I second that emotion.

Will

Just out of curiosity, does anyone know how many people hit 1K each year? Given that UA claims like 42M people on its MP rolls (although the VAST majority of them are probably GMs), if they can give "Thank You" notes to people that hit 1K status, there can't be more than a few thousand of you (soon to be us!) every year...

I get the cards all the time. They are a very nice gesture.

3 or 4 months ago, during the Captain's usual welcome aboard announcement he said, "...and I want to especially welcome one of our Million Mile Flyers who is with us onboard today." The FA then came by and said, "That was for you." Seems I was the only Million Miler onboard this particular flight.

I think I have received 4 of those cards this year alone (and I'm not UGS). I save them all.

Once in a while, I pull it out while having a beer and my buddies will look at it and say something in surprise. They know me as the guy who flys a lot, but the guy who gets cards from the Captain - whoa!

I really appreciate each and every one - it makes me incredibly loyal.

On the topic of female captains on the 747, I haven't had that yet, but I did have a 777 where both the Captain and the FO were female - SFO-IAD. It was fun listening to them trade off on Ch 9 and I wonder how many others noticed the slight changes in voice. I asked before deplaning, and it was confirmed, both were ladies.

I've had a few notes from the cockpit. It's always a pleasant and long-lasting memory.

I made a point to thank one of the pilots after the flight in order to urge him to do this more and get his other pilot pals to do the same. I told him that since there really isn't that much that separates AA from UA for most very frequent flyers, the real competitive edge is going to be the sense of acknowledgement. When it comes down to pushing the button between an AA or a UA flight, it's not the food or the movies that makes the difference. It's the remembrance that you are expected and respected that is the tie-breaker when schedule and price are equal.

For such a low cost gesture (can it take longer than 5 minutes during the doldrums of three hours at 35,000ft?), it's an action with very high impact.

I told the pilot that signing his name on a card with a word of thanks was like printing money for UA.

I can understand why UA doesn't require this kind of thing. Insincere thanks easily turns sour. But some VP of flight operations would be really smart to work with the marketing department to urge some inflight marketing when the best customers are a captive audience. And why not flight attendants too? Why don't flight attendants echo the same message and offer a simple expression of acknowledgement and thanks? I'm not saying this because I'm an egomaniac. I just want UA to survive.

Come to think of it, the only consistent acknowledgement of my status that I get from UA is from the Mileage Plus agents. Every time I call them (and I don't mean reservations) I hear something like this: "Oh, I see that you are a 1K Million Mile Flyer. Thank you for flying with us so often Mr. WayMaker."

Could it be that the only UA employees who have instructions to consistently acknowledge good customers are those who report to the marketing department? Why isn't everyone trying to woo new and return customers?

I flew IAD-OAK last saturday on flight 231, a 757. The captain wrote each 1K a personal note on the back of his business card. The note included his personal e-mail address, which I thought was a nice touch.

------------------
Has YOUR airline ENHANCED you lately?

It is amazing that these guys are going extra mile these days. Remember few years back they were running the airline late for their contract negotiations?

I still to this day meet a lot of business travelers that wouldn't fly United unless they really have to , just because they had that horrible summer experience..

I received one last year on a IAD-SEA flight. The flight attendant giving it to me was almost as surprised as I was since I was/am a lowly 1P.

Liz it's only because they don't know how fun it is to get stuck in a revolving door with you!

In October flying First from LAX-HNL we were both really caught by surprise when we were given captain thank you cards since we're both only 1Ps. But it was a really nice touch!

IAD - SEA and SEA - IAD are the flights I've received these cards the most on. Does anyone else have multiple cards from "Captain Bob"?

Does anyone feel less special after reading that its pretty commonplace? And WayMaker, although your last name is very unique I'm a bit surprised you picked it as your FT handle.

OTOH, i'm glad to see that captains are taking some responsibility for customer service&appreciation.

Ever used one to pick up women?

Whoa! What are you pulling out?

quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Originally posted by SFO 1K:

Once in a while, I pull it out while having a beer and my buddies will look at it and say something in surprise.


No...He said "he PULLED it out"!!!