Gordon Bethune coming to US???
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Tampa,FL,USA
Programs: CO Platinum, Starwood Platinum, Hyatt Diamond, Hertz Presidents
Posts: 60
Gordon Bethune coming to US???
Was chatting with a couple of FA's Sunday and they said the big rumor was the Gordon Bethune was coming to US in January.
Any thoughts??
Any thoughts??
#4
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: DCA
Programs: AA Executive Platinum
Posts: 2,085
What's wrong with Gordon? I would think he'd bring excellent leadership to US. He even wrote a book bragging about himself and how he turned CO around in the 90's (From Worst to First). And hasn't the earning mileage on roach fare problem been smoothed over? I mean, he does have a great reputation.
#5
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: Philadelphia, PA, USA
Programs: UA 2P, AA LT Gold, Marriott LT Titanium
Posts: 3,159
Prepare to be enhanced.
Two reasons I fly US:
1) Friendly people, esp CP desk
2) Generous DM program, with 20K offpeak awards, unlimited U/G, good award availability, used to have lots of bonus opps (HINT!).
Two reasons I fly US:
1) Friendly people, esp CP desk
2) Generous DM program, with 20K offpeak awards, unlimited U/G, good award availability, used to have lots of bonus opps (HINT!).
#8
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: 160 acres in paradise
Programs: CO Plat, DL Million Miler
Posts: 502
I think he'd do it if the money was right - it's a no-lose situation. If he succeeds in turning around U, then he's a hero - if he fails he can always -justifiably- say it was so far gone by the time he got there that noone could fix it.
I wouldn't worry about the FF program right away- Bethune actually made OnePass better while CO was struggling and he focused on the loyalty side of the program, then made it worse once he got CO back on solid footing.
Actually, another rumor about Bethune going to Delta to turn it around after they file Ch. 11 is more likely...DL's got a much better chance of survival than USAirways...and a CO/DL merger isn't out of the question ( Bethune proposed it once before) once DL gets it's debt reduced via Ch.11. It would would make a lot of sense - covering virtually all of the US, Latin Am, and Europe.
That one is a juicier rumor, IMO...
I wouldn't worry about the FF program right away- Bethune actually made OnePass better while CO was struggling and he focused on the loyalty side of the program, then made it worse once he got CO back on solid footing.
Actually, another rumor about Bethune going to Delta to turn it around after they file Ch. 11 is more likely...DL's got a much better chance of survival than USAirways...and a CO/DL merger isn't out of the question ( Bethune proposed it once before) once DL gets it's debt reduced via Ch.11. It would would make a lot of sense - covering virtually all of the US, Latin Am, and Europe.
That one is a juicier rumor, IMO...
#10
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: CT (NYC Suburbs), Gulf Stream, FL
Programs: United Premier 1K, American AAdvantage Gold
Posts: 3,089
Gordon is often quoted as being in favor of a CO/DL combination that extends beyond frequent flyer reciprocity. On the other hand, this is , after all.airlines, and anything is possible. Here's a guy with an ego that could fill a 747, and a track record to boot....and he's about to have a lot of spare time. They should be so lucky.
#11
Moderator: Coupon Connection & S.P.A.M
Join Date: May 2000
Location: Louisville, KY
Programs: Destination Unknown, TSA Disparager Diamond (LTDD)
Posts: 57,952
From Worst to First should include the word Roundtrip.
Gordo is an arrogant ... who thinks that there's nothing wrong with a crappy coach product, an insane international upgrade policy, 50% EQMs on discounted fares not purchased on co.com, and a FF program that frequently requires double miles to go to any destination besides CLE.
I don't want him to come anywhere near US. He's a big reason I refuse to fly CO.
Gordo is an arrogant ... who thinks that there's nothing wrong with a crappy coach product, an insane international upgrade policy, 50% EQMs on discounted fares not purchased on co.com, and a FF program that frequently requires double miles to go to any destination besides CLE.
I don't want him to come anywhere near US. He's a big reason I refuse to fly CO.
#13
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Washington, DC USA
Programs: AA Platinum, SPG Lifetime Platinum, Marriott Lifetime Platinum HH Gold
Posts: 246
Originally Posted by Spiff
From Worst to First should include the word Roundtrip.
Gordo is an arrogant ... who thinks that there's nothing wrong with a crappy coach product, an insane international upgrade policy, 50% EQMs on discounted fares not purchased on co.com, and a FF program that frequently requires double miles to go to any destination besides CLE.
I don't want him to come anywhere near US. He's a big reason I refuse to fly CO.
Gordo is an arrogant ... who thinks that there's nothing wrong with a crappy coach product, an insane international upgrade policy, 50% EQMs on discounted fares not purchased on co.com, and a FF program that frequently requires double miles to go to any destination besides CLE.
I don't want him to come anywhere near US. He's a big reason I refuse to fly CO.
I totally agree. I was a CO elite for three years before coming to US. I was treated like a piece of garbage most of the time. When they ruined the OnePass program by messing with the EQM scheme and having crappy award availability, I left. I have never been happier.
If Gordo comes, watch for an incredible devaluation of the DM program.
#14
Join Date: Oct 1999
Location: BOS
Programs: JetBlue Mosaic, WN A List Preferred, Hyatt Globalest, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Platinum, IHG Spire
Posts: 3,966
How Much Do The CEO's Know Anyway?
What level of detail do you think that modern airline CEO's understand about their respective frequent flyer program? Or are the programs llargely handled by middle/senior management?
Do you think Gordon personally knows about or understands the CO international upgrade process?
Does Bruce Lakefield at US know that Golds no longer get SWU, or does he know what fare booking codes a SWU can be used on? Does he know if a SWU can be used on a Star Alliance carrier?
My question is that it seems often CEO's are so far removed from the deaily operation, so, what do they really know or not know? I mean does he mostly just play golf and go to various board meetings where they talk at a very very high level?
Also from what I have heard even though US HDQ is practically next door to DCA the people at DCA rarely see the top executives? Do they fly on private jets? They certainly don't seem like David Neelmen who knows all the agents at JFK.
Do you think Gordon personally knows about or understands the CO international upgrade process?
Does Bruce Lakefield at US know that Golds no longer get SWU, or does he know what fare booking codes a SWU can be used on? Does he know if a SWU can be used on a Star Alliance carrier?
My question is that it seems often CEO's are so far removed from the deaily operation, so, what do they really know or not know? I mean does he mostly just play golf and go to various board meetings where they talk at a very very high level?
Also from what I have heard even though US HDQ is practically next door to DCA the people at DCA rarely see the top executives? Do they fly on private jets? They certainly don't seem like David Neelmen who knows all the agents at JFK.
#15
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Seattle, WA, USA
Programs: Bar Alliance Gold
Posts: 16,271
Any CEO who doesn't know how their airline is run beyond "planes go up and planes come down" should not be a CEO of an airline.
As for Gordo and CO, he seems to be making a profit (even this latest quarter, with huge fuel price spikes, if not for termining some MD-8x leases they would have made a few million) which is pretty unique for the majors.
It is very true that OnePass is deeply hostile to non-full fare passengers, but if you are a full-fare pax, CO takes better care of you then anyone outside of "The Nationals" and there is a lot of money to be made from each one of them. In a shrinking population, being able to get those that still exist to favor you with their lagresse is nothing to sneeze at, I imagine.
As for Gordo and CO, he seems to be making a profit (even this latest quarter, with huge fuel price spikes, if not for termining some MD-8x leases they would have made a few million) which is pretty unique for the majors.
It is very true that OnePass is deeply hostile to non-full fare passengers, but if you are a full-fare pax, CO takes better care of you then anyone outside of "The Nationals" and there is a lot of money to be made from each one of them. In a shrinking population, being able to get those that still exist to favor you with their lagresse is nothing to sneeze at, I imagine.