Glenn Tilton "Bloggers (flyertalkers) have too much time on their hands"
May 4, 2010, 10:10 pm
#76
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For the purposes of this discussion it doesn't matter whether anything written in this forum is valuable to GT or to UA. It doesn't matter if he categorically disagrees with every word ever posted here or thinks in his heart of hearts we are all whiny losers. What matters is that the top spokesman for a company openly insulted a huge number of his most loyal customers. There were any number of ways he could have deflected the question: how about "a lot of people have concerns, from bloggers to everyday flyers, we understand that and we're going to work to gain their trust". Anyone with 10 minutes of media training can come up with hundreds of other innocuous deflections. That he chose to be dismissive and insulting TO HIS LOYAL CUSTOMERS is inexcusable. Good riddance.
May 4, 2010, 10:14 pm
#77
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Unfortunately, the recent comments by both of the top guys at the New United showed just how small they are, and how justified many comments to that effect on these boards have been.
May 4, 2010, 10:39 pm
#78
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For the purposes of this discussion it doesn't matter whether anything written in this forum is valuable to GT or to UA. It doesn't matter if he categorically disagrees with every word ever posted here or thinks in his heart of hearts we are all whiny losers. What matters is that the top spokesman for a company openly insulted a huge number of his most loyal customers. There were any number of ways he could have deflected the question: how about "a lot of people have concerns, from bloggers to everyday flyers, we understand that and we're going to work to gain their trust". Anyone with 10 minutes of media training can come up with hundreds of other innocuous deflections. That he chose to be dismissive and insulting TO HIS LOYAL CUSTOMERS is inexcusable. Good riddance.
May 4, 2010, 10:47 pm
#79
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I susepct you don't follow the UA/MP - FT relationship very much. The attitude on the legacy UA side has been overwhelmingly positive. Over ~ 10 years UA/MP have been incredibly responsive to issues raised on FT. They have implemented changes we asked for, and reversed poor decisons many times. Early granting of SWU's, extension of SWUs, CR-1 reversal, grandfathering 500 miler conversion, gfowler's 5x promotion, easy upgrade sponsorship, reversing the H-fare min. on SWU's are just a few that come to mind. But if you're saying it will get even better then I say "great".
I have no problem with Tilton's response not do I take it personally but he might have said, "As this is the largest airline merger it is drawing the attention of our loyal customers. We value their business, and feedback, and hope to serve them going forward."
I have no problem with Tilton's response not do I take it personally but he might have said, "As this is the largest airline merger it is drawing the attention of our loyal customers. We value their business, and feedback, and hope to serve them going forward."
Last edited by iluv2fly; May 4, 2010 at 11:00 pm Reason: merge
May 5, 2010, 12:11 am
#80
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One of the many advantages of this merger is a consequence of CO management taking the helm: CO has a much better history of participating in, and listening to members of, social media.
Glenn Tilton is a 1990s construct. I'm guessing he may still have his secretary print hard copies of e-mails for him.
Glenn Tilton is a 1990s construct. I'm guessing he may still have his secretary print hard copies of e-mails for him.
Last edited by iluv2fly; May 5, 2010 at 8:35 am Reason: merge
May 5, 2010, 12:49 am
#81
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81 posts and nobody has the decency to at least quote exactly what Tilton said before "certifying him as an idiot"? Maybe Tilton has a point...
Full transcript:
http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIP...04/qmb.01.html
QUEST: Right, now you`ve skated to my territory. Let`s talk about the business flyer and exactly-if I look at some of the online blogs, in the last 24 hours, Glenn, you are either doing a deal that is about to destroy the best airline in the world, or Jeff, you are getting into bed with the devil and you should be removed and taken out and shot. I mean, they simply-the online flyer talk community is-can`t decide which of the airlines they think is getting the best or the worst.
(CROSS TALK)
TILTON: I think, Richard, that the online bloggers community has too much free time.
SMISEK: Yes, I think they`re-I think they`re-both side are wrong, Richard. What we`re bringing together is an airline, Continental, which is know for its culture, is known for its extraordinary service levels, with a carrier like United, with a great worldwide brand, great assets, and great operational performance and operational integrity.
What customers want is high quality service and an airline that operates on time and can be relied upon.
(CROSS TALK)
TILTON: I think, Richard, that the online bloggers community has too much free time.
SMISEK: Yes, I think they`re-I think they`re-both side are wrong, Richard. What we`re bringing together is an airline, Continental, which is know for its culture, is known for its extraordinary service levels, with a carrier like United, with a great worldwide brand, great assets, and great operational performance and operational integrity.
What customers want is high quality service and an airline that operates on time and can be relied upon.
http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIP...04/qmb.01.html
May 5, 2010, 1:42 am
#82
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I think the point is, just because someone (or a group of someones) has "too much time on their hands" and often post about things like the temperature of nuts, that doesn't discredit the fact that we are - as TechnoPagan put it - representative of the larger lucrative customer base...
In my short tenure at United, I felt the attitude towards FlyerTalkers was more one of "upgraders on cheap economy fares" and customers who earned elite status on the cheapest economy fares. Of course, legacy carriers like AA and UA created this conundrum when they built loyalty programs with far more emphasis on miles flown than on dollars spent. They have tried to mitigate it with things like 150% EQMs for higher fares, but even that enticement is still based on mileage flown.
Not to suggest that there aren't high revenue FlyerTalkers or UGS members on this board. But then, how many posts do we see complaining about not being able to upgrade to sit in Business Class across the Pacific because you can't use a SWU on the lowest Economy fares from 1Ks who flew 50,000 EQMs on S, L, and T fares as mileage runs during the DEQM promotion last year? In fact, that subject has already appeared in the merger threads.
Personally I don't take any offense to Glenn's comment. To be honest, it seems to me like if that comment offends you, then maybe it is true that you do have a little too much time on your hands
Seriously though, United is quite lucky to have so many customers who feel so passionately about its future.
May 5, 2010, 3:54 am
#84
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May 5, 2010, 4:52 am
#85
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I honestly don't know why people are so hot and bothered about this careless, meaningless remark.
May 5, 2010, 6:18 am
#86
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"C'mon Nick...the hour groweth late...fess up"
If anyone can catch this movie reference...good for you!
If anyone can catch this movie reference...good for you!
May 5, 2010, 6:58 am
#87
Formerly known as fsa_ea
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May 5, 2010, 8:30 am
#88
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89 comments debating whether or not we have too much time on our hands and counting...
May 5, 2010, 8:49 am
#90
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well if one was to objectively look at some of the threads on FT its not a stretch to say some have too much free time. As pointed out the lengthly thread about the livery, how many threads are there about the temperature of nuts? How much $$ should I get for <insert sometimes legitimate sometimes not wrong here>? A whole forum dedicated to the act of flying for no reason other than to get more miles (if that doesn't say too much time I don't know what does!) etc. etc.
Seriously: There is nothing wrong with having a hobby. Hobbies oftentimes do not make a lot of sense to someone not involved in the hobby. Extensive posts on FT are a hobby.
There are, of course, useful insights and "trend marking" when the sum total of various FT comments are tallied. I am sure there is someone, somewhere within United that takes a view on this, and prepares an appropriate report.
In short, from Glenn's viewpoint, all that matters is folks purchasing tickets to fly on United. MileagePlus, E+, upgrade policy, IRROPS, route structure, etc. all play into this.