Originally Posted by
gmt4
UA has a vision and formula for success but they make a lot of unforced fumbles. That stock price would be even higher if they'd realize that cuts aren't the only answer- cut where needed but transform the brand and develop a truly premium product people want to pay for instead of just tolerate to get them from point A-B..
Corporate booking policies and TA IT software + leisure travel aggregators (Kayak.com, etc) have made lowest price the norm, not best value. Travelers have created this race to the bottom and continue to foster it along. At some point it gets so bad they will lose business, but UA will continue to cut what it can to reduce top-line fares while keeping seats full. The move to Polaris was recognition that their existing J seats were not competitive and they were losing business. The continual decline in food seems evidence that food quality doesn't change flight purchase patterns much.