Ryan,

So do you think UAL management did a good job of handling this initiative and then retracting it? Did this build a lot of good will with their best customers? How about the great job they did communicating the details of the plan?

Try putting down your talking points.

I never said this was a good idea, in fact I thought the PR dept did a pretty crappy job, as to if was a good idea to retract it I'd say that was a good idea. I am saying its getting tired, sad and pathetic that every time anything and everything happens we get a note from ALPA whining about how everything is Tiltons fault waa waa waa. If 73% are looking for new jobs as you say lets hope they find them, IME the new employees are far more motivated and pleasant to interact with and aren't accustom to unsustainable wages.

No kidding. As I said before, the domestic C meal service reductions bugs me a lot more than charging Economy customers for BOB meals in lieu of TV dinners.

I am still looking at switching to AA because of the misaligned attitude by United senior management that they should further cut away from the premium cabin customer experience.

I understand not everyone pays for C. But many customers do. Treating your premium cabin customers with such an attitude of disdain is like cutting off the hand that feeds you. As for upgraders, Untied won't have to worry about them upgrading or buying Economy tickets and flying United to earn upgrades if they continue to degrade their premium cabin product.

As Gordon Bethune said, you can make a pizza so cheap that no one wants to eat it. It's funny to see how CO has come from such a crummy airline to being an airline that FlyerTalkers regularly reference when trying to give examples of a superior domestic F product.

Finally, on a tangental note, it's interesting that AA can offer its int'l upgraders Arrivals Lounge access and give International First Class Lounge access to EXPs and United can't even serve a hot meal to customers in paid domestic Business class. Certainly not the best comparison, but there's a message here.

P.S. Unfortunately, you cannot "simply raise fares" to cover the costs for these items (as Economy customers demonstrate time and time again that price is the most important). You actually have to have a premium cabin worth paying for.

We still haven't established whether dom C pax will have glassware, right? (Or silverware with which to tuck into their gas station sandwiches?)

My thoughts, too. :rolleyes:

I think it hit the press when it did BECAUSE the FA memo got out. That was not intentional on UAs part.

I hope you understand that the domestic C meal service reduction applies only to a small fraction of domestic flights -- those operated on internationally-configured three-class widebody aircraft, which exclusively fly a flight or two a day between UA's hubs. The vast majority of domestic mainline flying remains a two-class product (F and Y) with no changes.

The whole announcement and retraction of this service degradation has been handled so poorly that I cannot fault you if you're confused.

The feedback on the removal of complimentary meals in international economy flights from IAD was so overwhelmingly negative, that UA assumes you complained!:D

This was Graham Atkinson's blunder from start to finish. We should reverse the dAArkside slogan for his lack of skills and lack of appreciation of UA customers: "We (don't) know why you fly!":p

Next we'll all be hearing whispers from Glen Tilton/Pilots Union/Flight Attendants Union/some DYKWIA UGS to claim credit for reversing Mr. Atkinson's decision.:p

At least the decision to stop the tests, was made before the catering contracts were cancelled and most of the IAD kitchen staff were fired. Right?:rolleyes:


[QUOTE=cstead;10298525]I don't recall giving UA any "direct, candid feedback" about this...did they just mass-mail the elite base, ....QUOTE]

Thinking more about this. Even though C might be filled with upgrades, I have sat next to plenty of folks that are paid C/D through some kind of corporate contract. I wonder what they think about this, or if the even do...

For all the people questioning "why did I get this?", you can be singular or plural in English. Read it with that in mind, and it all makes sense.

And the BOB service is better than the *nothing* that AA serves on their 3 class domestic flights?

Yes (in part) but you missed the point. Actually the fare was cheaper, virtually all my 500 milers go unused, and my decision was based on a number of factors related to United. The TATL food charges were the final straw after numerous other cuts and service downgrades. I have continually paid a premium for my United flights and, it is true, benefited from 1P status. But there is a limit - paying for food in Y was mine. Others will no doubt think differently.

KiwiPanda

AA allows elites to book these seats at no charge whatsoever. I have always sat in Business (as a Plat) on the 777 on the afternoon ORD-DFW flight. They also give you an opportunity to upgrade (with instrument) to F. United's F is full of NON-REVS. I'd rather have what AA does than what is being proposed.

United is pathetic. And I am one who paid for C and D on domestic 3-cabin flights. Note past tense.

In your case the complaint makes complete sense. People who've paid for a premium class on the 3 class domestic flights should be put in F with traditional domestic F service (or better). United should change their policy, but probably won't be smart enough to do so. United should also adjust their 3 class domestic ticket pricing as well.

My point is that for upgraders (who I believe to be the majority of those complaining), there is really nothing to complain about with the Domestic C service. You get a great seat for a domestic flight, you get drinks and you get something marginal to eat.

I am impressed they heard the feedback and realized this was not going to fly. Still confused about the domestic C changes, but I am very happy the saw the light on the TATL meals.

You may be shocked to hear that AA has had Y service in domestic 3-cabin airplanes for years now.

However, I am concerned that this will mean that domestic F service will be far better than domestic C service, even though they cost the same in terms of upgrades (and most of the time, fares).

I guess it's a tradeoff of better food+less comfortable seat in F, or BOB + more comfortable seat and better entertainment in C.

Interesting tradeoff though - I'm wondering what you would choose.