Power ports will be removed!!!
#16
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Programs: UA 1K 1MMer & LT UC (when flying UA); Hyatt Credit Cardist; HHonors Diamond; Marriott Gold via UA 1K
Posts: 6,956
Paging EnvoyBoy!!! Or maybe he read the first post on this thread and hasn't stopped retching yet long enough to post.
#17
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Athens, WV, USA; a US cockroach long before it was in FFOCUS; now a lowly US5 for only the 2nd time in 20 years.
Programs: US5
Posts: 3,050
Here's a question... will this be a deciding factor for anyone to take business elsewhere?? I can see where it might be for some of you.
All I can say is that CCY had better have a good reason for this. Speculation on the other boards are that this is being done because of high maintenance costs. They will be capped immediately and removed from A/C during the next C check.
All I can say is that CCY had better have a good reason for this. Speculation on the other boards are that this is being done because of high maintenance costs. They will be capped immediately and removed from A/C during the next C check.
#18
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Honolulu, Hawaii
Programs: US1
Posts: 1,928
I think we all need to start writing and calling both US Consumer Affairs and HP management. Maybe we all can have some kind of stand if we all work together and get a lot of customers on board.
T
T
#19
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: From: PWM
Programs: United GS, Fairmont Platinum,SPG LTPlat, Hilton Diamond, MarriottGold..like the rest of the world
Posts: 4,401
Originally Posted by jimcfsus
Here's a question... will this be a deciding factor for anyone to take business elsewhere?? I can see where it might be for some of you.
What this forces me to do is to break down and get a battery backup kit and lug that with me for travel days. Frankly, with all the junk I already have to lug everyplace, I could do without the hassle.
Bottom line: I'll keep flying US or HP or whatever, but when I see those disembodied, non-functional outlets, it'll always burn me.
edited to add: It WOULD be a deciding factor if carriers continue to add ports to their a/c and US opts not to. For example, UA F and DL's SONG.....if that trend continues, and all other things being equal....that'd be a valid reason to hop.
Last edited by sbtinme; Sep 13, 2005 at 7:49 pm Reason: edited to add last sentence
#20
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: CT (NYC Suburbs), Gulf Stream, FL
Programs: United Premier 1K, American AAdvantage Gold
Posts: 3,089
HP is an airline centered around 2 smaller cities (LAS and PHX), with predominantly leisure traffic. They are only a third the size of USAirways, and have no real history of chasing business travelers. While people like Parker have worked elsewhere, I suspect there is a fairly parochial bunch doing things at the top. As indicated, they have blown off pets, unacompanied kids, now power ports. I am fond of saying they must have Vampires for customers, given the disproportionate number of redeyes they fly. What we are seeing is naivete replacing stupidity. It ends up about the same. They appear to be striving for a low cost product, matching some of the LCC's. Two things they are forgetting. People like Southwest and JetBlue have been able to exist thanks to dopes who ran crappy companies. It's kind of like standing next to a fat guy, so you look thinner....only we fly with the fat guy. Secondly, before you take on JetBlue, make sure you have free TV sets in the back of every seat.
#21
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Stuck Between the Moon and CLD or SAN, Your local Taco Bell
Programs: AA EXP/LT PLT, DL PM, UA Silver, SPG Plat, Marriott Plat, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 3,510
This might be one of my worst nightmares as a CP-lite (and soon to be full fledged-EXP) based in PHL. AA has already cut service to the bone by removing the ORD flights before 8:30 (killing access to the first bank of connections at ORD). I am likely to spend the better part of next year flying to Cali. AA has ports, but connections in DFW. US has no ports and directs. UA = E+, no ports. What is a high fare traveller to do?
Easy way for US to take my full fare business to the bank with ports so the time I fly is billable. Now, it looks like it won't be.
... but at least I can hope for a misconnect in vegas
Easy way for US to take my full fare business to the bank with ports so the time I fly is billable. Now, it looks like it won't be.
... but at least I can hope for a misconnect in vegas
#22
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 4,531
My letter is already sent to Deb Thompson (who knows if she is even reading correspondence anymore). I agree with Abeflyer. This is just another misstep that leans me toward taking my business elsewhere. This weekend I'm actually going to buy the other adapter to start using on AA (where I have already earned Platinum). I was so loyal to US for so long, but it's clear they are forgetting their most loyal customers on this one.
#23
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Honolulu, Hawaii
Programs: US1
Posts: 1,928
Originally Posted by ByrdluvsAWACO
HP isn't in charge exactly yet. Besides I'd be highly surprised if a decision like this came down from Doug Parker. This reeks of the bone-headedness of US mgmt..
I hope many of you write or call the toll free number of US. I wish I knew what the number was for HP. Guys make sure you tell your friends to get on the ball and write or call. Maybe they will listen. I certainly hope so.
Take Action!
#24
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: DCA
Programs: AA Executive Platinum
Posts: 2,085
I'll be writing to the US3 direct email. I've always gotten an honest and prompt response from that address. I would recommend that everyone contact their own respective preferred correspondence, too.
#25
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: san clemente ca
Programs: AA,DL
Posts: 374
No power ports
Originally Posted by drtdk
I'm sure that HP made and/or approved this decision. Do HP's Airbuses have powerports? My guess is that this decision has to do with fleet simplification/standardization.
Last edited by grbauctions; Sep 13, 2005 at 10:42 pm
#26
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: AA Executive Platinum/Million Miler, Marriott Titanium Elite-Lifetime, Hilton Gold
Posts: 3,205
I think part of the rationale driving this, too, is that newer laptops no longer work with the power ports. My new Dell laptop, for example, requires more juice than the power ports deliver, rendering the ports useless. In fact, I searched high and low for a power adapter for on board use until I was finally told none exist since the planes don't output enough voltage.
#27
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: PHX/SFO/LAX
Programs: AA-EXP (1.7MM), BA-Slvr, HH-Diamond
Posts: 7,784
Originally Posted by USFlyerUS
I think part of the rationale driving this, too, is that newer laptops no longer work with the power ports.
My new Dell laptop, for example, requires more juice than the power ports deliver, rendering the ports useless. In fact, I searched high and low for a power adapter for on board use until I was finally told none exist since the planes don't output enough voltage.
#28
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2001
Location: Southern California/In the air
Programs: DL
Posts: 10,382
Originally Posted by sbtinme
What on earth are they SMOKING ?!?!?! Not only is that a maddening decision, it flies in the very face of current industry trends. For an airline looking to pull itself up by the bootstraps and offer reasonable fares with full service airline programming for higher yield consumers, this is one DUMB move.
I, for one, would rather tolerate the crappy first class (am I even allowed to call it that anymore?) on US for the powerports to remain on the a/c.
Frankly, I'm stunned at this news. Have there been significant servicability issues with these? None that I've been made aware of.
Ugh!
I, for one, would rather tolerate the crappy first class (am I even allowed to call it that anymore?) on US for the powerports to remain on the a/c.
Frankly, I'm stunned at this news. Have there been significant servicability issues with these? None that I've been made aware of.
Ugh!
#29
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: AA GLD (1MM), DL GLD, Marriott Plat, RCL D+, X Elite
Posts: 3,229
Originally Posted by USFlyerUS
I think part of the rationale driving this, too, is that newer laptops no longer work with the power ports. My new Dell laptop, for example, requires more juice than the power ports deliver, rendering the ports useless. In fact, I searched high and low for a power adapter for on board use until I was finally told none exist since the planes don't output enough voltage.
#30
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: PHL
Posts: 145
I don't know that this will be a negative deciding factor for me, but I can say I have shifted flight schedules, rejected UA codeshares, etc to make sure I was on a plane that had a power port.
This is an awful decision based on the limited info we have... going to the least common denominator, while a hallmark of the LCC approach, doesnt make sense when you are removing functionality that has limited expense and great value to your highest margin customers.
This is an awful decision based on the limited info we have... going to the least common denominator, while a hallmark of the LCC approach, doesnt make sense when you are removing functionality that has limited expense and great value to your highest margin customers.