Say goodbye to First Class on UAL

[GogglesPisano]

Lots of self-loathing on this thread.

 

[barnyard]

If a loyal paying customer paid for a coach seat, why would he be entitled to a first class seat?

It's not about entitlement, it's about treating your CUSTOMERS as well as you possibly can.

When you put a uniformed crew member (int'l crew rest arguments aside...) in a first class seat and then parade 125 PAYING customers on by to wedge them selves into their seats, your airline has just pissed off 125 PAYING customers. It doesn't matter what they paid, hell a full Y fare can be more than a FC fare in some circumstances. Hell I've seen 219$ FC fares before, you can bet your a$s there are coach customers that have paid more than that.

I'm not advocating that anyone lose their 'perks' but to say that an airline employee is entitled to a FC seat over a paying customer is asinine. Just another example of why service on US airlines at best a joke- the attitude that your CUSTOMERS are just cattle to be herded around.

Why can't the airline find a deserving soul for the FC seat and put the non-rev in the back? When a gate agent offers me FC, I'll say no thanks, or, if there is someone deserving in the boarding area as in a servicemember or a vet, then they get the FC seat offered to me. The most deserving was the woman holding the folded American flag.

-Barnyard

 

[Abernathy]

Wow, something customer service oriented, what a shock. I could never figure why they didn't do this before.

Because then no frequent flier would ever pay full fare for a first class domestic ticket. They would just sit standby hoping for a shot at a first class seat for the coach fare. The airline would inevitably lose the customer that would have paid a grand or two for the first class ticket but instead went "fu** it" and got the same seat standby for coach fare.

 

[thruthemurk]

It's not about entitlement, it's about treating your CUSTOMERS as well as you possibly can.

When you put a uniformed crew member (int'l crew rest arguments aside...) in a first class seat and then parade 125 PAYING customers on by to wedge them selves into their seats, your airline has just pissed off 125 PAYING customers. It doesn't matter what they paid, hell a full Y fare can be more than a FC fare in some circumstances. Hell I've seen 219$ FC fares before, you can bet your a$s there are coach customers that have paid more than that.

I'm not advocating that anyone lose their 'perks' but to say that an airline employee is entitled to a FC seat over a paying customer is asinine. Just another example of why service on US airlines at best a joke- the attitude that your CUSTOMERS are just cattle to be herded around.

Why can't the airline find a deserving soul for the FC seat and put the non-rev in the back? When a gate agent offers me FC, I'll say no thanks, or, if there is someone deserving in the boarding area as in a servicemember or a vet, then they get the FC seat offered to me. The most deserving was the woman holding the folded American flag.

-Barnyard

You may have a different opinion when the ink on your license dries.

 

[barnyard]

You may have a different opinion when the ink on your license dries.

Nice try.

I notice you don't try to argue or refute my points. Got anything constructive to add???

 

[CA1900]

If a loyal paying customer paid for a coach seat, why would he be entitled to a first class seat?

Because it's a specifically loyalty benefit in their frequent-flier program.

 

[aewanabe]

Barnyard, it's called dilution of product. Airlines that upgrade their Elite-level FFs have a set procedure to do so, and it's done ahead of non-revs. Elites typically can use mileage instruments, sticker-type products, or system-wide upgrades to get that Business-class seat. If said Elite(s) does not feel that particular flight is worth using the upgrade instrument, then it goes to a non-rev, or out empty.

If we constantly upgrade pax just for being there (CO, NW, DL, and now soon UA domestic aside for elites), there is zero incentive for passengers in the know to spend money on a product they will most likely receive for free. With a few exceptions, elite level FFs are savvy about flying and about non-revs being offered First, and most don't care. The other 200 pax who are "pissed off" about the crewmember in First aren't likely to ever give the airline enough business to earn the upgrade.

 

[GogglesPisano]

Because it's a specifically loyalty benefit in their frequent-flier program.

Understood. I believe we were discussing upgrading run-of-the-mill coach pax ahead of a non-rev or vice-versa -- not FF's.

 

[propdog]

You may have a different opinion when the ink on your license dries.

I think he is a corporate pilot-hence the attitude against employee Business/First travel.

I fly all over the world in FC....it is part of my employment package. I agree with upgrading elite/platinum members on domestic flights. But international....it is a whole different story. It is an airline's premium product...and they charge a premium for it. Airlines have asked routine FC passengers their opinion on passenger upgrades....they absolutely do not want a coach passenger paying 1/5th of what they paid in a nearby seat. The majority of them don't mind an employee...they have travelled enough to understand employee perks. If they get pissed off seeing me in my pilot uniform sitting in business class, tough $hit....I don't get pissed off at my doctor for parking his Mercedez in the VIP parking spot at the hospital.

That said, I treat my FC privilege with respect. I usually dress in business attire for personal travel. I have helped FAs with some cabin-pax issues. I once was invited to the flight deck as they wanted an extra oipnion with a fuel system problem....I was glad to be of some help. At the end of the day....a pilot upfront in business is a great asset.

 

[CA1900]

Because it's a specifically loyalty benefit in their frequent-flier program.

er... "specific," I meant.

Understood. I believe we were discussing upgrading run-of-the-mill coach pax ahead of a non-rev or vice-versa -- not FF's.

Ah, OK -- that's indeed different.

 

[GogglesPisano]

Barnyard: What perks do you get from your employer?

 

[barnyard]

Our 'perks' have been eliminated!

 

[GogglesPisano]

Our 'perks' have been eliminated!

Why do you want to take away ours?

 

[barnyard]

I'm not advocating that anyone lose their 'perks' but to say that an airline employee is entitled to a FC seat over a paying customer is asinine. Just another example of why service on US airlines at best a joke- the attitude that your CUSTOMERS are just cattle to be herded around.


-Barnyard

......

 

[eaglesview]

This is a bunch of wasted hot air about nothing. The seats belong to the company like it or not. They can make the policy they want,

Now as for "Barney" If you think the service sucks take your whiney a$$ over to CO or DL where you state you like the service better.

 

[AvroGuy]

the attitude that your CUSTOMERS are just cattle to be herded around.
-Barnyard

the American customer is only getting what they asked for. low, lower and the ultralow prices. Ultimately you get what you pay for. Granted first class seating doesn't always mean first class service. hard to get with a group that keeps getting **** on. Generally, and I know you have heard this, if the employees are happy, so everyone else will be

 

[febtober]

The last flight I paid to fly on was SFO HNL and back. Both ways were oversold and i got a free upgrade to my coach ticket both ways. Delta/NWA earned my business through this. If I am jumpseating I'm happy to get any seat on the plane. The airline needs to fill the seats not send away coach fares with travel vouchers because coach was full. If that means I get bumped off so be it.
For those of you who are economics challenged an empty seat leaving the gate is not worth $5000 or even $100, if its empty its worthless. Make it worth something by putting a paying body in it.

 

[barnyard]

It's interesting to me how the guys with heavy experience in their profiles are the ones who resort to childish insults and name-calling.

It doesn't surprise me, however, that airline employees show no understanding of a basic tenet of customer service!

Barnyard Out.

 

[TransMach]

Please come try Int'l Business Class on DAL. It's second to none, outstanding professional service by our FA's, the food is incredible and the seats are great.

What do I find wrong with a revenue passenger being in First/Business? NOTHING...if they PAID for it. I agree with others however that Coach passengers should NOT be upgraded to First/Business for free...simply because Coach was oversold. It's a different story with the FF milers who have the miles/status to be upgraded, they have purchased enough of our product to be awarded for their loyalty and business. But the leisure traveler should NOT under any circumstances be given a $5-$8000 seat because their $5-$800 seat was oversold. Too bad, so sad...go on the next flight or another day...OR pony up the money for the product.

So also what you are saying, and I agree "A non-rev should NEVER be in First Class ... NEVER. The coach passenger with the most miles in the bank should receive the complemantary (suprise) upgrade allowing a non-rev to take their coach seat.

I agree ... completely. No non-rev should ever receive a premium cabin seat if there is a paying passenger who would have liked to receive the free upgrade. This entire business is not about the labor force, it is about the paying customer !!

TransMach

 

[A Squared]

Understood. I believe we were discussing upgrading run-of-the-mill coach pax ahead of a non-rev or vice-versa -- not FF's.

Ummm, you need to go back and re-read the original post.