America West FlightFund (Pre-2005 US Airways merger) - Changing of the guard at HP Headquaters

I was crusing down Rio Salado today on my way from campus to pick up some cigars and I noticed a bunch of cranes and activity at America West World Headquaters. When I looked up I noticed it no longer said "America West" on the side facing Tempe Town Lake (so north) by "US AIR" and more letters were on the way. Very sad. I also found some pics of it:

http://cactuswings.com/prints/awafc/photos/awasign-7.html

Has the sign on the HQ high-rise changed yet? I need to snap some photos before they make the change.

Has the sign on the HQ high-rise changed yet? I need to snap some photos before they make the change.

CMK10's right about the Tempe Town Lake side of the building, but the side facing Tempe and can be seen from ASU still holds the America West signage for now.

Time to go take pics before this beautiful livery is gone for good! :(

I knew one of you asu'ers would spot this first. :D

CMK10's right about the Tempe Town Lake side of the building...

:(

The operations building across I-10 from Sky Harbor has also been changed.

I drove by on the 202 tonight -- it looks like there's a sheet over the new sign.

...about the demise of the 'america west' brand? it never took off and there isn't any real loyalty to it. they had a chance to become a player then folded [and shut down columbus]. at least us airways is an airline that has managed to grow - and internationally as well. who knows america west beyond vegas and phoenix - seriously.

...about the demise of the 'america west' brand? it never took off and there isn't any real loyalty to it. they had a chance to become a player then folded [and shut down columbus]. at least us airways is an airline that has managed to grow - and internationally as well. who knows america west beyond vegas and phoenix - seriously.

US Airways is well known - as a Piece of Shiesse joke airline. I have to say that funny enough, I feel "dirty" flying on a carrier with the name US Airline.

I am angry enough over the Doug's reluctance to put that crappy airline's name behind them to book all of my flights on AA. And I am based in PHX. I've lived in Australia, Singapore, UK, Netherlands and the USA. Have seen loads of airline consolidation - no reasonable answer why they would continue a super sub-standard brand like US Airways. What a hog! :td: IMHO Doug made his first huge mistake by not putting a wooden stake in the heart of the country's worst airline's name.

US Airways is well known - as a Piece of Shiesse joke airline. I have to say that funny enough, I feel "dirty" flying on a carrier with the name US Airline.

I am angry enough over the Doug's reluctance to put that crappy airline's name behind them to book all of my flights on AA. And I am based in PHX. I've lived in Australia, Singapore, UK, Netherlands and the USA. Have seen loads of airline consolidation - no reasonable answer why they would continue a super sub-standard brand like US Airways. What a hog! :td: IMHO Doug made his first huge mistake by not putting a wooden stake in the heart of the country's worst airline's name.

It wasn't so long ago that America West was Americas Worst Airline.

US Airways just sounds better.

US Airways is well known - as a Piece of Shiesse joke airline. I have to say that funny enough, I feel "dirty" flying on a carrier with the name US Airline.

I am angry enough over the Doug's reluctance to put that crappy airline's name behind them to book all of my flights on AA. And I am based in PHX. I've lived in Australia, Singapore, UK, Netherlands and the USA. Have seen loads of airline consolidation - no reasonable answer why they would continue a super sub-standard brand like US Airways. What a hog! :td: IMHO Doug made his first huge mistake by not putting a wooden stake in the heart of the country's worst airline's name.

Wow, don't hold back. Tell us how you really feel.

Seriously, what's in a name? "A rose by any other name..."

...about the demise of the 'america west' brand? it never took off and there isn't any real loyalty to it. they had a chance to become a player then folded [and shut down columbus]. at least us airways is an airline that has managed to grow - and internationally as well. who knows america west beyond vegas and phoenix - seriously.
I'm afraid that is incorrect. America West is still the only airline created after deregulation that grew to major airline status on it's own (rather quickly I might add) and was successful. We have a huge following on the west coast. Our record load factors show this. Everyday at work customers tell us how they wish our name wasn't going away. Many people don't like us (or US or any other airline for that matter!) but many more do. It's nice to hear such things. At least the headquaters will still be in Tempe...that makes AZ people happy. :)

I am angry enough over the Doug's reluctance to put that crappy airline's name behind them to book all of my flights on AA.

Kev,

I guess that we won't see you on the upgrade list. buh-bye (http://snltranscripts.jt.org/93/93pbuhbye.phtml)

US Airways is well known - as a Piece of Shiesse joke airline. I have to say that funny enough, I feel "dirty" flying on a carrier with the name US Airline.

I am angry enough over the Doug's reluctance to put that crappy airline's name behind them to book all of my flights on AA. And I am based in PHX. I've lived in Australia, Singapore, UK, Netherlands and the USA. Have seen loads of airline consolidation - no reasonable answer why they would continue a super sub-standard brand like US Airways. What a hog! :td: IMHO Doug made his first huge mistake by not putting a wooden stake in the heart of the country's worst airline's name.

Wow. It's as though I'm speaking throught KevAZ's keyboard. :D

US is a soul-less airline. HP had a certain charm US never had.

Wow. It's as though I'm speaking throught KevAZ's keyboard. :D

US is a soul-less airline. HP had a certain charm US never had.

Too true. I am proud to see HP taking bold action, but I will be sad to see the AWA name go.

Here's hoping the airline doesn't get dragged into oblivion by the new additions from the East.

Too true. I am proud to see HP taking bold action, but I will be sad to see the AWA name go.

Here's hoping the airline doesn't get dragged into oblivion by the new additions from the East.

I'm sure that someone had already suggested this, but I was thinking over the weekend that they should have named the combined airline simply "AWA" (kind of like TWA). The "AWA" could still stand for America West Airlines, but they wouldn't use it in practice. All flights would be referred to as "AWA Flight xxx". Oh well, too late now!

As of today, all America West signage on the HQ building in Tempe are gone. :( The Loop 202 side now holds the U.S. Airways signage, while the Tempe/ASU side has nothing (the America West has been removed).

:td: :(

I'm sure that someone had already suggested this, but I was thinking over the weekend that they should have named the combined airline simply "AWA" (kind of like TWA). The "AWA" could still stand for America West Airlines, but they wouldn't use it in practice. All flights would be referred to as "AWA Flight xxx". Oh well, too late now!

I'm hoping that somewhere in the future Doug Parker will do the smart thing and buy the "Pan Am" name and ditch the US curse.

As of today, all America West signage on the HQ building in Tempe are gone. The Loop 202 side now holds the U.S. Airways signage, while the Tempe/ASU side has nothing (the America West has been removed).

Too sad. I'm not sure I want to see the building now.

Hello..... it's just a sign. :rolleyes:

I'm hoping that somewhere in the future Doug Parker will do the smart thing and buy the "Pan Am" name. . .

"Do the smart thing and buy the Pan Am name?" Seriously?

The last thing the majority of people no doubt remember about Pan Am is Pan Am 103. Kind of like TWA 800. I'm don't exactly see that as the legacy to latch on to.

Where do you come up with this stuff?

"Do the smart thing and buy the Pan Am name?" Seriously?

The last thing the majority of people no doubt remember about Pan Am is Pan Am 103. Kind of like TWA 800. I'm don't exactly see that as the legacy to latch on to.


I don't see people fleeing airlines like AA because of flight 587/92/64, UA flights 65/44 , or AS because of flight 261.

As dumb as people are, I think many are able to differentiate between the old Pan Am and another airline using the "Pan Am" name.

Hello..... it's just a sign. :rolleyes:

As you type that in PHL. :rolleyes:

As you type that in PHL. :rolleyes:

And what does typing from PHL have to do with anything? :rolleyes:

Bell Atlantic used to be headquartered here and when they became Verizon they moved to NYC. Do you think I was crying when that happened?

Life goes on ... the America West name is gone. Let it go. I'm just surprised so many of you are attached to the name/name on a building.

I'm sorry if I offended you guys with that comment, but that attachment to a name is just odd.

And what does typing from PHL have to do with anything? :rolleyes:


Because it was a fixture of the valley which you wouldn't understand as someone in PHL(which is my place of birth btw).


Bell Atlantic used to be headquartered here and when they became Verizon they moved to NYC. Do you think I was crying when that happened?

On an airline forum who the hell cares about Bell Atlantic. We're talking about an airline that started here in the valley, and "the name" is very familiar here.

I grabbed these today after another trip down Rio Salado.

http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/cmk102485/album?.dir=/c650

And what does typing from PHL have to do with anything? :rolleyes:

Bell Atlantic used to be headquartered here and when they became Verizon they moved to NYC. Do you think I was crying when that happened?

Life goes on ... the America West name is gone. Let it go. I'm just surprised so many of you are attached to the name/name on a building.

I'm sorry if I offended you guys with that comment, but that attachment to a name is just odd.
Well you have to understand as HP started as a regional airline, it has a lot of sentimental value to those who "grew up" with the name in the southwest. HP was very much a symbol of Arizona...Phoenix in particular. Same could be said if the Alaska name was changed or Frontier, etc. It's still new...in time people WILL move on...just have to give em time!

I grabbed these today after another trip down Rio Salado.

As you maze around the construction zone with your what looks to be Lot 59 parking decal glaring through your windshield in one of the pics! :D

Wow. It's as though I'm speaking throught KevAZ's keyboard. :D

US is a soul-less airline. HP had a certain charm US never had.


Absolutely untrue.

Please don't confuse the US of late with the US we used to know in the 1990s. In the same way HP is Phoenix's hometown airline, US is our hometown airline here in DC. Our reverance for the airline certainly has never been as strong as the reverance for HP, but at least until a couple of years ago, US was thought of in similiar terms as HP is.

"US Airways begins with you," "You won't regret flying with US," and "Fly the flag" are some of the most memorable slogans that US has had that IMO, definitely give the airline character.

The US as it has stood in the past two years can be described as character-less, but not soul-less. The excellent frontline employees that keep those that are loyal coming back certainly give the airline a "soul."


On the other hand, I disagree with anyone that will say that America West is "just a name" or "just an airline." The company does have a certain charm about it that no other major airline has. Likewise, people in Arizona and other places out west have a certain respect and reverance for the company that other companies just don't see. The only other airline that I can think of that was held in similiar terms of HP was Piedmont- well respected and loved in the mid-Atlantic. It's true that airlines do have personalities and when one disappears, the sense of loss is real.

As you maze around the construction zone with your what looks to be Lot 59 parking decal glaring through your windshield in one of the pics! :D

You'd better believe that's a Lot 59 Decal! I go to and from there at least 14 times a week and no Flash bus for me!

"US Airways begins with you," "You won't regret flying with US," and "Fly the flag" are some of the most memorable slogans that US has had that IMO, definitely give the airline character.

The US as it has stood in the past two years can be described as character-less, but not soul-less. The excellent frontline employees that keep those that are loyal coming back certainly give the airline a "soul."



That's for damn sure.

Flying US even lately has had a certain charm due to the front-line employees, especially the flight attendants (and of course the local folks here in Jacksonville... "Good to Go!" Wayne , "First class is full, THANK YOU" Laurie, Greg, "We now offer preboarding for the infirm..." Joe, "Next in line? First Class, next in line?!?!?" Nancy, "Dick Cheney look-alike" Doug, etc.).

Don't write off the entirety of US. They bring as many good people to the table as HP.

Excellent Branding Article From Professor of Global Marketing at Thunderbird School of International Management (http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/opinions/articles/0927ettenson27.html)

My response to a rebuttal from the PR dept of US Arseways:

Ms. Eberwein’s rebuttal to Dr. Richard Ettenson’s column clearly states that 35,000 US Airways employees do not wish to see the name go away. What of the 14,000 America West employees who are forced into a shotgun wedding? Her statement strongly supports Dr. Ettenson’s concern about a winners vs. losers situation during union negotiations.

The comparison with Continental is not accurate; Continental didn’t slam two pools of employees together. As a frequent flier that loathes poor service, the name US Airways creates a huge negative connotation for me. I cannot look at a US Airways employee without remembering the suffering they put their customers through last December.

I predict that the cost of overcoming their poor reputation will more than offset the cost of re-branding the new airline. It appears that Mr. Parker’s first big misstep is a doozy, and could potentially be fatal unless the employee negotiations are flawlessly completed

Doug, it's the last chance to admit your mistake and move quickly to correct it. Is this truly a new airline, or just another Rube Goldberg scheme to save a tired old airline that should have been allowed to go off and die?

I've been using this moniker for the woe begotten brand that slid into town a week or two ago under armed guard. Since then, I've received several emails from local colleagues (who are all natives of other states and not AZ natives) that have twisted it into You ... Arseways and much worse.

For a bunch of 100K+/yr fliers who don't live and breath airlines, it is abundantly clear to all of us that Mr. Parker could have done better with a brand such as "Lizzie Borden Airlines", "Joe Stalin, Have It My Way! Airline", or the one we all have settled on internally: "Doug Wrong Way Corrigan's Folly"

Outside of work, I will continue to use: "You ... Arseways"

I guess thats better than US Worst................

Outside of work, I will continue to use: "You ... Arseways"
Which, of course, is nothing else but the new America West and all the people from the old America West....

Which, of course, is nothing else but the new America West and all the people from the old America West....

My point is that they should have retired both names and created a new brand for a "new airline."

The two employee groups are not going to be happy with either name. US Airways doesn't carry any cachet at the moment, so why try to spit into the wind with it? It would have been less expensive to create a new brand then it will slamming two employee groups together under the name of one of the groups. None of us have a problem with retiring America West's name - it's the use of US Airways that doesn't make sense.

[QUOTE=KevAZ]My point is that they should have retired both names and created a new brand for a "new airline."

The two employee groups are not going to be happy with either name.

Actually most of the HP people I have talked to are excited sad to see the name go but......

The idea of creating a brand new brand would have cost somewhere in the 100 million + range and in this economic environment would have been stupid.
You can turn around a bad brad much cheaper! Just look at MCD or HD in the past year or two??
In a year or two if they perform they will be the "beloved" US carrier! :cool:

AggieNzona,
Time will tell. Creating the new brand wouldn't have cost them $100M above what they are paying for the merger - not even close! Of course you can easily blow that much if you're not smart about it.....

Given that this is a merger and not a "dig yourself out" effort, I see the US Airways name being flypaper for every problem, real or perceived.

We'll soon see how it goes, but I am willing to bet a big chunk of cash that this is going to turn out to be a mistake that makes it into the MBA textbooks.

AggieNzona,
Time will tell. Creating the new brand wouldn't have cost them $100M above what they are paying for the merger - not even close! Of course you can easily blow that much if you're not smart about it.....

Given that this is a merger and not a "dig yourself out" effort, I see the US Airways name being flypaper for every problem, real or perceived.

We'll soon see how it goes, but I am willing to bet a big chunk of cash that this is going to turn out to be a mistake that makes it into the MBA textbooks.

What not even close equate to ? Is it only going to be 95m ? You cant think it will be cheap to create a slogan for "We used to be AWA and USAir".

Also the merger cost and rebranding are two seperate issues, please dont confuse them into one cost.

I will take that bet for the mistake. How much are we talking about, what time frame and which text books would it have to appear in for you to win?

Ken in Phx

- Also how's AWA name recognition for overwater travel? Pretty good huh. Love that flight to Cancun from PHX. Fact is AWA had no name in Carrib, Europe or anywhere that USAir flew. Plus USAir has a nice Envoy class.

Also how's AWA name recognition for overwater travel? Pretty good huh. Love that flight to Cancun from PHX. Fact is AWA had no name in Carrib, Europe or anywhere that USAir flew. Plus USAir has a nice Envoy class.

I'm so sick of all this "AWA isn't recognized in Europe" crap. :rolleyes: Name recognition can be built, and like US has proven, it can also be damaged.

I'm so sick of all this "AWA isn't recognized in Europe" crap. :rolleyes: Name recognition can be built, and like US has proven, it can also be damaged.

100% on the mark.

I am not advocating keeping AWA.
Anyone in their right mind would consider the cost of turning a very damaged name around like US Air's.

Here's a situation that could happen; US' FAs and AWA's FAs don't come to an amicable agreement; a whizzing match breaks out & customer care suffers. Gee, doesn't that exactly match the public's perception of what happened last December with US Air? The tainted name can be flypaper to any and all crap that gets flung during the operational merger.

I could be wrong and there will be no major problems. But when's the last time that happened with two carriers of this size?