Jun 9, 2014, 2:29 am
Last edit by: billybligh
PLACEHOLDER FOR LINK TO KICKSTARTER CAMPAIGN
Smisek INTERVENTION LETTER USA Today AD (feel free to change/morph/add/subract/correct)
Dear Mr. Smisek, over the past two years, we have watched as two great airlines came together only to become a shell of its former selves. You show a 'flyer-friendly' face in the videos every time we fly on your planes and yet you do the exact opposite with your actions. Systemwide, we see your helpless employees ask us to write to you to complain because they have been stripped of the tools to help us, your customer, fly your airline. We hear flight attendants on our flights talk in the galley behind closed curtains about the mess your decisions make. You continue to lie to us to where we do not trust you anymore.
Many of us have regretfully stopped flying United because of your actions. More of us will join the others if you continue down this destructive path. If you continue on this destructive path, we feel it will have irreversible effects on the airline we love so much. We are asking you to save United by stepping down and allow new, more competent management to take it back where it belongs - amongst the top of your competitors.
Your Best Customers
We can only pull it off with a lot of input and collaboration.
Feel free to elaborate.
First, how much ad can we afford, if any?
What are you willing to chip in?
Please add yourselves and the amount.
1. funOFflying $20
2. N1120A $100
3. points_maniac $100
4. davidviolin $50
5. Weez_1000 $100
6. 5khours $100
7. CCIE_Flyer $100
8. riphamilton $25
9. warreng24 $20
10: rittenhousesq $20
11. DrEvil $1,000,000
12. higgsjoa $50
13. NITISH $200
14. CMK10 $25
15. mzrn $100
16. Donjo $100
17. jSmisek $5
18. hungarianhc $50
19. boss315 $100
20. CopperSteve $100
21. UrbaneGent $100
22. Sterndogg $50
23. nikolastojsin $100
24. MatthewLAX $10
25. IAHtraveler $150
26. andersjt $1000
27. Hadrian35 $25
28. TommyC80 $50
29. billybligh $35
Smisek INTERVENTION LETTER USA Today AD (feel free to change/morph/add/subract/correct)
Dear Mr. Smisek, over the past two years, we have watched as two great airlines came together only to become a shell of its former selves. You show a 'flyer-friendly' face in the videos every time we fly on your planes and yet you do the exact opposite with your actions. Systemwide, we see your helpless employees ask us to write to you to complain because they have been stripped of the tools to help us, your customer, fly your airline. We hear flight attendants on our flights talk in the galley behind closed curtains about the mess your decisions make. You continue to lie to us to where we do not trust you anymore.
Many of us have regretfully stopped flying United because of your actions. More of us will join the others if you continue down this destructive path. If you continue on this destructive path, we feel it will have irreversible effects on the airline we love so much. We are asking you to save United by stepping down and allow new, more competent management to take it back where it belongs - amongst the top of your competitors.
Your Best Customers
We can only pull it off with a lot of input and collaboration.
Feel free to elaborate.
First, how much ad can we afford, if any?
What are you willing to chip in?
Please add yourselves and the amount.
1. funOFflying $20
2. N1120A $100
3. points_maniac $100
4. davidviolin $50
5. Weez_1000 $100
6. 5khours $100
7. CCIE_Flyer $100
8. riphamilton $25
9. warreng24 $20
10: rittenhousesq $20
11. DrEvil $1,000,000
12. higgsjoa $50
13. NITISH $200
14. CMK10 $25
15. mzrn $100
16. Donjo $100
17. jSmisek $5
18. hungarianhc $50
19. boss315 $100
20. CopperSteve $100
21. UrbaneGent $100
22. Sterndogg $50
23. nikolastojsin $100
24. MatthewLAX $10
25. IAHtraveler $150
26. andersjt $1000
27. Hadrian35 $25
28. TommyC80 $50
29. billybligh $35
Should we buy USA Today ad and express our point of view on UA troubles?
Jun 9, 2014, 2:40 pm
#46
Formerly known as UATexasFlyer
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: AUS
Programs: AA EXP, Hyatt Diamond, Marriott Lifetime Plat, Natl. Car Exec Elite, UA 1MM, *G
Posts: 451
Nice idea, but too late for this UA million miler. I voted with my feet and left.
80 segments this year on AA and not a single RJ flight.
Upgrades @ 95%
Hot meals in F
Wifi on 98% of the flights and it works and I do have to spend 10 minutes signing in
Friendly GAs and FAs
Overall great experience this year.
Admirals club that's clean and not crowded with great restrooms.
Free drink and a snack if I don't get upgraded
Not a peep from UA as to where this 150k mile 130 segment customer went? They really don't care.
UA is a lost cause IMHO
80 segments this year on AA and not a single RJ flight.
Upgrades @ 95%
Hot meals in F
Wifi on 98% of the flights and it works and I do have to spend 10 minutes signing in
Friendly GAs and FAs
Overall great experience this year.
Admirals club that's clean and not crowded with great restrooms.
Free drink and a snack if I don't get upgraded
Not a peep from UA as to where this 150k mile 130 segment customer went? They really don't care.
UA is a lost cause IMHO
Jun 9, 2014, 3:26 pm
#47
Suspended
Join Date: Oct 2010
Posts: 3,790
Jun 9, 2014, 3:36 pm
#48
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: COS
Programs: UA Gold/1.5MM (several years running now!), Marriott LTTE, Hertz Prez
Posts: 1,899
Even pmUA didn't utter a word when a years-long GS just somehow vanished. They would soft land to 1K, I'll give them that much. Does CO do that now?
Jun 9, 2014, 4:45 pm
#50
Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 923
A few thoughts:
- If going to do an ad, do WSJ.
- If you do WSJ, I'll contribute.
- I think the better idea is to find that guy who wrote a song when his guitar was smashed. Give him a few bucks to write another song and have him post it. You'll reach a lot more people and then other outlets will report that discontent
- I agree with previous poster that momentum is building and now is the time
Jun 9, 2014, 7:28 pm
#52
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: GVA (Greater Vancouver Area)
Programs: DREAD Gold; UA 1.035MM; Bonvoy Au-197; PCC Elite+; CCC Elite+; MSC C-12; CWC Au-197; WoH Dis
Posts: 52,121
I guess it makes some sort of perverse sense. United has become the "USA Today" of airlines.
Jun 9, 2014, 7:33 pm
#53
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: LAS HNL
Programs: DL DM, 5.7 MM, UA 3.1 MM, MARRIOTT PLATINUM, AVIS FIRST, Amex Black Card
Posts: 4,479
Jun 9, 2014, 9:57 pm
#56
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: ORD/MDW
Programs: BA/AA/AS/B6/WN/ UA/HH/MR and more like 'em but most felicitously & importantly MUCCI
Posts: 19,718
Jun 9, 2014, 11:40 pm
#57
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: SFO
Programs: UA 1K MM
Posts: 97
I'm in ($50) as a completely disgruntled pmUA flyer still held to UA by the SFO fortress. I think the very idea that a group of folks amassed the contributions at $20-100 each to take out an ad could be very effective - the publicity from this would be terrific. This garners more publicity than grumbling to an internet board. The target audience is the board who could vote Smisek out. WSJ would be better than USA Today, but we need to compare the rates.
Jun 10, 2014, 3:23 am
#59
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: LAS HNL
Programs: DL DM, 5.7 MM, UA 3.1 MM, MARRIOTT PLATINUM, AVIS FIRST, Amex Black Card
Posts: 4,479
Jun 10, 2014, 3:56 am
#60
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Dubai / NYC
Programs: EK-IO, UA-1K2MM, ETIHAD-GOLD, SPG-PLAT LIFETIME, JUMEIRAH SERIUS GOLD
Posts: 5,220
That's because almost everyone posting here is a plat, 1K or GS. Why should they care......those of us complaining are still shoveling money right into their pockets. I don't care how the stock is doing, did they make or lose money, etc. I don't think they really believe they are losing Elites (Elites that are profitable at least) & if they do lose some Elites, so what, they just get a few new ones from AA/DL to replace them. That's the way it is and the way unfortunately it always will be. UA needs a rude awakening in order to get its house in order. The current management has a closed mind set. Until that changes (and it ain't changing any time soon), nothing will change.....full page ad or not