CrankyFlier: Blaming United's problems on Continental (and v.v.) is the problem
Jul 10, 2014, 5:44 pm
#76
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So what flight was this that had a crew mixture?
Jul 10, 2014, 6:03 pm
#77
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: RIC
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Too bad sCO management is retiring most of the 763 fleet.
Jul 10, 2014, 6:09 pm
#78
Suspended
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Jul 10, 2014, 7:21 pm
#81
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Potomac MD
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Key point. The sUA side was very happy, wanted things to work out, yet what did they quickly see from the new "CO Management"
(1) no joint contracts, efforts to force the sCO contracts on them, out-sourcing combined with efforts to shift the flying to sCO, then to outsource where ever he can.
(2) cuts in product quality that passengers took out on them (coffee is a good e.g)
(3) cuts to their discretion and ability to fix problems (SHARES and new more restrictive "just say no" policies
(4) bad operational results and bad financial results to match them.
Any good will rapidly went away. The sCO side rapidly followed in hating Jeff, no one wants to follow a guy like him.
This point gets missed. United was good to its elites, otherwise it was not a great airline in the 2000s, and did nothing new after PS/E+ were added. It stagnated. However, in 2010-11 things were on an upswing. Meanwhile many of the things we don't like about the merged carrier (cuts in soft product, TODs) had started to spread at CO. The CO of 2010 was not the CO of 2001-6, it was worse.
Employees want to do a good job. When tools are taking away from them, and passengers justifiable take it out on them, they stop carrying about their jobs. That is what has happened in spades at UAL. Sad, but your post is oh so true....
(1) no joint contracts, efforts to force the sCO contracts on them, out-sourcing combined with efforts to shift the flying to sCO, then to outsource where ever he can.
(2) cuts in product quality that passengers took out on them (coffee is a good e.g)
(3) cuts to their discretion and ability to fix problems (SHARES and new more restrictive "just say no" policies
(4) bad operational results and bad financial results to match them.
Any good will rapidly went away. The sCO side rapidly followed in hating Jeff, no one wants to follow a guy like him.
This point gets missed. United was good to its elites, otherwise it was not a great airline in the 2000s, and did nothing new after PS/E+ were added. It stagnated. However, in 2010-11 things were on an upswing. Meanwhile many of the things we don't like about the merged carrier (cuts in soft product, TODs) had started to spread at CO. The CO of 2010 was not the CO of 2001-6, it was worse.
Employees want to do a good job. When tools are taking away from them, and passengers justifiable take it out on them, they stop carrying about their jobs. That is what has happened in spades at UAL. Sad, but your post is oh so true....
Jul 10, 2014, 7:22 pm
#83
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Who knows -- if they get rid of the current management, new management could have different ideas and halt some of the retirements. There's only one way to expand, and retaining existing frames is the fastest way to do it.
DL seems to be doing just fine with 752s and 763s -- the very same planes that CO is retiring.
DL also has better ON TIME than UA, despite its older fleet (much as PMUA had better ON TIME than CO did despite its older fleet).
DL seems to be doing just fine with 752s and 763s -- the very same planes that CO is retiring.
DL also has better ON TIME than UA, despite its older fleet (much as PMUA had better ON TIME than CO did despite its older fleet).
Jul 10, 2014, 7:24 pm
#84
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Jul 10, 2014, 7:42 pm
#85
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I thinks the article was well written and fairly spreads the blame all around - except that it makes no mention of the airline's de facto dismissal of its best customers..
The trouble is, we all know what went wrong. We all know the bad decisions management made.
However, four years into the new airline, we still do not have a management with a mission and a vision - expect to cut its way to profitability - if that is even possible.
Let's hope that the board will soon find a management team with a vision and the ability to please investors and customers.
SOON!
The trouble is, we all know what went wrong. We all know the bad decisions management made.
However, four years into the new airline, we still do not have a management with a mission and a vision - expect to cut its way to profitability - if that is even possible.
Let's hope that the board will soon find a management team with a vision and the ability to please investors and customers.
SOON!
The executive team is too busy putting together reasons why the airline is underperforming for Wall Street instead of building a culture.
...
On the cost side, United brought in both McKinsey and BCG, two expensive consulting groups with mixed results (that’s being generous) in the airline industry, to create a plan. This is the kind of stuff that’s core to the business. You shouldn’t need a consultant to tell you how to run your airline.
...
On the cost side, United brought in both McKinsey and BCG, two expensive consulting groups with mixed results (that’s being generous) in the airline industry, to create a plan. This is the kind of stuff that’s core to the business. You shouldn’t need a consultant to tell you how to run your airline.
If United really wants to cut its costs, the best thing it could do is to start running a better operation. After all, year-to-date, including regional partners, United has canceled more than 5 percent of its flights. That’s more than American, Delta, Southwest, or US Airways.
Jul 10, 2014, 7:49 pm
#86
Join Date: Aug 2005
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You mean the hard product is laughable? I agree. F is a joke compared to almost all other carriers. sUA Business is miles behind the competition and even coach is much worse than many other carriers. Most pax avoid sUA C like hell. Many year ago it may have been acceptable but in today's market it cannot compete.
Jul 10, 2014, 7:53 pm
#87
Join Date: Jun 2014
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Just need to get this pet peeve off my chest. Fly UA almost exclusively as 1MM and I am struck how frequently on arrival either the gate is occupied or we need to wait on the ground crew to guide the plane to the gate.
Both scenarios typically preceded by the "I've got good news and bad news" announcement from the flight deck.
AARGH!
Both scenarios typically preceded by the "I've got good news and bad news" announcement from the flight deck.
AARGH!
Jul 10, 2014, 7:53 pm
#88
Join Date: Feb 2009
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Crankyflier completely, unmitigatedly, unequvically nailed it.
Except that UA has been a mess for at least the last 30 years. I have looked at the CO-UA merger as voluntairly wanting to contract Hep C.
Your first clue was Larry Kellner, a top finance guy, looking at the books, and passing, and taking retirement when he was overruled.
Your second clue is Jeff Smisek, who I swear has aged a good 15 years in the last 3.
It's sad. I mean, I used to live in LA and will be back for good soon (serving a sentence in Vegas right now, when my house goes up another 15%, i'm out of here). I chose CO because I didn't want to fly UA.
BTW, I'm 300K from MM status, and am not sure how much aggravation I want to put up with to get it. I'm also not sure Smisek won't take it away from me by the time I get there. Right now, I'm guessing 2022 to make it.
Except that UA has been a mess for at least the last 30 years. I have looked at the CO-UA merger as voluntairly wanting to contract Hep C.
Your first clue was Larry Kellner, a top finance guy, looking at the books, and passing, and taking retirement when he was overruled.
Your second clue is Jeff Smisek, who I swear has aged a good 15 years in the last 3.
It's sad. I mean, I used to live in LA and will be back for good soon (serving a sentence in Vegas right now, when my house goes up another 15%, i'm out of here). I chose CO because I didn't want to fly UA.
BTW, I'm 300K from MM status, and am not sure how much aggravation I want to put up with to get it. I'm also not sure Smisek won't take it away from me by the time I get there. Right now, I'm guessing 2022 to make it.
Jul 10, 2014, 8:16 pm
#89
Join Date: May 2012
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There are too many problems when flying UA. They simply do not care for passengers. For example, both of first legs of my recent trip had crew rest caused delays, which would definitely cause misconnections. No one at UA protected me for later connection flights at four hours before the departure times. If I did not act, I would stuck at EWR on inbound and ORD on outbound. As a 1K, I wish that I could be treated better.
Jul 10, 2014, 8:25 pm
#90
Join Date: Jan 2005
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"Premier. Regional. Airline."
Funny how the phrase 'Glorified. Regional. Airline.' was verboten on this forum for much of the past two years, yet now is basically recognized as fact.
Funny how the phrase 'Glorified. Regional. Airline.' was verboten on this forum for much of the past two years, yet now is basically recognized as fact.