Go Back  FlyerTalk Forums > Miles&Points > Discontinued Programs/Partners > Continental OnePass (Pre-Merger)
Reload this Page >

US Helicopter Temporary Service Interruption

Community
Wiki Posts
Search

US Helicopter Temporary Service Interruption

 
Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Sep 25, 2009 | 9:15 am
  #1  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Houston,TX
Programs: Hilton Honors Gold, Marriott Gold,Priority Club Plat
Posts: 282
US Helicopter Temporary Service Interruption

I didn't see this one coming: (From the US Helicopter Website)

We are temporarily halting all service as we regroup to add aircraft to our fleet and introduce new routes. This 'standown' of service applies to our scheduled flights as well as our charter service. We plan to return to the skies of New York - a bigger and better airline - by late November. For information on refunds for tickets you hold for future travel, please contact your credit card company for a credit or refund. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and we look forward to serving you again very soon with our 8 Minute Airport Shuttle.

www.flyush.com
coairtul is offline  
Old Sep 25, 2009 | 9:23 am
  #2  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: DCA
Programs: Kommissar Giga-Posting Direktor, PWP; Fasano Nouveau Aristocrat; CO Platinum; BD Gold; MR Gold
Posts: 18,733
That's too bad; I was hoping to use the US Helicopter service to EWR sometime in the next month.
CO 1E is offline  
Old Sep 25, 2009 | 9:24 am
  #3  
2M
50 Countries Visited
100 Nights
25 Years on Site
 
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: NJ
Programs: UA LTG, AA LTG, Bonvoy LTP, LHW Sterling
Posts: 2,615
Corporate PR speak for bankruptcy?
schriste is offline  
Old Sep 25, 2009 | 9:39 am
  #4  
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
10 Countries Visited
Conversation Starter
All eyes on you!
20 Years on Site
 
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: LAX/TPE
Programs: United 1K, JAL Sapphire, SPG Lifetime Platinum, National Executive Elite, Hertz PC, Avis PC
Posts: 47,229
How will this affect those with CO tickets that include integrated Helicopter segments?

Sounds to me like a pending bankruptcy - just another way of saying 'we'll be back in x months' and then hope no one notices when they don't come back.
bocastephen is offline  
Old Sep 25, 2009 | 9:49 am
  #5  
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
10 Countries Visited
Community Builder
All eyes on you!
15 Years on Site
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Cleveland, OH
Programs: UA Priemier Gold
Posts: 70,512
Originally Posted by schriste
Corporate PR speak for bankruptcy?
Yup ....my money is on the bet that they're broke
dergon darkhelm is offline  
Old Sep 25, 2009 | 10:00 am
  #6  
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
10 Countries Visited20 Countries Visited30 Countries Visited20 Years on Site
 
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: PSM
Posts: 69,232
Originally Posted by coairtul
I didn't see this one coming: (From the US Helicopter Website)
I did. They haven't had the loads to make the service profitable. I'm glad I got my couple trips in back in 2007.
sbm12 is offline  
Old Sep 25, 2009 | 10:06 am
  #7  
 
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Denver, CO
Programs: Priority Pass, DL SM, UA G, VA GM, SPG GM, HHonors GM, Marriott PM
Posts: 400
I flew them this summer, and was considering using them on my layover in NY on the way back from LHR, figured I could spend a night in the city and then use them to get back the next morning.

Guess I will be cabbing it again. I do hope they come back.
vsop is offline  
Old Sep 25, 2009 | 10:44 am
  #8  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
All eyes on you!
20 Years on Site
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: New York, NY
Programs: UA, AA, DL, Hertz, Avis, National, Hyatt, Hilton, SPG, Marriott
Posts: 10,117
My money says it's a wrap for USH. I'd be (pleasantly) surprised to see them come back.
EWR764 is offline  
Old Sep 25, 2009 | 10:47 am
  #9  
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 1
they are broke!

They have been in terrible financial shape for 2 or more years. They owe money to everyone and even miss paying their employees. I did a few Google searches on them and they have taken many loans to be able to operate. Check out their SEC fillings. They cancel flights on a weekly basis. They are definitely not reliable and I would not take them not even for the fun of it. If you want to miss your international flight go ahead and us them. Also, very inexperience management. Maybe they should re open under new management with more reliable helicopters and parter with more airlines or maybe i should be operated by CO or DL.
noway is offline  
Old Sep 25, 2009 | 11:02 am
  #10  
All eyes on you!
20 Years on Site
 
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Moreland Hills (CLE)
Programs: Over-entitled UA 1.3MM Gold, AA Gold, Hilton Diamond, Marriott L-T Plat, Hertz PC
Posts: 5,526
noway: Welcome to FT!

To parrot David Spade in the SNL Skit:

"Buy-bye"
Billiken is offline  
Old Sep 25, 2009 | 12:11 pm
  #11  
3M
100 Nights
All eyes on you!
15 Years on Site
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Chicago, IL/Tampa, FL
Programs: UA 1K MM, DL Diamond, AA Exec Plat, Mariott LT Plat/Titanium, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Gold
Posts: 938
I'm not surprised. When I flew them last week, I was one of two pax. The next flgiht only had one person booked according to the GA. I can't imagine how that's profitable at $59 (plus fees) a person.
EWRFlyerAL is offline  
Old Sep 25, 2009 | 12:13 pm
  #12  
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
10 Countries Visited20 Countries Visited30 Countries Visited20 Years on Site
 
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: PSM
Posts: 69,232
Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry9630/4.7.1.40 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/105)

Originally Posted by EWRFlyerAL
I'm not surprised. When I flew them last week, I was one of two pax. The next flgiht only had one person booked according to the GA. I can't imagine how that's profitable at $59 (plus fees) a person.
It probably wasn't profitable at $159/pax either with only 1-2 pax/flight, which I flew it on 2 years ago as the only person. Losing money every trip but making it up in volume really doesn't work very well.

Last edited by sbm12; Sep 25, 2009 at 12:20 pm
sbm12 is offline  
Old Sep 25, 2009 | 12:18 pm
  #13  
Suspended
 
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: ORD / DUB / LHR
Programs: UA 1K MM; BA Silver; Marriott Plat
Posts: 8,240
Similar story here - I had 3 flights in the last 2 months to EWR where I was the only passenger, and one to JFK, again as the only passenger.

Not a huge surprise - disappointing though. It was an extremely convenient service for me.
star_world is offline  
Old Sep 25, 2009 | 12:23 pm
  #14  
Suspended
 
Join Date: Nov 1999
Posts: 24,150
Im very much Surprised

Surprised that they lasted this long

I remember NY Heli they did the flights for TWA , that didnt last long either. PanAm also had them dont know if NYH was the ones running it

My pt is its been tried a couple of times before and didnt work, nor will it.

Theres just not enough of a demand, nor do I ever seeing that there will be any. Bout the only way it might work is if all Trancons and Intl flights left say between 5-6pm , then maybe youd be able to fill 1 copter. But having several flights a day it aint gonna happen

Sure they will get 1st timers but as in any business, 1st timers are just that, its the repeat customer that keeps a biz in business. And most people did it for the novelty of it. Do it 1 time and no need to do it again
craz is offline  
Old Sep 25, 2009 | 1:05 pm
  #15  
10 Countries Visited
20 Countries Visited
30 Countries Visited
20 Years on Site
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: NYC
Programs: AA Lifetime Plat, AA PPro
Posts: 44
Just got the call from Continental offering to refund the fare. Bummer, was looking forward to a great start to a Vegas weekend next week.
AAChris is offline  


Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

This site is owned, operated, and maintained by MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. Copyright © 2026 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Designated trademarks are the property of their respective owners.