Silent Majority
 

I may be off somewhat in my numbers but lets take a crack at something. If US Air fly 2000 flights per day and assuming 100 pax per flight thats 200,000 people per day. Lets say that of the 1,400,000 per seven day week half of them are returning. That means that approx 700,000 different people per week are flying US Air. Looking at those numbers and then looking at the numbers of people on this board that are upset it appears to me that the silent majority is going to win out. I believe that US Air will get away with their actions!

That's why it is so important that the people who see this for what it is get the word out.

People do not realize what is being done to them.

It's not a silent majority - it's the 80/20 rule.

80% of revenue is provided by 20% of fliers. The "silent majority" is not nearly as important as that 20% segment.

The people on FlyerTalk are in that 20%.

To suggest that only FlyerTalkers have any insight or understanding of how the US Airways changes will affect them is parochial arrogance. Some may wander blindly past the changes without noticing, but a large chunk of them will notice. They just won't know that they can vent about it on FT.

[This message has been edited by Ken hAAmer (edited 08-31-2002).]

What if we used one of those programs/services that will email 1 million, 2 million people with a message, etc? I.e. bulk email. Again, most people have no idea of the changes. If you don't believe that, go to your local coffee shop, sit down and have a coffee, and ask the person next to you what they think of the recent US/AA changes. I asked a friend what he thought about the changes, and the only thing he heard about was that the security questions would not be asked anymore per tsa rule and he said that was good. However, he knows nothing about changes to standby, use it or lose it, etc.

i like how we all think that sitting around on our big fat white pasty asses and b_tching about the airlines is actually *doing* something.

"im not going to stand for this anymore! thats it! im posting on flyertalk about this! harrrumph!"

what a load!

Many of us have voiced our dissatisfaction with our respective preferred carriers.

Feedback from customers who spend lots of money will be of importance. It's comments like your which have no impact.

I think $100 change fees will get the average person's attention, whether on standby or just on doing something that takes only a few clicks on a computer. Put the bug in their ear that not all airlines are doing that and consumers don't have to put up with it, and you'll get lots of new customers for the discounters.

The whole thinking of this is wrong. You don't restore profitability by introducing gouge-level fees that your toughest competition at the leisure-fare level isn't charging (or isn't charging nearly as much). That, and the FF changes (which, granted, are noticed by fewer but by those whose business counts for more), will just help run people off.

Some are, but FT is also the place of mileage runs, pricing errors distribution, and full milking of the elite system. There are plenty of elites here who are at best break even customers for the airlines (I'll put myself in that group, fwiw.)

I have spoken with the AA EXP desk about changes and they were very busy. Mostly answering questions about the changes. Thousands and thousands of calls. They gave me the fax number to the executive offices. I cant get there fax to receive. I think we broke it. The majority of AA's biggest customers are not being silent.

The real message would be received by the airlines if we all stop flying. But how can we realistically do that? I'm afraid our messages and calls have no meat. Maybe we can organize some type of short term boycott to get attantion. If all the big boys follow suit and change their rules, which airlines will be left to go to?

I think contacting the media in addition to the e-mails,calls etc to US Air will have some impact. Maybe we could get a one page flyer made up to hand out to the other pax. Get it checked for accuracy and then hand out 10,000-50,000 of them around the country. talk to every pax on the plane, get up and walk around, ask them to spread the word. Certainly everyone in first should be outraged. Just an idea? Who else has some actionable items/

Someone else on another thread recommended contacting your local media, so that is what I did. I have sent emails to all of my local news stations as well as to The O'Reill Factor show on Fox. Look what he did to Pepsi last week. Perhaps if we cna get his interest this story might make it into the mainstream media. My email to the O'Reilly factor is posted below.

Dear Mr. O'Reilly, Good Day,

I really enjoy your show and am grateful for the issues you discuss and the areas of concern you bring to light that affect so many of us.

There is an issue brewing in the shadows of the travel industry that has gotten little to no attention in the media. I hope you can correct this oversight. The issue I am referring to is changes the airlines are making to the fare rules. These fare rules are nothing short of the largest fare price hike in the history of the airlines, and they (the airlines) are trying to sneak it in under cover of darkness. Sorry if I sound like a conspiracy theorist, but I feel this issue warrants further investigation.

Just take a look at what many of the major airlines have done in the last few weeks/months:

1. Took money in the form of wage concessions from their employees. Much of this was done under the threat of bankruptcy, take our cuts now or we may be forced to file bankruptcy and a judge declare your labor contracts void.

2. These same airlines applied for/took tax payer subsidized bailout loans.

3. Drastically cut services, airline capacity and routes.

4. This week many of them have announced new fare rules that amount to one of the largest fare increase in airline history. This was done at the travelers expense. These changes don't just affect frequent fliers, they affect anyone that ever steps on to a plane. These new rules may actually affect the non frequent fliers more since they are the ones that will understand these changes the least and because of these are the ones that may be penalized the most.

There is no question that the airlines are in trouble and that they need help from many sources, including wage concessions and possible cuts in service. No one I know of is denying this or denying them the opportunity to make changes. It is vital to our economy that these airlines return to profitability and become a viable company for the long haul, but it must be done in a fair and legal manner.

I am not the best person to talk to about this issue. There are many people out there much smarter then me that have concerns with all of these changes. All I want is someone to research this further and determine if anything is being done that isn't completely above board. I would recommend that you/your staff visit one of the many websites where this issue is raging. I have listed a few below.

Thank you for your time and consideration and keep up the good work. We need more people like you holding people and companies feet to the fire.

For more info visit the message boards on the following websites:
http://www.flyertalk.com
http://www.usaviation.com/

See ya in the air...
"I have made up my mind, please don't confuse me with the facts"

FWIW,

Of the 40,000+ EXPs, FTers account for 100+.

Of the 200K odd Platinums, FTers account for 150-200+

Though we might be a vocal group, but we do not account for the 20%.

More like 0.1%(PLT) to 0.25%(EXP)

We are the group that milk the airline for elite status and upgrades. Knocking out the big spender(50-100K+), we would not even account for 2 million+ worth of revenues per airline/hotel.

What we do account for is a lot of lost revenue for the airlines. Because we know the in's and out's of the system and are the best milkers in the industry, a lot of high paying customers are feeling left out (upgrades, standbys, priority seating etc) because we outshine them in every department.(except revenue http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif)

What you are looking at is the creation of a level playing feild. Is it good or bad for us. I don't know. What I do know is that when the dust settles, new rules would be in place. The game would be harder but not impossible.

Like I said before, we at Flyertalk are the best milkers of the system in the industry. Given a set of new rules that would not change, we will find loopholes in no time. IF we can't, we are not worth being called Flyertalkers.


[This message has been edited by Bourne (edited 09-02-2002).]

FlyerTalk is a self-selected focus group which has a high percentage of high frequency customers.

Not all of us fly on cheap tickets, and not all of us fly on expensive tickets.

Still, there are enough of us, scattered in enough geographical locations as well as age brackets, to make a good statistical sampling. We know the details and react earlier, but I think our reactions will be indicative of the feedback the airlines will receive.

In the coming weeks, other frequent fliers and corporate travel arrangers will know everything we do. I think their reaction will be similar to ours.

That's why airlines would be wise to gauge the reaction on Flyertalk.

I agree with Plato90s, we FTers just happen to know what is happening first. Many people won't realize there has been a change until either 10/1 or 1/03.

Unfortunetly the newmedia does even know about us, or they would be on-top of this story.

Give it a few weeks, this will make news--especially in the middle of an election campaign. No doubt that AARP will announce that this hurts the senior traveller more then the general public.

Right on. That is the main reason I joined FT. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

Again right. But I would like to add on to it to say that most of us fly on cheap tickets. When was the last time any

one of us paid $1700+ for a transpacific 'Y'.

Absolutely Correct.

Yes, we know the details and react earlier. To say that our reactions will be indicative of the feedback the airlines will receive would be incorrect.

Let me explain.

We are a good statistical sampling of elite frequent flyers buying el cheapo fares. ( atleast 70-80% fares bought are in that category ). On level 1, we are not a good statistical sample of the "regular traveller"(read non-elite). This is because we fly more and know the system better. On Level 2, we are also not a good statistical sample of the "elite traveller". This is because we know how to beat the system.

Like I said before, it creates a situation where a lot of high paying customers are feeling left out (upgrades, standbys, priority seating etc).

Yes they would know. Would their reaction be the same as ours. Yes and No.

Yes, in the sense that they would go with the airline that gives them the max flexibility on tickets as a reasonable price.

No, because they would not care about fares not earning base miles or any other sops. All they would care about is the fare. Long live the bean counters. Thats the businees motto

For example sake, lets take my company. It books around 1000+ tickets from ORD-SFO/LAX every month. The two preferred carriers are AA and UA. If UA does not give elite base miles on discounted fares but beats AA fares by 10-15% consistently, do you think they would still go with AA. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

Just about every airline and hotel keeps an eye on Flyertalk. Though it gives them an idea of what the reaction would be, decisions cannot be based on it. Remember, we are not a preferred statistical sampling. Not the kinds airlines/hotels want.

What they do get out of Flyertalk is positive criticism. We as a group push the envelope. A tiny link broken on the website. We find it. If there is a hole in the system, we manipulate it. Post a wrong fare and we would make you pay for it.
---------------

Mileage programs are marketing tools. If the airlines do not get the targeted result out of it, they are bound to make changes. And that's happening right now. Even if you have 1 million miles or top tier elite ststus, you don't own anything. Some of us think we do. IMHO, that group is the spoiled group. And they are the ones who would walk out of the game when the going gets tough. Stick around and you would always reap the benefits.


[This message has been edited by Bourne (edited 09-03-2002).]

In addition to the low percentage of flyers FTers comprise, remember that many of the new customers flying US every week have no concept of FF benefits/changes. They are only on a US flight because US gave them the best price.

When we read FT every day we may start assuming that all airline customers are as outraged as us. But unfortunately that's not the case.

Thanks for the giving voice to commonsense, clubercp.

Someone reading these boards over the past week would conclude that we were still living in '82 -- and people could still take their business to Braniff, or Pan Am, or Eastern, etc.

"Which airlines will be left to go to?" is the most sensible question posted in a while. On the CO, DL, AA and UA boards, you can read endless squawks and threats from FTrs declaring that they'll 'divorce' their airline if it doesn't restore XYZ amenity or if it dares to implement ABC rule change.

"I hate HoKeY, I'm going to UA."
"Use it or lose it is awful, I'm jumping to DL"
"SGB is an abomination, I'm jumping to CO."

But at the end of the day, it's sounding like the passenger who cried wolf.

Facts: AA and CO are cutting schedules, CO is hyping 'no waivers, no favors,' UA is tightening all the screws it can find, USAir is closing in fast on 'beyond hope.'

Time for a reality intervention: Southwest and JetBlue simply don't have enough planes to accommodate all the people threatening to switch to them.

Nor do they have the route system in place to accomodate everyone. Remind me again -- exactly how many international routes do those guys do? And that's just for starters.

You guys are right -- everyone is going to quietly return to paying full fares next week.

How could anyone be so silly as to think otherwise?

Now there's a thought. There have been copies of many well written letters and emails posted. Why not send some of them to AARP, AAA, Consumer's Union (Travel Letter), BTN, IAPA, Air Travelers Assoc, and any other travel newsletters/publications.

I'm circulating my stuff to where-ever it makes sense. Not just this forum. But I need actual e-mail addresses...

Anyone who'd like to should feel free to send a copy of any of my stuff to whoever they think needs to hear it.