why is United so cheap?

[relief tube]

The other day on a quick turn, grabbed a banana from the basket onboard. The FA kindly mentioned how united only stocks 2 bananas a flight. I had thought enough were stocked to warrant grabbing one.

There's half a dozen First class seats- why does UAL think that 2 pieces of fruit are enough? It's embarrassing.

this, along with tons of other examples- namely the recent firing of employees at dozens of stations to bring in minimum wage contract employees, makes me wonder what they think they are accomplishing, especially in the current revenue environment where money is just flowing in.

is it b/c of current mgmnt, or has it always been like this. just wondering...

 

[Flopgut]

It's current mgt IMO. This is not how either subsidiary used to operate.

 

[SpauldingSmails]

I almost think it would be better to not stock bananas at all than to merely cater a pair of them. If there are none, you could at least speculate some reason why - but carrying only two immediately appears as stupendously cheap.

 

[BuckMurdock1]

I think United needs to hire Damon W...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6y-pdLyZPJ8

 

[Andy]

I almost think it would be better to not stock bananas at all than to merely cater a pair of them. If there are none, you could at least speculate some reason why - but carrying only two immediately appears as stupendously cheap.

Depends. If there are 6 F seats, how many bananas do you need? 6? Seems wasteful because you know most people aren't going to eat a banana.
There's a pencil pusher somewhere in Willis tower that's calculated the number of bananas per F seat.
Relief Tube flies for a regional partner so we're not talking about catering for a 777.

 

[Baronman]

this, along with tons of other examples- namely the recent firing of employees at dozens of stations to bring in minimum wage contract employees, makes me wonder what they think they are accomplishing, especially in the current revenue environment where money is just flowing in.

is it b/c of current mgmnt, or has it always been like this. just wondering...

Exactly. The banana is just another example. Firing long term employees that were invested in the success of the company in exchange for ACME ground handlers in the current revenue environment is cheap.

I saw this as a CoEx regional pilot. At one point we felt (rightfully so or not) invested in the success of CAL. Through the course of 5 years that sentiment turned into outright resentment and while they may have saved money on us, we certainly cost the company in other ways. This was the difference between going above and beyond and doing the bare minimum to comply with the job description.

 

[eaglesview]

It's current mgt IMO. This is not how either subsidiary used to operate.

Absolutely correct. That being said I have been offered plenty out of the first class basket. This thead is just a bit exaggerated.

 

[Continental]

Take what you want. Don't worry about it.

Problem fixed. Next..

 

[SpauldingSmails]

Depends. If there are 6 F seats, how many bananas do you need? 6? Seems wasteful because you know most people aren't going to eat a banana.
There's a pencil pusher somewhere in Willis tower that's calculated the number of bananas per F seat.
Relief Tube flies for a regional partner so we're not talking about catering for a 777.

Yeah, I didn't pick up on the half dozen part...

 

[Flopgut]

Bethune once said "you can't take the cheese off the pizza"... Jeff has not only removed the cheese, but has deficated on the pizza.

 

[Andy]

Bethune once said "you can't take the cheese off the pizza"... Jeff has not only removed the cheese, but has deficated on the pizza.

The quote:
It's the old adage: You can make a pizza so cheap, nobody will eat it. You can make an airline so cheap, nobody will fly it.
Gordon Bethune

http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/g/gordonbeth543779.html

Gordo's wrong. Little Caesar's, Totino's, Chuck E Cheese, Spirit, Frontier, Allegiant, and Southwest have proven that no matter how cheap you make things, there's a line of buyers for your product.

 

[wms]

Depends. If there are 6 F seats, how many bananas do you need? 6? Seems wasteful because you know most people aren't going to eat a banana.
There's a pencil pusher somewhere in Willis tower that's calculated the number of bananas per F seat.
Relief Tube flies for a regional partner so we're not talking about catering for a 777.

That right there is UALs problem, bean counters running an airline from a cubicle. That may have been necessary during the merger, but now they need some visionary career aviation types to build the brand.

 

[SIG600]

The other day on a quick turn, grabbed a banana from the basket onboard. The FA kindly mentioned how united only stocks 2 bananas a flight. I had thought enough were stocked to warrant grabbing one.

There's half a dozen First class seats- why does UAL think that 2 pieces of fruit are enough? It's embarrassing.

this, along with tons of other examples- namely the recent firing of employees at dozens of stations to bring in minimum wage contract employees, makes me wonder what they think they are accomplishing, especially in the current revenue environment where money is just flowing in.

is it b/c of current mgmnt, or has it always been like this. just wondering...

Do you work for the company, or were you jump seating? From your other posts I gather you're a regional pilot in which case what are you doing helping yourself to anything commuting on another carrier?

Either way I never just take anything before the flight without asking an FA. You don't know what their cabin mgmt program is, no matter how mundane your perception.

 

[Tail Gunner Joe]

Bethune once said "you can't take the cheese off the pizza"... Jeff has not only removed the cheese, but has deficated on the pizza.

I saw this as a CoEx regional pilot. At one point we felt (rightfully so or not) invested in the success of CAL.

In this story: CoEx = the pizza

 

[IAHERJ]

The other day on a quick turn, grabbed a banana from the basket onboard. The FA kindly mentioned how united only stocks 2 bananas a flight. I had thought enough were stocked to warrant grabbing one.

There's half a dozen First class seats- why does UAL think that 2 pieces of fruit are enough? It's embarrassing.

this, along with tons of other examples- namely the recent firing of employees at dozens of stations to bring in minimum wage contract employees, makes me wonder what they think they are accomplishing, especially in the current revenue environment where money is just flowing in.

is it b/c of current mgmnt, or has it always been like this. just wondering...

I'm confused. What aircraft does UAL operate with 6 first class seats? And what basket are you talking about? Never seen one of these. I see tons of wasted hot food thrown away each leg as we cannot even consider eating it on top of our boarded meals. Sifting through the galley for bananas is not an issue. Again, who do you fly for?