Originally Posted by
rjque
Because the changes to service levels are only possible based on (1) what the competition is doing; and (2) what CO thinks it can provide without losing pax to the competition. The cost of oil is a strong motivation to make these changes but it is little more than an effective PR cover.
I agree, but what they're missing is the passengers they could steal from the competition by saying "We're not going down the path of add-on fees and reduced elite benefits."
I maintain my position that the airline that resists this nonsense has a lot to gain from business travelers who base their loyalty on quality of service. That's what helped CO grow in the 1990s and return to profitability after two bankruptcies and narrowly avoiding a third. The actions of the last few months make me wonder if CO really has lost that focus on quality of service.