vantheman63
Senior
From: VanTheMan63
Sent: Friday, February 29, 2008 11:42 AM
To: '[email protected]'; 'Eberwein, Elise'; '[email protected]'; '[email protected]'; '[email protected]'; '[email protected]'; '[email protected]'; '[email protected]'; '[email protected]'
Subject: Pricing Question & Comment
Dear US Airways Management Team –
Question for someone who knows the ins and outs of pricing…..
I’m going to fly PVD-SFO on March 25 and return on March 28. I purchase “Premium Cabin†service on these types of trips, nearly 100% of the time. I am “Chairman’s Preferred†on US Airways. I am “Platinum Elite†on Continental Airlines
I priced this trip out with nearly identical departure times on both the outbound and return on both US Airways and Continental Airlines.
Here’s what I found:
Continental Airlines “Elite Upgrade†(Confirmed At Booking): $1,316.00, Actual Airfare = $1,185.10 (Yield = $0.217 per mile) FULLY CHANGEABLE & REFUNDABLE Frequent Flyer Miles = 9,196
Continental Airlines First Class Fare = $1,708.00, Actual Airfare = $1,666.00 (Yield = $0.305 per mile) FULLY CHANGEABLE & REFUNDABLE Frequent Flyer Miles = 9,196
US Airways “Preferred Instant Upgrade†(Confirmed “IF ITS AVAILABLE†At Booking): $2,150.10, Actual Airfare = $2,111.00 (Yield = $0.368 per mile) FULLY CHANGEABLE & REFUNDABLE Frequent Flyer Mile = 8,607
US Airways “First Class Refundable†(YUP6 Fare): $2,153.50, Actual Airfare = $2,113.00 (Yield = $0.368 per mile) FULLY CHANGEABLE & REFUNDABLE Frequent Flyer Mile = 8,607
US Airways “First Class NON REFUNDABLEâ€: $1,659.50, Actual Airfare = $1,619.00 (Yield = $0.282 per mile) Frequent Flyer Mile = 8,607
Here are my questions I would very much appreciate and answer on:
1.) US Airways bills itself as a “Low Fare, Low Cost Carrier.†Why are the Continental Fares consistently lower then US fares?
2.) Why are comparable fares with US Airways ALWAYS non-refundable?
3.) Why is a First Class fare that is refundable on US Airways the same cost as the “Preferred Upgrade†fare? Is there really an upgrade? To me that almost seems like “deceptive pricing.â€
4.) If you were me, the frequent traveler, WHY would you chose US Airways if, as US Airways seems to believe, “it’s all about the price?†Forgetting that I find the Continental product significantly superior and would chose CO over US based on the quality of the product alone, WHY would I chose US Airways for a trip like this?
5.) US Airways is more expensive OR slightly less expensive, has poorer service…and nearly 600 FF miles fewer….exactly why do I chose US Airways for a trip like this? Even it I weren’t “Platinum Elite†with Continental, I could have actually paid for First Class, the ticket would have been $48.50 more, been fully changeable/refundable and offered 600 FF miles more.
Why chose US Airways? Setting aside ALL the issues related to the on time performance, luggage and overall operations, WHY would I chose US Airways? Why?
This has been the part that has baffled since US changed their pricing. The airline is positioned as a “low cost, low fare†carrier….and it is not. Essentially, the product, because it’s not properly positioned, is a product that is completely false in nature. Not good. And I point this out because I care.
I purchased CO….as I do for all my transcon and long haul travel. (Actual Receipt attached.) Ironically, I started purchasing CO WELL before I ever was unhappy with US Airways’ overall product, performance and operations. My number one reason to start buying Continental was actually the flexibility the product offered me because, as a business traveler, my plans DO change…and I needed that flexibility. Then, because I flew CO enough, I became “Silver Elite†and discovered the “Y-UP†fares were saving me $300 to $400 per trip….while offering me the flexibility I wanted.
But here’s the most damaging of all: “Along the way, I discovered that Continental Airlines offers a superior product…..for less money.†Now, that is the airline I look to before any other. Prior to that, I wouldn’t have dreamt of “cheating†on US Airways.
I’d love to have SOMEONE offer me some perspective on this an the 5 questions. I would prefer to have someone with real knowledge of the situation, not someone who is, essentially, serving me up the “talking points†the company puts out.
I’d love to come back to US Airways…and I always will…if the carrier can demonstrate it actually wants customers like myself.
VanTheMan63
President
PL & P, Inc.
Phone: 401-XX-XXXX
Fax: 800-XXX-XXXX
E-Mail: VanTheMan63@PL&P.com
Sent: Friday, February 29, 2008 11:42 AM
To: '[email protected]'; 'Eberwein, Elise'; '[email protected]'; '[email protected]'; '[email protected]'; '[email protected]'; '[email protected]'; '[email protected]'; '[email protected]'
Subject: Pricing Question & Comment
Dear US Airways Management Team –
Question for someone who knows the ins and outs of pricing…..
I’m going to fly PVD-SFO on March 25 and return on March 28. I purchase “Premium Cabin†service on these types of trips, nearly 100% of the time. I am “Chairman’s Preferred†on US Airways. I am “Platinum Elite†on Continental Airlines
I priced this trip out with nearly identical departure times on both the outbound and return on both US Airways and Continental Airlines.
Here’s what I found:
Continental Airlines “Elite Upgrade†(Confirmed At Booking): $1,316.00, Actual Airfare = $1,185.10 (Yield = $0.217 per mile) FULLY CHANGEABLE & REFUNDABLE Frequent Flyer Miles = 9,196
Continental Airlines First Class Fare = $1,708.00, Actual Airfare = $1,666.00 (Yield = $0.305 per mile) FULLY CHANGEABLE & REFUNDABLE Frequent Flyer Miles = 9,196
US Airways “Preferred Instant Upgrade†(Confirmed “IF ITS AVAILABLE†At Booking): $2,150.10, Actual Airfare = $2,111.00 (Yield = $0.368 per mile) FULLY CHANGEABLE & REFUNDABLE Frequent Flyer Mile = 8,607
US Airways “First Class Refundable†(YUP6 Fare): $2,153.50, Actual Airfare = $2,113.00 (Yield = $0.368 per mile) FULLY CHANGEABLE & REFUNDABLE Frequent Flyer Mile = 8,607
US Airways “First Class NON REFUNDABLEâ€: $1,659.50, Actual Airfare = $1,619.00 (Yield = $0.282 per mile) Frequent Flyer Mile = 8,607
Here are my questions I would very much appreciate and answer on:
1.) US Airways bills itself as a “Low Fare, Low Cost Carrier.†Why are the Continental Fares consistently lower then US fares?
2.) Why are comparable fares with US Airways ALWAYS non-refundable?
3.) Why is a First Class fare that is refundable on US Airways the same cost as the “Preferred Upgrade†fare? Is there really an upgrade? To me that almost seems like “deceptive pricing.â€
4.) If you were me, the frequent traveler, WHY would you chose US Airways if, as US Airways seems to believe, “it’s all about the price?†Forgetting that I find the Continental product significantly superior and would chose CO over US based on the quality of the product alone, WHY would I chose US Airways for a trip like this?
5.) US Airways is more expensive OR slightly less expensive, has poorer service…and nearly 600 FF miles fewer….exactly why do I chose US Airways for a trip like this? Even it I weren’t “Platinum Elite†with Continental, I could have actually paid for First Class, the ticket would have been $48.50 more, been fully changeable/refundable and offered 600 FF miles more.
Why chose US Airways? Setting aside ALL the issues related to the on time performance, luggage and overall operations, WHY would I chose US Airways? Why?
This has been the part that has baffled since US changed their pricing. The airline is positioned as a “low cost, low fare†carrier….and it is not. Essentially, the product, because it’s not properly positioned, is a product that is completely false in nature. Not good. And I point this out because I care.
I purchased CO….as I do for all my transcon and long haul travel. (Actual Receipt attached.) Ironically, I started purchasing CO WELL before I ever was unhappy with US Airways’ overall product, performance and operations. My number one reason to start buying Continental was actually the flexibility the product offered me because, as a business traveler, my plans DO change…and I needed that flexibility. Then, because I flew CO enough, I became “Silver Elite†and discovered the “Y-UP†fares were saving me $300 to $400 per trip….while offering me the flexibility I wanted.
But here’s the most damaging of all: “Along the way, I discovered that Continental Airlines offers a superior product…..for less money.†Now, that is the airline I look to before any other. Prior to that, I wouldn’t have dreamt of “cheating†on US Airways.
I’d love to have SOMEONE offer me some perspective on this an the 5 questions. I would prefer to have someone with real knowledge of the situation, not someone who is, essentially, serving me up the “talking points†the company puts out.
I’d love to come back to US Airways…and I always will…if the carrier can demonstrate it actually wants customers like myself.
VanTheMan63
President
PL & P, Inc.
Phone: 401-XX-XXXX
Fax: 800-XXX-XXXX
E-Mail: VanTheMan63@PL&P.com
