Originally Posted by
JetSet78
I tend to agree, difficult to compare both as they navigated very different times.
"Exceptional" took on a reversed meaning in that while products and services were exceptional under Bethune's era, it became exceptional to have an airline survive under Kellner's, and as pointed out, only by unbundling such products and services after it failed to distinguish CO from its peers who dumped them far earlier.
The times were very different, no question. But the men and their approaches were very different, too.
Where I do not agree with you is on your last point. Kellner began unbundling Continental's exceptionalism as soon as he became CEO. The pace of the unbundling quickened and became more pronounced near the end of his tenure when CO continued to lose money and Kellner could think of nothing else to cut costs and raise revenue.
In the end, though, you have to ask yourself the question: Would CAL be better off today it still stood out markedly from the competition? As long as they could monetize its exceptionalism, I think the answer is yes.
Remember, Bethune faced many of the same critics, but he stood them down. Kellner just went along, and while CO may be earning $300 million a year from checked bag fees, it has lost a much more substantial portion of its long-term value.