The end of my USscair Mileage Runs

[Spence Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Spence]

Changing the way we do business

It's no secret that the airline business is facing difficulties of unprecedented proportions; and 'unfortunately
US Airways is no exception. Surviving high oil prices is going to require some substantial changes to the way the industry is run. Today, we announced a series of changes designed to prepare our airline for these new ways of doing business.

Specifically, we announced changes to domestic capacity, the Dividend Miles program and our overall business model. We're transforming our business by initiating a 'pay-for-what-you-use' model for items like baggage and beverages. We're also making changes to the Dividend Miles program that you should know about. Among the changes we announced today, we will:

• Assess a $25, $35 or $50 award processing fee (depending on where you travel) for award tickets booked on or after August 6, 2008.
• Introduce a first checked bag fee of $15 for tickets booked on or after July 9, 2008. As a Preferred member, you and anyone traveling on your reservation will be exempt from the baggage fee.
• End Preferred bonus miles for travel booked on or after August 6, 2008.

no more double miles...and the increased cost of the use of the million I've accrued .

[x3skier Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close x3skier]

Stopped using USeless Air a while ago except to redeem miles. I had over a Million miles at one time and am now down to around 100000. Glad I got a head start.

Cheers

[lawren2 Malibu Beach Barbie & A Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close lawren2]

and the hits they keep on coming.

No problem America. Go about your merry way. No recession.

[bnoble Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close bnoble]

I can almost understand the other changes, but this really really sucks:

Assess a $25, $35 or $50 award processing fee (depending on where you travel) for award tickets booked on or after August 6, 2008.

[stasik Member Find all posts View Profile Close stasik]

US Air sets the bar lower and lower. I really do wish they would close and let someone competent bid for their Philadelphia routes.

[bigfrank Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close bigfrank]

I hope I can use my FF miles for an upcoming trip to New Orleans in OCT. This will have me looking with in the week.

[Carolinian Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Carolinian]

The end of bonus miles means that I will no longer consider USAir as my alternative if DL takes over NW.

As to the fees, that really sucks, but it is not as bad as DL which in January started whacking Europe-based members for huge surcharges that add over $200 to the cost of an award ticket across the pond, if you start in Europe.

[Spence Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Spence]

more from Smarter Travel:

Well, the dominoes are starting to fall. After foreboding rumblings emerged from the US Airways shareholder meeting on Wednesday—including a prediction that the carrier's fuel bill will total $2 billion this year—the airline announced Thursday sweeping cuts and a flurry of new fees. First up, it will add a $15 fee for first checked bags, making it the third legacy line to do so. The fee will affect tickets purchased after July 9, and will apply to all domestic flights as well as service to Canada, the Caribbean, and Latin America. The news came mere hours after United added a fee of its own. American was the first airline to add this fee.



US Airways will also begin charging for onboard soft drinks, effective August 1, moving the airline toward a bare bones a la carte service model never before seen among legacy carriers. All non-alcoholic beverages, including bottled water, will cost $2. For comparison, low-cost carriers such as JetBlue and Southwest provide complimentary beverages, including sodas, coffee, and yes, bottled water. Alcoholic drinks, currently $5, will cost $7.


US Airways Dividend Miles members won't be spared pain either. To redeem award tickets, you'll now have to pay a new fee of $25 for domestic awards, $35 for Mexico and Caribbean awards, and $50 for Hawaii and other international destinations. The new fees take effect August 6. Note that this is in addition to the existing award ticketing fees.


But wait, there's more! The carrier will reduce flight capacity by 6 to 8 percent in the fall, particularly in Las Vegas, where service will be cut by roughly 50 percent. Ten planes will be returned to lessors, and two planes scheduled for delivery will be canceled.


There's a lot to digest here. First, the baggage fee, which in and of itself isn't a surprise (a sign of the times, to be sure). What is surprising is the routes affected. United and American limited their baggage fees to U.S. and Canada service, but US Airways has expanded to non-U.S. Caribbean islands and Latin America. That's not an insignificant amount of traffic, so the carrier has really raised the stakes.


Second, the soft drinks. Obviously this is going to be very unpopular, as it should be. My main question is whether or not passengers will have to buy a bottle of water if a plane is being held on the tarmac.


Third, sticking it to frequent flyers is a daring choice (even Chairman's and Platinum Preferred Members won't be spared), and possibly quite foolish. Theoretically, frequent flyers are a carrier's most dependable passengers, so it seems illogical for US Airways to hit them with new fees.


Lastly, the route reductions will mean less choice for passengers going forward. Most of the Las Vegas flights being cut will affect US Airways late-night service, save for a few East Coast routes.


And, of course, behind all this cost-cutting, people will lose their jobs: 1,700 employees in all, including 300 pilots, 400 flight attendants, 800 airport employees, and 200 staff and management.

[skierbri10 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close skierbri10]

Since I work for an airline I think I am qualified to respond....

As far as charging for bags and food and beverages go, I believe that many peolpe can do without. Many people can fit all their belongings into a carry-on, you can bring your own food and drink on the plane as well. Albeit, you must purchase the food and beverage in the terminal which may be pricey. I don't agree that they should increase the fees for award tickets, but it is that or a fuel surcharge. These fuel prices are just killing us. Do you want higher fares? Or work-arounds for lower fares? Not only are they "sticking it" to the customer, but us the employees as well, numerous pay cuts and benefit cuts have turned this profession into just a job, that you may leaver sooner than becoming dedicated employee. No one really cares in this industry anymore, it is quite sad. Morale is super low, no time for vacations, in fact many airlines are canceling vacations at the last minute. I don't know what else to say, but sorry, you are not alone.

[bnoble Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close bnoble]

I don't think anyone would disagree that the airlines have to do something to increase revenue, and fast.

But, driving away your FF core---presumably, the folks who fly for business and are slitghtly less price sensitive---doesn't sound like the way to go.

[stasik Member Find all posts View Profile Close stasik]

Since I work for an airline I think I am qualified to respond....

As far as charging for bags and food and beverages go, I believe that many peolpe can do without. Many people can fit all their belongings into a carry-on, you can bring your own food and drink on the plane as well. Albeit, you must purchase the food and beverage in the terminal which may be pricey. I don't agree that they should increase the fees for award tickets, but it is that or a fuel surcharge. These fuel prices are just killing us. Do you want higher fares? Or work-arounds for lower fares? Not only are they "sticking it" to the customer, but us the employees as well, numerous pay cuts and benefit cuts have turned this profession into just a job, that you may leaver sooner than becoming dedicated employee. No one really cares in this industry anymore, it is quite sad. Morale is super low, no time for vacations, in fact many airlines are canceling vacations at the last minute. I don't know what else to say, but sorry, you are not alone.

Unfortunately you and airline passengers are victims of two competing forces: airline management that represents the largest collection of baboons outside of the African continent and intransigent union leadership that continues to fight for archaic work rules rather than a modern, flexible work force. I sympathize with you, but not the stooges that run US.

But if US Air wants to use the Skybus service model, then they should change their name to Skybus, EasyJet or RyanAir. In that case, don't charge me $200 for PHL-CMH. Sell me the ticket for $100 and I'll be happy to pay for my soda, beer, pillows and snacks.

I stand by my earlier comments. Let US finally go out of business instead of abusing BK as part of their business model. Its only delaying the inevitable. Let more competent carriers fill the void.

If they think that their loyal passengers are going to pay max prices for a ticket and then let themselves get nickel and dimed on board the plane, I think they have another thing coming.

By the way, if airlines are going to force people (via fees) to bring carryons, then airlines should consider enforcing size restrictions on bags. Appropriately sized bags can be had relatively cheaply and if someone can't afford the bag, they probably can't afford to fly.

[skierbri10 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close skierbri10]

Unfortunately you and airline passengers are victims of two competing forces: airline management that represents the largest collection of baboons outside of the African continent and intransigent union leadership that continues to fight for archaic work rules rather than a modern, flexible work force. I sympathize with you, but not the stooges that run US.

But if US Air wants to use the Skybus service model, then they should change their name to Skybus, EasyJet or RyanAir. In that case, don't charge me $200 for PHL-CMH. Sell me the ticket for $100 and I'll be happy to pay for my soda, beer, pillows and snacks.

I stand by my earlier comments. Let US finally go out of business instead of abusing BK as part of their business model. Its only delaying the inevitable. Let more competent carriers fill the void.

If they think that their loyal passengers are going to pay max prices for a ticket and then let themselves get nickel and dimed on board the plane, I think they have another thing coming.

By the way, if airlines are going to force people (via fees) to bring carryons, then airlines should consider enforcing size restrictions on bags. Appropriately sized bags can be had relatively cheaply and if someone can't afford the bag, they probably can't afford to fly.

The only thing you don't realize, is if USair goes out of business, the prices will skyrocket. That goes for any of the large legacy carriers. Even Southwest has increased it's fares at an alarming rate. Those European airlines that you mention are not charging $100 a ticket, at exchange rates it is more like $250.

[stasik Member Find all posts View Profile Close stasik]

Fares are already high in Philly. And with US as the dominant carrier, they are even higher on routes where US Air controls the nonstop traffic. Try booking to Boston, Charlotte, Dayton or Rochester. There is an occasional deal, but they are usually outrageous. The only routes where they are in the ballpark are ones where they compete with Southwest or other low cost carriers. Even though Southwest has higher fares than they did last year, they still set the bar around here.

Look, the world didn't end when Eastern vanished or Braniff or Pan Am. New players entered their markets and filled the void. The world won't end when US Air finally goes away. And they will. Its possible that the next time they file BK, they could find another sucker to try and make a go of it. But too many people have been burned. They have already dragged America West down with them into the muck.

[skierbri10 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close skierbri10]

Fares are already high in Philly. And with US as the dominant carrier, they are even higher on routes where US Air controls the nonstop traffic. Try booking to Boston, Charlotte, Dayton or Rochester. There is an occasional deal, but they are usually outrageous. The only routes where they are in the ballpark are ones where they compete with Southwest or other low cost carriers. Even though Southwest has higher fares than they did last year, they still set the bar around here.

Look, the world didn't end when Eastern vanished or Braniff or Pan Am. New players entered their markets and filled the void. The world won't end when US Air finally goes away. And they will. Its possible that the next time they file BK, they could find another sucker to try and make a go of it. But too many people have been burned. They have already dragged America West down with them into the muck.

US Air will not go away. They are too big and have too many ways out of trouble. What we the people of the USA need to start focusing on is how and why the dollar is so worthless. That is our whole problem. The cost of gas hasn't really gone up, but the dollar has gone down so much, that it is nearly worthless an any other country. It ain't gonna get any better with the kooks we have running for the president this year.

[x3skier Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close x3skier]

The cost of gas hasn't really gone up, but the dollar has gone down so much, that it is nearly worthless an any other country.

AFAIK, about half of the increase is dollar shrinking and the other is a real increase for whatever reason, including speculation because it sure isn't demand. If you want value for dollars, try South America or anywhere else but Europe with the possible exception of the UK.

Cheers