Spoke with CA today. They said the more Preferreds that call and complain about the recent directive to stop phone calls to inventory, the better the chance it will be rescinded. Additionally, I lodged a complaint about the absence of the "E" inventory from ITN and other online engines. One of their people is looking into both complaints and promised to follow up tomorrow. I will keep everyone here informed, but I urge you to waste 20 minutes of your time and lodge a formal complaint.

(866) 523-5333

So here I am still at the office reading this thread, and I say, SURE! I'll do it. Then I call up, and I hear the recording telling me the hours. I look at my clock and it's almost midnight. DAMN I have to get out of the office!

Folks -

My understanding is US pays for each bucket interfaced into the various reservation systems. Removing E from public view may simply have been a cost saving measure. Everyone needs to calm down and stop thinking US does nothing but think of ways to screw their most loyal customers. Sheesh.

Spoke with CA today. They said the more Preferreds that call and complain about the recent directive to stop phone calls to inventory,


Sounds like a good plan,

How about this, eveyone try to call tomorrow durring lunch, that way all the calls will come in a giant wave and it will seem more impressive :D

Folks -

My understanding is US pays for each bucket interfaced into the various reservation systems. Removing E from public view may simply have been a cost saving measure. Everyone needs to calm down and stop thinking US does nothing but think of ways to screw their most loyal customers. Sheesh.

their track record has been less than perfect when it comes to the concept of being honest with their elites. They often have quite logical reasons for their decisions but do little in the way of communicating until after the troops mutiny.

This is one of the primary goals of the Cockroaches and RoachFEST, to encourage a change in that behavior. We're already seeing results. But all is not perfection.

So if you want to look at it in terms of cost savings, now I have to call the CP line and bother them about how many E seats are left in the bucket. Keep in mind the CP agents are the HIGHEST paid and most experienced. How many more extra hours in labor will that add up to per year? You do the math... seems pretty clear to me.

There are several CRS (computer reservation systems) companies, such as Sabre, Apollo, Amadeus, etc. As far as I know, they only get paid if they take a booking for a participating airline or agency. Only a few online engines actually showed E (formerly G). It seems to have been available, but not universally offered for public view. Whatever the reasons for masking it, I don't believe saving money was one of them. As for calling Consumer Affairs, this operation is largely a placebo. Talking to them might have a cathartic effect on you, but nobody over there cares. They've got bigger, more basic troubles, allthough pulling this kind of mindless stuff certainly contributes to the workload in that department.

Folks -

My understanding is US pays for each bucket interfaced into the various reservation systems. Removing E from public view may simply have been a cost saving measure. Everyone needs to calm down and stop thinking US does nothing but think of ways to screw their most loyal customers. Sheesh.

Based on the prior record of BBB and the troops, I disagree. When you consider removing "E" in light of the new practice of not allocating any "E" inventory to speak of, the motivation is clear.

By limiting E and still having P, they have changed the pecking order.

1) Paid F or A
2) Y/B tickets upgraded (free w/ status or $50 per 500 miles w/o)
3) upgraded by status at the airport

In essence, the penalty for buying a cheaper ticket is to sweat it out at the gate.

This does benefit those buying the Y/B bigger buck tickets.

To get the P and E bucket ratio correct is a difficult yield management task. This is for a department that has had problems getting it correct in the first place. Done correctly, you keep the roaches and the wales happy.

Miles, I'm not sure I follow your logic. P always trumped E, and unless the route was total leisure (like Vegas), once half the compartment was gone, regardless of how, E went 0. In the case of Vegas and some other heavy leisure markets, the ultimate inventory management tool was developed.....the 8 seat 757.

Miles, I'm not sure I follow your logic. P always trumped E, and unless the route was total leisure (like Vegas), once half the compartment was gone, regardless of how, E went 0. In the case of Vegas and some other heavy leisure markets, the ultimate inventory management tool was developed.....the 8 seat 757.

Yes P always trumped E. However, the more Es there are the less Ps there are.

In other words, instead of letting Es take up 7 seats in advance they are limiting it to ?? - a number less than 7. This leaves more seats for the A/Y/B people - in advance.

And yes, more people are buying the A fare. When A is the same price as Y, my corporate engine chooses the A.

My business travel likes this but my leisure travel hates this. Especially since my leisure travel needs 2+ seats in FC. That means me + 1 companion + 1 mileage upgrade.

Also, this is a way to limit the mileage upgrades. I am sure a lot of people are dumping miles like crazy. To some degree, limiting the E helps elites.

They are trying to give another advantage to the customers who spend more - sound familiar.

I am not saying I agree but I think I understand. In any event, there is no reason to HIDE the E bucket.

Yes P always trumped E. However, the more Es there are the less Ps there are.

In other words, instead of letting Es take up 7 seats in advance they are limiting it to ?? - a number less than 7. This leaves more seats for the A/Y/B people - in advance.

Nope. It doesn't (or didn't) work like that. E is a subset of P which is a subset of F. With F4 P3 E2 there are only 4 seats remaining not 9.

And yes, more people are buying the A fare. When A is the same price as Y, my corporate engine chooses the A.

That's great! I'm very happy for them. I told BBB he could do it ;) I wish I could figure out when they're available without having to spend the whole evening at it. I'd probably buy some.

Nope. It doesn't (or didn't) work like that. E is a subset of P which is a subset of F. With F4 P3 E2 there are only 4 seats remaining not 9.


I think we both understand how it all works. The point I was trying to make, unsuccessfully, was that they used to set E to 7 on many flights with 12 seats. I know this because I have been the first person in FC (according to seat maps) and then E went to 6 - if I bought an A or upgraded to P or E. This is critical to CP since most people who buy Y/B fares buy them less than 7 days out. If E is set very low then the people using miles or envoy connects get the seats and then E is 0 at the 7 day window. I thought 7 was a good number to satisfy everyone.

I unsed to buy a lot of A fares on a route that only had F/A/Y/H/V fares available - no matter how far in advance I bought the ticket. Our corporate discount is only for M and above so H was not discounted (at the time 38% discount). The discounted A was cheaper than the non discounted H and the same price as the Y. The system chose the A.

Folks -

My understanding is US pays for each bucket interfaced into the various reservation systems. Removing E from public view may simply have been a cost saving measure. Everyone needs to calm down and stop thinking US does nothing but think of ways to screw their most loyal customers. Sheesh.


I think this dude is a crystal city lackey. All of his posts try to defend the indefensible. And also, facts don't seem to be a deterrent to a good alibi - again fitting for a ccl (crystal city lackey).

Sheesh

I think this dude is a crystal city lackey. All of his posts try to defend the indefensible. And also, facts don't seem to be a deterrent to a good alibi - again fitting for a ccl (crystal city lackey).

Sheesh

Dude, get real. Just because I think people whine too much does not make me a CCY lackey. I've never worked for US nor do I currently work for US. I'm a loyal customer who is happy with the service and benefits US provides me, period. Also, I really think some folks need to remember flying is just a means to get somewhere, not the focus of your job or life (at least I hope it's not).

Dude, get real. Just because I think people whine too much does not make me a CCY lackey. I've never worked for US nor do I currently work for US. I'm a loyal customer who is happy with the service and benefits US provides me, period. Also, I really think some folks need to remember flying is just a means to get somewhere, not the focus of your job or life (at least I hope it's not).

Dear CCL:

When I fly US I don't seem to get anywhere, and I don't think there are too many people happy with the service and benefits US is providing now. I could be wrong, but this board indicates otherwise.

I have learned my lesson with the US companies so far. If you encounter a situation where you were not treated correctly I would complain to the Attorney General of YOUR State and the STATE where the company is based and to DOT too.

Just because I think people whine too much


I see what you mean! (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=334041) :rolleyes:


and this....
Dear CCL:

When I fly US I don't seem to get anywhere, and I don't think there are too many people happy with the service and benefits US is providing now. I could be wrong, but this board indicates otherwise. :rolleyes:

Dear CCL:

When I fly US I don't seem to get anywhere, and I don't think there are too many people happy with the service and benefits US is providing now. I could be wrong, but this board indicates otherwise.

Your post makes no sense. And, really, I don't work for US. While you may not want to hear it, the nature of my work does not afford me opportunities to regularly book in advance. Therefore, I end up on Y/B tickets. Therefore, when US makes policies that favor folks who buy higher priced tickets, I win. It's that simple. Why would I not defend some of US's policies given this? Sorry, but not everyone on this board may share your opinions ... that doesn't mean we work for US or are otherwise out to annoy or screw with you.

Dear CCL:

When I fly US I don't seem to get anywhere, and I don't think there are too many people happy with the service and benefits US is providing now. I could be wrong, but this board indicates otherwise.

Hey, no upgrade for u: You seem to have quite a bit of concerns regarding US, well there is a forum for you to be heard - ROACHFEST! Philly is not too long a drive from North Jersey, show up and air your concerns!

Remember you can also email Consumer Affairs via the web site if you do not wish to call.

USFlyerUS,
One issue is US removing E from the publically available CRS databases, and a separate issue is them apparently reducing the number of E seats made available on flights. Many of us have noticed that in the last few months, upgrades in to E have not been clearing like in the past, which has lead to a theory that they have reduced the number of E seats or even elliminated
E seat availability from several flights.

Also I tend to think the entire trip experience is as important or more important than just "getting there." This goes to show how there are broad opinion differentials on the spectrum of just getting from A to B, and then all the service/ameneties, etc. Due to this "experience" being so critical for me, I have just started testing flying on UA with Premier Executive status because UA has more ameneties and offers like www.united.com/atw and they have channel 9. However, flying UA will cost me less $$$, but be more inconvenient particularly flying in and out of IAD instead of DCA. SO some people really are moved by this "experience" thing.

Folks, let's move the tone of this thread back towards Consumer Affairs RE: Inventory.

/cx4, one of your US forum moderators.