Solving the problem?
 

United States Congresswoman Diana DeGette yesterday released a letter sent to U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Rodney Slater and signed by seven members of Congress from western states seeking an investigation into the cause of recent United Airlines flight delays and asking him to work with the airline to remedy the problem.
http://news.airwise.com/stories/2000/08/965823112.html

"I've got constituents who are stopping me in the streets, who are stopping me in the airport and telling me horror story after horror story of the delays they have encountered," DeGette, a Democrat who represents Denver, told reporters at United's ticket office in downtown Denver.


So, it is NOT just this board bitc*ing!

No, it's a national story. The mass broadcast media isn't that bright and takes time to catch the scent of a building story, but once that happens, it's pile-on time. Check the TODAY show almost any day this week. The United-is-awful story has acquired big, serious momentum.

And the CEO and top managers will get hefty extra special bonuses for solving it!

If the department fails to address the problem, Ryan said, he will ask the Illinois congressional delegation to sponsor legislation that would allow states to again file suits against airlines for consumer fraud and deceptive business practices. States have been blocked from suing the airlines by a 1982 U.S. Supreme Court decision.
[URL=http://www.chicago.tribune.com/business/businessnews/article/0,2669,ART-46244,FF.html]http://www.chicago.tribune.com/business/businessnews/article/0,2669,ART-46244,FF.html[/UR L]


AND:

The new, drum roll please! TA DA......

News & Updates on United Flights

for each day
http://www.ual.com/site/response/1,10147,,00.html

[This message has been edited by doc (edited 08-10-2000).]

Another Agonizing Week at United-

"It’s been another bad week to be a United customer. The airline abruptly cancelled more than 300 flights on Saturday, about 250 on Sunday and at least 240 on Monday. Sunday’s cancellations were due in part to bad weather, but the other dropped flights were a result of the airline’s severe crew shortage and its inability to come to contract terms with disgruntled pilots. United’s reaction to its latest woes was typical: an official statement saying management was "agonized by the pain and suffering" inflicted on passengers; off-the-record comments shifting the blame for the airline’s collapse on the pilots; and the pre-emptive cancellation of about 3,900 flights in September and October. And rather than bring management’s full attention to bear on its current service problems, United instead chose to assign at least 20 top executives to a team planning for the proposed merger with USAirways. Leading the transition team? Chris Bowers, senior vice president of North America. He apparently has plenty of extra time on his hands now that United has canceled all those flights."

-Joe B


AND:
The Secretary of Transportation met this morning with top leaders of United Airlines and its pilots union in an effort to resolve the current labor dispute with the pilots.
http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/busin...ted-slate.html

[This message has been edited by doc (edited 08-11-2000).]

I start to really dislike all those negative links and one-sided attacks on UA's management.

It doesn't help me (does it help any other UA flyer?) in my flight-decisions and alternatives and Frequent-Flier-programs.

Why not concentrate more on HELPFUL tips [*]how to prepare alternatives if something srews up[*]how to make the best out of it[*]how to minimize negative effects

[This message has been edited by Rudi (edited 08-11-2000).]

Rudi http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

[This message has been edited by JeffS (edited 08-12-2000).]

Negotiators for United Airlines and the Air Line Pilots Association unit are scheduled to resume negotiations this morning after a surprise weekend recess that launched a round of charges and counter charges.
http://www.aviationnow.com/TwoShare/...69981284461601

"We will not modify another single position until we see a substantial effort on the company's part to move the process along," Captain Rick Dubinsky, chairman of the union's master executive council at United, said.
http://news.airwise.com/stories/2000/08/966426937.html

Another alternate/temporary "solution" - surprise bonus miles for UA Elites:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum...ML/001004.html
http://www.msnbc.com/news/447406.asp?cp1=1



[This message has been edited by doc (edited 08-17-2000).]

While he expects management and the pilots’ union won’t wait much past Labor Day to settle their disputes, the damage to the airline’s reputation by then could be considerable, Neidl said.
http://www.aviationnow.com/TwoShare/...32315917296378

Why doesn't UA send these nuisance policitians a handful of systemwides, and they might all just go away!

The union representing UA pilots said progress has been made in contract talks with the airline. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

Ken Bradley, a UA pilot and spokesman for the Airline Pilots Association, said they "neared" agreement in "one of the thorniest areas" - scheduling & quality of work life. The issue has to do with how schedules are put together & work rules.
http://news.airwise.com/stories/2000/08/966678917.html

Hooray .. nice to see some progress of some kind with pilots. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

------------------
~ Glen ~

While progress is being made by United Airlines and its pilots in contract negotiations, problems have cropped up with some of the carrier's mechanics, resulting in an alleged sickout last week in Los Angeles and the imposition of mandatory overtime at two other hubs.
http://public.wsj.com/news/personalE...845655812.html

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/frown.gif

He said ``the people at United are doing as best they can under the circumstances'' but added that ``they have to work through these labor challenges that they face.''
http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/nm/2000..._usa_dc_1.html

UA, which has said it had to cancel many flights in a dispute with its pilots, was represented at the meeting, as were officials of the two largest pilots unions. Slater said the airline and pilots are ``making progress'' in their talks.
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/w/AP-Flight-Delays.html

United's executive council of the Air Line Pilots Association voted 29-0 to approve the offer and recommended it to members. The endorsement clears UA's 10,500 pilots to vote on the pact. The voting will be by mail and final results are not expected for about 6 weeks.
http://news.airwise.com/cgi-bin/stor...968493538.html

Someone should run a book on this result!

Whats the betting on the pilt's voting? http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

------------------
~ Glen ~

The pilots' deal has helped UA get its operations back in order after a nightmarish summer of cancellations and flight delays. But it still must settle a labor standoff with 44,000 mechanics, ramp workers and reservations workers of the International Association of Machinists. The talks went to federal mediation this week.
http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/ap/2000...turmoil_1.html

To say that this year has been difficult for James E. Goodwin, the chief executive of the UAL Corporation, parent of United Airlines, would be a vast understatement. During his one-year reign, United has been hit with problems that might well sink many a company.
http://www.nytimes.com/2000/09/10/business/10UALL.html

This "nonsense" may well be far from over with the FA's and machanists now both inspired by the way management "handled" the pilots situation! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/frown.gif
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum50/HTML/002462.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum50/HTML/002962.html


AND note/recall Randys updated comments:
http://misc.biztravel.com/content/ne...iles/miles.htm


UPDATE: United Airlines is promising to reopen wage talks with flight attendants, who are demanding raises like those given United pilots and warning they will take steps to derail the company's merger with US Airways if ``significant progress'' is not made soon.

As United attempts to avoid labor strife while its proposed merger with US Airways is under government review, leaders of the union representing 25,000 United flight attendants called the move promising. United chief Jim Goodwin told Union leaders about the company's plans Monday and made an official announcement on Tuesday.
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/busi...ttendants.html



[This message has been edited by doc (edited 09-26-2000).]

United said it was committed to winning back the confidence of its customers by continued improvement in its performance. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

Great! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/001005/il_united_.html

"UA announced last week that it would lose money in the third quarter. That disclosure shocked dimwitted airline analysts who hadn't noticed United had collapsed and frequent flyers were booking away."

-Joe B
biztravel.com

-----

AND: I also just noticed that the delay/cancellation site I'd mentioned above to check posted delays etc is gone:
http://www.ual.com/Admin/CrisisRespo...,1672,,00.html

"No, you did not make a mistake

We've redesigned our Web site. Unfortunately, the URL you requested is no longer valid. Visit us at http://www.united.com/ to see our new site or, if you do nothing, we will redirect you to our site momentarily.

The crisis is over! Hopefully so are the delays/cancellations! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

Still, UA cancel1ed 7.9% of its flights, the highest rate for August! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/frown.gif

September should be better! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

"We're getting hammered," one glum United executive told me this week. "We've had very little success convincing corporate travelers to return."

Joe B

Depite lowering requlification levels as Randy indicated,

1K qualification: 84,000 actual flight miles or 90 segments;
Premier Executive: 42,000 actual flight miles or 54 segments;
Premier: 21,000 actual flight miles or 27 segments.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum50/HTML/003379.html

Problems persist in terms of the current bottom line, the future bottom line and possible absorbtion and integration of US. Yet the labor woes are possibly the biggest current threat as there was more saber rattling as The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, which represents more than 30K UA machinists, ramp workers and customer service agents, began to activating strike committees across the US- anticipating a possible walkout as the Christmas holidays arrive and FA's are now demanding that UA give them a 30%raise. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/frown.gif

Seems, for some, the "party" may have just begun! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/frown.gif

Well there is UA's new 1Ks.. the Chairmen Prefered from US... maybe they will have almost as many 1Ks after the transaction.

If another airline offered superior service from LAX to the country, I would not feel as compelled to use UA... I may move to CO, since they have partnerships with Alaska... and American West.. but not sure.. I really appreciate the consistency of UA service LAST year.... oh well.

As the busy holiday travel season neared, two major U.S. airlines continued to grapple Tuesday with flight delays they blame on disgruntled mechanics. But as for an out-and-out strike, United said nothing could happen until after Christmas.

Four days after a federal judge barred United Airlines mechanics from disrupting flight schedules, the Chicago-based airline said it was still plagued by delays Tuesday.
http://biz.yahoo.com/apf/001121/airlines_m_4.html

"United's decision to raise business fares as much as $100 each way just before Thanksgiving proves exactly how cruel, calculating and utterly incompetent the airline's management really is. To raise fares the equivalent of about 10 percent while you are running the worst airline in the country is cruel. To raise fares while business travelers' attention is diverted by the holidays and the Presidential election is calculating. To impose a record-breaking fare increase after your domestic traffic has plummeted during each of the last four months is simply incompetent. We already know that no one at the top levels United's management knows how to run an airline. It appears none of them knows how to run a business, either.

And shame on all the other airlines that went along with that United-initiated fare increase. According to American Express, the "typical business" fare in September jumped 13 percent compared to the third quarter of 1999. Can someone--anyone?--explain to me what the airlines have done for us that justifies adding as much as $100 more each way on top of that breathtaking 13 percent year-over-year fare hike? Or do the airlines think they deserve to raise prices at the same speed as their on-time performance has deteriorated?"

-Joe B.
biztravel

"The nation's largest airline is a national disgrace. Its unprecedented collapse this summer was a direct result of management playing a losing game of chicken with its pilots. Yet United is now pursuing the same disastrous strategy with mechanics. The result? Unscheduled cancellations are skyrocketing again. And even though it padded its schedule throughout the summer--when fewer than half of its flights ran on time--the airline's on-time arrival performance in November was once again below 70 percent. United's reward for loyal customers? No protection of their elite frequent-flyer status and last month's dumbfounding 10 percent price hike. But passengers are resisting: United's domestic traffic has plummeted for five consecutive months. My rating: Avoid"


-Joe B.
biztravel

[This message has been edited by doc (edited 12-08-2000).]

A week of intense negotiations has resulted in the resolution of some major issues in talks between United Airlines and the International Association of Machinists (IAM). However, several important issues remain unresolved.
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/001213/il_united_.html