Originally Posted by LAXJFKesq

Yeah, right.... This report by UM was published last year (2011).


US Air rated as worst airline in America ... again
According to the annual American Customer Satisfaction Index by the University of Michigan,

the Tempe, Ariz.-based airline's satisfaction, ranked dead last.



Consumers Report in a recent survey rated US Air, already at the bottom,

had dropped by an astounding ten percent further in quality.

The Today/Zagat Airline Survey has also rated US Airways as the worst airline overall in the United States.

According to the Washington Post, US Airways has a very poor record of addressing customer complaints,

answering only 50% of the telephone calls to its customer service department. Our agents have actually found it

impossible to reach customer service by phone. We've been trying to contact them by such means for the

past fourteen months with not a single success. (866-523-5333 - good luck) We were directly told that US Air

has instructed its employees (under threat of termination) not to give out any contact information, for any of the companies officers.

You've got to imagine the sheer number of faxed and emailed complaints going unresolved ........



(Even as far back as the 70's this carrier had earned the nickname "Agony Air" due to customer dissatisfaction with its service.)

Overall, customers gave airlines the worst grades since 2001 as the industry's scores fell for the third straight year.

US Airways registered the biggest decline in 2007, experiencing double-digit percentage drops.

(Is anyone who flies US Air surprised?)

Originally Posted by LAXJFKesq

Lol. Because this is the internet where individuals can post information as fact despite evidence to the contrary. Anyone who is a FF and has accrued lots of miles knows US Airways product stinks. Fact!!

Originally Posted by LAXJFKesq

No. Pay attention. AA has had other impressive financial results recently. This most recent annoucement just adds to that success.

Originally Posted by LAXJFKesq

Reaching for straws with this response. Talk about cherrypicking. That pending BA antitrust was denied by the incoming Bush Administration. But if I am not mistaken, doesn't UA have slots at LHR too?

AA still is the dominant player in Latin America and Caribbean albeit the latter has been reduced with the closing of the SJU hub.

AA had labor strife in the early 2000s too. The carrier almost went into bk in 2003 as I recall.

Again, how you reach the conclusion that AA "perhaps" was the best positioned airline entering the last decade is just your opinion based on no substantive facts.

Originally Posted by LAXJFKesq

It maybe worthless to you. As I previously stated and as you demonstrate most of the time, you have zero idea of a bk proceeding. These monthly financials may not mean much for DL or UA, but for AA it means a hell of a lot right now given it is trying to get the court to approve its business plan.

Originally Posted by LAXJFKesq

I will ignore the stupid comment. I assume you meant AA being the largest airline made them the best postioned. If not, please educate us to your measurement standard that justifies your claim that AA was the best positioned airline heading into the last decade -- even over UA. I eagerly await your reply.

As for Parker, I keep saying it is a house of cards that is about to tumble. If US is left out in the cold again, wait and see.....

Originally Posted by LAXJFKesq

So what???? US is dying a slow death and if it does not combine with AA will die. Parker's strategy to be a hybrid of a legacy and LCC is a complete failure. It is only a matter of time. As for few people giving US/AW a chance to still be around today, please link your source for that information because that is not how I recall it. Both airlines had previously been in bk (AW in the 1990s and US twice in the past decade). The merger represented an opportunity for both carriers and positioned AW nicely given US's network.

Regarding AA entering this decade, can you please refrain from your prisoner of the moment syndrome. I am eager to see your comments during UA, US, NW, and DL's bankruptcy. Also you are factually wrong. In 2000, UA was the world's largest carrier and on the verge of a merger with US. AA only became the world's largest airline after its acquisition of TWA in 2001. A few months later 9/11 and the rest is history. So how you conclude that entering the past decade AA was the best positioned airline was only true for a few months in 2001. Let's not rewrite history.

If the aforementioned airlines died during thier bk proceeding, we are not having this conversation today about AA. Once again, the advantages those other airlines have over AA is due only to their respective restructurings and subsequent mergers. Let AA do the same thing now as those other carriers and look out. IMO, AA is much better off in chapter 11 now than pre-2008 fuel prices. Combined that with the historic aircraft fleet and new labor agreeements and AA will be the beast in the industry.

Originally Posted by LAXJFKesq

Yes I did. However, I also did post that for AA, the numbers matter right now as it illustrates to the CC and bk court that its standalone business plan is working. Funny that you missed that?

Also, let me be clear, yes financials matter for any company. However, forecasting long term in the commercial airline industry means nothing as the sector is too risky to so many outside factors, i.e., fuel, the economy, political unrest abroad, regulations both here and abroad, health concerns, consumer spending, etc.

Originally Posted by LAXJFKesq

Lol. I guess because you say so makes that a fact? Please link where US was "always" rated better than AA? US was rated one of the worst airlines for customer service, baggage, ontime performance, etc. These are stats complied by the US DOT.

If this merger happens, still a big if, it will be on AA's terms. But you are correct, it will strengthen US. I don't see it doing much for AA except the shuttle and, maybe CLT. That's it. US does not have many desireable assets. I still see AA exploring all of its options once it emerges from chapter 11. If it does, US is in trouble.

Originally Posted by LAXJFKesq

Not sure how you conclude Parker has done such a credible job. US has not integrated workforces 7 years after its merger. Despite the gains US received from 2 bankruptcies the past decade, its profits are derived from ancillary revenues -- bag fees. In fact, US lost money in recent years after emerging from bk. AA is criticized for losing marketshare. Well, how about US? Just look in NY -- the largest aviation market in the world. In fact, unlike AA, US has downsized in a big way in NY.

As for financial comparisons month-over month or year-over-year, in the commercial aviation industry it doesn't matter. A few years ago I recall how Delta was being criticized for its Song product to compete with low fare carriers. That strategy failed and Delta ultimately ended up in bk. Today, DL is spoken of as if revolutionized the airline industry. AA's financial performance now counts as the CC and court considers its business plan. I would imagine if the performance was not stellar it would give credence to its strategy. Forecasting years from now means nothing especially in the volatile airline sector.

Originally Posted by LAXJFKesq

In all due respects, this is a load of garbage!! At best, hearsay. If the capital markets are behind Parker as you, or your friend, claims, why hasn't US made a formal bid for AA?

Better yet, how come US has not been able to successfully convince the CC besides AA's 3 unions who are using Parker for leverage -- unless they are just that stupid? In fact, according to court testimony, not hearsay on a website, counsel for the UCC has stated several times that it supports AA's business plan as a standalone.

If you compare the records of Horton and Parker there is no comparison. One successfully engineered the merger of AT&T. The other between tiny AW and twice bankrupted US. 7 years later the outcomes for both companies are a study in contrast -- US needs to merge with AA otherwise it will vanish; despite what Parker says, no way US can survive as a standalone in its current form. Meanwhile, AT&T continues to grow and outperform. Just tried, unsuccessfully, to merge with T-Mobile -- see what happened not having Parker this time around.

Nice try. I know as a US customer you are hoping and praying for a AA/US combination. It may happen. However, if it does, I am willing to bet it happens under AA's terms not Parker/US. I think AA emerges as a standalone and considers all options not only US. Which is not good for US nor its customers.

Originally Posted by LAXJFKesq

uxb,

Thank you. Unlike some of the disgruntled and blind union loyalists, my concern is as a loyal AA customer. I want this great airline to survive. Period. End of discussion. I speak with my "purchasing power" by giving my business to American. A fact that some misguided AA employees who are happy to embrace US/Parker seem to not recognize. Without customers I don't care who runs the airline it is doom to fail. So our considerations had better be taken into consideration.

Originally Posted by LAXJFKesq

What I find laughable is the b/s Parker is selling, you, and others, have bought.

Originally Posted by LAXJFKesq

Single month? I guess you missed AA's previous results? Not to mention these impressive results have not been achieved by artificial advantages gained in the market through chapter 11 and mergers, which produce economies of scale.