What if ....
Dec 31, 1999 | 10:18 am
#16
Join Date: Apr 1999
Posts: 3,709
What if the airlines started treating passengers as PEOPLE instead of inconvenient cargo?
I mean this sincerely, and not flippantly. Do yourself a favor and find a job where you will be happy. Going to work when you dislike the work/customers/co-workers is just no fun. Life is too short.
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"I will not be pushed, filed, stamped, indexed, briefed, debriefed or numbered. My life is my own."
I mean this sincerely, and not flippantly. Do yourself a favor and find a job where you will be happy. Going to work when you dislike the work/customers/co-workers is just no fun. Life is too short.
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"I will not be pushed, filed, stamped, indexed, briefed, debriefed or numbered. My life is my own."
Dec 31, 1999 | 10:52 am
#17
Join Date: Nov 1999
Location: Hong Kong
Posts: 314
The airlines should be grateful that their frequent flyer program is resulting in "loyalty" among their customers, after all, who among us is naive enough to believe that the airlines is "giving" us the frequent flyer points out of the kindness of their heart???
If the "honchos" wake up and decide that they want to throw it all out, sure no problem, just be prepared & mature enough to face the consequence.
If the "honchos" wake up and decide that they want to throw it all out, sure no problem, just be prepared & mature enough to face the consequence.
Dec 31, 1999 | 12:54 pm
#19
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: Atlanta, GA
Programs: SkyMiles MM, HHonors Gold, Avis, Hertz
Posts: 521
Well, seeing that misstree hails from Queens, NY - I am not surprised about her attitude...
Just kidding, everyone! :-)
I am routinely paying over $1,000 r/t for 2 hr long flights - if I do get upgraded to a reasonable seat, occasional food, and decent service, does it make me a "grubbing, groveling wannabe"? Just wondering....
Just kidding, everyone! :-)
I am routinely paying over $1,000 r/t for 2 hr long flights - if I do get upgraded to a reasonable seat, occasional food, and decent service, does it make me a "grubbing, groveling wannabe"? Just wondering....
Dec 31, 1999 | 12:58 pm
#20
Join Date: Jan 1999
Location: BWI, MD
Programs: AA Gold, UA Silver, HH Lifetime Diamond, Marr Lifetime Titanium, Avis Presidents
Posts: 337
Posted this on the United board, but it's appropriate here also. Pay particular attention to what United says about the effect of losing just one percent of the Premier class and above would have on their revenue.
In regards to past discussions here on the UA board, I thought these statistics from United would be interesting to all. I'll quote the whole piece.
"Mileage Plus-
Frequent flier programs continue to be the airlines' most powerful marketing programs, influencing customers loyalty and carrier choice more than most other factors. Since May 1981, 37 million customers have enrolled in United's Mileage Plus and 27 million remain on file. Of these, 10 million members are active - meaning there has been activity in an account in the past 12 months.
United's Premier customers represent 8 percent of the active members, but generate 35 percent of the total transportation revenue. Premier members spend more than 6 times general members, while Premier Executives and 1K members spend more than 12 times and 30 times respectively. If just 1 percent of the Premier-level members resigned from Mileage Plus, the company would lose $58 million in transportation revenue.
In 1998, the different frequent flier groups generated the following percentages of total revenue.
General Members: 24.2 percent
Premier: 15.2 percent
Premier Executive: 13.6 percent
1K: 6.3 percent
While final numbers for 1999 are not in yet, they are estimated to be similar to 1998.
United's Mileage Plus is the largest frequent flier program in the world with 37 million members followed by;
American AAdvantage: 34 million
Delta Sky Miles: 23 million
Northwest WorldPerks: 20 million
Continental OnePass: 16 million
US Airways Dividen Miles: 12 million
TWA Aviators: 8 million
One hundred fifty million people around the world are members of a frequent flier program. Eighty percent of all members reside in the United States."
from UAL's Our Times, V5 #12 Dec 18, 1999 p10
[This message has been edited by ontherun (edited 12-31-1999).]
In regards to past discussions here on the UA board, I thought these statistics from United would be interesting to all. I'll quote the whole piece.
"Mileage Plus-
Frequent flier programs continue to be the airlines' most powerful marketing programs, influencing customers loyalty and carrier choice more than most other factors. Since May 1981, 37 million customers have enrolled in United's Mileage Plus and 27 million remain on file. Of these, 10 million members are active - meaning there has been activity in an account in the past 12 months.
United's Premier customers represent 8 percent of the active members, but generate 35 percent of the total transportation revenue. Premier members spend more than 6 times general members, while Premier Executives and 1K members spend more than 12 times and 30 times respectively. If just 1 percent of the Premier-level members resigned from Mileage Plus, the company would lose $58 million in transportation revenue.
In 1998, the different frequent flier groups generated the following percentages of total revenue.
General Members: 24.2 percent
Premier: 15.2 percent
Premier Executive: 13.6 percent
1K: 6.3 percent
While final numbers for 1999 are not in yet, they are estimated to be similar to 1998.
United's Mileage Plus is the largest frequent flier program in the world with 37 million members followed by;
American AAdvantage: 34 million
Delta Sky Miles: 23 million
Northwest WorldPerks: 20 million
Continental OnePass: 16 million
US Airways Dividen Miles: 12 million
TWA Aviators: 8 million
One hundred fifty million people around the world are members of a frequent flier program. Eighty percent of all members reside in the United States."
from UAL's Our Times, V5 #12 Dec 18, 1999 p10
[This message has been edited by ontherun (edited 12-31-1999).]
Dec 31, 1999 | 1:04 pm
#21
Senior Moderator; Moderator, Flyertalk Cares
Join Date: Jun 1999
Location: Fulltime travel/mostly Europe
Programs: UA 1.7 MM;; Accor & Marriott Pt; Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 17,926
misstree: Ontherun recently made an interesting post on the United board about how much revenue UA's Mileage Plus program brings in and how successful it's been for the company. Take a look. I'd also encourage you to share your idea with the powers that be at your airline. I'm sure they'd love hearing your feelings on their most loyal customers. Could do surprising things for your career as well. Cheers
oops - just see that ontherun posted it here before I originally finished this.
[This message has been edited by letiole (edited 12-31-1999).]
oops - just see that ontherun posted it here before I originally finished this.
[This message has been edited by letiole (edited 12-31-1999).]
Dec 31, 1999 | 3:50 pm
#22
In Memoriam
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: lake forest illinois usa
Posts: 541
1965-6-7, OTRD to Dallas (no DFW yet), Y $96,
F$118. Food and service in Y better than F today, F really very good. No upgrades; buy and fly. Admiral's Club put nice little sticker on your ticket envelop that identified you. FA's called you by name, "Admiral So and So." Passengers all well behaved, crew extra attentive. Different time, different world. Can't change this one, glad to be here, still find folks nice, helpful, doing their best just as we are - or should be. Heck, the bar has been lowered on everything so we ought to do our best with the cards we are dealt and, for goodness sake, don't make others miserable just because our shoe pinches or we don't like the chow.
Rich: must be the time of year - or century - or millennium - or whatever! I do agree with you far more often than otherwise.
Looks like we're coming through this once in a lifetime Y2K without the problems the doomsayers promised so let's all be grateful, say grace and a prayer for this weeping world, and go forth tomorrow resolved to love and serve mankind in the new century. May the peace of God which passes all understanding be your every present companion in this day and for ever more. We really are united as the children of one God and that has nothing to do with any airline but everything to do with ourselves and our neighbors.
F$118. Food and service in Y better than F today, F really very good. No upgrades; buy and fly. Admiral's Club put nice little sticker on your ticket envelop that identified you. FA's called you by name, "Admiral So and So." Passengers all well behaved, crew extra attentive. Different time, different world. Can't change this one, glad to be here, still find folks nice, helpful, doing their best just as we are - or should be. Heck, the bar has been lowered on everything so we ought to do our best with the cards we are dealt and, for goodness sake, don't make others miserable just because our shoe pinches or we don't like the chow.
Rich: must be the time of year - or century - or millennium - or whatever! I do agree with you far more often than otherwise.
Looks like we're coming through this once in a lifetime Y2K without the problems the doomsayers promised so let's all be grateful, say grace and a prayer for this weeping world, and go forth tomorrow resolved to love and serve mankind in the new century. May the peace of God which passes all understanding be your every present companion in this day and for ever more. We really are united as the children of one God and that has nothing to do with any airline but everything to do with ourselves and our neighbors.
Dec 31, 1999 | 5:22 pm
#23
Join Date: May 1999
Location: New York City
Programs: UA MM-1P, Hilton Life Diamond, Marriot Life Gold, ICH Spire
Posts: 4,080
Amen. Although, technically, Y2K is a once-in-many-lifetimes event! (Couldn't resist)
By the way, wasn't Frank Lorenzo from Queens? (Just making sure. Queens is a fine place. And you can get pizza-by-the-slice there. Just isn't as good as in Brooklyn or Manhattan.)
By the way, wasn't Frank Lorenzo from Queens? (Just making sure. Queens is a fine place. And you can get pizza-by-the-slice there. Just isn't as good as in Brooklyn or Manhattan.)
Jan 2, 2000 | 4:50 pm
#24
In Memoriam
Join Date: May 1999
Location: San Francisco UA1K; AA Gold
Posts: 937
I find it amusing (make that laughable) that an airline employee who can fly on the cheap is upset at the "grubbing, groveling wannabe's" - gee, do we make it too difficult for you to get your first class seat? When you start paying full fare for your travel, then I'll be more willing to listen to your opinion.
Jan 2, 2000 | 9:53 pm
#25
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 1999
Location: Paradise Lost
Posts: 286
JohnA,
I know you're upset but please read my profound apologies on another post in the BUZZ.
I do have every respect (and sometimes sympathy) for the true road warriors. I wouldn't want to be in your shoes for anything, having to fly weekly through time zones, weather and mechanical problems etc and still do business at the other end.
I feel I have earned the non-revenue perks and quietly (without bragging) accept them and enjoy them. If anyone cares, I can give you the downside to traveling as a non-rev.
So please, feel free to read my apologies.
I know you're upset but please read my profound apologies on another post in the BUZZ.
I do have every respect (and sometimes sympathy) for the true road warriors. I wouldn't want to be in your shoes for anything, having to fly weekly through time zones, weather and mechanical problems etc and still do business at the other end.
I feel I have earned the non-revenue perks and quietly (without bragging) accept them and enjoy them. If anyone cares, I can give you the downside to traveling as a non-rev.
So please, feel free to read my apologies.