I would avoid Skybus

[pr surfer]

That's why I said "practically no one", Robert.

And how many passengers are like you, Robert? Not bloody many.

In my immediate family, Both of my parents, 2 of my siblings, and myself.

And I've had status since I was 10

 

[pr surfer]

can I be your best friend!!!

I did a Disneyland trip for a group of 3 last year, paid for exclusively with miles.

I picked up airfare for 3 (we flew exit row on new AA 737's MCO-DFW-SNA), 6 nights at the Grand Californian, they paid all taxes and fees involved. They paid for the rental car, since what we wanted wasn't available for free, my dinner at Club 33, and my souvenirs at WDI in Glendale.

That was a good use of 250k-ish miles if I ever could think of one.

 

[pr surfer]

Why should the airline now fly you home or on vacation for free or cheap simply because Skybus shut down?


And Bicker, I am another one of those with LOTS of miles. There are more of us "road warriors" then you realize! LOL!

But wait... you may not be getting those refunds. Maybe you will get those flights. (Personally I think this is a crazy idea, but it was in the USAToday)

Skybus founder 'working on a plan' to revive carrier
Skybus founder John Weikle is "working on a plan" to get the ultra-low-cost carrier back in the air again, according to the News & Record of Greensboro, N.C. Weikle's comments on reviving Skybus came just days after the carrier halted flights, stranded passengers and declared bankruptcy. "John Weikle said Monday night from Dayton, Ohio, that he had been working all weekend to build a team that could reorganize the airline and restore service," the News & Record writes. "I wrote a letter to the board today and said we've got to find a way to save this — save these 450 jobs," Weikle tells the paper.

How does he plan to do it? Weikle says the carrier still has about $10 million in cash to work with, which he believes will be enough seed money to lure new investors. The News & Record writes "Weikle is working with Mark Sparling, his vice president for finance during the founding of Skybus. Sparling and Weikle left Skybus not long before it began operations because they disagreed with the board’s direction and its choice for chief executive officer, Bill Diffenderffer." Stay tuned ...

How does he plan to do it?

If I were him, I'd 1- Ditch columbus for a base city people want to go to, rather than return to; 2- Ditch these out of the way secondary airports for more central secondary airports (St. Augustine?!!? get real. Sanford or Lakeland please... in fact, LAL is closer to WDW than SFB); 3- SELL YOUR FREAKING PLANES! Lease, LEASE, LEEEEEEEASE! You need that money!

 

[pr surfer]

Exactly! I am extremely loyal to Star Alliance. My trip today once again proved how certain airlines treat their loyal customers

I will pay more for the benefits and the service I receive. It is worth it to me.

With the exception of US/UA, I've only had good experiences on Star Alliance. I finagled status with UA last year and took advantage when I went to DLRP on a cheap last minute Air Canada ticket (unique in its rarity... a cheap last minute ticket!). MCO-YUL-CDG/CDG-YUL-MCO, drink Fin du Monde in the Maple Leaf Lounge in Montreal, and remember the French I once knew all the way to Paris.

 

[MAH4546]

I'm also inclined to think that one of the six 'legacy carriers' will be gone by year's end; the current price of jet fuel is not making things any easier for them, and neither is our sinking economy.

Not happening. The legacy airlines each have billions in cash reserves.

 

[bicker]

over on flyertalk.com he is pretty much the norm, actually....

Just like we're the norm here in DISboards, yet most folks visiting WDW are NOT like us.

 

[bicker]

And Bicker, I am another one of those with LOTS of miles. There are more of us "road warriors" then you realize! LOL!

Nope. I used to be one. There are a lot more leisure travelers than you realize! LOL!

How many of each is not the point, though. Unless you have have up-to-date elite ff status with the airline you're flying, then you're not "loyal", and shouldn't expect any special consideration.

 

[goofy4tink]

Well from now on I think I'll go get my hugs from my other cheap peeps on the budget board.

Now my feelings have been hurt I really hope you don't leave us and head to the Budget board. Not saying they're not great people too, but we do have a ton of good info to share here.

I hope the Mods shut this thread down.

This is actually now a nice, pleasant thread. I'm sorry if there are those who don't particularly love the things that people are saying, but facts are facts.

Because certain posters seem to be fanning the flames with their comments and the whole "I told you so" attitude of the thread isn't helping anyone.

Again, I'm really sorry you feel this way. I have seen posters stating facts, in a calm, conversational way. I think that issue is that there are some posters who are used to the 'tone' of other boards. This board is very matter of fact. And believe me, I have seen them 'fanning the flames' here....there is no flame fanning going on on this thread! This board is just not a huggy, lovey dovey board. So...as long as everyone remains as they are now, we're good to go.

 

[bicker]

Because certain posters seem to be fanning the flames with their comments and the whole "I told you so" attitude of the thread isn't helping anyone.

I disagree. I think threads which project the "everything will be alright" attitude, or the "they should take care of you" attitude, are doing a gross disservice to readers, fostering unreasonable and therefore unreliable expectations.

 

[bicker]

In my immediate family, Both of my parents, 2 of my siblings, and myself.

Okay, so that's five out of 360 million. Keep counting.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Um, I'm loyal to JetBlue... never mind that I only travel two, maybe three times a year; never get enough TrueBlue points for a free flight; and won't have their AmEx card...

 

[dvcnewgirl]

Now my feelings have been hurt I really hope you don't leave us and head to the Budget board. Not saying they're not great people too, but we do have a ton of good info to share here.


This is actually now a nice, pleasant thread. I'm sorry if there are those who don't particularly love the things that people are saying, but facts are facts.


Again, I'm really sorry you feel this way. I have seen posters stating facts, in a calm, conversational way. I think that issue is that there are some posters who are used to the 'tone' of other boards. This board is very matter of fact. And believe me, I have seen them 'fanning the flames' here....there is no flame fanning going on on this thread! This board is just not a huggy, lovey dovey board. So...as long as everyone remains as they are now, we're good to go.

Nice pleasant thread I think not.. I think as a mod you should support all people in your forum.. I sent you a PM

 

[bicker]

Um, I'm loyal to JetBlue... never mind that I only travel two, maybe three times a year; never get enough TrueBlue points for a free flight; and won't have their AmEx card...

And, with respect, I don't believe it. If another airline came to town, undercutting JetBlue's prices, and providing the same level of service, I think it as likely as not that most of JetBlue's professed "loyal" customers would jump ship.

You've been here long enough to know my background. I spent 8 years as at the Bell Laboratories Quality Assurance and Customer Loyalty Center. I watched the concept of consumer loyalty go straight into the toilet, as consumers become maniacally price-driven. It has only gotten worse since I changed careers (in disgust over what I saw happening in the quality and customer loyalty realm). And although some people will remain "loyal", outliers don't drive the market, and those outliers have to accept the fact that because they're the minority, they're going to get treated just like everyone else.

 

[tammymacb]

Now my feelings have been hurt I really hope you don't leave us and head to the Budget board. Not saying they're not great people too, but we do have a ton of good info to share here.


This is actually now a nice, pleasant thread. I'm sorry if there are those who don't particularly love the things that people are saying, but facts are facts.


Again, I'm really sorry you feel this way. I have seen posters stating facts, in a calm, conversational way. I think that issue is that there are some posters who are used to the 'tone' of other boards. This board is very matter of fact. And believe me, I have seen them 'fanning the flames' here....there is no flame fanning going on on this thread! This board is just not a huggy, lovey dovey board. So...as long as everyone remains as they are now, we're good to go.

OK, I'm sorry. Must have understood again.

Please explain to me ( as I ask in my most calm and conversational way ) how stating other posters on this board are cheap and unloyal, how showing off ones frequent flyer miles, and how patting each other on the back with " I told you so's" is in anyway matter of fact. The tone of the "regulars" on this thread is obviously tolerated by the mods and the folks who call them out and quote them are the problem?

I can see why this would not be a popular board.

 

[Michael623]

If you think this board is a little tough I would suggest never stumbling over to the rumor board. I personally booked a flight on Skybus in August just to see what this crazy sounding airline was all about. Plus to be able to say I flew for $10. I thought it was funny that they went out of business more than I was angry. I called my CC company for my refund and they said I would be credited in 2 business days. Oh well, life goes on. What the heck was I going to do in Greensboro anyway?

 

[goofy4tink]

Nice pleasant thread I think not.. I think as a mod you should support all people in your forum.. I sent you a PM

I support all the posters in this forum...as long as they adhere to DIS guidelines. I got the PM...and responded.

[/B]

OK, I'm sorry. Must have understood again.

Please explain to me ( as I ask in my most calm and conversational way ) how stating other posters on this board are cheap and unloyal, how showing off ones frequent flyer miles, and how patting each other on the back with " I told you so's" is in anyway matter of fact. The tone of the "regulars" on this thread is obviously tolerated by the mods and the folks who call them out and quote them are the problem?

I can see why this would not be a popular board.

I've read this thread over and over.....I haven't seen anyone called either cheap or unloyal. I have seen frequent travelers sharing their experiences with those who travel less often. I have read that airlines reward those who are loyal to their airlines with certain perks, but it is the frequent traveler again, who would be considered to be loyal. Not someone like me who flys 2-3 times a year albeit on the same airline. No one was called cheap...yes, there was talk of 'cheap fares' but not cheap people. That is not the same thing.

People...if someone has a particular post that they feel is insulting or demeaning, please let me know. You can either PM me with the link to the post or just report it to the board mods in general.
I, as well as the other mods here, want this board to be a welcoming one, that treats all posters as valued members of the DIS community. No one, not one single poster here, gets preferrential treatment. Not ever!

 

[design_mom]

I'll come right out and say it. I am not loyal to any airline. But, having said that, price is not the *only* consideration.

I only fly a couple times per year, usually for leisure. (I've taken 3 business trips in the last 10 years.) Even if I took all my flights on one airline, I wouldn't have nearly enough miles to qualify for any sort of perks. Frequent flyer miles mean nothing to me.

Price is important to me, but it's not the *only* consideration. I'd pay more for a direct flight (although they often end up cheaper anyway.) I'd pay more for a decent flight time that didn't interrupt bedtime or naptime -- or, if traveling alone, gets me home in time to tuck the kids in at night. And I do remember who was nice to me and who was not. (Although Southwest doesn't have all the perks that some other airlines do, they've always treated me respectfully. I can't say that about US Air. I will probably never fly them again.)

I never tried Skybus (I heard a couple of things that made me leery), but they did offer direct flights to locations that I wanted to visit. Their Punta Gorda, FL airport was closer to my parents' place than the Tampa airport, where we usually fly into. They offered a direct Columbus-Milwaukee flight. We have friends in Milwaukee.

Although it seems like there are a lot of "road warriors" out there, Bicker is right. There are a lot more of us who fly for our WDW vacations and that's about it.

 

[dvcnewgirl]

I support all the posters in this forum...as long as they adhere to DIS guidelines. I got the PM...and responded.

Thanks for responding, I am unsubscribing to this thread because it the OP was trying to share knowledge and help people, the need for this thread has come to and end for me. I have gotten a lot and info and tips on the transportation board so I am thankful for that. I just think that people can share facts with a nicer tone and they are still facts. Yes I am one that believes in . So this is not the place for me.

 

[travelin' tigger]

Maybe because I live near Boston and have seen many airlines enter and leave our "end point" market, I can't get too worked up over Skybus becoming Skybust. We've had Allegiant try and fail in Worcester, Pan AM fail twice at Pease, Eastern go poof, USAir cut most of the former Piedmont flights after acquisition, Delta forget that it's legacy here (Northeast Airlines merger) is as a Florida carrier, etc.

It's great while it lasts and I took advantage of Skybus to fly a daughter who goes to college near Greensboro back and forth for $50 to $60 each way on average.

I'm a loyal flyer like some of you who posted on this thread (2 million miler on Delta, 1 million miler on United), but also realize you don't get the perks you used to on the legacy carriers. Regional jets have greatly reduced the upgrade chances on the shorter flights and the fees on the supposedly "free" travel perks have been creeping in.

As CarolA said and I paraphrase - rich and poor people can be cheap when it comes to flying. I'm definitely cheap, but also realize you can't get something for nothing for long without changes happening that you may not like

I'd always fly SW out of PVD until Skybus came into the picture. Sure, I was motivated by the "cheap" fares and was willing to take a gamble with them. Well, it got me 2 cheap flights to FL - the 3 booked for the summer were worth the chance and I lost as far as the trips go, but got a refund from my cc company. Now I'm back flying SW - a little more money, but I'll still get to FL!!

After listening to WBZ Newsradio on Sat., the spokesperson for Pease said they were trying to get another carrier to fly in and out of Portsmouth - I hope they can!!!

 

[travelin' tigger]

No one, not one single poster here, gets preferrential treatment. Not ever!

Diane - that statement doesn't include me, right???