More Enhancements (PC)
 

My first post, although I have monitored for about 2 months.

I am currently coplat and will make it again for next year by the end of this month.

Yesterday, while in the DFW PC and the IAH terminal B PC (my favorite for space and lack of crowds) I was informed of the following enhancements to the PC system wide.

They are cutting all bottled waters (they currently give you water out of large bottles), if a customer wants water in the future it will be only from the tap. They are cutting all beers except for bud and bud lite on tap. They are cutting back on snacks. For example only fruit will be apples durring the day, bananas in the morning. No more granola bars. No more canned sodas, only ones from the gun. This is on top of the loss of mint millanos!

These enhancements are soon. I was told that once they run out of their current inventory, its over.


This is not a huge deal, but I drink mostly beer at the PC, and I do not like bud lite, and bud, although good, is to heavy. Also, I just renewed my membership for another three years last month before the rate increases. I feel like I have been taken. What else are they going to cut?

My opinion, this is not a way to increase frequent flyers patronage since I assume that the membership of the PC is mostly frequent flyers. I use to make excuses or look for opportunities to fly and chose co for amenities and service over wn and AA, even when Co was more expensive. (ie AA's AC charges you for drinks, AA is difficult to upgrade without burining miles) 9-11 has not cut down my flying, but the continued loss of amenities will. IE trimming back international and domestic upgrades, dificulty of cashing in rewards, meal services, pc amenities, etc...

Although I do not fly international BF more than once a year (I fly mostly US, MX, and Canada). The reason I accumulate miles is so that when I want to vacation to Eurpoe, for example, I want to be assured of an upgrade in BF.

If the mainline carriers keep this up, there will be no reason to fly them. Why fly co domesitcally if you can fly wn which provides you the reliable transportation aspect with no amenities? As far as international, I'll choose the carrier with the highest service level in J or F, and look for consolidate tickets, call amex plat on the 2 for 1 deal, etc.., I'll abandon loyalty to one carrier.

So what if the airport the wn flys into is a little further out. You can always rent a limo with the extra money saved, and the commute is pleasurable. I prefer to stay mainly with one carrier but Co management should think about the long term results of cutting service. As expressed in may posts, they are removing the cheese from the pizza!

Why cant the airline frequent flyer programs be like the Hotels. I am starwood plat. I have never been denied an award. I am constantly upgraded. I am treated with respect. My room is always ready when promissed. They upgrade my family even if I am not with them with a quick call to the hotel manager before they check in. Most impressive, starwood has someone who monitors the Flyertalk starwood section, and gives immediate feedback when someone has a problem. Further, I saw an article yesterday, I think USA today, that Ritz looked at cutting back service after 9-11, but decided not to because they did not want to hurt their long term reputation. Now that is class.

The U.S. main line airlines need to change soon or they will all go under. Also, how can Co not be profitable when every flight I am on, no matter the time of the week, is at 90%. Further, IAH the past month has been packed.

I fly Mexicana to Mexico City from Nuevo Laredo every now and then when CO is ridiculously expensive connecting out of IAH. They fly F 100s and 727's. In a flight of about 700 miles (I think) that takes about 1.6 hours they serve in economy free drinks and meals. They continuously come by and ask you if you need anything. It is almost annoying. First Class is upgradeable for free if there is room right before you leave if you simply ask (I have no standing with their FF program but I am at 50% on upgrading).

On Co I just got back from Vancouver in first class. Comming back, on a five hour flight, the FAs served the meal (sandwich), served after dinner drinks, then sat down. You had to got to the galley for more drinks.

My simplified business analysis is as follows: Since airlines offer the same product(fly your from A to B), they can only differentiate between price and service. Price is or should be pretty much the same among carriers since they all have about the same costs structure although some manage it better than others. IE a 737 costs basically the same, fuel does, wages should,air port leases, etc. So, service is the real key to comepition as far as increasing your customer base. I believe a successful airline is one that gives its clients more service than anticipated.

In summary, Co if your are listening, no more enahancements.

Thanks for letting me vent.

Quite a first post COPLATLRD! Welcome!

What I find interesting is how much publicity CO has generated for itself over the past few months by proudly announcing the things that they haven't cut!

We haven't removed blankets from the planes... We still have videos... We still serve food in coach.... blah blah blah... The media eats it up! Everything is wonderful at CO, they care about their customers!

Yet at the same time, you don't here about how hard CO has made it to upgrade on Int'l flights, the 3 hour out EUA "enhancement", the hike in P-Club fees, now coupled with the removal of Sam Adams from the bar.

It just seems more and more that CO is playing to the media and the occassional customer, and sticking to their most loyal, because they think we won't leave. Guess what CO, this plat will only make silver next year (I wasn't targeted for the free Plat renewal), and next year I'll be using the "get the upgrade with OnePass, then switch to NW at the gate" manuever. NW seems to appreciate our business more these days anyway!

I'll continue to have no problems with carriers like AirTran and Southwest, because they'll deliver what they promise. Now that you've earned (unlike so many other CO flyers next year) your plat card, maybe its time to look around at your options?

Welcome to Flyertalk!

Thanks for sharing your views.

Welcome, and thanks for the enjoyable reading. I am one of the "what appears to be many" elites leaving CO for NW. Your post hits many nails on the heads, and as mentioned throughout other posts. The majors need to do a head's up as Southwest and America West seem to be returning to profitability quicker than the "majors". I really do not think it has to do with the price of a meal or a bag of peanuts though. Like you said they deliver what they promise, and don't make you feel "unworthy". I also re-newed my PC membership, but only for 1 year to take advantage of the elite discount. I will be elite on NW very soon and next year will buy a long term mem. in their club.

I was in the SEA PC Wednesday night and THursday morning.

Wednesday nite, the only snacks were apples. No cookies, pretzels, ZIP!

Thursday morning they did have bagels and cream cheese and donuts.

Lack of snacks is a major problem!

I have found the food selection and beverage selection to be inconsistent.

For a while LAX was only offering Paper Cuos and Plates

What, precisely, are we paying for again?

P-clubs are more crowded and less comfortable than ever, largely thanks to travelers arriving at the airport far earlier than they once did because they fear security lines. And now once we're in this crowded little room, we have nothing to eat, little to drink.

I figure if you would make a slur against the security reps and then get pulled for questioning, you'd probably get a more comfy room with water to drink and it'd be free!

Didn't CO just raise the prices of their CO memberships?

This may be heresey, but maybe time to charge for liquor (which most people do not drink in the clubs) and keep snacks (which most people do eat)?

The bottom line though is that the airlines have got to find a way to start making money again. Not sure how they are going to do it, but my best wishes to this endeavor.

Does anyone wish to join me in burning freakflyer at the stake? http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

Seriously, charging for liquor is a very bad idea. At the current inflated membership dues, Continental ought to be able to maintain a variety of complimentary snack and liquor offerings.

FreakFlyer, don't be going in that direction.. Thats the last thing the PC needs to hear, oh another enhancement, lets charge for booze.. since we charge on Int'l flights anyway, lets gouge them in the club too..

I just renewed for another three years and If I didn't want free drinks I would join the AC. Snacks are nice but I can live without or stuff my bag with food and sneak it in the club. The booze is what drives my membership.

OK, I withdraw my recommendation. I always did find it odd that they would only give me DIet coke from the tap (and not cans) while they gave out canned beer.

One thing that they REALLY could do is to add more partner carriers and more partner clubs. SOon they will be like USAirways with so few partners.

ff

CO ought to note that the PCs compare increasingly unfavorably with the NW WorldClubs. PC members obviously have a chance to size both up. I frequent both about equally and the WCs have Heineken on tap, self-serve liquor, juice bottles, plenty of fruit...

Like more than one above poster I'm another CO elite who's had it and am not even trying to requalify... for about a dozen reasons, from pricing to award availability to alliance cutbacks... and the PCs' increasing lameness is just Kick in the Pants #13. I'm making Silver or Gold the hard way on NW, flying in coach, and won't be looking back...

The last thing I needed to hear after buying the lifetime membership less then 12 months ago.
I was afraid, I wouldn't live long enough to get the value out of it. Now, I don't have to worry, the value is drying up long before that time comes! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif


Our lives have been turned upside down and will never be the same or recover!

That plonk is as bad as Budweiser and Bud Light. While all three beers are fairly consistent (except for the occassional skunky green bottle of Heineken) and shouldn't offend anyone, they lack charachter. Presidents Clubs stock a far better selection of liquor and, until now perhaps, a better selection of snacks. Northwest has a recent history of slashing locations, operating hours, snack selections, beverage selections (anyone else remember when Japanese beer was a standard offering?), etc. They are hardly a shining example of what the Presidents Clubs should strive for.

What exactly is this maneuver, COPLATLRD?