US Airways Dividend Miles (Pre-FlightFund Merger) - The New USAirways, Is it time to come home?

Over the past two years there has been much hand-wringing in this forum over the future of US, threats of impending liquidation, reduced service, schedules etc. Many who were 100% US flyers have drifted and all together left the program.

I've barely kept CP status and given UA much of my business, but have done far less flying on US than ever before (still can't fathom a happy meal box on a transcon).

I THINK that part of the drift by the loyal has been due to the threat of liquidation resulting in mileage and status loss. . .at least it has for me.

But I ask you today, is it time to come back to US? Great new destinations in the west, more first class seats infused into the system through the impending merger, AND lots of big checks written to make a HP-US combination a success. . .

I like UA, but 1K status doesn't hold a candle to Dividend Miles Chairman's Preferred. I hate have to scrape by flight to flight hoarding 500 milers worrying about when CR1s, SWUs are going to post so I don't end up in coach. I LOVE US CP unlimited upgrades. . .

Thoughts anyone??

I've been thinking the same thing! :) While I'm one notch lower in status, I've still sorta been wringing my hands about whether to move my accrual back to US. AA will always be my # 1 program (old loyalties die hard), but I'm struggling with which program to credit my US/UA travel to. Like you, I love those unlimited upgrades. I could almost make CP if I dumped all of my UA flying into Dividend Miles along with my US travel. And this is probably a silly thing to consider, but I would love to have my miles earning credit card at the same bank as my checking/savings which are at BofA. :D Anyways...I'm anxious to see how things unfold. My first frequent flyer account was with Piedmont when I was 17 yrs old. I've got some loyalties here too. :D

But I ask you today, is it time to come back to US? Great new destinations in the west, more first class seats infused into the system through the impending merger, AND lots of big checks written to make a HP-US combination a success. . .

I like UA, but 1K status doesn't hold a candle to Dividend Miles Chairman's Preferred. I hate have to scrape by flight to flight hoarding 500 milers worrying about when CR1s, SWUs are going to post so I don't end up in coach. I LOVE US CP unlimited upgrades. . .

Thoughts anyone??

If only USAmericaways flew to Asia with Unlimited UG's. Not that those Europe UG's do a ton of good to Europe from PHL during May-Sept and I guess Asia would be the same. All said and done UA,US, & LH are probably the three most generous FF programs in *A each for different reasons. In China I am stuck with UA flying to PHL but both my Parents in PHL are happy CP's and will fly US until the end. ;)
-UFFA

Thoughts anyone??
Not until this inept, incompetent management team has been shown the door, from Lime Boy on up. Nothing changes until they are gone.

What he said!

Not until this inept, incompetent management team has been shown the door, from Lime Boy on up. Nothing changes until they are gone.
As screwed up as they've been, I think the Lakefield/Bronner combo deserve a ton of credit for keeping the airline alive.

As screwed up as they've been, I think the Lakefield/Bronner combo deserve a ton of credit for keeping the airline alive.
No. The credit goes to the employees for the continued hard work on the front lines in spite of giving back over 40% of their income to these idiots. The ONLY thing that has kept this company afloat is the give backs.

The only thing they have managed to do is nothing but line their pockets with bonuses.

Thank you 700, Welcome to USAviaition.com. :rolleyes: Back to the theme of the topic shall we??

Thank you 700, Welcome to USAviaition.com. :rolleyes: Back to the theme of the topic shall we??
You asked for our thoughts. You got them. :confused:

I hate to show my ignorance. But I've only very recently begun reading the US board. So I have to ask... who is "Lime Boy?"

I hate to show my ignorance. But I've only very recently begun reading the US board. So I have to ask... who is "Lime Boy?"


Chris Chiames, Senior VP of Corporate Affairs http://www.usairways.com/about/corporate/profile/organization/chiames.htm

i'm in a wait and see mode. my wife and i bailed on us airways at the end of last year...although i made cp for this year, i haven't been aboard a single us airways flight since jan. 1.

the grass isn't necessarily greener where we are now (northwest), but in general we're happy with their program. we still feel like our hearts are with us airways, and usually one or both of us comments that we miss us airways as we're bypassing their ticket counters/gates in the airports these days.

in light of recent developments, we've been thinking about getting back on the bandwagon, but there are a few things holding us back. first and foremost: if we started back now, neither of us would make cp this year (but if we keep going with northwest, i will almost certainly make platinum), and starting back at the bottom of the barrel next year would be a chore. potentially, of course, i could status-match back to us once i become platinum with northwest (the irony is that i used my us status to obtain a status-match to northwest gold when we switched over).

i don't harbor the same seething ire/resentment that l4pi and others do for us' management. in fact, i was recently surprised to receive an invitation to their upcoming "consumer advisory board" meeting (or something like that) at their headquarters in virginia, and was happy to accept.

for now, though, my household's out-of-pocket airline dollars continue to go elsewhere. we are waiting to see what gets announced about the new merger and under what terms in will come to fruition. until we're convinced to come back, we're watching from the sidelines.

-- he who slacks

The only thing they have managed to do is nothing but line their pockets with bonuses.

Yeah, and paying minimal pay at a company with apparently little hope of success or a future of any sort is no way to attract any sort of halfway decent executive talent away from a job at a company that has benefitted from their success and pays them ten to twenty times as much.

Why the hell would anybody leave a job in whatever industry to come work in US Airways management? Right now people seem to be jumping ship left and right and they are having trouble keeping enough people at HQ to actually run the airline. They need these bonuses to keep folks. Whether you like the current management team or not, they have managed to make cuts outside of labor costs (but labor/fuel are the two largest costs, and they can't cut fuel). Regardless of your view of them, as you seem to be an expert at running a major airline with billions of dollars in yearly revenue, a revolving door of management is not a good thing. Kicking out the entire current executive team wouldn't do much for securing additional financing. You may get your wish soon enough with an America West merger. Or, you can go fly Delta (as you have extolled their virtues out of your home airport previously). They've got one hell of a management team, I hear.

We all care about the people of US Airways... all of my travel is discretionary and I choose to fly US Airways over other carriers. It's easy for people detached from the day-to-day operations of the carrier to just say "toss out the executives" or say they don't deserve any bonuses (when some of those bonuses are options/promises that are contingent upon stock numbers that are nowhere in the near future).

No. The credit goes to the employees for the continued hard work on the front lines in spite of giving back over 40% of their income to these idiots. The ONLY thing that has kept this company afloat is the give backs.

I was under the distinct impression that it was a combination of our tax dollars and GE.

i'm in a wait and see mode. my wife and i bailed on us airways at the end of last year...although i made cp for this year, i haven't been aboard a single us airways flight since jan. 1.

the grass isn't necessarily greener where we are now (northwest), but in general we're happy with their program. we still feel like our hearts are with us airways, and usually one or both of us comments that we miss us airways as we're bypassing their ticket counters/gates in the airports these days.

in light of recent developments, we've been thinking about getting back on the bandwagon, but there are a few things holding us back. first and foremost: if we started back now, neither of us would make cp this year (but if we keep going with northwest, i will almost certainly make platinum), and starting back at the bottom of the barrel next year would be a chore. potentially, of course, i could status-match back to us once i become platinum with northwest (the irony is that i used my us status to obtain a status-match to northwest gold when we switched over).

i don't harbor the same seething ire/resentment that l4pi and others do for us' management. in fact, i was recently surprised to receive an invitation to their upcoming "consumer advisory board" meeting (or something like that) at their headquarters in virginia, and was happy to accept.

for now, though, my household's out-of-pocket airline dollars continue to go elsewhere. we are waiting to see what gets announced about the new merger and under what terms in will come to fruition. until we're convinced to come back, we're watching from the sidelines.

-- he who slacks

I suspect if you sent this exact same message to Carol Blazer you'd receive a CP challenge and have no difficulty qualifying.

Yeah, and paying minimal pay at a company with apparently little hope of success or a future of any sort is no way to attract any sort of halfway decent executive talent away from a job at a company that has benefitted from their success and pays them ten to twenty times as much.

Why the hell would anybody leave a job in whatever industry to come work in US Airways management? Right now people seem to be jumping ship left and right and they are having trouble keeping enough people at HQ to actually run the airline. They need these bonuses to keep folks. Whether you like the current management team or not, they have managed to make cuts outside of labor costs (but labor/fuel are the two largest costs, and they can't cut fuel). Regardless of your view of them, as you seem to be an expert at running a major airline with billions of dollars in yearly revenue, a revolving door of management is not a good thing. Kicking out the entire current executive team wouldn't do much for securing additional financing. You may get your wish soon enough with an America West merger. Or, you can go fly Delta (as you have extolled their virtues out of your home airport previously). They've got one hell of a management team, I hear.

We all care about the people of US Airways... all of my travel is discretionary and I choose to fly US Airways over other carriers. It's easy for people detached from the day-to-day operations of the carrier to just say "toss out the executives" or say they don't deserve any bonuses (when some of those bonuses are options/promises that are contingent upon stock numbers that are nowhere in the near future).


Name one thing this team has done in the last two years to make a difference? This is the second time around that several of these "executives" have received a bonus. I guess I would like know just exactly what they have done to IMPROVE the airline or it's operations?

I await a great response since you have a degree in this field.

Name one thing this team has done in the last two years to make a difference? This is the second time around that several of these "executives" have received a bonus. I guess I would like know just exactly what they have done to IMPROVE the airline or it's operations?

I await a great response since you have a degree in this field.

I think unlimited upgrades were introduced about 2 years ago. New destinations in the Caribbean and Europe. Cost reductions decreasing the CASM and helping airline sustainabilitiy. In the past month or so cleaner planes, increased focus on on time performance. Go fares to remain competitive in certain markets. The improvement of Envoy service. Depeaking PHL. Removing an excess hub. Joining Star Alliance. Etc.

in light of recent developments, we've been thinking about getting back on the bandwagon, but there are a few things holding us back. first and foremost: if we started back now, neither of us would make cp this year (but if we keep going with northwest, i will almost certainly make platinum), and starting back at the bottom of the barrel next year would be a chore. potentially, of course, i could status-match back to us once i become platinum with northwest (the irony is that i used my us status to obtain a status-match to northwest gold when we switched over).

i don't harbor the same seething ire/resentment that l4pi and others do for us' management. in fact, i was recently surprised to receive an invitation to their upcoming "consumer advisory board" meeting (or something like that) at their headquarters in virginia, and was happy to accept.

-- he who slacks

Good to hear from you Overpaidslacker!!! I too stopped flying US after BK2 but in January decieded to give them another chance. I wrote Carol and she had someone call my home and they were willing to give me a challenge to get back to GP since I only made SP. I think they will want your business back. I like you don't share the views of L4pi I think they forget what it like to run a company that everyday the media is saying is going out of business. I worked for a company that went bankrupt and it is hard for everyone on the front line and in the office.

Hoping you come back to US!!

Name one thing this team has done in the last two years to make a difference? This is the second time around that several of these "executives" have received a bonus. I guess I would like know just exactly what they have done to IMPROVE the airline or it's operations?

I await a great response since you have a degree in this field.

Without doing any research into the topic and just giving a quick and dirty response:

They have lowered CASM, namely in the last quarter when others rose (except for Southwest as well as US Airways, both of whom decreased)... it was around $12.25 just over two years ago... they are around $10.80 today (I think $10.86 or so). All of this while fuel costs have increased. US Airways used to be the highest CASM in the industry; now they are closer to average than several of their legacy competitors, especially in trend.

Efficiency through introduction of rolling hubs and reduced turnaround times, with an increase in on-time performance overall, while reducing the number of aircraft in the fleet is an improvement. Flight completion is way up the last few months... with near perfect completion factor to Europe, and more often than not, if the outbound is late, the inbound is on-time departing. Initiatives to launch the first flights of the day, both into and out of hubs, on time have been largely successful. Mid-Atlantic has excelled so far this year in flight completion and on-time numbers.

International expansion has been aggressively pursued, with minor retrenchments. Facilities expansions are coming in FLL to enable further flights out of the focus city. Caribbean stations are doing quite well operationally with completion and on-time.

While people here don't like it, select cost cuttings like the closure of lesser traffic (despite anecdotal ramblings on this board) US Airways Clubs have been a good idea overall, and I'm sure if they turn out losing more money than they made it will be reversed. And I am, for the record, a paying US Airways Club member.

Crellin should have gone after the December meltdown... I'll agree with that.

Current management has been able to secure financing from regional airlines... a non-traditional approach that has been met with some success.

As far as executive bonuses go... the current round's "golden parachutes," to use an offensive term, are much smaller than those of previous executives, and certainly much worse than these same executives would get in other industries. Most of them could leave now and do a lot better personally at other companies. Keeping somebody constant in that position is imperative. The majority of the bonus payments are for lower level managers. To quote Jerry Glass: "We have an obligation to make sure we have management employees in airport operations, finance, payroll, maintenance and safety, sales and marketing and other functions to provide for day-to-day functions of the company." US Airways is having trouble filling these sorts of positions as people leave..... some departments have huge numbers of openings and struggle to actually operate the airline. Retaining who is in these positions (and these aren't the top level managers toward whom you have so much rage and disgust) should be a top priority. All of the discretionary retention payments are for salaried lower-tier managers... as stated previously: those who actually do the day-to-day things like pay bills, create payroll, handle billing with Express carriers, regional sales, cargo sales, etc. Besides, regardless of the financial health of the companies involved, these sorts of payments are very commonplace with mergers... especially with companies in some sort of trouble... the turbulence of a merger could be disasterous unless those in the positions can be retained through the transition (even if they will lose their jobs afterward) to better integrate the companies.

Wage cuts had to happen. The buy-out of senior employees makes good business sense, though it sucks for the actual employees in many cases. Much of the cost savings at Southwest are through growth and less-senior labor (despite their pay being higher than many in equivalent positions at US Airways, it keeps the lower labor costs as a higher percentage of the overall payroll). US suffers as many employees are capped out (such as all pilots, who are at the 16 year pay level... the maximum under the contract). Under normal airline industry circumstances, the labor would move up the pay scale with wage increases commensurate with company growth (a la Southwest, jetBlue, etc), however US has shrunk significantly in the last few years. Some of the cost problems root back in the days of Colodny's leadership with precedent labor contracts and operations strategies focused on connecting as many points as possible with frequent flights with a market share goal. Buy out these senior employes and replace them with less senior labor.... really the best option as under union contracts they are furloughing from the bottom end of the list as far as cost goes, where a normal company in another industry would likely eliminate a position and the employee in it without rebidding the work schedule.

While the management team hasn't done a near perfect job, they haven't done horribly. The only easy way to cut costs to arrive at a CASM similar to that of the LCCs would be to emulate them entirely. Say good bye to First (or the ease of upgrading to First), frequent service to secondary and tertiary markets, Express operations, Clubs, etc., and look for higher frequency service in large markets. That would drop CASM. It isn't really feasible if one wishes to keep US the type of airline it is now. Sure, a few management team members probably need to go, but cleaning house just because they can't turn the airline around in two years (a task nobody else in the industry can really do... look at United, Delta... Southwest is not doing as well as before... Alaska just contracted out all ground handling at their primary Seattle hub to cut costs.. some LCCs are starting to lose money) doesn't solve anything and just serves to rattle away investors, rile up the creditors, and doesn't encourage new investment.

Though I get the picture that nothing said will make any difference. We've each got our views and I'm certain that's how it's going to stay. Sorry that the departure of a senior local agent everybody knows and loves may be tearful and sad (I hate it as much as anybody does), but that's the kind of thing needed in the industry. Jobs, such as ground handling, are turning into jobs instead of careers and that's industry-wide. That's how it is being done at many of the regionals... their aircraft have inherently higher CASM due to capacity and the type of markets they serve so costs must be kept down even with a fee-per-departure arrangement, and even worse: shared revenue payment.

[QUOTE=longing4piedmont]Name one thing this team has done in the last two years to make a difference? QUOTE]

How about keeping the airline flying while some of you were doing nothing but complaining at not having your butts kissed from check in to touchdown? Considering the business environment these days - this single fact is amazing in itself. Somehow I have to guess that we are still flying the old grey lady is in some small part due to the management as well as the employees, not to mention us loyal customers. Unlike some who bailed when the going got tough or even worst, those of you in the Lipstick Brigade who have actually slowed down the forward progress.

Keep the attacks to yourself and stuff your Troll comments up you’re a**es while you flying Southwest or others. Those of us who had faith are happy to see all of the positive news of late and hope that it continues for many many years to come.

On a side note, instead of the A350 I wish they were partnering with Boeing but I guess its best to dance with the one who is paying for dinner.

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/faq...._vb_board_usage

I think that everyone needs to look at the posting guidelines for FT.

Before posting, take a deep breath, write what you want, then let it sit for awhile and decide if that is really what you want to post.

Those that don't follow the guidelines may not be able to post or the thread may be locked or deleted.

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/faq...._vb_board_usage

I think that everyone needs to look at the posting guidelines for FT.

Before posting, take a deep breath, write what you want, then let it sit for awhile and decide if that is really what you want to post.

Those that don't follow the guidelines may not be able to post or the thread may be locked or deleted.

Gotta love the selected moderation.

While this attack "I await a great response since you have a degree in this field" is ok, others are not. Hmmm. Being called a troll by some is ok but defending your thoughts and ideas are not.

Me thinks it is not what is posted but rather who is posting it.

Just a observation, of course.

Unlike some who bailed when the going got tough or even worst, those of you in the Lipstick Brigade who have actually slowed down the forward progress.



The past few months have been very interesting on this Board. The influx of the trolls and bottom fishers from the other Boards in January was a demonstration of human behavior at its' worst. It was gratifying to see the level of discourse remain high from the folks who usually post here.

Due to a self-imposed moratorium, I watched the fray with great interest. The remarks of management, both public and private, were a counter-balance to the perception of the traveling public in general and many FTers, too.

There were detailed discussions about aircraft cleanliness for more than a year. However, the general deterioration that occurred in 2005 was especially noteworthy in equipment that RONed at certain stations. Like it or not, the lipstick stunt was effective. Whereas US has moved at glacial speed to correct some problems (PHL F Terminal, PHL baggage), tangible actions were made by the airline within six weeks of the public lipstick campaign. Would the company have responded as quickly under other circumstances? Nobody knows.

Two months ago, a reporter asked what I thought of US Airways' chance for success. I responded that I strongly hoped they would survive, but saw little evidence that could occur past the summer without a merger or financial buyout/takeover. The reporter said that in interviews with people in finance, the airline business, employees and passengers, that was the unanimous opinion.

If the financing to create a true merger occurs, contains fresh unrestricted CASH, and is not an accounting sleight of hand, that will be a remarkable event. I'm still holding my breath in hopeful anticipation. But, it ain't over til it's over. To paraphrase deelmakur in another thread, "This one isn't over yet".

I am going to wait until the merger is final and they look good. I like USairs schedule, but do not want to worry about what could or may happen anymore. I have no opinion or cares about whether it is the managment or employees that caused the problem. All I want is a decent flight schedule, upgrades, and no headaches. When that happens I will try for status again on USair.

For the sake of the great frontline employees who have sacrificed so much, I hope that we will all come back. I have personally pretty much bailed out on US of late, with a flight every now and then. My Club membership is history and I've dropped from the US2 status I held for 10 years to dirt this year (though I'm taking advantage of the promo out of CMH to get US3 status. I feel bad about bailing, because and only because of the employees, but the company just wasn't getting the job done for me anymore and they've got some work to do to get me back.

My own view is that of "wait and see" for the time being; the box lunches in F, the Club cutbacks and the like are issues that need to be addressed -- as does the future of the new carrier in the Star Alliance, which I have come to value highly. With the service cutbacks in F on US, I have learned to live with UA, an occasional upgrade, E+ and Channel 9. With a move to the West Coast (LAX) on the horizon, I am cautiously optimistic that the new carrier will be worth going back to, though I guess that means the new US will stay in T1 (ugh!).

There are a lot of issues that I need answers to, like upgrade policy, before I can decide whether to come back. Fortunately, there appears to be some hope that the current management team is on its way out the door and that cannot help but be a good thing. I guess I am cautiously optimistic about the new US, which is itself a decent accomplishment, since I thought they were probably toast at the beginning of the year.