America West FlightFund (Discontinued Program) - What is the future of HP?

IF, and that's a big IF, the CO-DL thing happens (or for that matter, even if it does not happen), what is the future of HP? Would NW come "a-calling?" Would we see a joining of the smaller airlines into one larger one (America West, AirTran, Frontier, National).

Will YX stay independent of all this?

To answer your questions, in order:

No one knows the future. Possibly. No way. And yes.

My crystal ball gets real cloudy when I ask this question, but it's usually wrong anyway.

A related thread on the PlaneBusiness Board:
The HP Answer (http://www.planebusiness.com/ubb/Forum2/HTML/000540.html)

I hope it merges with CO.

Now that's an idea I could live with, MSP2000. But only if my lifetime America West Club membership is still honored.

Contrary to many others, overall I have had only positive experiences with America West. I guess I have been fortunate. I have held elite levels with them for probably eight out of the last ten years, most of those being their top level, Platinum and Chairman's Masters.

MRLIMO,

I have had the same, generally positive experiences with HP. I, too, have been a higher ranking frequent flier. It does seem that HP treats their frequent fliers quite well, maybe because there are so few of us?

Would you take an HP club pass and some SWA drink coupons for nominating a friend of mine to silver status?

I'm a CO Platinum and tried HP for three straight months, all but one segment in first and I find this to be a very low level airline. When you compare them to other major domestics, they just don't add up - anywhere. The best thing that they can do is sell out to a better airline - CO, NW or DL.

Butcher Bird, for the first time in years I will have no HP elite status for the new program year 2001. My flying habits have changed. I will have to rely on my Continental status when flying HP. I'm sorry I can't assist you with that Silver Elite nomination request for your friend. Perhaps someone else will step up to the plate?

Happy Travels!

I must say I don't agree with charachterizing America West as a "low level airline." I am a Continental Platinum Elite who has quite frequently connected via IAH during the evening bank of flights. Before the IAH-PHX codeshares were eliminated, I could often choose between an ~8:00P HP or an ~8:30P CO departure to PHX. In the course of flying this route/time, I was upgraded on every flight during 1999, 2000, and so far this year on both HP and CO.

My last flight on CO, I was served pretzels and received two drinks (plus a predeparture beverage). On HP, I was served a small cold plate with crudite, cheese, Carr's water crackers, and fruit. Additionally, I was served three drinks (plus a predeparture drink & bag of snack mix) and was offered additional service (which I refused).

This is just one example of superior service offered by America West. Most of my long haul flying is Continental and Northwest. I have routinely experienced inflight service which meets my very high expectations (sometimes even excellent service) in F on America West short flights. Unfortunately, I can't say the same for NW and CO.