Stupid Airline Management Quotes

[smellthejeta]

Why on earth then have they lost so much money in such short order? Where have all those loyal customers gone? Same planes,crew,management etc....
How can such solid performers tank an airline with just a paintjob?

Um, genius...

You forget that ACA's agreement with United was a guaranteed fee per departure agreement. Presuming United was not in BK status, that contract would still be enforceable and ACA would still be rolling in the dough. I don't know what you think, but a contract that guarentees profits without regard to revenue generation, well, was great for ACA and bad for United. Switching over to a model that required ACA to assume all of the risk, well, was obviously not as great as the guaranteed profits under United.

WRT to "loyal customers..." Um, dude, I know you probably don't buy tickets, but for those that do, customers are loyal to their pocket books. These frequent flyer programs, IMHO, are killing the legacies (well, they're not helping them) but in this instance they do have the benefit of keeping people within the UA/US system and off of FlyI's planes. One of the things that JetBlue et al are dong right is giving customers reasons to put their butts in seats. Service? What service? With internet check-in, self-check-in kiosks and nothing more than a couple of sodas in flight, well, where's the service? DirecTV, XM Radio, etc, are reasons other than fares that get people on planes. If you're going to compete on fares, "that something extra" is what sways people. Be it a solid FF program or inflight amenities, that's what's keeping "loyal customers" off of ACA's planes.

That solid performer that tanked with a new paint job also tanked because the business agreement they had changed. Sorry it wasn't as simple as the paint job.

 

[SWABound]

WRT to "loyal customers..." Um, dude, I know you probably don't buy tickets, but for those that do, customers are loyal to their pocket books. These frequent flyer programs, IMHO, are killing the legacies (well, they're not helping them) but in this instance they do have the benefit of keeping people within the UA/US system and off of FlyI's planes. One of the things that JetBlue et al are dong right is giving customers reasons to put their butts in seats. Service? What service? With internet check-in, self-check-in kiosks and nothing more than a couple of sodas in flight, well, where's the service? DirecTV, XM Radio, etc, are reasons other than fares that get people on planes. If you're going to compete on fares, "that something extra" is what sways people. Be it a solid FF program or inflight amenities, that's what's keeping "loyal customers" off of ACA's planes.

You must work for United. Why is it you guys have zero clue about customer service? Do they teach you in recurrent every year to be pompus and thumb you nose at customers? Treat them as poorly as possible because we have miles to give. You guys are the titanic and your shrugging your shoulders why. Amazing.

 

[skykid]

SWABound, again you are correct. The reason United's intent to repurchase figures are at record highs is because of a giant customer conspiracy to skew the numbers artificially. Besides, your analysis is far superior to actual customer feedback.

 

[MickeySlapnutz]

"You forget that ACA's agreement with United was a guaranteed fee per departure agreement."

I did'nt forget that fact....apparently FLYi management did. They had a chance to remember their "feduciary responsibility to evaluate any and all offers that are presented" as one guy put it.
Instead,they came up with this foolish attempt to make a feeder airline a stand alone operation. Then they sold this idea to their employees who were blinded by the idea of being out from under UAL's shadow.

Look. if some of you want to spout Kerry Skeens line and talk about past stock performance as some indication by which the current dire situation at FLYi shoud be measured ....then God bless. But I have to wonder....is the vigerous defense an attempt to convince me of FLYi's future or yourselves who have your livelyhoods at stake?

 

[Mugs]

Fact is United, US Air and the rest can't make money with 70% load factors. Indy is just starting and if they post 70% load factors they would be making money. (listen to their financial web cast) United and US Air are flushing government money down the toilet. They take from the employees without fixing their own crappy operation and still can't make money. Give me a break. I know you who work there want it to work out but numbers don't lie. Once independence is a known name like Airtran, SWA, and JetBlue they are going to be rolling in the money. Their service is superior to the "legacy" carriers and prices that will make them money. The "legacy" carriers simply cannot compete and with the money indy is saving with the new agreements only solidifies United's death.

Again, what government money is being flushed away by UAL right now?

If Indy's service is so superior, why would they not be making money right away like Jetblue (who actually has done well in the service department from day one) did? Gee, maybe service doesn't have much to do with it in Indy's case. Perhaps it is because there is something fundamentally stupid about running a high cost per mile airplane that customers don't even care for like an RJ in a low fare / high fuel price business plan. Rolling in money eh? We'll see about that.

 

[smellthejeta]

You must work for United. Why is it you guys have zero clue about customer service? Do they teach you in recurrent every year to be pompus and thumb you nose at customers? Treat them as poorly as possible because we have miles to give. You guys are the titanic and your shrugging your shoulders why. Amazing.

Thanks for the compliment, but no. I used to work for ACA, but I've been out of the airlines for a couple of years now. The comments you responded to were written by somebody who actually buys tickets. Me! And I meant what I said. In the current climate of online checkin, self-checkin kiosks, no meal service (buy on board if you're lucky), and maybe a couple of beverage runs in coach, where's the service? If it wasn't for B6's DirecTV, AirTran's XM radio, or my carrier (or network) of choice's frequent flyer program, there would be absolutely no reason for me to keep my business on one airline and not shop by price each time I fly. WRT to United, except for their surly CSR's that treat NRSA"s like dirt, they aren't any better or any worse than any other airline I've flown on in the last two years.

 

[smellthejeta]

"You forget that ACA's agreement with United was a guaranteed fee per departure agreement."

I did'nt forget that fact....apparently FLYi management did. They had a chance to remember their "feduciary responsibility to evaluate any and all offers that are presented" as one guy put it.
Instead,they came up with this foolish attempt to make a feeder airline a stand alone operation. Then they sold this idea to their employees who were blinded by the idea of being out from under UAL's shadow.

Look. if some of you want to spout Kerry Skeens line and talk about past stock performance as some indication by which the current dire situation at FLYi shoud be measured ....then God bless. But I have to wonder....is the vigerous defense an attempt to convince me of FLYi's future or yourselves who have your livelyhoods at stake?

Perhaps you'd make a better lawyer than a pilot, because you sure have a way of twisting words. In a previous post, you had said that ACA"s performance under United sucked. The guy responded back by saying that their financial performance under United was pretty good for a regional. I then informed you that United filed for BK. If it wasn't for that, the previous gravy contract would still be in effect, making ACA's financial performance still pretty solid. When I asked you in another post what you thought of being a contract carrier for United, or working for United, you said "not much." So which one is it? Is it better to be a contract carrier for a company in BK, or going at it alone? Air Wisconsin is starting to feel the sting of being one of four or five contract carriers. United's proposed new contract with ACA guranteed nothing but disaster... They wanted the option to phase them out over the long run. This sh!t is gong to go on for quite awhile, and if United liquidates, then what? What good is having a contract with a carrier that doesn't exist? I hate to say it, but I really don't miss the airlines. They might be cool jobs, but they're a lousy career. Convince me that staying with United would have been a great idea, and maybe I'll agree that FlyI should not have been tried. But I'm not convinced that staying with United would have been all that great.

 

[MickeySlapnutz]

Perhaps you'd make a better lawyer than a pilot, because you sure have a way of twisting words. In a previous post, you had said that ACA"s performance under United sucked. The guy responded back by saying that their financial performance under United was pretty good for a regional. I then informed you that United filed for BK. If it wasn't for that, the previous gravy contract would still be in effect, making ACA's financial performance still pretty solid. When I asked you in another post what you thought of being a contract carrier for United, or working for United, you said "not much." So which one is it? Is it better to be a contract carrier for a company in BK, or going at it alone?

Yes...ACA's operational performance under UAL was terrible. ACA's financial performance under UAL was not a financial performance supported by operations. It was as you put it, "a gravy contract" that subsidized a poorly run feeder carrier. Does anyone really think that ACA operationally earned their profits? If that was the case...they would not be sinking now. In other words...FLYi is ACA, just not on welfare. And no matter how many press releases you have or conference calls, the bottom line is: they never had an operationally sustaining business model. The failure they are experiencing now was foreseeable.

 

[Dave Siegel]

GO SOUTHWEST!!!

 

[SWABound]

Again, what government money is being flushed away by UAL right now?

Did UAL repay their ATSB loan? I didn't think so. Maybe that's the government money Mugs is talking about.

I'd call you a moron, but I'm better than that.

It's just that United pilots are upset that independence airbus pilots are now making more money than United airbus and 737 pilots. Also they are working for an airline that cares about it's employees and customers.

I think it's called jealousy.


Now Air Wisk is forcing United's hand or dumping them too. Wonder why? Wouldn't be that United treats all it's partners like trash. It'll be nice to see the continued UAL debacle at IAD.

 

[Dave Siegel]

GO SOUTHWEST!!!

 

[MickeySlapnutz]

How many pilots are actually flying an airbus at FLYi and how many years have they been with the company?

 

[MickeySlapnutz]

Stupid Airline Management Quote of the day winner.....FLYi's Kerry Skeen takes top honors again!


"I think a lot of people wrote us off before the Airbuses got here, and said FLYi is broken, it doesn't work," Skeen told analysts in a conference call earlier this week. "But we just did not have the time to show at least some traction on how the A319s are doing."


Translation: All our people were busy hideing from our creditors and tap-danceing in front of accounting lawyers to make up some bogus stats. Anyway...no one was rideing on the empty things so what was the point.

 

[SWABound]

.......................

 

[crazee8]

"There have been a lot of smiles around here," Flyi Chairman Kerry B. Skeen said in an interview. This irked me when I read it. After laying off 500 pilots and however many other employees, it seems like he could have picked his words a bit better in celebration of new financing terms.

 

[koko nw]

Originally Posted by SWABound

Again, what government money is being flushed away by UAL right now?



It's just that United pilots are upset that independence airbus pilots are now making more money than United airbus and 737 pilots. Also they are working for an airline that cares about it's employees and customers.

I think it's called jealousy.



You're right! Just like the crew of the Titanic! As the ship is sinking, they're all looking at each other, and they're in complete disbelief. When are they going to wake up!

Classy statements gents,
let me guess, 5-6 years ago when UAL was hiring like mad, you guy's wouldn't have chopped off your left one just get an interview.

Probably not since you guy's can read tea leaves and knew that UAL and most of the legacies would be in it's present condition right?

Thankfully I know enough real SWA pilots who don't share your sentiments towards your "fellow aviators".

Good luck fella's, and yea I'm real Jealous of you guy's alright

 

[skykid]

Again, what government money is being flushed away by UAL right now?



Quote:

Did UAL repay their ATSB loan? I didn't think so. Maybe that's the government money Mugs is talking about.

I'd call you a moron, but I'm better than that.


It's just that United pilots are upset that independence airbus pilots are now making more money than United airbus and 737 pilots. Also they are working for an airline that cares about it's employees and customers.

I think it's called jealousy.

Siegel, I have to believe you are joking. One of the biggest airline stories last year was United not getting the ATSB loan guarantee. If you are wondering why you have no credibility on this board, this is why. I challenge you and SWAbound to do 2 minutes worth of research, and then make corrections to your posts.

 

[SWABound]

Originally Posted by SWABound

Again, what government money is being flushed away by UAL right now?



It's just that United pilots are upset that independence airbus pilots are now making more money than United airbus and 737 pilots. Also they are working for an airline that cares about it's employees and customers.

I think it's called jealousy.



You're right! Just like the crew of the Titanic! As the ship is sinking, they're all looking at each other, and they're in complete disbelief. When are they going to wake up!

Classy statements gents,
let me guess, 5-6 years ago when UAL was hiring like mad, you guy's wouldn't have chopped off your left one just get an interview.

Probably not since you guy's can read tea leaves and knew that UAL and most of the legacies would be in it's present condition right?

Thankfully I know enough real SWA pilots who don't share your sentiments towards your "fellow aviators".

Good luck fella's, and yea I'm real Jealous of you guy's alright

I like how you put "fellow aviators" in quotes because the majority of United pilots treat the express pilots like 3rd class citizens. I never applied 5-6 years ago. I'm not female so I would never have gotten an interview.

 

[koko nw]

SWA BOUND SAID "I like how you put "fellow aviators" in quotes because the majority of United pilots treat the express pilots like 3rd class citizens. I never applied 5-6 years ago. I'm not female so I would never have gotten an interview"

I see know where your angst comes from. Your right out of the 3000+ hired during the "boom" of 95-99, most were women and minorities.....yaaa right.

Half my class were pure civilian backgrounds, with one count em one female. Sorry about your treatment by the "Majority" of UAL pilots towards there express carriers.

You really need to get some counseling for your bitterness dude and move on.

Good luck at SWA, a great company. I'm sure your personality will win em over during your interview.

 

[DH2WN]

I'm a former ACA United Express pilot and many months ago I was eating dinner with two United pilot friends. I was telling them a story how I was held in the "box" in ORD for an hour because United couldn't get their gate situation figured out. There were lots of United traffic delayed and the United controllers kept using our gate for United planes. The one United pilot said yeah, "You're Express, they would never do that to us." The other United pilot states, "Yeah, it's because your Express. Sorry but that's just the way it is."

I said, "Listen to yourselves. Do you realize the passengers in the back are on United? They bought a ticket from United!"

They looked at each other and realized there are more problems with United then they could possibly comprehend.

Each pilot is a good friend of mine and each admits they look at Express carriers as bottom feeders. And these are my friends.

Independence had no choice but to dump United and the above is a small example of the chasm United has gotten themselves into. I have seen first hand the United operation. The money you waste during every flight is daunting. I hope each of you remains gainfully employed but bashing Independence is the pot calling the kettle black.