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USAirways Gets Blasted

The problem right now is pride amongst employees. Specifically, there isn't any. I hate to see the America West name go, but I understand the economics of changing out the larger merger (and I use that word loosely) partner's signage, advertising, name recognition, etc. Truth be told, do you really care what the name of the side of the airplane is? Really? If you offer a good product and people are singing your praises, who cares? Yeah, we all hate to see our heritage go away, but I REALLY hate to see future my go away. I'll wear your US Airways uniform. I'll put US Airways tags on my bags. I'll do it with a smile. I take pride in my whatever uniform I wear because it's mine and it reflects on me.

Don't click "quote" yet. I agree with you that the best way to light a fire in the company is with a spark from the top. I'd like to see Doug Parker (*See, I don't need to call him Dougwiser or drunk Dougie to feel like I'm stickin' it to the man!) step up with a real plan and do something forward thinking, like....publicly say his employees are his number one priority because they take care of his customers (*ala Southwest). But I won't wait for him to do something. I bust my ass here because he doesn't have to buy my loyalty. America West...and now US Airways has my loyalty already because they provide me with employment. If we screw a plane-load of passengers, and from time to time that's going to happen regardless of what airline it is, I want to be able to stand in the door when they deplane and look them in the eye because I know I did everything I could.

So back to pride. Yeah, most of you have been here longer than me but not all of you. I'm in no position to lecture anyone on pride in the workplace. But damn it, don't you get sick of offering people a crappy product? Don't you get sick of people who say, "oh, you work for US Air, huh?" but don't want to make eye contact because their last trip with us sucked.

I do.
 
Flights are not full out of my city this week. It fact, not even close. All the other carriers are full to overflowing. The first time in 30 years that I haven't seen Wed and Sun full. A little spooky. Of course with LGA and PHL on GDP every day, it makes life a little easier since there are seats available. Perhaps the public is putting their money where their mouth is.
 
Old PSA said:
Flights are not full out of my city this week. It fact, not even close. ... Perhaps the public is putting their money where their mouth is.
Click to expand...


We're not full completely either, but you cant just look at the flight bookings and call it a day. I'd be curious to know what the $ amount is for the average customer this year vs last (even being full). I dont remember seeing any of the last minute fill the plane fare sales that we've had every other year. Maybe they figure they can go with some open this year and still get the $ they need. Also it will be nice to be able to have some wiggle room and be able to offer seats to the other carriers that might need seats for reroutes/oversales. Fim me. :up:
Its amazing how much smoother things usually run with even a couple of open seats vs everything being oversold. You dont have to take time explaining why they have a reservation but no seat number, no need to bother soliciting for oversales and looking for protection and hotels, you're able to have some wiggle room in moving people around that need reseating and lots of other time consuming activities that arent required with a couple open seats to work with.
 
phlus2 said:
Keep drinking the Kool Aid!
Click to expand...

That's a good one, I gotta remember that.

But seriously, don't you find it ironic that the folks who spew the energy-sapping poison of endless criticism and complaints are calling a refreshing positive outlook Kool Aid? The folks who refuse to allow their outlook on life to be dimmed by perpetual pessimism often live much longer and happier lives than those who dwell on every single problem and enlarge it and embrace it as the sole source of their misery. Until you buy enough shares of LCC to tell Parker exactly how you want the airline run, you need to accept that your sphere of influence and control is very limited, both for better or worse. Do your job to the level that satisfies you as your best, be it here or wherever, and go home to your family and give them the attention they deserve. If that's impossible at US, find a job where it is.

US won't give you a plaque at the end of your career that thanks you for hating your job for 30 years.
 
luvn737s said:
US won't give you a plaque at the end of your career that thanks you for hating your job for 30 years.
Click to expand...

No, but you can pick up one at Things Remembered for about $20...is that why you are drinking the kool-ade
 
Old PSA said:
Flights are not full out of my city this week. It fact, not even close. All the other carriers are full to overflowing. The first time in 30 years that I haven't seen Wed and Sun full. A little spooky. Of course with LGA and PHL on GDP every day, it makes life a little easier since there are seats available. Perhaps the public is putting their money where their mouth is.
Click to expand...

I am seeing the same thing as you are. Load factors are in the low 80's through Sunday.
Priceline and Expedia must not be interested in the excess capacity like they have been
for the past 6 months.

And, as mentioned, maybe it is a good thing that extra seats are available to absorb any irregular operations that may occur. In the past, a 70-75% load factor was good because it allowed a margin of error for taking care of displaced customers when things went horribly wrong. If the AVERAGE yield is good enough to make money at 70-75% loads, then that's how things should be all of the time.
 
The best thing to do is to vote with your wallet and place your bets with an airline that provides value and also values the customer. The "new" USAirways is not going to change. It is like hanging on to a partner in an unhealthy dysfunctional relationship and hoping that the person will change. The team in Tempe has given enough indications that they don't care. They are not interested in the needs of the east coast business traveler who is willing to pay a premium for services comparable to AA, CO, DL, or UA. At the end of the day, the USAirways customer has to accept this new reality and then take some level of responsibility for continuing to patronize a company that delivers inferior service and/or doesn't meet their expectations...
 
Jamake,

I agree with you wholeheartedly, and have basically taken your advice. My business travel is now on CO and AA, with a bit of DL thrown in. I now go out of my way to avoid US, not so much for the inferior product, but because I can't count on them to get me reliably from point A to B.

Although they are touting some improvements to on time numbers, that is not the whole story. I hear stories about customers still being treated poorly and unacceptable reaccommodations etc. In that regard little has changed.

Now just because I have moved on, it does not mean I will not continue to strive for change. They could get me back, but since they don't like hearing the truth, they don't want me. For every piece of spin they put out FFOCUS will respond with the truth-we will agree if they happen to be right, but will provide a counterpoint if that is not the case.

I think they know they have a problem, but don't have a clue how to fix it. Here's a clue--your employees and customers are ASSETS to be cultivated, not liabilities to be messed with.

I miss the good people at US I have come to know and who have taken such good care of me over the years--however, there are so few of them left--which is apparently what Tempe wants...

I have spent way over $20K on air travel in the last 4 to 5 months--and not a penny went to US. They don't seem to care either. And there are hundreds if not thousands like me who have left.

My BEST to you all....
 
phlus2 said:
Oh please - that is about the dumbest thing I've ever seen posted on this board. There is nothing similar between People Express and America's Worst.
Click to expand...
HP was model after Peoples Express
http://www.psa-history.org/awa/history.html
A combination of ideas were used in the formation of America West. Cross-utilization of employees, brought to new extremes by PEOPLExpress, would be a major feature of America West. Pilots would also work dispatch, while Customer Service Representatives (CSR) would work as flight attendants, ramp agents, gate agents, ticket agents, or reservation agents - depending on the day
Another feature of America West, borrowed from PEOPLExpress and PSA, was on-board ticketing. Passengers could buy tickets before their flight, or onboard. Gate desks were replaced with a large, circular counter, called the "Seat Assignment Center" - but quickly nicknamed the Queen Mary. While on-board ticketing was a good idea at the time
 
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