US Airways the first to offer to assist FlyI customers

[MarkMyWords]

Now this is a first! Usually we are the last to make such a public statement. And we got this out on a company holiday! I am impressed. Hopefully there will be a full marketing blitz to recruit customers from FlyI. Offering bonus miles and having Dividend Miles sign ups at all 37 cities would be a great way to show the benefits of being a US Airways Customer.

http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/060102/nym034.html?.v=34

 

[Harry Callahan]

A step in the right direction.....

 

[Dea Certe]

Awesome! Hope we'll help out the crews too!

Dea

 

[hula-flyguy]

I'm happy that we were the first to announce we would assist these pax however, in the past we have never charged a fee for it.

 

[l8rd8r]

Looking at the big picture I see US customer service improving big time. Add this to the successful Christmas travel season, a new awesome magazine and people will believe. Actions do speak louder than words. GO DAVEY, GO DAVEY, GO DAVEY

 

[700UW]

Davey?

Who is Davey?

Siegel is gone.

 

[l8rd8r]

ahhh.............GO DOUGIE, GO DOUGIE, GO DOUGIE......................

 

[flyin2low]

They're shutting down after the 1500 bank of flights goes out of IAD. The crews should be able to fly back to IAD that night, if they wish to. I like how stranded passengers are charged the re-booking fee of $50 or for a confirmed seat it's $100. How about they can fly standby for free to get to their homes. At least FlyI is notifying the public ahead of time about the shutdown.

 

[trvlr64]

I'm happy that we were the first to announce we would assist these pax however, in the past we have never charged a fee for it.

from the flyi.com website announcement:

Please be aware that under section 145 of the Aviation and Transportation Security Act (November 19, 2001) Congress has obligated U.S. airlines to offer stand-by transportation to passengers holding un-refunded tickets for airlines that have ceased operations due to insolvency or bankruptcy. The Act stipulates that passengers must make their request to carriers serving the same routes as the bankrupt carrier and must do so within 60 days of the cessation of service. The U.S. Department of Transportation has ruled that airlines who offer the stand-by transportation may charge $50 one-way per person to cover related expenses.


Thats why it's no longer free. The government says so.

 

[longing4piedmont]

Thats why it's no longer free. The government says so.

Yeah and US has done nothing here but to try to gain some favorable press for doing what they have to do anyway. They are obligated to honor the tickets on a stand by basis.

Same smoke and mirrors.... Lime Boy lives

 

[trvlr64]

Yeah and US has done nothing here but to try to gain some favorable press for doing what they have to do anyway. They are obligated to honor the tickets on a stand by basis.

Same smoke and mirrors.... Lime Boy lives

Oh well nothing is free anymore in this world.

 

[BoeingBoy]

It'll be interesting to see if other airlines follow suit and charge the $50 maximum allowed by law......

Jim

 

[US1YFARE]

This is one of the silliest press releases yet. There is no "special policy"--like l4p says, they are OBLIGATED by Congress--the marketing department is brilliant. Maybe they should throw in CP status for the $50 because that is about all it is worth these days.

My guess is that UA will not charge since they are bidding on their assets, but who knows.

 

[UWCactus]

I think it's great, but as I read the report on the shutdown of Independence Air, I feel bad for the employees of that company who need paychecks just as badly as we all do. Again, we have to remember how lucky we are to continue to be employed and have not lost our jobs to the downfall of the business.

As we accomodate those passengers that come to us from I Air, let us remember that any of us can be this close to losing our jobs at any time and the passenger is the important link.

 

[Snafu]

This is one of the silliest press releases yet. There is no "special policy"--like l4p says, they are OBLIGATED by Congress--the marketing department is brilliant. Maybe they should throw in CP status for the $50 because that is about all it is worth these days.

My guess is that UA will not charge since they are bidding on their assets, but who knows.

I think that this is what they are calling the "special" part:

Since standby travel is subject to flight loads, customers may want to secure confirmed reservations by purchasing confirmed tickets on US Airways. With this in mind, US Airways is offering customers affected by the shutdown the opportunity to purchase a confirmed ticket for only $100 each way.(*) Tickets may be purchased at airport ticket counters or by calling US Airways reservations at 800-245-4882. Ticket-counter and reservations call-center booking fees do not apply for this special fare.