odnyc,

You are comparing Gordon of 10 years ago to Gordon of today. Gordon did what he needed to be done 10 years ago to attract loyal CAL flyers, and if he has done this today, I'm having a very difficult time finding it.

The topic of this thread is "Gordon's Bonus". Any knowledgeable CEO, and, for that matter, his imediate subordinates, should know that employee morale would be lifted if they rejected their bonuses, especially when the company has been "subsidized" by the federal government with loans and loan guarantees. Gordon earned his bonus 10 years ago, and a few years after that. So did the CAL employees, for they are really the ones that made "Worst to First" possible.

The most successful companies today are the ones that empower their employees to make decisions. CAL has taken away this empowerment and replaced it with "I'll lose my job if I do not enforce the dictated rules". Fear is one of the highest demotivational items that exists. Yet, Gordon & his troops are slowly "taking away" the very thing that made CAL successful, the motivated employee, and the resulting happy customer, and replacing this with "unempowered" frontline employees. These employees are afraid (for their jobs) if they make a reasonable decision that makes a customer happy. The happy & pleased customer will return and and even possibly pay more for a product that makes them feel "loved". How far does a "hug and a http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif" go in making a customer feel "wanted"?

There's more, to getting and retaining happy customers, but I'll stop here and let everyone decide if they see happiness, smiles, and love in the product that CAL/Gordon is selling today.

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"The Eyes of Texas Are Upon You"

Great post Jaws !!!!

let's have an honest dialogue about these fees which no one wants to pay--- but which specific fees are unreaonable?

It's unreasonable to charge someone a fee when he cancels a deeply discounted ticket at the last minute? I honestly don't think so.

It's unreasonable to charge someone a premium for getting a last minute reward- literally a several thousand dollar reward in some cases where you avoid paying the walk up fare. Let's be honest

It's unreasonable to charge someone an administrative fee to re-deposit miles taken out for a reward (I bet some people really abused this system, though I don't know.)

It's unreasonable to charge for booze? Come on

Those of us who pack light: isn't it a little ridiculous when you don't use your allocated space while somebody else shows up with a u haul truck full of luggage? They shouldn't pay?

Since most of this hits the leisure traveller it seems a fair balance when one considers what full coach people are paying. Bridging (a little) the enormous gap between full fare and discount is all of our interest if you want the train to continue to leave the station.

I certainly do.

odnyc,

I'm a business flyer and I seldom pay "Y" fares. In fact, I cannot even qualify for fairly attractive mileage bonuses because I fly mostly on "Q" & "T" fares, the same ones that you pay as a leisure flyer/traveler................

Nah, I'm not going any further with this. This thread is about Gordon's Bonus.

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"The Eyes of Texas Are Upon You"

odnyc,

Gordon has been the recipient of much praise over the years. I myself sung his praises and read his book.

Problem is that Greg Brenneman was the actual brains behind the turnaround. Gordon took the credit. If Greg had not been aboard for the turnaround, CO would not exist today.

Should the BOD have authorized this? NO.
Can you really critisize Gordon for taking the money? I think not. It is compensation that is due him.

I think a better question is this:

Does Gordon really have any impact on the bottom line at all?

Greg was the brains behind the turnaround.
Larry is the "Brains" behind the return trip.

You do the math!

arturo: "oopsgrads" is too perfect. Thanks much.

Good post, CG.

Everyone remember that you heard it here first.........Gordon and the BOD fire Larry for taking CAL into the tank!!!!!

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"The Eyes of Texas Are Upon You"

Your question My answers:

1. cancellation of discount ticket: NO; but the amount of this fee is unreasonable; this is nothing but 95% profit for CO, it costs them almost nothing to process this

2. last minute reward: Yes, I earned the reward; I should be able to use it if award seats are available without paying, hence AWARD ticket; again 95% profit for CO, what is the cost to process this, very minimal

3. redeposit of awards: YES, give me a break on this one, this costs practically nothing

4. Booze charge: No; however if the competitors are giving it away, it sure isn't going to increase business

5. Packing light: YES - this is a ridiculous statement

On the topic of Buffoons bonus, he was compensated very well for what he has done in the past; hence he should not be compensated with a bonus for his current fowl ups.

Boy, this is almost as good as the article in USA Today on monday about the bonusesWorldCom gave out to their officers. It's sick that Gordo would actually accept it, unless to say "I'll accept this bonus and put it back into the workers bonus fund...they deserve it more... besides I get a multi-million dollar salary"... but alas I havn't heard these words uttered by Gordo.

Good Luck FAforCal, hope you find the job and company you can believe in...

Zipper, thank you for your kind words.

I miss it....it's in my blood. I still look up when I hear a plane overhead. You don't do what I did for 20 years and not love it. But it was time...many considerations, and the direction CO was going...well, I couldn't go through another furlough or bankruptcy or God knows what.

So...at my age (over 21 and under 65), I'm going to learn a new trade. Hopefully, you can teach an old dog new tricks. Might even try to do some p/t corporate flying...we'll see.

But in the meantime, since I primarily worked F/C and saw, I'm sure, many of you on my flights up front...it was a pleasure. For every pompous, "it's-all-about-me" whiner, there were 100 of the most gracious, fun people in the world. I had great conversations with you guys...and I miss it. It was my pleasure to have you onboard.

Safe flying to all. Happy trails.

Charging a fee for last minute reward tickets is extremely unreasonable. It makes no sense. It is simply another in a long line of devaluations of the OnePass Program. I have less problem with the other fees, except as concerning same day standby travel.

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"We will not cut benefits from OnePass, our industry-leading frequent flyer program, because we remain committed to rewarding our most loyal customers."

-- Gordon Bethune (Continental's CEO) two weeks before significantly cutting benefits of the OnePass program

Despite many of the personal feelings expressed here, Gordon is quite popular.

Other airlines want him to run their airline (i.e. he is in VERY HIGH DEMAND). There is only one of him (i.e. he is in VERY SMALL SUPPLY, there is just one Gordon after all).

This means he can make plenty of money. I have a feeling he makes a lot less than he could.

DrivingRain,

Re-read CameraGuy's post.

Thanks,

JAWs

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"The Eyes of Texas Are Upon You"

According to "my friend the CO FA", they DID cut these bonuses.. Don't know whether completely or partially, but she tells me these were cut. She tells me the bonus announcement angered most of the FAs and pilots she knows. A few months ago, she was a loyal Gordo supporter; now all I hear from her is sarcasm about him.

FWIW, I won't be able to talk to her until next month sometime. She is on a 5 month leave, and enjoying some time in HKG at the moment (and enjoyed a BF seat getting there).

Robin

To my knowledge they only changed the payout. Instead of paying for first, second, or third place, they now only pay for first. I think that's a fair arrangement.