Originally Posted by
PhillyPhlyer40
Totally AGREE!
The recent "enhancements" will drive some business from me to UA/AA. I will end up with about 140K REDUCTION due to the 500 RDM loss/ticket per YEAR! This was a FACTOR in why I decided to bring business TO CO!
With the well-known fact that "standard/saver/cheap" (whatever you want to call it) being MUCH MUCH easier to come by on UA/AA/US, I figured the 140-160K I would get in bonus every year would make up for the fact I may need to book easypass tix.
So loss of bonus, combined with no SWU's (VERY important to me!) will drive me to UA/AA. I will split my 300 flights a year with CO and either AA/UA (most likely UA as ORD/SFO/LAS from NY is a frequent dest. for me).
CO was regarded as the "cream of the crop" to me. Now it is STILL VERY VERY good...but quickly sliding. Does 'ole Lar have some language in his agreement that he gets $XXXXMM when CO is merged/taken over/sold off? He is heading towards the slippery slope of cutting costs, while still have TONS of dedicated FF'ers, cheap but profitable-turning into a class-lagging airline!
The previous changes led me to jump ship last year. The pity is that CO was such a wonderful product and value until the screws began to be tightened.
The main issue is not even so much the constant erosion of benefits (which is bad enough) it is the virtual complete lack of a plan or vision for the next generation product.
And when little, incremental changes are made (such as adding power outlets in certain Y cabins) they occur at a comically glacial pace. In some cases, such as the conversion of some 738's to mid-cabin configuration, the glacial pace of change is then stopped abruptly (without any notice).
I certainly understand CO's desire to make money. But CO will need to invest in itself in order to keep making money in the future. The business plan of making money primarily by eroding benefits and service is, virtually by definition, a sure fire plan for long-term problems.