Staff meeting- Management concerned no other airline cut elite bonuses
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2005
Posts: 28
Staff meeting- Management concerned no other airline cut elite bonuses
Been told by US Airways staff member that at a meeting last week it was admitted that US senior management very concerned that no other carrier has followed them in cutting elite bonuses and instead responded by offering status matches.
it is really worth piling on the pressure an encouraging friends and family to call the Executive Offices and join Randy's petition. I had 6 other people sign up today.
it is really worth piling on the pressure an encouraging friends and family to call the Executive Offices and join Randy's petition. I had 6 other people sign up today.
#2
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: (near) Cambridge, MA
Programs: US GP (used to be *G, now,what)
Posts: 1,777
That's because US Management is out of touch with what real consumers want... If all they want is Ma and Pa Kettle, fine... but then they will lose to Southwest and Jet Blue...
#3
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Suburban Philadelphia
Programs: Marriott Lifetime Plat, IHG Gold
Posts: 3,392
Mercifully, other airlines execs realized that pissing off our core, repeat customer was not the way to profitability.
#4
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Watchlisted by the prejudiced, en route to purgatory
Programs: Just Say No to Fleecing and Blacklisting
Posts: 102,095
Been told by US Airways staff member that at a meeting last week it was admitted that US senior management very concerned that no other carrier has followed them in cutting elite bonuses and instead responded by offering status matches.
it is really worth piling on the pressure an encouraging friends and family to call the Executive Offices and join Randy's petition. I had 6 other people sign up today.
it is really worth piling on the pressure an encouraging friends and family to call the Executive Offices and join Randy's petition. I had 6 other people sign up today.
The only way this benefit reduction would make sense for US is if it were to be phasing out the premium cabins and planning on competing even more just on price -- that too as a single-class coach-only airline with an even more gutted frequent flyer program -- or trying to lead all the airlines off the cliff by thinking it could be the leading lemming on the march to compete even more on just price. Unfortunately for US management, the other US airlines are too afraid of losing premium cabin-fare paying repeat customers to follow them and pay the price for losing high-margin business.
#5
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: DCA/IAD
Programs: AA EXP; 1W Emerald; HHonors Diamond; Marriott Gold; UA dirt
Posts: 7,816
I concur with GUWonder.
US thought it'd be a trendsetter and every other airline would say, "If you can't beat them, join them." Instead the other airlines just said "let's beat them" and showered US VFFs with status matches.
Stupid. Stupid. Stupid.
US thought it'd be a trendsetter and every other airline would say, "If you can't beat them, join them." Instead the other airlines just said "let's beat them" and showered US VFFs with status matches.
Stupid. Stupid. Stupid.
#6
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
Travis was wrong that CP's "have all the miles they need."
#7
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: PHL
Programs: US Plat, SPG Gold
Posts: 1,331
Not to mention that fact that since CO is now joining *A, a FF could match to CO, earn bonus miles, and the 500 mile minimum while still earning *A miles.
#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Point Place, Wisconsin
Programs: LH HON, BA Gold, EK Gold
Posts: 14,505
US management shouldn't worry too much. They will all be out of a job in 12 months time max anyway.
#9
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Pittsburgh
Posts: 965
Point of clarification: To my knowledge, none of US's competitors actively sought out US elites for the purpose of status-matching. US's elites actively sought out status matches to other carriers......who were more than happy to match their status (without a fee attached). I think that speaks volumes on how US's elites feel about the loss of bonus miles.
Travis was wrong that CP's "have all the miles they need."
Travis was wrong that CP's "have all the miles they need."
Edit: Found the link http://biz.yahoo.com/pz/080320/138624.html
The writing was on the wall for US elites when they cut down the size of the first class cabins last year. I've sat a few times this year on Delta's 26 seat first class on a 757 (with individual TV's & real first class service) and was so glad I made the move.
I may have to fly PIT-BDL on US in September and it's killing me. I checked Delta and NW and neither has times that will work (I'm willing to connect in DTW or CVG even though I'm backtracking).
Last edited by debbieb; Jul 31, 2008 at 6:55 pm Reason: added link
#10
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: MSY
Programs: AA Plat Pro, UA Plat, VS Silver, Marriott Titanium, Hyatt Explorist
Posts: 2,531
I concentrated my flying on CO/NW this year and got to mid-tier, instead of bottom tier on CO and US like last year. Thank you, US, for showing me the light!
#11
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2001
Location: LAX; AA EXP, MM; HH Gold
Posts: 31,789
US trails every other legacy in cash generation and unit revenue increases; yet the brain trust in Tempe thought that limiting the number of miles it printed to award to its own elites was the ticket to right the sinking ship. Now, US trails the industry not only in cash generation and unit revenue increases but also in elite frequent flyer satisfaction.
Way to go, Parker. Nice Hat Trick. Have another on me. ^
Way to go, Parker. Nice Hat Trick. Have another on me. ^
#12
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Houston
Programs: AA EXP; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott Titanium, Hilton Diamond, UA 1.56MM (fmr UA1K)
Posts: 5,770
Been told by US Airways staff member that at a meeting last week it was admitted that US senior management very concerned that no other carrier has followed them in cutting elite bonuses and instead responded by offering status matches.
it is really worth piling on the pressure an encouraging friends and family to call the Executive Offices and join Randy's petition. I had 6 other people sign up today.
it is really worth piling on the pressure an encouraging friends and family to call the Executive Offices and join Randy's petition. I had 6 other people sign up today.
#14
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2001
Location: Southern California/In the air
Programs: DL
Posts: 10,382
The problem they face is that this move has proven that they'll throw elites under the bus if it suits them, leaving aside the number of other things they've done to make that point clear. Even a reversal of the policy at this point is not enough to mitigate the damage.
#15
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: DCA/IAD
Programs: AA EXP; 1W Emerald; HHonors Diamond; Marriott Gold; UA dirt
Posts: 7,816
I agree that substantial damage has been done. Indeed, last night I spent time on Seatguru, Continental.com, and United.com reviewing seat maps and schedules for my commonly flown destinations.
Lots of 757s and lots of A320s which means at least as many upgradeable seats as on US. Since I will be only SP soon, I will at least have the * Silver status to bring to UA and that will at least allow me to avoid the baggage fees....