Larry Kellner called me today RE: downsizing of First Class on 500's
Feb 28, 2005, 2:12 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Washington DC
Programs: CO Platinum
Posts: 85
Larry Kellner called me today RE: downsizing of First Class on 500's
I sent a quick email off to Larry Kellner today at the urging of a customer service representative in Tampa. I sent it off at at 3:46pm EST and received a call back from him at 3:55pm!
My email brought up the fact that the 737-500 was going from 10 seats to 6 seats in the markets I fly alot (DCA-IAH, IAH-SNA and DCA-CHI) and that I joined onepass for the 'free unlimited' upgrades years back when I became elite and now they are deminishing.
He explained....
1) There will be six seats until late summer when they will be reconfigured due to the closet to eight seats. ^
2) Even though many of the seat maps only say six, dont be surprised if day off it will have 10 seats - they are doing this so they dont oversell first.
3) They are looking closely at DCA-IAH, EWR-CHI and DCA-SNA - all high rev markets and he said we would see many more 700's in this market.
Needless to say I was very impressed by his quick response. I am sure he does not have to call everyone but it sure makes me feel better that Continental is listening.
My email brought up the fact that the 737-500 was going from 10 seats to 6 seats in the markets I fly alot (DCA-IAH, IAH-SNA and DCA-CHI) and that I joined onepass for the 'free unlimited' upgrades years back when I became elite and now they are deminishing.
He explained....
1) There will be six seats until late summer when they will be reconfigured due to the closet to eight seats. ^
2) Even though many of the seat maps only say six, dont be surprised if day off it will have 10 seats - they are doing this so they dont oversell first.
3) They are looking closely at DCA-IAH, EWR-CHI and DCA-SNA - all high rev markets and he said we would see many more 700's in this market.
Needless to say I was very impressed by his quick response. I am sure he does not have to call everyone but it sure makes me feel better that Continental is listening.
Feb 28, 2005, 2:20 pm
#2
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: northern NJ, CO Silver
Programs: Lifetime PC Member
Posts: 344
I think his actions are the reason so many of us are attending the Big Do on April 2. I am impressed by the number of FT's going and very much look forward to our meeting with the CO brass.
Feb 28, 2005, 4:23 pm
#3
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: EWR
Programs: CO Plat, AA Gold, UA Premier, Hertz #1 Gold, Hyatt Diamond, Loews Gold, Marriott Gold, etc. etc. etc
Posts: 621
I was wondering if this was going to be the case as well.
There's a lot of 737-700s operating various leisure routes, and a new higher-capacity 737-500 with less F seats might be better suited for these, especially to the lighter Caribbean, certain Florida, and low-yield destinations throughout the United States. The -500 has near-transcontinental range, so that wouldn't be an issue, and the -700 would be a major improvement over the -500 both in terms of EUA availability and quality of the inflight "hardware" on major business travel routes.
Larry is great with the responses. I can't help but be reassured when the CEO of your carrier of choice takes so much time to give thoughtful, fast answers to the emails of concerned passengers.
Congratulations to both Continental and the employee groups for being able to come to the table and agree in a civil manner on an appropriate wage/benefit cut package. As passengers we are grateful that the industry-leading product will not suffer, and are also looking forward to the continued growth that this plan will foster.
There's a lot of 737-700s operating various leisure routes, and a new higher-capacity 737-500 with less F seats might be better suited for these, especially to the lighter Caribbean, certain Florida, and low-yield destinations throughout the United States. The -500 has near-transcontinental range, so that wouldn't be an issue, and the -700 would be a major improvement over the -500 both in terms of EUA availability and quality of the inflight "hardware" on major business travel routes.
Larry is great with the responses. I can't help but be reassured when the CEO of your carrier of choice takes so much time to give thoughtful, fast answers to the emails of concerned passengers.
Congratulations to both Continental and the employee groups for being able to come to the table and agree in a civil manner on an appropriate wage/benefit cut package. As passengers we are grateful that the industry-leading product will not suffer, and are also looking forward to the continued growth that this plan will foster.
Feb 28, 2005, 4:33 pm
#4
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: CLE
Posts: 9,816
Originally Posted by CODC10
I was wondering if this was going to be the case as well.
There's a lot of 737-700s operating various leisure routes, and a new higher-capacity 737-500 with less F seats might be better suited for these, especially to the lighter Caribbean, certain Florida, and low-yield destinations throughout the United States. The -500 has near-transcontinental range, so that wouldn't be an issue, and the -700 would be a major improvement over the -500 both in terms of EUA availability and quality of the inflight "hardware" on major business travel routes.
Larry is great with the responses. I can't help but be reassured when the CEO of your carrier of choice takes so much time to give thoughtful, fast answers to the emails of concerned passengers.
Congratulations to both Continental and the employee groups for being able to come to the table and agree in a civil manner on an appropriate wage/benefit cut package. As passengers we are grateful that the industry-leading product will not suffer, and are also looking forward to the continued growth that this plan will foster.
There's a lot of 737-700s operating various leisure routes, and a new higher-capacity 737-500 with less F seats might be better suited for these, especially to the lighter Caribbean, certain Florida, and low-yield destinations throughout the United States. The -500 has near-transcontinental range, so that wouldn't be an issue, and the -700 would be a major improvement over the -500 both in terms of EUA availability and quality of the inflight "hardware" on major business travel routes.
Larry is great with the responses. I can't help but be reassured when the CEO of your carrier of choice takes so much time to give thoughtful, fast answers to the emails of concerned passengers.
Congratulations to both Continental and the employee groups for being able to come to the table and agree in a civil manner on an appropriate wage/benefit cut package. As passengers we are grateful that the industry-leading product will not suffer, and are also looking forward to the continued growth that this plan will foster.
^ ^
Feb 28, 2005, 7:28 pm
#5
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: LAS
Posts: 220
Originally Posted by CODC10
I can't help but be reassured when the CEO of your carrier of choice takes so much time to give thoughtful, fast answers to the emails of concerned passengers.
Last edited by RoboBR; Feb 28, 2005 at 7:44 pm
Feb 28, 2005, 7:39 pm
#6
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Seattle
Programs: Marriott Ambassador LT Titanium, Hyatt Globalist, United LT Silver
Posts: 1,085
Maybe it was actually Bob from Accounting.
Feb 28, 2005, 7:48 pm
#7
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Clinging to the edifices of a decadent past from the biggest city in America nobody really cares about.
Programs: (ಠ_ಠ)
Posts: 9,077
Originally Posted by dcaflyer1
I sent a quick email off to Larry Kellner today at the urging of a customer service representative in Tampa. I sent it off at at 3:46pm EST and received a call back from him at 3:55pm!
Originally Posted by dcaflyer1
1) There will be six seats until late summer when they will be reconfigured due to the closet to eight seats. ^
Originally Posted by dcaflyer1
2) Even though many of the seat maps only say six, dont be surprised if day off it will have 10 seats - they are doing this so they dont oversell first.
Originally Posted by dcaflyer1
3) They are looking closely at DCA-IAH, EWR-CHI and DCA-SNA - all high rev markets and he said we would see many more 700's in this market.
Originally Posted by dcaflyer1
Needless to say I was very impressed by his quick response. I am sure he does not have to call everyone but it sure makes me feel better that Continental is listening.
Feb 28, 2005, 8:07 pm
#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Between AUS, EWR, and YTO In a little twisty maze of airline seats, all alike.. but I wanna go home with the armadillo
Programs: CO, NW, & UA forum moderator emeritus
Posts: 35,426
That's good I guess. Wonder where the 735s are going?
Feb 28, 2005, 9:45 pm
#9
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: NYC: UA 1K, DL Platinum, AAirpass, Avis PC
Posts: 4,599
Originally Posted by RoboBR
Especially on a day like today when so much hung in the balance. If negotiations had broken off in the final hours??? Who knows, we may all have been looking for new preffered carriers!
My bet is any other day it would tough to get a call back. He just finished up a huge deadline that's been his focus for months, and prob. had not much else to do today now that it's wrapped up...
Feb 28, 2005, 11:46 pm
#10
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Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Bay Area, CA
Programs: UA Plat 2MM; AS MVP Gold 75K
Posts: 35,068
Originally Posted by xyzzy
I wonder how much time is left on the leases for these?
Mar 1, 2005, 8:27 am
#11
Join Date: Nov 2001
Posts: 260
Originally Posted by Let's Go
I think his actions are the reason so many of us are attending the Big Do on April 2. I am impressed by the number of FT's going and very much look forward to our meeting with the CO brass.
I think his actions are the reason I'm out of here in the next month or so unless he gets this non-EUA crap straightened out fast. I don't care how many seats are in F if I am not in one of them.
Mar 1, 2005, 8:58 am
#12
Suspended
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: new york, ny, usa
Posts: 13,536
Originally Posted by Joey
I think his actions are the reason I'm out of here in the next month or so unless he gets this non-EUA crap straightened out fast. I don't care how many seats are in F if I am not in one of them.
Mar 1, 2005, 9:25 am
#13
Join Date: Nov 2001
Posts: 260
Originally Posted by fly co to see the yanks
the best way to be in one of them is to pay for one of them. do you think you will have more luck paying for coach and sitting in first on another carrier?
Thank you for stating the obvious, one of your most endearing traits.
And to answer your question, based on the the sadly unacknowledged by CO, but blatantly obvious, changes to the non-EUA system, specifically, and Elite non-upgrades, in general, as gleaned from anecdotal evidence here on FT, American Airlines-- I would (will?) be ExPlat in 5 months.
Mar 1, 2005, 9:41 am
#14
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: NJ
Programs: MM - GOLD, HH, Mariott
Posts: 291
I'll be right behind you in leaving. I really don't think it matters anymore what elite level you are but rather the fare you paid. 
I fly EWR - ORD - EWR every other week and last year I was UG every time except once. This year I can't get an UG and I'm Plat for the last 5 years and this year as well. On the return this last Sun. I was in the back with at least 3 other Plats who also have noticed a change in UG. Being Plat does not appear to have any benefits since Larry took over as he was a bottom line guy. I'm almost silver for next year and if this trend continues, it's time to find another airline.
I fly EWR - ORD - EWR every other week and last year I was UG every time except once. This year I can't get an UG and I'm Plat for the last 5 years and this year as well. On the return this last Sun. I was in the back with at least 3 other Plats who also have noticed a change in UG. Being Plat does not appear to have any benefits since Larry took over as he was a bottom line guy. I'm almost silver for next year and if this trend continues, it's time to find another airline.
Mar 1, 2005, 9:46 am
#15
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Brooklyn, NY
Posts: 384
Originally Posted by fly co to see the yanks
the best way to be in one of them is to pay for one of them. do you think you will have more luck paying for coach and sitting in first on another carrier?