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-   -   AMA "Closing Keynote: Transforming the MileagePlus Program at United Airlines" (https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/united-airlines-mileageplus/1436976-ama-closing-keynote-transforming-mileageplus-program-united-airlines.html)

LarkSFO Feb 11, 2013 7:54 am


Originally Posted by halls120 (Post 20224944)
If AA manages to avoid the problems suffered by UA during their upcoming merger,

That is a huge "If", wouldn't you agree?

Firewind Feb 11, 2013 2:15 pm

I have no illusions that AA EXP status - and all that it entails - hasn't been a brief shining moment. I can't see how AA can stay this far out in front of UA under bankruptcy pressure, the way AA and UA have always watched and reacted to each other. But for this brief shining moment, I am glad to pay for JetBlue's and AA's products, earn AA miles, and use my miles to fly free on AA as an EXP. Moreover, on discovering B6's product (34", 30 channels including live news, plush leather seat, unlimited snacks if I want them) I find I don't need all the uncertain UA status and frills anymore.

benblaney Feb 11, 2013 3:11 pm


Originally Posted by luv2ctheworld (Post 20218200)
Wirelessly posted (BB Curve: Mozilla/5.0 (Macintosh; U; Intel Mac OS X 10_6_3; en-us) AppleWebKit/533.16 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/5.0 Safari/533.16)

Funny, AA just sent out an exhaustive survey regarding their AAdvantage program. Something I have never seen UA do for their elites (minus the Chase credit card survey). UA claims to have insight but does not even send out a comparable survey.

Two thoughts:

1. you can survey all you like, but it doesn't mean it's going to be meaningful. if you survey people about how often they'll use a new gym that's going to open near them, they'll tell you that they will use it a lot more than they actually will.

2. With that much data, they can gain insight by correlation of policy and price changes to actual bookings received. All companies can do that, even those with few customers, few products, and few transactions. You can bet your shirt on the fact that an airline can do it.

If I were United, I'd do doing data analytics more than surveys.

luv2ctheworld Feb 11, 2013 4:17 pm


Originally Posted by benblaney (Post 20228066)
Two thoughts:

1. you can survey all you like, but it doesn't mean it's going to be meaningful. if you survey people about how often they'll use a new gym that's going to open near them, they'll tell you that they will use it a lot more than they actually will.

2. With that much data, they can gain insight by correlation of policy and price changes to actual bookings received. All companies can do that, even those with few customers, few products, and few transactions. You can bet your shirt on the fact that an airline can do it.

If I were United, I'd do doing data analytics more than surveys.

Don't disagree on your first point... but surveys can give insight into intention and preference that data mining may not. Why? Simply because data mining is using a set of historical data to build out a model, and while it is certainly useful, it lacks in giving alternatives because the data was based on existing choices, and not new/potential ones that a survey can give insight to.

To your second point, yes, absolutely any company worth their salt is going to data mine their records. Plenty of case studies, articles, and papers on that. Having done some projects related to consumer behavior, it has been an enlightning look at how organizations can benefit. But again, surveys do offer insight that data analytics doesn't.

Using a two prong approach will provide a better picture as well as give the appearance the company is interested in hearing from the customer; an intangible that does have positive benefits (as noted by my perception of UA).

TA Feb 11, 2013 4:30 pm

If you think that you're going to get a response on the survey, you don't understand the different kinds of surveys.

UA's surveys are "tracking surveys" that keep an eye out for anything going really wrong, statistically, and are not designed for detailed feedback to each individual flight crew for example. Versus hotel surveys where the manager is getting them back in his/her inbox directly and has the time/visibility into why a customer did/did not enjoy the experience.

SunLover Feb 11, 2013 4:55 pm


Originally Posted by BlackMountain (Post 20223286)
Fundamentally, I wonder whether the metrics the "revenue enhancement" operation are being judged by internally are at odds with the metrics of total revenue generation long term, since the "extra revenue" celebration from a few "upsells" can be seen immediately but the hangover from losing your best customers can take a year to show up as companies review their contracts, and individuals evaluate where they are going to spend their money in the coming year.

Unless you are a state affiliated airline the basic economic thinking has historically been to accelerate revenues/defer expenses and worry about tomorrow tomorrow. Companies who are frequently in and out of bankruptcy and are accustomed to seeing their peers go out of business on a regular basis tend to think that way.


SunLover

halls120 Feb 11, 2013 6:50 pm


Originally Posted by LarkSFO (Post 20225409)
That is a huge "If", wouldn't you agree?

It depends. DL and NW managed to merge with out the chaos enjoyed by UA and CO. Maybe they will learn form both previous mergers and do it correctly.

Eastbay1K Feb 11, 2013 6:53 pm


Originally Posted by LarkSFO (Post 20218055)
But instead of shirking from the challenge United decided to take the data initiative even further by launching a completely revamped MileagePlus program that has given them an unprecedented understanding of its customers that has helped drive revenue and change the customer experience."

Good thing they still provide vomit bags on the plane.


Originally Posted by halls120 (Post 20229121)
It depends. DL and NW managed to merge with out the chaos enjoyed by UA and CO. Maybe they will learn form both previous mergers and do it correctly.

Different animal. AA will be essentially America West Airlines management, no? If you think CO was the podunk player in a huge merger, you ain't seen nothing yet.

FlyWorld Feb 11, 2013 7:35 pm


Originally Posted by Eastbay1K (Post 20229133)
Good thing they still provide vomit bags on the plane.

That's the only way I can get through the $mi$ek lectures.

c502cid Feb 11, 2013 10:02 pm


Originally Posted by TA (Post 20228496)
If you think that you're going to get a response on the survey, you don't understand the different kinds of surveys.

UA's surveys are "tracking surveys" that keep an eye out for anything going really wrong, statistically, and are not designed for detailed feedback to each individual flight crew for example. Versus hotel surveys where the manager is getting them back in his/her inbox directly and has the time/visibility into why a customer did/did not enjoy the experience.

Glad you are much smarter than me. It's a wonder then why United puts an empty box asking for detailed feedback why I answered a question some way or what employees went out of their way to make my travel experience memorable.
Also wonder why I get responses from hotel corporate, followed by hotel management.
Guess I really don't understand how things work. Thanks for enlightening me.

Always Flyin Feb 12, 2013 12:49 am


Originally Posted by BigPoppaCO (Post 20223340)
As people from the old CO board can attest, I'm far from a UA/CO apologist. I like to think I'm objective but as far as I'm concerned:

- I've yet to miss a GPU, including EWR-TLV 2x
- I've been able to redeem Saver Class BF rewards 2x
- I haven't had a single IRROP that lasted more than 1 hour
- EWR is my home base and it's neither good nor bad (ie, same as it ever was)
- My biggest frustration has been over pilot's not turning on Ch9 out of spite
- I'm generally pleased with the service I receive on the phone as a 1K
- AA DEFINITELY treats their EXP's better than CO's treat 1K's. In my short time as an EXP I was blown away
- Was not at all impressed with AA's hard C/F hard prodict
- Was blown away on my most recent DL flight by how far they've come. Probably better than UA, at least until wi-fi is installed fleet-wide

I flew 125K+ miles in 2012, mostly on M-class or higher. Conclusion: UA is extraordinarily mediocre. Good enough for me as long as I sit up front >80% of the time and I can redeem my GPU's & miles.

I was a 15-year 1K flying mostly on international business class fares. My spend was apparently never enough to make GS, however.

I had never missed an international upgrade either until last fall. EWR-LHR on a B fare. A B fare! I really enjoyed my flight in Y.

Since then, I saw UA continue to deteriorate. I grew disgusted with UA's attitude toward its "elites" (could someone please explain to me who is not elite with CO . . . I mean UA?).

I no longer fly UA except for very limited circumstances.

I'm happy your experiences are better than mine.

ozstamps Feb 12, 2013 10:56 am


Originally Posted by Luvs2snowbordbut1kSEA (Post 20218410)

I too have not flown UA in months, and continuously get emails and snail mail from them and Chase.

Not one, however, has asked why my travel on UA came to a skreeching halt after 15 years of loyalty 1P or better (5 years at 1K).

Same here.

You'd think when they see folks that were 1K for over a decade solid stop buying tickets they'd ask in some way.

Michelle should not need the The Marketing Course to tell her that. @:-)
.

FlyWorld Feb 12, 2013 10:58 am


Originally Posted by ozstamps (Post 20232792)
Same here.

You'd think when they see folks that were 1K for over a decade solid stop buying tickets they'd ask in some way.

Michelle should not need the The Marketing Course to tell her that. @:-)
.

So, honestly, why is it?

They've got all these analytics and they've got a team being paid to use them, and yet, it seems none of us with long time spend history who have dropped to zero or dropped significantly have had any contact from UA whatsoever.

Anyone have an idea why?

By the way, yesterday, I got a huge packet from UA, in a padded black envelope. I was surprised and thought to myself ... humm, what are they up to? It seemed like something big.

So, I opened it. Turns out it was a catalog of hotels that I can stay at where I can use my mileage plus red carpet club card to get free breakfast.

Wow. This is where they are putting resources?

benblaney Feb 12, 2013 11:01 am


Originally Posted by ozstamps (Post 20232792)
You'd think when they see folks that were 1K for over a decade solid stop buying tickets they'd ask in some way.

but if those folks were fundamentally unprofitable...

thing is, here: everyone thinks that the airlines are desperate for their revenue. they're not. airlines are desperate for profit. given the airline's wafer-thin margins, for every healthy margin-contributing passenger, there are a number who are hurting the firm.

90% of people polled say they're a better driver than average. but that's mathematically impossible.

ozstamps Feb 12, 2013 11:03 am


Originally Posted by mitchmu (Post 20232805)
So, honestly, why is it?

They've got all these analytics and they've got a team being paid to use them, and yet, it seems none of us with long time spend history who have dropped to zero or dropped significantly have had any contact from UA whatsoever.

Anyone have an idea why?

Why did Atlanta bring out "The New Coca Cola".

Some overpaid Execs decided it was a great idea. :D

Smisek's cowboys deliberately decided to alienate a large chunk of their most profitable Elite Base for reasons unknown, and are hardly going to come back and ask "how is that working out for you folks?"

.


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