WSJ Middle Seat interview {01 July 2020} with Scott Kirby
Jul 1, 2020, 8:37 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: MEM
Programs: ::US,UA,CO+ currently non-rev Plat
Posts: 132
WSJ Middle Seat interview {01 July 2020} with Scott Kirby
https://www.wsj.com/articles/flying-through-the-pandemic-with-the-new-united-ceo-11593612105?shareToken=st67a68fe8d4694967beb42325b 2f79973
{behind paywall} OP suggests alternative
https://www.wsj.com/articles/flying-...b42325b2f79973
In the email preview for the article:
The article did not end up having as many juicy tidbits as the preview let on.
{behind paywall} OP suggests alternative
https://www.wsj.com/articles/flying-...b42325b2f79973
In the email preview for the article:
Scott McCartney: "Mr. Kirby took decisive actions at United, cutting more aggressively than competitors, pushing to take on more debt and raise cash, willing to anger customers by denying refunds. When I interviewed him for this week’s Middle Seat, I suggested he had been aggressively conservative. He thought that fit.
The story shows both Mr. Kirby’s thinking–something that will affect frequent travelers–and also his views on the future of travel post-pandemic and permanent changes at airlines. There are warnings here for frequent fliers: Things aren’t all going back to normal once this is over. United, for example, will be keeping its aircraft 10 or 15 years more than it used to. Get used to older planes as airlines pay down debt. You can probably count on less service, too."
The article did not end up having as many juicy tidbits as the preview let on.
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Jul 1, 2020 at 10:20 am Reason: paywall issues
Jul 1, 2020, 8:46 am
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: TOA
Programs: HH Diamond, Marriott LTPP/Platinum Premier, Hyatt Lame-ist, UA !K
Posts: 20,061
Eh. It's Kirby. You know what cards he's dealing and the deck that he's using - and where from the deck he's pulling them from. They're called Kutbacks for a reason.
Kan't wait until UA's known as "Frontier Lite".
David
Kan't wait until UA's known as "Frontier Lite".
David
Jul 1, 2020, 8:54 am
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: MEM
Programs: ::US,UA,CO+ currently non-rev Plat
Posts: 132
Jul 1, 2020, 9:05 am
#5
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: HNL
Programs: UA GS4MM, MR LT Plat, Hilton Gold
Posts: 6,447
Jul 1, 2020, 9:10 am
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2003
Programs: UA*Lifetime GS, Hyatt* Lifetime Globalist
Posts: 12,337
Anyway, I thought it was a waste of time piece. It was not much of an interview. The only thing substantial comes out of the the article (not from Kirby's mouth) was ice and coffee are now being served.
If this is a first interview of the CEO, then he clearly did not make any impact through this interview piece.. It is a dud!
Jul 1, 2020, 9:11 am
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: MEM
Programs: ::US,UA,CO+ currently non-rev Plat
Posts: 132
Jul 1, 2020, 9:12 am
#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,413
Except for Kirby offhanded stating that he expects the mask policy to remain in place "until we have a vaccine." I don't really understand the thought process behind assuming that vaccination is just a matter of time, but I guess that's why I don't run an airline. (That's also apparently the length of time that you are on the naughty list for getting a mask refusal ban -- until the policy is over).
Jul 1, 2020, 9:13 am
#9
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: MEM
Programs: ::US,UA,CO+ currently non-rev Plat
Posts: 132
The first link does not work for me, but the second link works for me for some reasons.
Anyway, I thought it was a waste of time piece. It was not much of an interview. The only thing substantial comes out of the the article (not from Kirby's mouth) was ice and coffee are now being served.
If this is a first interview of the CEO, then he clearly did not make any impact through this interview piece.. It is a dud!
Anyway, I thought it was a waste of time piece. It was not much of an interview. The only thing substantial comes out of the the article (not from Kirby's mouth) was ice and coffee are now being served.
If this is a first interview of the CEO, then he clearly did not make any impact through this interview piece.. It is a dud!
Jul 1, 2020, 9:17 am
#11
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: New York, NY
Programs: UA, AA, DL, Hertz, Avis, National, Hyatt, Hilton, SPG, Marriott
Posts: 9,452
Worth a read but still a carefully-crafted, CorpComm-approved piece. I find Kirby is much more candid in his presentations to the financial community, where you can actually get a sense of his approach to managing the airline.
Jul 1, 2020, 11:24 am
#15
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Aug 2003
Programs: UA 1K 1MM (finally!), IHG AMB-Spire, HH Diamond
Posts: 60,174
From the article
He may end up being worse than Smisek. And Smisek was the worst.
“You have to judge decisions in the moment when you make them with what you know,”