Breaking News: UA and CO strike merger agreement
Apr 29, 2010, 10:08 pm
#76
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A little late in the reply, but...
I wasn't including ANY CO unions in my comment regarding unions getting a management team they don't loathe. That was specifically pointed at UA's unions who do, pretty much unanimously, hate the current management at UA. If UA's management somehow manages to win the job scrum, and the existing unions decide that their last best hope of getting some professional respect is gone, then I may have to head back to DL or give AA another try.
New UA may be based officially in Chicago, but I expect a large amount of the back office ops to be in Houston. If it is not, then the UA middle management are the ones who will really be the ones running the airline. At that point, Gordon's airline will really have ceased.
I wasn't including ANY CO unions in my comment regarding unions getting a management team they don't loathe. That was specifically pointed at UA's unions who do, pretty much unanimously, hate the current management at UA. If UA's management somehow manages to win the job scrum, and the existing unions decide that their last best hope of getting some professional respect is gone, then I may have to head back to DL or give AA another try.
New UA may be based officially in Chicago, but I expect a large amount of the back office ops to be in Houston. If it is not, then the UA middle management are the ones who will really be the ones running the airline. At that point, Gordon's airline will really have ceased.
Apr 29, 2010, 10:11 pm
#77
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Posts from Concerned Continental Pilot tell a slightly different story about labor relations at CO. It isn't as touchy feely as described on this forum.
Apr 29, 2010, 10:12 pm
#78
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Perhaps its back to the taking care of elites first issue, but the last time I had an irrops issue on UA I got a message on my cell phone I had been rebooked before I could call in. Either UA has more people around to handle the rebookings, or a better computer system. But based upon the comments about ua.bomb I'd have to guess it were the former rather than the latter.
Apr 29, 2010, 10:16 pm
#79
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The issue is that if you don't want or like the rebook (e.g., you can go earlier -- the computer always books for later, you can use another airport, etc.).
I can often improve on the rebook. UA just does what I ask for. CO puts fiery hoops in my way -- nonsense like telling me my fare bucket isn't available or something, or refusing the alternate airport because my ticket is into a specific airport. CO always does what I want as well, but they make me try a few times or use other tactics to get it.
Apr 29, 2010, 10:18 pm
#80
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I believe she is also fairly high up on the pilots union to boot, so she may be more influential than you think. Clearly at UA there is no love loss between the unions and Mr. Tilton, that's for sure.
Apr 29, 2010, 10:18 pm
#81
Join Date: Dec 2008
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Revenue enhancement & cost containment =Gouging
If your talking about the price "gouge" that UA used in the last quarter to "lose" less money than expected? If so then I cant see this merger working for the flying public .
In the last 3 to 6 mo UA has consistantly charged higher fares that other aircarriers. A typical current example being PBI to Ewr Co fare $219 UA $287 what a bargain! I cant wait for more like this one.
Does cost containment include charge for everything possible mentality that is running rampant now?
In the last 3 to 6 mo UA has consistantly charged higher fares that other aircarriers. A typical current example being PBI to Ewr Co fare $219 UA $287 what a bargain! I cant wait for more like this one.
Does cost containment include charge for everything possible mentality that is running rampant now?
We need to stop assuming things that are not in evidence. I think there is a common misconception that since Smisek is CEO it will be a a Continental dominated management. After talking to 2 large institutional holders of both UAUA and CAL, there is an interest in bringing, UAUA cost containment and revenue enhancement to CAL. Both people I talked to felt that while CAL personnel may lead in labor relations, UAUA had better personnel in finance and marketing. It will be very interesting to see who fills the jobs of CFO, CMO, COO and CIO, I believe CAL executives will get no more than 2 of those jobs. UAUA management may not be well thought of by employees and some customers, but it is well thought of by some very significant shareholders, who have large stakes in both UAUA and CAL.
Apr 29, 2010, 10:20 pm
#82
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If your talking about the price "gouge" that UA used in the last quarter to "lose" less money than expected? If so then I cant see this merger working for the flying public .
In the last 3 to 6 mo UA has consistantly charged higher fares that other aircarriers. A typical current example being PBI to Ewr Co fare $219 UA $287 what a bargain! I cant wait for more like this one.
Does cost containment include charge for everything possible mentality that is running rampant now?
In the last 3 to 6 mo UA has consistantly charged higher fares that other aircarriers. A typical current example being PBI to Ewr Co fare $219 UA $287 what a bargain! I cant wait for more like this one.
Does cost containment include charge for everything possible mentality that is running rampant now?
Huh? UA doesn't even serve PBI.
Apr 29, 2010, 10:20 pm
#83
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CO does that too. And CO auto-rebooks Elites before non-Elites, just like UA.
The issue is that if you don't want or like the rebook (e.g., you can go earlier -- the computer always books for later, you can use another airport, etc.).
I can often improve on the rebook. UA just does what I ask for. CO puts fiery hoops in my way -- nonsense like telling me my fare bucket isn't available or something, or refusing the alternate airport because my ticket is into a specific airport. CO always does what I want as well, but they make me try a few times or use other tactics to get it.
The issue is that if you don't want or like the rebook (e.g., you can go earlier -- the computer always books for later, you can use another airport, etc.).
I can often improve on the rebook. UA just does what I ask for. CO puts fiery hoops in my way -- nonsense like telling me my fare bucket isn't available or something, or refusing the alternate airport because my ticket is into a specific airport. CO always does what I want as well, but they make me try a few times or use other tactics to get it.
Apr 29, 2010, 10:21 pm
#84
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Apr 29, 2010, 10:25 pm
#85
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Posts from Concerned Continental Pilot tell a slightly different story about labor relations at CO. It isn't as touchy feely as described on this forum.
It would be relevant to point out that CO's unions aren't all warm-and-fuzzy for CO management, except as far as one can, they are warm and fuzzy for CO management. They just look at what was done to everyone else at major carriers (except WN) in similar positions. They may not be happy, but I can't imagine too many of them don't recognize that they were among the least scathed employees of any major airline the past two to ten years. At least, the FAs that I hear talking on my flights say things like this when they both to talk about management at all (generally the latter is a good thing).
Apr 29, 2010, 10:29 pm
#86
Join Date: Dec 2008
Posts: 20
Dont drink the UA Cool aid!
Co board wake up!! You can buy UA and sell off what is unneeded old and useless and form a preimer airline when they finally file Ch7. And it won't cost your soul
Do not drink the UA cool-aid! ( and YES it is misspelled deliberatly)
Do not drink the UA cool-aid! ( and YES it is misspelled deliberatly)
Apr 29, 2010, 10:32 pm
#87
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CO has 288 total aircraft, UA has 359. On both airlines the planes tend to be very full. Why would it be any easier for UA to rearrange pax during irrops than for CO, regardless of the status of the pax? In the case of irrops most 1Ks will jump on the phone with the 1K desk to work on the problem. Wouldn't that also be the case for CO elite flyers?
Apr 29, 2010, 10:34 pm
#88
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I can often improve on the rebook. UA just does what I ask for. CO puts fiery hoops in my way -- nonsense like telling me my fare bucket isn't available or something, or refusing the alternate airport because my ticket is into a specific airport. CO always does what I want as well, but they make me try a few times or use other tactics to get it.
Apr 29, 2010, 10:39 pm
#89
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If you can point me to where the head of any of CO's unions has come out openly asking for the removal of LK (in the day) or Smisek, then that still wouldn't be relevant to how UA's unions feel about current UA management. The head of UA's flight attendants union was calling for Tilton's head what? Two weeks ago for the most recent round?
It would be relevant to point out that CO's unions aren't all warm-and-fuzzy for CO management, except as far as one can, they are warm and fuzzy for CO management. They just look at what was done to everyone else at major carriers (except WN) in similar positions. They may not be happy, but I can't imagine too many of them don't recognize that they were among the least scathed employees of any major airline the past two to ten years. At least, the FAs that I hear talking on my flights say things like this when they both to talk about management at all (generally the latter is a good thing).
It would be relevant to point out that CO's unions aren't all warm-and-fuzzy for CO management, except as far as one can, they are warm and fuzzy for CO management. They just look at what was done to everyone else at major carriers (except WN) in similar positions. They may not be happy, but I can't imagine too many of them don't recognize that they were among the least scathed employees of any major airline the past two to ten years. At least, the FAs that I hear talking on my flights say things like this when they both to talk about management at all (generally the latter is a good thing).
Apr 29, 2010, 10:43 pm
#90
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I seriously doubt there are wide bodies, or narrow bodies for that matter, that are just sitting around in case of irrops.