US Airways Dividend Miles (Pre-FlightFund Merger) - Low fares mean perks are harder to come by

A roach fest article.......

Low fares mean perks are harder to come by STEVE HUETTEL

http://www.sptimes.com/2004/08/23/Business/Low_fares_mean_perks_.shtml

Nice publicity but somehow in the last 48 hours, green limes seem like the least of our worries. :(

A roach fest article.......

Low fares mean perks are harder to come by STEVE HUETTEL

http://www.sptimes.com/2004/08/23/Business/Low_fares_mean_perks_.shtml

Better than most stuff in the press but still fairly dumbed down. Leading with the limes is a nice touch but it could have used a stronger statement about the symbolism -- as is it comes off as whiny instead of the good natured fun we intended.

The title is a major bit of misdirection -- the "perks" became hard to come by long before the fares came down. And in truth quite a few fares have yet to come down. Plenty of people are still paying $1,500 or more for a distinctly brown and very small bit of lime. Conspiracy theorists will argue that the title was selected by someone at CCY or possibly the airline cartel's secret HQ... I think it's just a sign of successful brainwashing. The headline writer has been exposed to too many airline flacks.

The recognition of upgrades as The Holy Grail is a nice change. The presence of actual numbers and statistics is impressive too.

In the discussion of "business travelers" I wish he'd found some way to convey that buying reasonably priced fares is exactly what a business should do. The article somehow leaves the impression that businesses are cheating airlines by buying lower fares than they used to. Or that it is a normal and expected thing for a business traveler to spend money frivilously and that airlines have some sort of entitlement to fat margins from business travelers because, after all, they're spending someone else's money...

(Yeah, that's probably me projecting my frustrations...)

I don't think he understands the upgrade queues and such though. (Nor why it is important to be able to see the E bucket -- but he left that out.) This section:

Elite fliers such as Greg Johnston wanted to know how US Airways will decide who gets priority on first-class upgrades.

Now, all elite-level members qualify for upgrades on even the cheapest tickets. On other airlines, elite customers can get trumped by lower-level elites or even nonmembers who pay more for their coach seat.

"If I pay a $29 GoFare, I want to know how people get upgraded," said Johnston, a top-level Chairman's Preferred member who works as a regional sales manager for a North Carolina furniture manufacturer.

Seems pretty garbled. I don't think Greg said those things in quite that way or with that meaning. I'm guessing that an editor got to it...

Ok, so I won't be happy until I see a treatise on the subject -- and get an advance copy to comment on ;) I'm glad he did the article. All in all it is positive (which is refreshing all by itself) and it touches on a couple of issues that aren't generally covered at all by the press.

I hope he keeps at it and expands on the topic.

And here is the Washington Post article:


'Cockroaches' US Airways Worked to Keep

By Keith L. Alexander
Tuesday, August 24, 2004; Page E01

Some of US Airways' biggest cockroaches invaded Philadelphia earlier this month.

These "cockroaches" are more than 500 of the airline's frequent fliers. They coined the term two years ago after a US Airways official referred to travelers who refuse to always pay top dollar but want the elite perks as pesky freeloaders.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A27394-2004Aug23.html

I think the owner of Mr. Johnston's company is going to be suprised to wake up this morning and find his company has moved to NC. :D

And here is the Washington Post article:


'Cockroaches' US Airways Worked to Keep

By Keith L. Alexander
Tuesday, August 24, 2004; Page E01

Some of US Airways' biggest cockroaches invaded Philadelphia earlier this month.

These "cockroaches" are more than 500 of the airline's frequent fliers. They coined the term two years ago after a US Airways official referred to travelers who refuse to always pay top dollar but want the elite perks as pesky freeloaders.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A27394-2004Aug23.html

GREAT ARTICLE. Keith captured the movement very well.

Thanks Keith !!!!!!!

Yes, great piece! I would have liked to see more depth, but I understand space constraints. I just e-mailed Steve to express my appreciation. ^