I'm lucky enough that I can hold off on booking my tickets for about a week. If US doesn't change this INSANE decision by then...I'm out.
I have been Silver for 2 years now, and this year had a shot at platinum or even Chairman, before the switch. Just like everyone else, I'm in the Northeast.
What boggles my mind is that we (elite members in the northeast) already viewed the 500 mile min. as the ONLY positive for having to fly though Philly (the WORST connecting airport in the region). Now, I'd gladly even take CO, and fly Newark--and I can't even believe I typed that.
Goodbye, US. I thought we had something special together (I was able to look past the quality of your product, the fact that I could NEVER get a non-stop flight anywhere & your horrible hubs--minus CLT, and you gave me unlimited upgrades. Come to think of it, I'm not sure free booze on a flight was worth the issues BEFORE this change, anyway...
I've had great experiences this year on DL and AF and DL account balance is increasing nicely.
This just reinforces my decision.
I've finally filed for divorce and I'm taking the kids and the house. Good riddance.
I was separated (see my signature!), but willing to see a marriage counselor to see if US and I could work it out. Now, heck no, I am officially divorced, too! And I will not be flying US to get my quickie Vegas divorce!
...price-conscious customers are neither valuable nor loyal as they will drive down the street for a better price. When you compete on price alone eventually everyone suffers as businesses fold, consumers are left with little choice and employees tend to suffer. Eventually, the cost-saving cuts start to cut into the bone...as is the case here..
Sometimes, not always. What the competition does is a huge factor. Other airlines need to boost profits as well - there is no guarantee that others wont make changes that are less appealing than US's move (for shorthaulers).
Of course, Tempe being the typical underhanded organization that it is, they announce this after people have been racking up miles and segments for 6 weeks. I'm betting there are a ton of folks who either would not have flown nor credited DM with their flights in January had they known this before the 1st of the year.
Exactly. Was tempted to status match to DL or start crediting to UA this year, but stuck with US b/c it gives me the best shot at an upgrade with my Plat status on my weekly CLT-ORD roundtrip (where I pay a premium fare to fly US a/o/t AA or UA). So now I have 12k orphaned miles from January if I leave, much of it on F/Y/B fares where I got jilted on the status bonus to begin with.
This is a real kick in the teeth. What idiots. Now shuttle choice is more of a no-brainer, and flights to ILM, ROA, etc. also look a lot better on DL or anyone else.
I just tried to look at the '06 10-K to see what cost they're recognizing per mile based on the accrual, but couldn't figure it out b/c the cost and associated liability are buried in "other" expenses/liabilities, and the disclosures weren't much help (at least, based on my keyword searches.) But I'm going to guess that both the recognized and realized savings are rather minimal and won't offset the negative PR and defections/lost revenue.
Keep the pretzels, give me my miles. Thanks. Another great way for US to differentiate itself from the entire industry.
Programs: United, Delta, American, USAir, Northwest, Southwest
Posts: 3
Quote:
Originally Posted by McFlyPHL
Actually, it isn't. Not only does US control the earning of miles (flights, credit cards, etc) - they also control the redemption of those miles. It's a whole lot easier to tighten 25k awards even further than it is to make a change like this - at least in the public eye. Why? Tightening awards doesn't require a visible change and a "press release" email.
From the CNBC special on "A day in the life of AA", we learned that the marginal cost of redemption on an award ticket is extremely small. Tempe could have also looked at how the accrue the liability for miles (for example - do they value miles at .005c/mi or do they accrue for the marginal cost of a free ticket for every redeemable ticket earned?)
Tempe today has done nothing more than reaffirm my decision to fly anybody BUT them this year. And yes, that includes WN.
IIRC, it was FWAA who said it best - miles are cheap when you own the printing press and control the redemption.
Nice add. Much more subtle, which is really the goal of a pricing move. Make it invisible.
Location: Commuting around the mid-atlantic and rust-belt on any number of RJs
Programs: TSA Random Selectee Platinum, * Gold, SPG/HH/MR mid-tier, and a tiny bag of pretzels.
Posts: 8,136
Quote:
Originally Posted by mooper
Sometimes, not always. What the competition does is a huge factor. Other airlines need to boost profits as well - there is no guarantee that others wont make changes that are less appealing than US's move (for shorthaulers).
They were not lined up in a conga line to jump off a cliff the last time US tried something this stupid (Black Tuesday).
Here is the bet: AA won't do it--they already have a "carrot" approach for full fare flyers.
CO won't do it. Gordo's former crew likes to control the redemption side.
DL/NW probably won't do it, because they are too busy with the prenups, and DL is probably going to gain a lot on the shuttle side from it.
WN won't do it because they know better.
And the last is the point: see elsewhere in the thread, but US is going to be at such a disadvantage to WN in some cases that one can earn double the number of US domestic award tickets by flying the same flights on WN versus US. That's not a good state of affairs.
1. Opt out of all emails AND send a note to Travis Christ requesting that all email communication from US stop IMMEDIATELY
2. Stay away from US partners when able - tell the partners that you are avoiding them because of their relationship with US
3. Send ALL service failures and complaints to the DOT
4. Send all pics of duct tape etc. to media outlets
5. When you see filthy floors or unsanitary conditions in the Clubs - call the local health inspector and file a complaint/ask them to inspect the CLUB ASAP
6. When the service paid for is not provided - immediately contact your credit card issuer to dispute the charges
7. When you witness chaotic conditions - contact local media outlets and ask them to report on the situation
8. If you fly US to the EU and they are late or cancel or downgrade or do anything contrary to EU rules - file a claim for compensation
9. Contact your local Senator or Congressperson and ask them not to support any legislation that supports US Airways - or contact Senator Arlen Specter of PA and voice your dissatisfaction with US
10. Organize - such as FFOCUS - spread the word - try an airport rally at PHL or CLT or PHX
11. Redeem miles ASAP on PARTNER carriers in PREMIUM CLASSES
12. LOUDLY call for a Passenger Bill of Rights - email execs at other airlines and let them know that actions at US forced your hand to call for a Bill of Rights
TAKE AWAY THE REVENUE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
IF YOU DON'T LEAVE - THEY WON'T CARE AND THEY WON'T CHANGE
Programs: Delta Gold Medallion; US Airways Silver (down from Gold in 2007)
Posts: 899
The loss in revenues, especially for high-cost short-haul tickets, would have more of an impact on the balance sheet than mileage liabilities. After all, US's "liabilities" under DM can be discharged entirely at any time, for any reason. They could just announce DM is discontinued and all miles are worthless -- and it would only cause a bit less angst than this truly, truly boneheaded decision.
DM was what set US apart in a good way -- but now it's turned into a joke.
Programs: Delta Gold Medallion; US Airways Silver (down from Gold in 2007)
Posts: 899
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mister Nice
Just some thoughts/ideas to fight back
1. Opt out of all emails AND send a note to Travis Christ requesting that all email communication from US stop IMMEDIATELY
2. Stay away from US partners when able - tell the partners that you are avoiding them because of their relationship with US
3. Send ALL service failures and complaints to the DOT
4. Send all pics of duct tape etc. to media outlets
5. When you see filthy floors or unsanitary conditions in the Clubs - call the local health inspector and file a complaint/ask them to inspect the CLUB ASAP
6. When the service paid for is not provided - immediately contact your credit card issuer to dispute the charges
7. When you witness chaotic conditions - contact local media outlets and ask them to report on the situation
8. If you fly US to the EU and they are late or cancel or downgrade or do anything contrary to EU rules - file a claim for compensation
9. Contact your local Senator or Congressperson and ask them not to support any legislation that supports US Airways - or contact Senator Arlen Specter of PA and voice your dissatisfaction with US
10. Organize - such as FFOCUS - spread the word - try an airport rally at PHL or CLT or PHX
11. Redeem miles ASAP on PARTNER carriers in PREMIUM CLASSES
12. LOUDLY call for a Passenger Bill of Rights - email execs at other airlines and let them know that actions at US forced your hand to call for a Bill of Rights
TAKE AWAY THE REVENUE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
IF YOU DON'T LEAVE - THEY WON'T CARE AND THEY WON'T CHANGE
CREATE FIRETRAVISCHRIST.COM
Just some venting/thoughts/ideas
Why waste the time and energy?
Just switch to another carrier. And if you're feeling spiteful about it, at the end of 2008, mail a photocopy of your Delta, Continental or jetBlue statement and your total spending amount to US.
At the end of this year, a great deal of the industry will be in trouble. I suspect US itself will be absolutely on its knees -- a lot of its pricing power on short-hauls came from Dividend Miles. Without the 500 mile minimum, US is an overpriced option -- other airlines at the same price point and service level will give you more miles, and other airlines (see jetBlue) will give you better service for less.
If US was hacking fares on PHL-BOS down to $99 each way, such a decision MIGHT make sense. But they're wanting the "legacy" fares AND the LCC FF program all at once. It doesn't work that way.
Programs: CO Plat, AA tbd, US dirt, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Gold, Chairman and Cofounder, FFOCUS
Posts: 1,175
All of the above is true.
FFOCUS is mobilizing to fight this with everything we've got. Remember--we organized after Black Tuesday, and we won that fight.
This is a different crew however in Tempe, and they are arrogant enough not to care. Let's see how they feel when the other airlines do not join in and they are left out to dry.
I am sure DL is saying thank you for sending so many high yield customers over to their shuttle!
We have a suggested letter-please visit the FFOCUS web site for more details.
Programs: Delta Gold Medallion; US Airways Silver (down from Gold in 2007)
Posts: 899
It's not worth the energy to fight -- just switch to another carrier.
Make sure you e-mail that carrier and tell them WHY you have switched, to ensure that they don't follow US's lead. Wasting time e-mailing/complaining to US isn't going to accomplish anything -- they have to feel economic pain as a result of their decision. A big letter-writing campaign or scorched-earth dramafest isn't going to accomplish anything other than sturm und drang.
