Use or Lose actually correcting any problem?
Sep 12, 2002 | 8:28 pm
#1
Original Poster
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Pittsburgh
Programs: MR LT Titanium, AA LT PLT, UA SLV, Avis PreferredPlus, HH Gold, Hertz PC, National Executive, etc.
Posts: 31,670
Use or Lose actually correcting any problem?
I posted this inreply to a thread at usaviation.com's US board. Anyone here have a valid arguement that I am missing? No one there has as of yet.
========
----------------
On 9/10/2002 8:05:36 PM CPRich wrote:
Explain to me the exact mechanics of how US loses money if I don't show up. If the flight is not sold out, there was no opportuntity to reuse the seat. And if I can call up to the minute before the flight leaves, then you didn't have the opportuntity to play revenue maximization games, reprice seats, gain a customer that was scared away due to lack of availability, etc.
If the flight it sold out, and people are on standby, I can't beleive a seat actually would go empty. That's what stand-by and the 30-minute check in is for, n'est-ce pas? I don't show up, they cancel my seat, give it to someone else, flight takes off full.
Please give me a realistic scenario where my no-show causes an opportuntity cost loss due to empty seats. And remember, you give me up until the minute before the flight leaves to escape with "frame it" status.
And what is the justification for needing to re-book a flight right away? Suppose I do call in advance and give you the courtesy of being able to give 1 more person a boarding pass at check in vs. waiting for stand-by to clear. Why do I need to give the specific date that I will be reusing it? When I rebook, there needs to be space available in my fare class, etc., so why not give me a day, a week, a month to rebook it? (other than the extra $100). I foresee lots of flights 330 days out being booked and then disappearing later. What havoc will that throw in the reservations process??
----------------
Come on folks, can no one answer this? Hmmm??
There actually is an answer where it is theoretically possible (which I have a further reply to). Surely the professionals know more then we mere 200k mi/yr fliers.
In absence of a rebuttal, I can only assume that my hypothesis is correct - these policies do not correct any flaw that would cost the airline money, they merely allow the airlines to resell to someone else something I have already paid for, while keeping my money even though I didn't use it.
========
----------------
On 9/10/2002 8:05:36 PM CPRich wrote:
Explain to me the exact mechanics of how US loses money if I don't show up. If the flight is not sold out, there was no opportuntity to reuse the seat. And if I can call up to the minute before the flight leaves, then you didn't have the opportuntity to play revenue maximization games, reprice seats, gain a customer that was scared away due to lack of availability, etc.
If the flight it sold out, and people are on standby, I can't beleive a seat actually would go empty. That's what stand-by and the 30-minute check in is for, n'est-ce pas? I don't show up, they cancel my seat, give it to someone else, flight takes off full.
Please give me a realistic scenario where my no-show causes an opportuntity cost loss due to empty seats. And remember, you give me up until the minute before the flight leaves to escape with "frame it" status.
And what is the justification for needing to re-book a flight right away? Suppose I do call in advance and give you the courtesy of being able to give 1 more person a boarding pass at check in vs. waiting for stand-by to clear. Why do I need to give the specific date that I will be reusing it? When I rebook, there needs to be space available in my fare class, etc., so why not give me a day, a week, a month to rebook it? (other than the extra $100). I foresee lots of flights 330 days out being booked and then disappearing later. What havoc will that throw in the reservations process??
----------------
Come on folks, can no one answer this? Hmmm??
There actually is an answer where it is theoretically possible (which I have a further reply to). Surely the professionals know more then we mere 200k mi/yr fliers.
In absence of a rebuttal, I can only assume that my hypothesis is correct - these policies do not correct any flaw that would cost the airline money, they merely allow the airlines to resell to someone else something I have already paid for, while keeping my money even though I didn't use it.
Sep 12, 2002 | 8:42 pm
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2000
Location: أمريكا
Posts: 26,931
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by CPRich:
Explain to me the exact mechanics of how US loses money if I don't show up.</font>
Explain to me the exact mechanics of how US loses money if I don't show up.</font>
That's probably their logic.
d