Post chat analysis
 

IMHO not nearly as bad as some predicted. We did get some genuinely new info plus a lot of promises.

This new web site RD keeps mentioning better be as good as he says it will be.

Apparently RD doesn't think the changes are sweeping!!!! Well...he may witness a fairly sweeping exodus of frequent flyers and a fairly sweeping impact to AC's finances. I am giving this outfit until the end of next week to recant and restore all or nearly all that they have taken away - otherwise its adios. I am not holding my breath.

Rupert did try and did answer some tough questions quite well. But maybe they also need to do a bit of homework - Westjet allows standby and AA most certainly gives 100% miles for all fares (tier points is another thing of course).

[This message has been edited by Altaflyer (edited 02-07-2002).]

AND Rupert asked to come back in 4 weeks!!! (I always thought those Brits are strange)

AC's top flyers should not have to suffer because of system problems. The $$$$$ that RD referred to would be a wise investment in the future of AC/Aeroplan.

I also learned this week that AC' RTW segments come from C space!

The content was much better than I expected and I give RD high marks for effort. But he should do a bit more research before saying things like AA gives on 50% miles on discounted fares or West Jet does not allow standby travel.

I still call the changes to the 2002 benefits sweeping, especially for Elites, and I'm surprised that he doesn't.

No the moderator gave him a rather friendly ride.

There was not much relevance to the question will AC link, or join, with US Airways in the future. I mean we are losing upgrades and rewards and a link question is asked?

Better than most sessions. More content. But what are they paying IBM all that money for? And why is destina still not launched?

One comment: Desperate, disappointed and what looks good on the outside has no substance in his info whatsoever. R/E/A/D/I/N/G

[This message has been edited by Guava (edited 02-07-2002).]

The two things that stood out in my mind were how clueless he was about AC's competiton, and his tendency to "make up facts" -- i.e. the 50% on AA, the no standby on WS, 2T, etc. They're just whistling in the dark, slapping each onher on the back in their own parochial little world.

AC is SO great, not only do we not have to worry about the competiton, we don't even have any competition.

Rupert is still in the chat now taking questions.

Yes - give the guy credit for taking some pretty unwarrented abuse (not mentioning any names VillageIdiot)

What do you mean... I thought we hit it off fairly well. We really connected. I'm sure I'll get a dinner invite out of it.

I agree, Ken. Maybe they aren't trying to fool us when they say that Aeroplan is the best and most competitive frequent flier program in the press releases. Maybe they actually believe it. That would explain a lot of things.

I agree that it was better than I expected. I was surprised by the standby question. He missed it with WS.

ACORD, I really didn't see any abuse, at least from the FT crowd. VillageIdiot's question was well thought out and politely presented, no abuse there.

The answers were too long in coming, Flyertalk really needs Regis Philbin to be a moderator and to only allow so long for the answers. How many advisors did Rupert have in the room?