PHL-VCE 10/23

[mrbreeze]

There comes a point when cutbacks become more expensive than their projected savings. Case in point stripping a flagship segment of your product bare. What looks good on a spreadsheet does not necessarily save you money in the real world.

While other carriers are improving and evolving their international service to attract more premium revenue, as usual US is going in the other direction...between the closing of the Envoy lounges and inadequate planning/staffing for irregular ops such as this, they again fulfill their penny wise pound foolish reputation...again, perception is reality to most, and since it APPEARS they dropped the ball, that is what most will believe..

To be fair, it is more than possible that a competitor in the same situation might have been equally unable to replace the aircraft and/or crew, but I would imagine that regardless of the carrier, the folks on this flight would probably go out of their way to avoid the offending carrier in future.....

Do we know the cause for the diversion?

And shame on the poster who tried to hijack this thread again.....how more unprofessional and immature can you be?

I have been camping on my days off in the Rockies, elk hunting for the last 4 days. When I got within cell phone range, I got a message from scheduling asking if I could help them out....wanting me to fly as the replacement crew to VCE.

Folks, that is what a reserve is paid to do. I don't mind helping out occasionally, but that is not the problem here.

The problem is that we have a bunch of bean counters trying to run the airline as cheaply as possible. They should have enough reserves availible to support the operation when things go wrong, but they are trying to cut corners and it doesn't work out.

I fly the 767 almost every week and I can tell you that there is some kind of problem almost every weeek on these aircraft, along with the 757's. Management doesn't keep these airplanes on the ground long enough for repairs to be properly taken care of, they don't keep enough parts on hand, and they don't keep enough pilots on staff to keep a good operation running.

breeze

 

[Dont call me Shirley]

\

yeah but Miami air can fly new 737's and Vietnam airlines can order Dreamliners....

and your point is?

 

[zethya]

Indeed you and travel Pro have been singing this song for quite some time. Keep singing some how some way somebody might be listening to you and agree.

However, there is an old saying in racing, "You run what ya brung". US has Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and no prospects for immediate relief. Only thing they can do is maintain the hell out of them and keep them as clean and fresh as possible until the Airbus 350 is delivered.. I don't like it but that's the reality. Does it make sense to go out and try to find some used planes that might suck even more?

Actually it's Not the only thing they could have dlone. Parker/Kirby could have NOT extended the delivery dates for the first 350s from 2015 to 2017 and the last 8 332s from 2010-2011 to 2013/2014+. Doesn't sound like a management team in any hurry to replace an aging/arguably unreliable 767 fleet. I am at a loss to understand how they ever decided to actually invest in the 332 pods or retain the now defunct Envoy Lounge (for as long as they did). The HP mentality is slowly grinding away at any last vestige of the quality and premium services that was USAir. Maybe they're setting up to merge with Southwest.

 

[SparrowHawk]

Actually it's Not the only thing they could have dlone. Parker/Kirby could have NOT extended the delivery dates for the first 350s from 2015 to 2017 and the last 8 332s from 2010-2011 to 2013/2014+. Doesn't sound like a management team in any hurry to replace an aging/arguably unreliable 767 fleet. I am at a loss to understand how they ever decided to actually invest in the 332 pods or retain the now defunct Envoy Lounge (for as long as they did). The HP mentality is slowly grinding away at any last vestige of the quality and premium services that was USAir. Maybe they're setting up to merge with Southwest.

Honestly WN wouldn't touch US if they could get it for free! The environment is way to toxic for even WN to turn around.

 

[FutureUScapt]

For the folks bashing US for converting the Envoy Lounge into a regular Club -

You do realize that no other US carrier has dedicated lounges for international business class passengers, right?

Go ahead and cue the comments about "differentiation" but at the end of the day, if you can't extract a premium for offering a service, then it needs to be rethought. It's not as if Envoy customers will no longer have complimentary access to clubs either.

Actually it's Not the only thing they could have dlone. Parker/Kirby could have NOT extended the delivery dates for the first 350s from 2015 to 2017 and the last 8 332s from 2010-2011 to 2013/2014+. Doesn't sound like a management team in any hurry to replace an aging/arguably unreliable 767 fleet. I am at a loss to understand how they ever decided to actually invest in the 332 pods or retain the now defunct Envoy Lounge (for as long as they did). The HP mentality is slowly grinding away at any last vestige of the quality and premium services that was USAir. Maybe they're setting up to merge with Southwest.

Perhaps you aren't aware of the precarious financial situation US was in back in 2009...

 

[luvn737s]

It is funny how they badmouth the ICU doctors when they're in the recovery room. Sad funny, that is.

 

[A320 Driver]

For the folks bashing US for converting the Envoy Lounge into a regular Club -

You do realize that no other US carrier has dedicated lounges for international business class passengers, right?

Go ahead and cue the comments about "differentiation" but at the end of the day, if you can't extract a premium for offering a service, then it needs to be rethought. It's not as if Envoy customers will no longer have complimentary access to clubs either.



Perhaps you aren't aware of the precarious financial situation US was in back in 2009...

We actually had 3 turnbacks that night. Two 767s and an A332 to MUC. The 767s are tired but they keep getting these good rates on the leases and try to keep them going. They are going to have to be replaced at some point.
Also, I just have to say something about 3rd party maintenance. I felt better when it was "our guys" working on them.

Driver B)

 

[SparrowHawk]

For the folks bashing US for converting the Envoy Lounge into a regular Club -

You do realize that no other US carrier has dedicated lounges for international business class passengers, right?

Go ahead and cue the comments about "differentiation" but at the end of the day, if you can't extract a premium for offering a service, then it needs to be rethought. It's not as if Envoy customers will no longer have complimentary access to clubs either.



Perhaps you aren't aware of the precarious financial situation US was in back in 2009...

Look deep down it's going to make very little difference whether there is a dedicated Envoy lounge or not. However, just ONE TIME I wish this airline would try being Number 1 at something that is positive. Really is that to much to ask?

This is yet another example of the time honored Tempe Tradition of "Why do it right if we can do it cheaper" mentality. Doesn't matter if it's a 767 or an Envoy Club it's the culture of the company, the same as their confrontational style with the Unions. We see it in the way some posters here just openly bash unions. Often with precious few facts to support their argument.

 

[gizmo_sc]

GUYS and GALS just face it US AIRWAYS is a F_ _ KING JOKE anymore !

 

[Art at ISP]

For the folks bashing US for converting the Envoy Lounge into a regular Club -

You do realize that no other US carrier has dedicated lounges for international business class passengers, right?

Go ahead and cue the comments about "differentiation" but at the end of the day, if you can't extract a premium for offering a service, then it needs to be rethought. It's not as if Envoy customers will no longer have complimentary access to clubs either.



Perhaps you aren't aware of the precarious financial situation US was in back in 2009...

You are wrong. AA has Flagship Lounges for their premium international customers and United has First Class Lounges for their international premium customers. Just because US only has 2 class service (as did CO) does not make your point any more accurate. If there is only coach and business, then business is the premium cabin.

You miss the point, however. The projected savings from closing the separate Envoy Lounge will possibly (if not likely) be eclipsed by the loss of revenue from people reconsidering US when booking TA travel. I know for a good number of people the Envoy Lounges differentiated US a bit from other carriers in the market, and with that amenity removed, I would think people might be persuaded to use other carriers.

In any case, this thread is about the diversion(s), and not the lounge issue.....
so now back to our regularly scheduled bashing session........

 

[BoeingBoy]

We actually had 3 turnbacks that night.

This sounds like one of them - flight 702 to FRA Sunday night. Re-departed at 1:44 am.

Article

Jim

 

[Iclubbabyseals]

Perhaps you aren't aware of the precarious financial situation US was in back in 2009...

Indeed, literally gambling away some $417 million of unrestricted cash, and losing almost all of it, tends to put a crimp on further spending for a while. I see the quarterly reports with $35 million loss here, a $43 million loss there over the last few years. The corporation is almost recovered from that little piece of rot-gut moronic gambling. Thank you Mr. DUI CEO.

 

[luvn737s]

I like how the clubster likes to denounce the CEO, while conspicuously ignoring the corruption of his union president. He'll be the last guy to tearfully tear down the Mike Cleary poster that hangs above his bed.

 

[SparrowHawk]

I like how the clubster likes to denounce the CEO, while conspicuously ignoring the corruption of his union president. He'll be the last guy to tearfully tear down the Mike Cleary poster that hangs above his bed.

Can I play too! I think they're both anal cavities?

 

[FutureUScapt]

You are wrong. AA has Flagship Lounges for their premium international customers and United has First Class Lounges for their international premium customers. Just because US only has 2 class service (as did CO) does not make your point any more accurate. If there is only coach and business, then business is the premium cabin.

You miss the point, however. The projected savings from closing the separate Envoy Lounge will possibly (if not likely) be eclipsed by the loss of revenue from people reconsidering US when booking TA travel. I know for a good number of people the Envoy Lounges differentiated US a bit from other carriers in the market, and with that amenity removed, I would think people might be persuaded to use other carriers.

In any case, this thread is about the diversion(s), and not the lounge issue.....
so now back to our regularly scheduled bashing session........

I am not wrong. Re-read what I wrote.

You do realize that no other US carrier has dedicated lounges for international business class passengers, right?

Yes, AA and UA operate Flagship and International First Lounges but those are restricted to passengers who are traveling on revenue tickets in International First class only. AA/UA only allow their business class passengers complimentary Admiral/Red Carpet Club access. To pretend that business class and AA/UA's international first class product, which caters to a very small niche market, are one in the same is inaccurate to say the least.

As for the rest of it, I disagree with the severity of the changes but alas that is not unique to this situation but something that is rather common as it relates to many topics I read here. While I don't doubt there will be a degradation of the product as it relates to the food/drinks offered in the Club (relative to the Envoy Lounge offerings), Envoy passengers will still have the ability to relax in an environment away from the hectic airport environment.

Getting back on topic, have most of these 767 diversions been the same one or two tail #s or have they been spread rather evenly amongst the entire fleet?