Originally Posted by TWA Fan 1

Fiscal stability is terrific. No company can survive without making a profit. The question is how to get there.

Let's not forget the visionary words of Gordon Bethune who rescued a burnt-out shell of a carrier and turned it into the greatest airline in the United States: "Anybody can cut costs. That doesn't lead to success. The key to success is providing increased value."

Of course I could fly on CO FC EWR-LAX for $1,00 rt. But I used to be able to fly in FC with an upgrade for $350 rt.

The issue for me isn't the FC upgrade, actually. I'm not the kind of consumer who takes this perk for granted. I accept that someone paying for the seat should get it before me if I'm only paying for a deep-discount coach seat.

The issue for me is, if I'm going to have to fly coach, I would like something more than what CO is offering on its EWR trans-con flights in coach.

When I look at the quality of the coach-cabin product on CO, especially trans-con out of EWR I'm frankly a little shocked.

There are only two 757's flying transcon out of EWR, both to LAX. All other flights to all West Coast destinations are on packed-to-the-rafters 737's, a plane that was designed in the 60's for short-haul flights made by Lufthansa.

And while the plane has gone through numerous updates, the basic fuselage is unchanged, with its narrow aisle and cramped quarters.

Continental's coach cabin has the industry-minimum 31" seat pitch and rock-hard seats. Every 737 model save the -800 w/ midcabin lavatory and the -900 has only two lavatories in the back of the plane for as many as 141 pax (+ 3 f/a's).

The fact that I still get a lukewarm sandwich and a plastic pillow does not comfort me in the least.

So in the vein of achieving fiscal stability I think CO needs to make an effort to increase the quality of its coach-cabin product, especially since the promise of FC upgrades is now out of reach of the vast majority of Elite flyers.

Either something like UA's economy plus for elite OP's, or simply a little bit more leg room throughout the cabin (32" seat pitch like every other legacy carrier in the U.S. wouldn't be bad).

In my opinion the strategy being used by the current management is a short-term bandage that will lead to a slight blip in the bottom line in the short term.

As the most loyal customers are alienated, though, the strategy will prove to be very short-sighted and lead to mass defections of the airline's most loyal customers, customers who do not necessarily pay the most per flight but whose long-term loyalty is critical to the airline's long-term revenue stream because they end up spending a lot of money throughout the year.

Anybody can cut costs and make uncomfortable coach cabins. That hardly requires inventive management. But as soon as a competitor comes along who provides a better product for less money, Continental's OP Elites who feel their loyalty is no longer valued will jump ship.

Anf what then? The ultimate expression of this strategy is to turn CO into another commodity product.

Is that what Gordon Bethune would have done?