Originally Posted by
sbm12
Not the best product out there but not the worst and they've turned their operations around for the most part. IRROPs are stills a big risk for them and they have their warts like everyone else, but I wouldn't (and don't) necessarily avoid them wholesale. When a $300 same-day turn can get you status for 18 months that's not so bad at all.
Their coach product may be no worse than anyone else's, but it's no better either, and between cramming extra rows of coach in and turning off IFE and power ports there really is no reason to fly with them other than price or if they are the only non-stop (which is when I fly them, or if the timing is right).
The remaining US elites seem to like being upgraded all the time, but it is probably the worst F product among the major carriers. Envoy is supposedly getting better -- the last time I flew it (last year) it was pretty mediocre -- and I guess I'll find out when I fly them next week.
Originally Posted by
sbm12
I'm still trying to figure out why they're doing it. Do airlines need elites? Is there some math out there that says elites pay more per future ticket or something like that to justify them giving it away so much?
Originally Posted by
ConciergeMike
I think their stupid policies of the last few years drove away all of their "real" Elites, like the ones that CO/AA/UA/DL picked up. So now, among the heavy-travel business community, US's reputation is so poisoned that they have resorted to creative means of hooking leisure travelers.
This is the answer. I think that the number of elites must matter to investors or the Star Alliance or something because in the past couple of years US has been selling and giving away status pretty easily (presumably to make up for the former loyalists that their management has driven off).
I agree with Dr.
darkhelm that LeBron will never be able to come back to Cleveland. His reputation will be poisonous; Cleveland sports fans have long memories (we have to). Clearly, it doesn't matter to him. [/basketball nonsense]