Management at US and UA--The Good the Bad and the Ugly

[JoeDirt]

Doug Parker's Bio

Doug Parker became chairman and chief executive officer of US Airways Group in September 2006. Previously, Parker was chairman, president and chief executive officer upon the merger of US Airways and America West Airlines in September 2005. Prior to the merger, Parker was chairman, president and chief executive officer of America West Holdings Corporation.

Parker joined America West in June 1995 as senior vice president and chief financial officer. His responsibilities were expanded in 1997 to include schedule planning and revenue management. In May 2000, Parker was named president of America West Airlines, and in December of that year he assumed the additional title of chief operating officer. He was elected chairman, president and chief executive officer of America West in September 2001.

Prior to joining America West, Parker spent four years with Northwest Airlines as vice president and assistant treasurer, and vice president of financial planning and analysis. From 1986 to 1991, he held a number of financial management positions with American Airlines.

Parker received a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics from Albion College in 1984 and an MBA from Vanderbilt University in 1986. He and his wife, Gwen, have three children and reside in Paradise Valley, AZ.

 

[crusher]

Let's clarify something ; It was not Parker who was able to pull together all the outside money to pull off the US/HP merger . It was in fact Bruce Lakefield. The one person between the 2 companies that was able to and had the connections to do so. In no way was/is Parker capable of pulling together those resources. I too was very hopeful that this merger would be successful , but thanks to the incompetence of the Sandcastle it has been anything but. Do we really need to list the miriad of screwups and poor decisions made by the neopyhtes in Tempe? We can list a few however:

1) Qik/Shares and Sceptre
2) Aircraft reconfiguration
3) Degradation of service
4) Degradations of Frequent Flyers Amenities
5) Loss of most premium pax due to all the above.

Shall we go on?

 

[Bag4Now]

On average the fuel costs that we’re paying today are hurting our way of life…

Tilton doesn't work at ChevronTexaco "today". So that "logic" is unsupported. I doubt he has much to do with the gas prices today. On the other hand, look how much gas has increased in price since 2002, the year he left that industry. Could it be that the reason gas prices are so high these days is because Tilton is no longer there? :wacko:

 

[freedom]

Let's clarify something ; It was not Parker who was able to pull together all the outside money to pull off the US/HP merger . It was in fact Bruce Lakefield. The one person between the 2 companies that was able to and had the connections to do so. In no way was/is Parker capable of pulling together those resources. I too was very hopeful that this merger would be successful , but thanks to the incompetence of the Sandcastle it has been anything but. Do we really need to list the miriad of screwups and poor decisions made by the neopyhtes in Tempe? We can list a few however:

1) Qik/Shares and Sceptre
2) Aircraft reconfiguration
3) Degradation of service
4) Degradations of Frequent Flyers Amenities
5) Loss of most premium pax due to all the above.

Shall we go on?

Have you even BEEN on one of our A/C lately ?

Their clean , check in is now a breez with more kiosks than ever and you get to your destination on time ….


What you call degradation of service is most likely “cost restructuring “ I’m sorry that the silverware is gone and they took away the closets , but if taking away the silverware has cut costs and taking away the closets lets us put in another row of seats so we can make more money then I say so be it!

Loss of the premium pax ? OH WELL…. I’m sure CHQ did the “numbers†on the service trade off revenue vs. the premium pax …. As it IS it looks like our cheaper F/C is going to grow as time goes on …. In this new economy businesses are no longer going to shell out an arm and a leg to put their people in first . ALL businesses are going to have to start watching their costs , and that includes the first class flying perks as well ..

If you want to talk about screw ups , why don’t we start with 4 dollar gas and start asking some questions about tilton ..

 

[freedom]

Tilton doesn't work at ChevronTexaco "today". So that "logic" is unsupported. I doubt he has much to do with the gas prices today. On the other hand, look how much gas has increased in price since 2002, the year he left that industry. Could it be that the reason gas prices are so high these days is because Tilton is no longer there? :wacko:

No , it’s the ripple affect , the guys running it TODAY aren’t responsible for whats happening now .. Much the same way that when the new united states president takes office he or she will not be responsible for having caused the recession …

It’s poor long term planning that’s gotten us to where we are now .

 

[freedom]

Freedom, based on some of your posts, I know that you are a fan of Parkers. I must admit that I too thought that he had the right stuff to run this Airline at first, but not anymore. I do agree that he can work magic when it comes to getting financial backing, and putting deals togehter. But as far as having a direction for the Airline and it's day-to-day operations, Forget it. Letting the labor issues drag on as long as they have was a huge mistake on his part. I have listened to a few of his "Town Hall" meetinngs, and I'm not impressed with the way he carries himself, or the way he dances around giving a direct answer to questions that are asked of him. I actually had to stop viewing the last one because I couldn't take it anymore....Sad, but true....

Actually I’m pretty impressed with the way he does town hall ….all most town hall’s really are , are just bitching fests where the workers come up to him and go “I’m suffering! Please please give me more money! Why won’t you give me more money!!!†and it doesn’t matter WHICH work group it is , they all cry … lol I know cause I used to sit in on town halls from time to time and cry too ….


I think if parker gave a direct answer , such as I like to , that he’d piss a lot more people off … I think he tries to be diplomatic when answering questions … personally I think it would be more fun to watch him say something like “quit your whining , you want more money ? Well guess what so does everyone else , so sit down and shut up .†lol

He at least makes the EFFORT to reach out to his workers by giving them the opportunity to see him face to face and ask them questions … that’s some damn fine leadership in my book !

 

[Bag4Now]

No , it’s the ripple affect , the guys running it TODAY aren’t responsible for whats happening now .. Much the same way that when the new united states president takes office he or she will not be responsible for having caused the recession …

It’s poor long term planning that’s gotten us to where we are now .

So Tilton's employment with one company that ended 6 years ago is responsible for state of the economy today? With that logic, can we assume the actions of Parker at Northwest in 1995 caused the downturn of the airline industry today? Hmmmmmm....

 

[Singleflyer]

Have you even BEEN on one of our A/C lately ?


Loss of the premium pax ? OH WELL…. I’m sure CHQ did the “numbersâ€￾ on the service trade off revenue vs. the premium pax …. As it IS it looks like our cheaper F/C is going to grow as time goes on …. In this new economy businesses are no longer going to shell out an arm and a leg to put their people in first . ALL businesses are going to have to start watching their costs , and that includes the first class flying perks as well ..

Last year my RASM to US was about eight times the posted Break-even CASM. I flew over 100,000 miles with US in 2007. Y-T-D 2008 is is under 15,000 miles.

It also takes less fuel to fly me on one flight than the 8 it takes to make up my revenue. So I am not sure adding the extra seats were worth the effort since the Kettles are flying less.

In fact I am traveling more this year because of the poor economy. The company policy is still to purchase full Y fare tickets, and that policy won't change.

It too bad the removal of the closets, poor web site, reservations problems dirty aircraft made me look other airline to fly on that offer a better value. as a Note I will fly between 200,000 - 250,000 miles this year.

Maybe the analysis at CHQ was flawed, as well as some of your asumptions.

 

[cltrat]

remember this when carrying on a conversation with someone here

Never argue with an idiot,they'll bring you down to their level and beat you with experience

I'm sure most of you understand

 

[freedom]

What, I can’t indulge in a little pointless, fact less demonization like everyone else ?


My POINT , is that it’s not a good idea to take the FORMER HEAD , OIL TYCHOOL , ROBBER BARRON , and make him the FACE of the new airline …..


How do you think Americans will REACT to that ,with gas prices almost at 4 dollars and climbing ?


P.S … personally I don’t think that’s the best PR idea…





As for you business elite single flyer …


Oh the kettles this and the kettles that …. Bla bla bla …. Our mission is to move the American PUBLIC , wake up and smell the coffee brewing , this ain’t a charter jet ….

 

[cltrat]

Loss of the premium pax ? OH WELL…. I’m sure CHQ did the “numbersâ€￾ on the service trade off revenue vs. the premium pax …. As it IS it looks like our cheaper F/C is going to grow as time goes on …. In this new economy businesses are no longer going to shell out an arm and a leg to put their people in first . ALL businesses are going to have to start watching their costs , and that includes the first class flying perks as well ..

Last year my RASM to US was about eight times the posted Break-even CASM. I flew over 100,000 miles with US in 2007. Y-T-D 2008 is is under 15,000 miles.

It also takes less fuel to fly me on one flight than the 8 it takes to make up my revenue. So I am not sure adding the extra seats were worth the effort since the Kettles are flying less.

In fact I am traveling more this year because of the poor economy. The company policy is still to purchase full Y fare tickets, and that policy won't change.

It too bad the removal of the closets, poor web site, reservations problems dirty aircraft made me look other airline to fly on that offer a better value. as a Note I will fly between 200,000 - 250,000 miles this year.

Maybe the analysis at CHQ was flawed, as well as some of your asumptions.

Thank you for the times you have flown US to bad the TACB and some posters aren't smart enough to understand the value of customers like you

 

[N965VJ]

<SNIP> As for you business elite single flyer …


Oh the kettles this and the kettles that …. Bla bla bla …. Our mission is to move the American PUBLIC , wake up and smell the coffee brewing , this ain’t a charter jet …

The once-a-year flyer that shops around online?

 

[Singleflyer]

What, I can’t indulge in a little pointless, fact less demonization like everyone else ?





As for you business elite single flyer …


Oh the kettles this and the kettles that …. Bla bla bla …. Our mission is to move the American PUBLIC , wake up and smell the coffee brewing , this ain’t a charter jet ….

What brings more profitability to an airline? Moving one person 500 miles or eight people 500 miles for the same total revenue? I think it is one high yield customer.


You are right US is not a charter jet. However some of the fares that are charged on the east coast are more than what a charter jet would cost.

 

[freedom]

Hmm how many business class seats does WN have ???? Hmmm ….. please spare me the BIZ travlers rule the skies speech ...


To those of you who don’t know CLTRAT and myself we’re baggage handlers , and we just recently had our election for our new contract ,the vote passed …. On this message board I was outnumbered and slammed day in and day out by folks like CLTRAT here (who didn't want to pass the contract ), and now you have the GAUL to call ME the idiot when YOU lost ? ....


I wasn’t prepared to let your short slightness cost fleet service from making improvements over our former contracts , and I’m not going to let your short slightness allow our company to pick the wrong man for this most important job …. (if I in any small way have anything to say about it )

 

[Bag4Now]

What, I can’t indulge in a little pointless, fact less demonization like everyone else ?

More like inaccurate and without merit

How do you think Americans will REACT to that ,with gas prices almost at 4 dollars and climbing ?


P.S … personally I don’t think that’s the best PR idea…

I don't think the general public is really gonna sit around researching the history of our CEO's. And if they did care, the airline industry these days is considered about as highly as the oil industry. I don't think anyone's gonna get in an uproar about an ex oil executive "tainting" our highly thought of company.