Comments on: What I Told the Airline People at the Frequent Flier Conference http://crankyflier.com/2009/10/26/what-i-told-the-airline-people-at-the-frequent-flier-conference/ Fri, 10 Feb 2012 00:32:03 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Speaking engagements « Nicholas Kralev http://crankyflier.com/2009/10/26/what-i-told-the-airline-people-at-the-frequent-flier-conference/comment-page-1/#comment-99123 Speaking engagements « Nicholas Kralev Fri, 16 Apr 2010 18:19:10 +0000 http://crankyflier.com/?p=3821#comment-99123 [...] programs’ management to listen to their best customers when making decisions, along with Brett Snyder, who writes the “Cranky Flier” blog. In addition, Nicholas moderated the [...] [...] programs’ management to listen to their best customers when making decisions, along with Brett Snyder, who writes the “Cranky Flier” blog. In addition, Nicholas moderated the [...]

]]> By: Michael Smith http://crankyflier.com/2009/10/26/what-i-told-the-airline-people-at-the-frequent-flier-conference/comment-page-1/#comment-81648 Michael Smith Fri, 30 Oct 2009 14:49:28 +0000 http://crankyflier.com/?p=3821#comment-81648 Brett - thanks to you (and Nicholas) for providing exactly what I was looking for as the conference chairman. The real customers viewpoint. Your session was one of the most talked about and the one that I have had a lot of positive feedback about. So, I hope for many of the airlines in the room they heard what you were both saying. It was great that you were able to put the question out to your readers and get them to input effectively "live" to the conference. A very neat way to connect the audience to their customers. Again my thanks! Michael Smith Brett – thanks to you (and Nicholas) for providing exactly what I was looking for as the conference chairman. The real customers viewpoint. Your session was one of the most talked about and the one that I have had a lot of positive feedback about. So, I hope for many of the airlines in the room they heard what you were both saying.

It was great that you were able to put the question out to your readers and get them to input effectively “live” to the conference. A very neat way to connect the audience to their customers.

Again my thanks!

Michael Smith

]]> By: A http://crankyflier.com/2009/10/26/what-i-told-the-airline-people-at-the-frequent-flier-conference/comment-page-1/#comment-81395 A Tue, 27 Oct 2009 14:50:12 +0000 http://crankyflier.com/?p=3821#comment-81395 <b><a href="#comment-81373" title="Go to comment of this author" rel="nofollow">CF</a></b> wrote: <blockquote>and many think it will never come back – companies will start doing business differently now</blockquote> My biggest client has all but said corporate travel will be minimized as much as humanly possible. Thus I'm not getting any status this year and have spent much time on video and teleconference calls. It is what it is. CF wrote:

and many think it will never come back – companies will start doing business differently now

My biggest client has all but said corporate travel will be minimized as much as humanly possible. Thus I’m not getting any status this year and have spent much time on video and teleconference calls. It is what it is.

]]> By: CF http://crankyflier.com/2009/10/26/what-i-told-the-airline-people-at-the-frequent-flier-conference/comment-page-1/#comment-81373 CF Tue, 27 Oct 2009 02:15:54 +0000 http://crankyflier.com/?p=3821#comment-81373 <b><a href="#comment-81341" title="Go to comment of this author" rel="nofollow">asad</a></b> wrote: <blockquote> Did anyone mention how corporation cutting down on business travel has affected the airlines ? I know a lot of convention locations are hurting because of canceled conferences but has this come up all the way to the airlines ? </blockquote> That has been a theme at almost every conference lately. It's a huge issue for the airlines, and many think it will never come back - companies will start doing business differently now. So yeah, there's always plenty of discussion around that. <b><a href="#comment-81363" title="Go to comment of this author" rel="nofollow">United in Denver</a></b> wrote: <blockquote>Glad to know I brought up a good point. I just started traveling seriously for work within the last year, and I picked United as it is the hub carrier in Denver. Now I’m starting to wish there was another choice. </blockquote> Living in Denver, you have more options than just about anyone else in the country! asad wrote:

Did anyone mention how corporation cutting down on business travel has affected the airlines ? I know a lot of convention locations are hurting because of canceled conferences but has this come up all the way to the airlines ?

That has been a theme at almost every conference lately. It’s a huge issue for the airlines, and many think it will never come back – companies will start doing business differently now. So yeah, there’s always plenty of discussion around that.

United in Denver wrote:

Glad to know I brought up a good point. I just started traveling seriously for work within the last year, and I picked United as it is the hub carrier in Denver. Now I’m starting to wish there was another choice.

Living in Denver, you have more options than just about anyone else in the country!

]]> By: United in Denver http://crankyflier.com/2009/10/26/what-i-told-the-airline-people-at-the-frequent-flier-conference/comment-page-1/#comment-81363 United in Denver Mon, 26 Oct 2009 22:14:09 +0000 http://crankyflier.com/?p=3821#comment-81363 Glad to know I brought up a good point. I just started traveling seriously for work within the last year, and I picked United as it is the hub carrier in Denver. Now I'm starting to wish there was another choice. Glad to know I brought up a good point. I just started traveling seriously for work within the last year, and I picked United as it is the hub carrier in Denver. Now I’m starting to wish there was another choice.

]]> By: jordan http://crankyflier.com/2009/10/26/what-i-told-the-airline-people-at-the-frequent-flier-conference/comment-page-1/#comment-81356 jordan Mon, 26 Oct 2009 20:52:17 +0000 http://crankyflier.com/?p=3821#comment-81356 Good post Cranky! United may just be the worst run airline in the Western Hemisphere! When the CEO (at a share holders meeting) tells its #1 flier (by revenue) that if he does not like what the airline does, he can fly another carrier. A response, to a very simple and politely asked question. It tells the whole story there. So will some airlines listen, a little. Will UA. No! Starwood has ALWAYS been beyond amazing!!! Good post Cranky!

United may just be the worst run airline in the Western Hemisphere! When the CEO (at a share holders meeting) tells its #1 flier (by revenue) that if he does not like what the airline does, he can fly another carrier. A response, to a very simple and politely asked question. It tells the whole story there.

So will some airlines listen, a little. Will UA. No!

Starwood has ALWAYS been beyond amazing!!!

]]> By: Nicholas Barnard http://crankyflier.com/2009/10/26/what-i-told-the-airline-people-at-the-frequent-flier-conference/comment-page-1/#comment-81352 Nicholas Barnard Mon, 26 Oct 2009 19:25:38 +0000 http://crankyflier.com/?p=3821#comment-81352 I can see United wanting people to book a flight on them before they book one on the partner airline. But Kralev's article doesn't make clear if United actually flew the route he was trying to redeem on Lufthansa. That being said, it is a little shady, especially the UA agents stating "Several United agents tried to explain the discrepancy by saying that Star carriers give different award inventory to the individual alliance members" This is part of the problem, they've gotta put the same information out everywhere, not just in the press, but also to the CSRs. I can see United wanting people to book a flight on them before they book one on the partner airline. But Kralev’s article doesn’t make clear if United actually flew the route he was trying to redeem on Lufthansa.

That being said, it is a little shady, especially the UA agents stating “Several United agents tried to explain the discrepancy by saying that Star carriers give different award inventory to the individual alliance members” This is part of the problem, they’ve gotta put the same information out everywhere, not just in the press, but also to the CSRs.

]]> By: Nomadic Matt http://crankyflier.com/2009/10/26/what-i-told-the-airline-people-at-the-frequent-flier-conference/comment-page-1/#comment-81349 Nomadic Matt Mon, 26 Oct 2009 18:20:43 +0000 http://crankyflier.com/?p=3821#comment-81349 I hope they listen but I am sure they won't. With airlines, I don't think they see the big picture when it comes to customer service. If you are great, people will be loyal, even if it means more $. Look at virgin as an example I hope they listen but I am sure they won’t. With airlines, I don’t think they see the big picture when it comes to customer service. If you are great, people will be loyal, even if it means more $. Look at virgin as an example

]]> By: asad http://crankyflier.com/2009/10/26/what-i-told-the-airline-people-at-the-frequent-flier-conference/comment-page-1/#comment-81341 asad Mon, 26 Oct 2009 16:29:08 +0000 http://crankyflier.com/?p=3821#comment-81341 Nice write up and good job getting the main points out of the comments, I wouldn't have been able to put it as succinctly as you did. Did anyone mention how corporation cutting down on business travel has affected the airlines ? I know a lot of convention locations are hurting because of canceled conferences but has this come up all the way to the airlines ? Nice write up and good job getting the main points out of the comments, I wouldn’t have been able to put it as succinctly as you did.

Did anyone mention how corporation cutting down on business travel has affected the airlines ? I know a lot of convention locations are hurting because of canceled conferences but has this come up all the way to the airlines ?

]]> By: Jason http://crankyflier.com/2009/10/26/what-i-told-the-airline-people-at-the-frequent-flier-conference/comment-page-1/#comment-81340 Jason Mon, 26 Oct 2009 15:59:52 +0000 http://crankyflier.com/?p=3821#comment-81340 I'm still as loyal as ever, but this year I am really starting to question my loyalty, and if it is all worth it anymore. I don't appreciate being nickel and dimed. As an elite member, I'm not immune to little fees anymore, but I feel i should be. I don't feel as valued anymore. Thumbs down to Delta taking away my NWA program. I’m still as loyal as ever, but this year I am really starting to question my loyalty, and if it is all worth it anymore. I don’t appreciate being nickel and dimed. As an elite member, I’m not immune to little fees anymore, but I feel i should be. I don’t feel as valued anymore. Thumbs down to Delta taking away my NWA program.

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