“That’s rude and disrespectful”

I know I'm coming in a bit late to the game, but thought I'd throw in my $.02 for anyone else who may read this. I'm 19, have flown United/Star Alliance my whole life growing up with 2 working parents who constantly travel for business, and I've been GS since I was 12. (Got to fly on all of my parents work travel growing up) To be honest, if I didn't have this status, I'd be gone in a heartbeat. I absolutely love Mr. Tilton, but can't stand United's employees. I know employees hate the whole UDU, but it's smart for the company to reward paying customers, before employees and their families. While I assuredly feel that upper management should offer more incentives for employees to do well, I also feel like employees have dug their own graves with their relationship with upper management. I hate most gate agents as up until these past couple of years, I was frequently questioned because of my age. When I was 15, I was flying alone from ORD-SFO. I had a First Class Ticket, and when the agent saw the GS, she asked for ID, which at 15, I did not have. She denied me boarding onto the flight even as I showed her my GS card. I immediately went to the GS reception area and although too late for my scheduled flight, they put me on the next flight, gave me plenty of miles, and forced the woman to apologize to me. (And then when I told my mom, we all got a whole lot, but I digress) Although this was the most severe of circumstances, whenever I fly alone, they ask for my ID at boarding, and I get stares and unpleasant attitudes in general from gate agents. Although I'd rank United's International first and business products as number 1 for US airlines, their domestic product leaves a lot to be desired. I am attending school in Hawaii and United has a domestic first plane flying the ORD-HNL route. Even first class has no personal entertainment system. (Since CO joined SA, however, I fly ORD-EWR-HNL which is a much more enjoyable trip despite the 4 extra flying hours) I know this all seems to be a lot of meaningless ranting, but what I'm trying to say, is that United has very little to offer the average American family and if I didn't have status that I'd never be able to reacheive, there is no way I'd fly United. The domestic planes suck, as do the employees. Perhaps if the company made use of ghost riders more often, the flight attendants would be more liked by the customers. And although it's widely known that most UA employees maintain a disdain for Mr. Tilton, it's also widely known that most of the American public maintain a disdain for United employees. If you look at the top 10 hated companies in the US in 2009, you will see that the only airline on the list is United Airlines at number 2, only after AIG. Perhaps that's due to the fact that the gate agents and flight attendants treat customers as they haven't the time of day for them. (although as I'm sure all of you elites know, it's fun to see their reaction change as I flash my GS card)

I think it IS rude and disrespectful to wear a shirt mocking the CEO of the airline you're flying. I've always thought Tilton was the worst major airline CEO, and if I were on the UA BOD, I would have tried to fire his butt years ago. But my disagreement would stop at the cabin door. An airplane cabin is no place for an argument -- much less about the folks running the airline! Would you wear a t-shirt to a college graduation saying the university president was an idiot? Maybe you would, but it would be childish and wrong. Ms Manners should have a word with you.

The real disrespect exists in the fact that Lucky doesn't understand economics well enough to grasp how cost cutting, while painful for employees, can be the lesser of two evils when the other option is eventual bankruptcy and no jobs at all.

@HunterSFO While I agree with the premise that Glenn's gotta go as UA CEO (Hey, that rhymes!), from what I hear, the stockholders like the end result. That's not to say you can't have happy customers, employees and stock holders at the same time, but he's pleased the group that has the biggest say in his future job status.

@Justin - Having been a REAL business owner, I found that treating employees respectfully and valuing their work is very effective - even through tough economic times when pay might have to be cut. When you are 100% transparent with them and take on an equal or greater amount of sacrifice yourself, they continue to work hard and have reasonable morale. Glenn clearly states that he doesnt care about his employees (or customers) and takes absolutely no sacrifice at all in his own compensation. THAT is what I dont appreciate about him. If you are also a CEO, please share with me how taking Glenn's approach has worked better for you than my approach worked in my real company. I'm not interested in your college computer simulation because it completely ignores the very real human factor. Companies that take similar approaches to mine do very well financially because of it. Look at Costco and Trader Joe's. Also do some research on Jeff Smisek's (who refused all salary and bonus until his company becomes profitable) approach vs Tilton and then compare the difference in financial success between UA and CO.