Richard Anderson is new CEO of....Amtrak
Jun 27, 2017, 7:15 am
#76
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Look up - On a ✈ DELTA ✈ jet NOW!
Programs: Blogger & Delta Diamond Medallion Million Miler
Posts: 4,174
It can get even worse (and will to be sure)!
Jun 27, 2017, 7:26 am
#77
Join Date: Feb 2013
Programs: Hilton Diamond
Posts: 4,253
Exactly, Amtrak Rewards at present is pretty much equivalent to one of the dollars spent frequent flier programs and it can take a while to get to a meaningful point accumulation.
Jun 27, 2017, 7:43 am
#78
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: TPA-MKE-PHX
Programs: Ex DL-DM. MM. TWA-Aviator Plat. HHonors-DVIP, MR-Gold. Nat-Emerald. Avis Chairmn.
Posts: 1,925
I grew up in Memphis and knew several NWA employees. They were signed off by Satan himself. Ready to strike at the drop of a hat and wouldn't do anything more than required. They would have made the Flying Tigers pilots blush. My mother was on a SEA-MEM flight once and the NWA flight attendants moved people out of the back rows and they sat down and talked after they performed one drink service. They were known as Northworst for a reason.
Jun 27, 2017, 8:08 am
#79
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Toledo, OH
Programs: Delta DM & MM, Hilton DM, Marriott gold, Hyatt Globalist, Alaska 75K, Wyndham Diamond,
Posts: 15,399
I would depending. If I was in an aisle and had a row to myself and was moved to a middle further up front (or any seat for that matter with others in the row) I'd complain. Same if I was travelling with someone and then we had to sit apart.
Jun 27, 2017, 8:38 am
#80
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2008
Programs: Formaldehyde Medallion DL DieMiles
Posts: 12,646
Jun 27, 2017, 11:02 am
#81
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Austin, TX - AUS
Programs: AA Platinum, Hilton, Hyatt, IHG, Marriott
Posts: 1,625
Richard Anderson did well with what he had to work with. Delta had solid operations under Anderson - ontime flights, baggage handling, etc. Anderson also found the right balance between investing in its onboard product and controlling costs. The two biggest negatives about Anderson are gutting the frequent flyer program (which lead to his competitors following suit) and too much complaining about the ME3.
Jun 27, 2017, 12:51 pm
#82
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: MSP
Programs: Fallen Plats, ex-WN CP, DYKWIW; still a Hilton Diamond & Club Cholula™ R.I.P. Super Plats
Posts: 25,415
Maybe this will be the NW version of Anderson rather than his DL remake: There will be a great frequent rider program ... with steam engines that are paid for & refurbished.
Jun 27, 2017, 1:25 pm
#84
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: SJC
Programs: DL PM MM, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 3,276
I could see that. That's why you'll usually see one sort of personality at start-ups and once the company is sold or the product has hit the market, a lot of those initial employees move onto the next challenge and are replaced by a totally different type of personality.
Jun 27, 2017, 1:34 pm
#85
Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 3,394
I could see that. That's why you'll usually see one sort of personality at start-ups and once the company is sold or the product has hit the market, a lot of those initial employees move onto the next challenge and are replaced by a totally different type of personality.
You can say what you want about the Skymiles, and if the changes are better or worse for you personally but the fact that he took two bankrupt airlines and now has one of the largest market caps in the industry and DL's completion/on time performance were unmatched by any similar airline.
But I think a different style is needed to remain on top vs. what gets you there...and perhaps Anderson knows that about himself...I can't think of another reason to try to take on trying to improve Amtrack!
Jun 27, 2017, 2:07 pm
#86
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Orlando, FL Area
Programs: Delta SkySponge ExtraAbsorbent, SPG Gold
Posts: 29,988
I think the results speak for themselves with DL...DL had horrible performance and was thought of the quaint Southern airline you'd take to fly to Florida and turned them into a global player.
You can say what you want about the Skymiles, and if the changes are better or worse for you personally but the fact that he took two bankrupt airlines and now has one of the largest market caps in the industry and DL's completion/on time performance were unmatched by any similar airline.
But I think a different style is needed to remain on top vs. what gets you there...and perhaps Anderson knows that about himself...I can't think of another reason to try to take on trying to improve Amtrack!
You can say what you want about the Skymiles, and if the changes are better or worse for you personally but the fact that he took two bankrupt airlines and now has one of the largest market caps in the industry and DL's completion/on time performance were unmatched by any similar airline.
But I think a different style is needed to remain on top vs. what gets you there...and perhaps Anderson knows that about himself...I can't think of another reason to try to take on trying to improve Amtrack!
Jun 27, 2017, 2:08 pm
#87
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Austin, Texas
Programs: Airline nobody. Sad!
Posts: 26,062
Jun 27, 2017, 3:00 pm
#89
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Austin, Texas
Programs: Airline nobody. Sad!
Posts: 26,062
Jun 27, 2017, 3:15 pm
#90
Join Date: May 2014
Location: DMV
Posts: 2,092
Richard Anderson did well with what he had to work with. Delta had solid operations under Anderson - ontime flights, baggage handling, etc. Anderson also found the right balance between investing in its onboard product and controlling costs. The two biggest negatives about Anderson are gutting the frequent flyer program (which lead to his competitors following suit) and too much complaining about the ME3.
Regarding the comments about the ME3, I think it's neither here nor there. I don't think it really affected his performance as CEO or Delta's as a company. Personally, I don't think he can be blamed for trying to lobby for his company in the public arena.