Interesting Tidbits from WHQ re: new C/F
#16
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http://genefowler.com/travel/airline...ium_Inaugural/
from fellow FTer gfowler-ord-1k.
#17
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Thanks, cstead, for some very interesting, and frank comments.
This statement annoys me no end. Unfortunately, it is indicative of UA management's approach (or lack thereof) to the problem: they seem to have given up without really trying.
And yes, I said management. Not senior FA's. Not unions. Management. (And I am not a union fan, either.) They are the ones running the show and it is their responsibility to decide what the service should be, put the resources in place to deliver it and monitor the results to ensure it is delivered as expected.
It's very discouraging to hear UA simply accept that they can never compete, because then they never will. But it is disingenuous to expect to charge higher prices than the competition when you already have decided the product is not as good.
To me, the really sad part is that once you make the investment in the hard goods, improving the rest of the product should not cost all that much.
And yes, I said management. Not senior FA's. Not unions. Management. (And I am not a union fan, either.) They are the ones running the show and it is their responsibility to decide what the service should be, put the resources in place to deliver it and monitor the results to ensure it is delivered as expected.
It's very discouraging to hear UA simply accept that they can never compete, because then they never will. But it is disingenuous to expect to charge higher prices than the competition when you already have decided the product is not as good.
To me, the really sad part is that once you make the investment in the hard goods, improving the rest of the product should not cost all that much.
#18
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 74
Age Discrimination
I believe there are US FEDERAL laws against age discrimination.
Carriers from other countries can mandate that flt atts are below a certain age because they do not have laws in effect that prevent age discrimination, along with with a lack of many civil rights across the board.
Feel free to wipe the condescending grin off your face (as indicated by your smiley).
And you wonder why you get crappy service.
#19
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ATTENTION:
No more posts about unions, age discrimination, whatever is off-topic.
Failure to do so will result in this thread being closed without warning.
Thanks for your cooperation.
iluv2fly
Moderator, UA
No more posts about unions, age discrimination, whatever is off-topic.
Failure to do so will result in this thread being closed without warning.
Thanks for your cooperation.
iluv2fly
Moderator, UA
#20
In memoriam
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I just noticed that notquietaff also posted a link to my pics.
Last edited by gfowler-ord-1k; Oct 18, 2008 at 9:02 am
#21
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UA needs to make its Y tolerable, but there is otherwise very little incentive to improve it, not only because very few competitors have a better product..
..but also because the majority of people who buy Y place a much higher priority on price, schedule, and route (in that order) than on comfort or amenities.
..That's all they did, and really, that's all I would really expect them to do, given the consumer mindset and especially in today's market.
As a revenge for UA's xenophobic fit with the DEQM discrimination, I bought 3 flexible SQ coach tickets to Oz and Europe - and I never looked back. There's seat blocking, fantastic IFE, lots of legroom, drink services every 10 minutes. SQ Y beats UA C hands down when it comes to service. If the silly new C cabins make my upgrade rate go down any more, I will only buy W and S fares anymore on UA and only if I can get a confirmed upgrade. Otherwise it is going to be SQ for all the flexible tickets I need.
Oh yes - no TSA and no ICC also add quite a bit of value to their product.
Again I might not be THE standard UA flyer out there but thanks to the crisis, my kin is growing but UA plans their strategy for a past that doesn't exist anymore .
#23
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I don't believe for a minute that NOT upgrading the Y seats is rational.
Other carriers (even some in dire straits) are working to change their Y seats to lighter seats. The UA Y seat is ancient now and one of the heavier seats in the market. The weight savings pay off the investment over time, along with the fact that the newer seats actually allow for greater pitch since the backrest has higher density foam and a narrower backing (which I can assume UA will use to shove an extra row in the back)
Other carriers (even some in dire straits) are working to change their Y seats to lighter seats. The UA Y seat is ancient now and one of the heavier seats in the market. The weight savings pay off the investment over time, along with the fact that the newer seats actually allow for greater pitch since the backrest has higher density foam and a narrower backing (which I can assume UA will use to shove an extra row in the back)
#24
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I don't believe for a minute that NOT upgrading the Y seats is rational.
Other carriers (even some in dire straits) are working to change their Y seats to lighter seats. The UA Y seat is ancient now and one of the heavier seats in the market. The weight savings pay off the investment over time, along with the fact that the newer seats actually allow for greater pitch since the backrest has higher density foam and a narrower backing (which I can assume UA will use to shove an extra row in the back)
Other carriers (even some in dire straits) are working to change their Y seats to lighter seats. The UA Y seat is ancient now and one of the heavier seats in the market. The weight savings pay off the investment over time, along with the fact that the newer seats actually allow for greater pitch since the backrest has higher density foam and a narrower backing (which I can assume UA will use to shove an extra row in the back)
So we just don't know. While its usually safe to assume incompetence on UA's part, there may be a bit of logic thrown in there...
#25
Join Date: Jan 2002
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Was there any mention or talk regarding broadband Internet access?
#26
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United really should have added IFE in each seat on the 747s. By not doing so, they risk loosing a substantial amount of Y purchases when their competion is SQ, NH, etc.
#27
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This statement annoys me no end. Unfortunately, it is indicative of UA management's approach (or lack thereof) to the problem: they seem to have given up without really trying.
. . .
It's very discouraging to hear UA simply accept that they can never compete, because then they never will. But it is disingenuous to expect to charge higher prices than the competition when you already have decided the product is not as good.
. . .
It's very discouraging to hear UA simply accept that they can never compete, because then they never will. But it is disingenuous to expect to charge higher prices than the competition when you already have decided the product is not as good.
To admit that it will not be able to compete with the likes of SQ and CX among people purchasing premium-cabin seats with their own money makes sense. It is not a coincidence that no U.S. carrier is currently competing in this way.
Perhaps you're underestimating how difficult and expensive it is (even without unions) to create a culture of excellent, consistent customer service. Looking around the American economy, this challenge is not unique to United or the airline industry.