fare. I think the overbookings on the flights you mentioned are actually the number of people who are scheduled to fly on those flights, but will have to be reaccomodated. Obviously, you got an agent who either wasn't aware of the schedule change or was afraid to tell you.

The darker side of me smells trouble. The name of the game here is reduce capacity and raise fares...and while you're at it, get the employees to bargain against layoffs by agreeing to pay cuts, Regional Jets, and work rule changes. The company is clearly not alone in this, but it would appear circumstances have conspired to enable a lot of restructuring which would have been unthinkable a few weeks ago. Club, along with city ticket office and res center closures, as well as elimination of food service, are a curious response to the current crisis, particularly as each time you travel, you can see more people returning to the air. All this on top of a handout of our tax dollars. By the way, try pricing a trip on heavily travelled routes in the next few months. I thought they'd go the Chapter 11 route to get all this. Doesn't look like that will be necessary now. Fasten your seat belts. This one's not over yet.