First Flight in About 3 years

[Harry Callahan]

US1YFARE:
As some one else stated, I hope you've contacted Tempe about this. Flying non-rev is one thing, but if I'm buying a ticket it would NEVER be on US.

Tempe I hope you are reading this thread & WAKE UP.

 

[Jimmy Neutron]

We here at US do take pride in our Company and our jobs....That being said, you make a lot of comparisons here to WN and CO.......

It just seems to me that for some reason, the expectations between US and WN are unbelievable.......seems that there is very little expectation when it comes to WN and everyone that flies US wants the Ritz-Carlton treatment for a short bus fare ticket....I have several articles that may explain some of these reasons....

1st- The Bag Fees---WN is obsessed with telling the public that US Airlines are ripping them off, but, what will their excuse be when they start charging in the foreseeable future?

http://www.usatoday.com/travel/flights/200...cked-bags_N.htm

A short quote from that article says it all. "Dave Ridley, Southwest's senior vice president for marketing, says the airline can't promise that it'll always go against the industry tide and not charge. But he says it wants to maintain a policy that for now makes it unique."

WN is also has the Highest paid employees bar none in the industry....I guess that's why this was put out....
Southwest Air tops best places to work: survey
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE5BF0N320091216
Sooner or later, the older their workforce gets and the rest of the airlines get more of their costs in line, this will come back to bite them in the rear, then what will their excuse be? We at US have been through numerous BK's and have lost our pensions, pay, majority of our benefits, vac., sick time and many other things that most other companies employees still enjoy, but I feel we still do a good job in spite of that.

I personally have flown on WN as a paying customer and found the experience to be unpleasant and mediocre at best....That airline has a lot of arrogant employees, at least the ones that I've dealt with over the years, and I've personally overheard pilots and flight attendants referring to me (customers) as cattle...


As far as CO goes, I have only had minimal experience on them with the same results, mediocre at best and nothing special....

I'm not sure why people hold US to a higher standard than other airlines, every company has bad apples, and I know WN, CO, UA and all others do as well, and for all of the people that complain, complain , complain about US, there are countless others that fly US every day that enjoy the experience. Most of us try very hard to make your experience a good one, but seems no matter what measures we take, it will never be good enough for some of you.

So all I can say, is thanks for trying US again, hope you will be back, but we all know we can't please everyone....

Hope your holidays are good to you and your family, from the employees at US Airways

 

[redheadtempe33]

The ticket was a FC ticket bought on the day of travel.

But how much was it? I checked for today, PHX-ORD-PHX, and IAH-ORD-IAH, first class. US is $842 and Continental is $928. Not a huge difference but $86.00 is still $86.00, and MORE than enough to buy a nice meal either before or after the flight.
No, US' service is not as nice as Continental's but at nearly $100 cheaper, what do you want? With the coach prices there was a HUGE difference, $134 on US vs. $755 on Continental (the prices are each way).

 

[Whatnow?]

US1YFARE:
As some one else stated, I hope you've contacted Tempe about this. Flying non-rev is one thing, but if I'm buying a ticket it would NEVER be on US.

Tempe I hope you are reading this thread & WAKE UP.

Wow....that statement just took me back about 4 or 5 years!

 

[PHLfa88]

What would lead you to believe that things had changed since you left?? :huh: Despite your horrible experience, US continues to fill its seats and manage to stay in business another day. That's the bottom line for me as an employee, no longer worried aboutdirty and broken glassware, complimentary meals, an old IFE system with sound issues, and running out of a FF first choice so they can berade me! All gone....it is what it is....and unfortunately it works for Tempe and I must say it works for me too.

On another note, I work a lot of T/A flights and on ocassion the TLV flight....and I cannot tell you how many times passengers on that flight have commented on how nice US's flight is compared to CO and Delta. Everything from the the ease of getting around the PHL terminal to the food, service, crew, a/c and the IFE system. I can honestly say that I have not heard anything bad about US's service on this board since you left and came back Surely, you knew things were the same....seems everybody else does!

I Have to say that when I did OSL this summer I met < not on the plane > many people that told me they are Very Happy that US came into OSL because they HATE CO!! From their mouths not mine!! At this party 2 people had already booked tickets on US...Not CO.. So..We ARE doing something right, And BTW.. There Will be changes in the coming year for FC And Envoy...

 

[N965VJ]

people also couldn't believe that they were selling meals in the back and not offering anything of substance in front. The snack basket is pathetic.

Wasn’t this brought up at a town hall meeting crew meeting or whatever they’re called a long time ago? Was it Doug that said they “were looking into itâ€￾?

 

[SparrowHawk]

But how much was it? I checked for today, PHX-ORD-PHX, and IAH-ORD-IAH, first class. US is $842 and Continental is $928. Not a huge difference but $86.00 is still $86.00, and MORE than enough to buy a nice meal either before or after the flight.
No, US' service is not as nice as Continental's but at nearly $100 cheaper, what do you want? With the coach prices there was a HUGE difference, $134 on US vs. $755 on Continental (the prices are each way).

Typical "Blame the Customer" approach from Tempe.

Why would I be surprised given that the CEO has been publicly quoted as having no regard for the customer.

Sadly typical.

 

[redheadtempe33]

Typical "Blame the Customer" approach from Tempe.

Why would I be surprised given that the CEO has been publicly quoted as having no regard for the customer.

Sadly typical.

I'm not blaming him, but people should be realistic in their expectations. I certainly don't go to Applebee's and expect a seven course meal with servers in tuxedos. Airlines (and especially US Airways) are about getting people from A to B safely and on time. They are not flying hotels or resturants. They never will be again.

 

[Art at ISP]

As one who has definite feelings about this, all I will say is why are you surprised? The management of this company cares nothing about product, nothing about customers, and nothing about employees...all they care about is how many fees they can collect because they insist on consistently pricing below cost of services.

While this poster's experience is just one example, it eventually does show up in the bottom line. I know the OP and his history with US as well as other carriers. He is a perfect example of a high yield customer who has literally been driven off to competitors. I also have no reason to doubt his word with regard to his experience.

The fact is that this airline is just America West with some international service...it is not the old US Airways any more. For a while we were hoping that the management would be smart enough to take the best attributes of BOTH companies after the merger, but it appears they have seen fit to do the opposite...the worst of both companies seems to have survived.

Time will tell, but just because you fill seats, it doesn't mean you're making any money. And if you have to rely on nickel and diming customers to make up the difference, it really boils down to a deceptive trade practice, and should be investigated (although it won't because everyone does it now to a degree).

For every Mr. US1YFARE who posts his experience here, there are hundreds if not thousands more who don't post, but who have quietly moved their business elsewhere...with our assistance in over 100 cases.
A management who makes disparaging remarks about FF's and customer service in general (Doug and Scott have been quoted many times) just does not deserve the high yield business, and we are happy to help people find alternatives.

I personally have not been on a US airplane in about 2 years, and although I miss some good friends who are still working for US, I cannot contribute a dime to US Airways until Doug and Scott leave the property.

While other airlines surely have their issues, one has to admit that US has more than their share, and unfortunately more consistently so, and one of the main causes is failure to provide the employees with the tools necessary to do the job properly.

You can only step over dollars to pick up nickels so long....before it comes home to bite.

My BEST to you all.....

 

[BoeingBoy]

I'm not blaming him, but people should be realistic in their expectations.

So someone who regularly flies CO shouldn't expect about the same service level on US? Tempe compares US to CO/AA/UA/DL every month but if passengers do the same they're being unrealistic?

Jim

 

[redheadtempe33]

So someone who regularly flies CO shouldn't expect about the same service level on US? Tempe compares US to CO/AA/UA/DL every month but if passengers do the same they're being unrealistic?

Jim

No, they are free to compare, and free to take Continental if they wish. But when you are looking at a fare difference of $172.00 in first and $621.00 in coach (R/T) as in my example, I think a little perspective is in order.
To me at least, $172.00 is a fair chuck of change. I'd rather keep it and skip the meal. The attentiveness of the FA is an issue and I think to compare US to others in that regard is fair (and we, apparently, did not fair well).

 

[freedom]

No, they are free to compare, and free to take Continental if they wish. But when you are looking at a fare difference of $172.00 in first and $621.00 in coach (R/T) as in my example, I think a little perspective is in order.

thank you for the fare quote ...



if i was running a company and had to send someone first class ,i'd send them on the lower cost airline , if they don't like it TOUGH ....

and if i was buying my OWN ticket i'd buy the cheapest airline possible ....

that about sums up the market right now .

 

[Art at ISP]

Redhead,

You are obviously missing a point which the rest of your colleagues in Tempe are missing as well.

Being the cheapest is not always delivering the best value. Being cheapest is just being cheap, which is the mantra of US Airways. Cheap does not always win the day.

Also, for what it's worth, if it costs you more than $172 to provide the transportation for that route, then you have NO business offering a fare like that which deliberately loses money. Having to add fees to that $172 is deceptive at best. In any other industry other than this selling CONSISTENTLY below cost would be called dumping, and is in fact illegal.

What really needs to happen is for the airline business to price its product REALISTICALLY in line with what the actual COSTS are.

For the majority of business travelers, it's as much about VALUE as it is price. I'd spend an extra $100 on a ticket if it were fully changeable, knowing that the lower priced ticket would cost $150 or more to change....THAT's where WN has been smart. If you offer a little more flexibility for a slightly higher fare, you would see AVERAGE fares increase....but no one has the guts to do it....perhaps except WN.

So yes perspective is in order....and I respectfully disagree with yours...

 

[ebwgs]

I also took my first US flight this year a month ago (and before some of you ask, it was an award ticket-still on a mileage burn). Nothing has changed at all. Although many of the employees are great (that was never the issue), the service is terrible. After flying DL/NW for a year, then going back to cheap and plastic seems, well......cheap! If nothing else, it solidifies that my decision was a good one.

It's good to know you think highly of the employees. Were you late departing and arrriving? Did you check bags? And if so, did we not take care of your luggage, or was it lost or damaged? How was your check in experience? I'm gonna surmise that it was a decent one because, you mentioned how you thought "many of the employees are great." And I agree. Now, in saying how "terrible" the service is are you mainly referring to the onboard service? The fact that--I assume you were in 1st--we serve plastic cups in domestic first class? Or that wonderful snack basket? While I'm not crazy about that myself, I do know that this company is in a dogfight to keep the doors open. I hope the time comes when we can offer a better onboard product, but if spending the extra dollars means that it could put us in a more precarious financial situation than present, then I say to hell with the plastic cups! If need be, let's break out with those old time paper Dixie cups and keep it moving!

 

[BoeingBoy]

To me at least, $172.00 is a fair chuck of change.

I'd agree with your point IF CO told their passengers "No meal today (or glassware, ife, etc) because our fare was $$$ lower than Brand X. Or if US has the higher fare US offered better service than CO. But that isn't the case, is it?

Who sets the US fare? Tempe. If Tempe wants to charge less is that the passenger's fault? If not, why should the passengers expect a lower class product just because of Tempe's decision on what to charge?