Collective NOW thread.
Join Date: Feb 2003
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I have to agree that there are large flawed parts of the now! business plan and that people have been messed around now for over a year, so unless the company gets a major overhaul of its ideals, then I doubt the company will ever get off the ground.
An idea that I think could work for now! would be the PEOPLExpress concept of ultra-low-cost.
Like Ryanair almost:
take advantage of airports that need your business,
take advantage of the leasing companies that need your business,
take advantage of your passengers by just giving them a seat, anything else from a newspaper, a drink or checked & interlined luggage comes at an extra charge!
Also PEOPLExoress had the innovative pricing system of "peak" and "off peak" whereby depending on what time you caught one of the regular flights, the price would fluctuate.the basic service an airline delivers could be boiled down to the simple process of transporting a passenger from one point to another by means of an airplane. Anything else, whether it be an in-flight snack or checked baggage, for example, could be treated as an extra service which the customer would have to pay for. Under this model, PEOPLExpress charged US$3 for each piece of checked baggage and 50¢ for a soda or a coffee. The extra-large cabin overhead bins dissuaded customers from check bags and thus allowed to make faster turnarounds thanks to a reduced load and offload time.
Simplifying the airline's procedure was key to achieving lower unit costs. The airline's fare structure provides a good illustration of this principle, with only two fares available on a given route: peak and off-peak. The highest tariff was applicable on weekdays between 07:00 and 18:59, while the lower fare was charged for the rest of the day and the weekends. Furthermore, there were absolutely no restrictions of any kind, such as a minimum stay-over or a round-trip ticket purchase. PEOPLExpress' low and easy-to-understand fares were instrumental in luring incremental traffic – passengers who would otherwise be taking the bus or not traveling at all; many PEOPLExpress passengers had never flown before. Purchasing cheap, second-hand airplanes, flying them over 10 hours a day, and reducing the service to the maximum were all key factors to keep profitability margins high in light of the incredibly low fares.
An idea that I think could work for now! would be the PEOPLExpress concept of ultra-low-cost.
Like Ryanair almost:
take advantage of airports that need your business,
take advantage of the leasing companies that need your business,
take advantage of your passengers by just giving them a seat, anything else from a newspaper, a drink or checked & interlined luggage comes at an extra charge!
Also PEOPLExoress had the innovative pricing system of "peak" and "off peak" whereby depending on what time you caught one of the regular flights, the price would fluctuate.the basic service an airline delivers could be boiled down to the simple process of transporting a passenger from one point to another by means of an airplane. Anything else, whether it be an in-flight snack or checked baggage, for example, could be treated as an extra service which the customer would have to pay for. Under this model, PEOPLExpress charged US$3 for each piece of checked baggage and 50¢ for a soda or a coffee. The extra-large cabin overhead bins dissuaded customers from check bags and thus allowed to make faster turnarounds thanks to a reduced load and offload time.
Simplifying the airline's procedure was key to achieving lower unit costs. The airline's fare structure provides a good illustration of this principle, with only two fares available on a given route: peak and off-peak. The highest tariff was applicable on weekdays between 07:00 and 18:59, while the lower fare was charged for the rest of the day and the weekends. Furthermore, there were absolutely no restrictions of any kind, such as a minimum stay-over or a round-trip ticket purchase. PEOPLExpress' low and easy-to-understand fares were instrumental in luring incremental traffic – passengers who would otherwise be taking the bus or not traveling at all; many PEOPLExpress passengers had never flown before. Purchasing cheap, second-hand airplanes, flying them over 10 hours a day, and reducing the service to the maximum were all key factors to keep profitability margins high in light of the incredibly low fares.
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Yes I agree with jmc-man about the ex GO people being mainly operational types. I also agree with the PEOPLEXPRESS theory but NOW had one fundamental issue that needing dealing with right from the start. The COO was the wrong man for the job. Maybe a nice guy, maybe a good pilot. As a businessman I reserve judgement but then having made so many announcements, job offers, launch dates, promises and finally redundancies then the ability to carry out and hold on to all those previous mentioned items (other than the last) just leaves me thinking "wrong man for the job".
LW was (and maybe still is) obviously drawn into believing that this airline can get off the ground but despite what I may have said in the past i.e. being positive, I have to say I firmly believe NOW will not fly, at least not with the present structure.
The business plan although on the surface appears to be flawed, could well work IF they had chosen the right destinations, the right timings, the right pricing. There is plenty of room for loco competition and maybe soon, another loco will be born out of the ashes of NOW's fire that has just appeared to have gone out.
Bye for NOW
LW was (and maybe still is) obviously drawn into believing that this airline can get off the ground but despite what I may have said in the past i.e. being positive, I have to say I firmly believe NOW will not fly, at least not with the present structure.
The business plan although on the surface appears to be flawed, could well work IF they had chosen the right destinations, the right timings, the right pricing. There is plenty of room for loco competition and maybe soon, another loco will be born out of the ashes of NOW's fire that has just appeared to have gone out.
Bye for NOW
Don't talk to me about the People Express model! I was based at JFK on DC-10s when they were in their prime and my American colleagues were convinced that they were run by the Moonies (a religious cult). As soon as they got on the ground the captains became baggage handlers and the cabin staff drove tugs etc.
Anyway, one night my wife HAD to get back to London and the only seat I could find was First Class on People Express to Gatwick. It cost me $411 one way but I was happy that she was going to get home on time and took her over to Newark to catch the flight.
She settled into her first class seat (747) and was asked if she would like a drink. "A gin and tonic would go down well" said she. "$5.65 said they, and by the way, how many bags have you checked in?" The first class meal was priced at $32 or so so she wisely decided to have a couple of drinks and go hungry.
Believe it or not, the captain was having an FAA upgrade check and the FAA ops inspector came back to eat and sat beside my wife. They tried to charge HIM $32! He told the Queen Bee that she had two choices; "either I eat for free and your captain has a chance of upgrading or.................!".
As has already been stated, they went belly-up in spectacular fashion so don't ever use them as a business model.
By the way, they also turned out to be amazingly sexist. They made huge publicity about the fact that they had the youngest lady 747 captain (if not the only one) in the world until she scraped a pod one day and then her feet did not even touch the ground.
Anyway, one night my wife HAD to get back to London and the only seat I could find was First Class on People Express to Gatwick. It cost me $411 one way but I was happy that she was going to get home on time and took her over to Newark to catch the flight.
She settled into her first class seat (747) and was asked if she would like a drink. "A gin and tonic would go down well" said she. "$5.65 said they, and by the way, how many bags have you checked in?" The first class meal was priced at $32 or so so she wisely decided to have a couple of drinks and go hungry.
Believe it or not, the captain was having an FAA upgrade check and the FAA ops inspector came back to eat and sat beside my wife. They tried to charge HIM $32! He told the Queen Bee that she had two choices; "either I eat for free and your captain has a chance of upgrading or.................!".
As has already been stated, they went belly-up in spectacular fashion so don't ever use them as a business model.
By the way, they also turned out to be amazingly sexist. They made huge publicity about the fact that they had the youngest lady 747 captain (if not the only one) in the world until she scraped a pod one day and then her feet did not even touch the ground.
Join Date: Jan 2003
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Teachin,
it wasn't Dirty Tricks, it was just a bad decision. The Low Cost model doesn't work with Long Haul, it's impossible to get the average yields up. The optimum sector length for the low cost model is about 1:30. Once you go beyond that, you need to be in a niche market to achieve good, all year, average yields.
People Express was a successful domestic carrier in the US, who just got carried away with their own self belief. Their Trans Atlantic operation killed them.
Definitely moving off topic.
I suppose the next thread will be something like " Now - Wrong Time, Wrong Place or Wrong People?"
Most of my friends there have found other jobs. Hope the others have more success soon.
it wasn't Dirty Tricks, it was just a bad decision. The Low Cost model doesn't work with Long Haul, it's impossible to get the average yields up. The optimum sector length for the low cost model is about 1:30. Once you go beyond that, you need to be in a niche market to achieve good, all year, average yields.
People Express was a successful domestic carrier in the US, who just got carried away with their own self belief. Their Trans Atlantic operation killed them.
Definitely moving off topic.
I suppose the next thread will be something like " Now - Wrong Time, Wrong Place or Wrong People?"
Most of my friends there have found other jobs. Hope the others have more success soon.
Join Date: Feb 2004
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I did acctually get a "Feed-Back" e mail from Mr W, although had to ask for it,
TO begin with i had every belief in Now! or was it the management??? im not a business man, i was shown a product!
But i really dont think NOW AIRLINES will fly, i know a few "Insiders" who have now Left and gone back to Easy Jet, and i can assure you, they where TOP people, have NOW called it a day??!!?? who knows, only time will tell, but yeah a Re-Name would be imperitive, or the Now concept will always be the NEVER concept, not a good leg to start off on!!!!
TO begin with i had every belief in Now! or was it the management??? im not a business man, i was shown a product!
But i really dont think NOW AIRLINES will fly, i know a few "Insiders" who have now Left and gone back to Easy Jet, and i can assure you, they where TOP people, have NOW called it a day??!!?? who knows, only time will tell, but yeah a Re-Name would be imperitive, or the Now concept will always be the NEVER concept, not a good leg to start off on!!!!
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I used to work for Now, but i dont know anymore than anyone else here. I am just gutted as it was my first job and i never got the chance, it was a great place to be while I was there. I got a trip to france and lunch.
I dont see the point for a name change as the public wont have had much contact with the airline - and if they fly i would bet a million pounds that they will receive hundreds of applications again. Things are quickly forgotten.....take ezy or ryan, you find many people moan but there's always a large queue of people waiting to get in.
Less of the personnal stuff as well.
Teachin'
I doubt anybody who left easyjet would have gone back, surely you leave a company for a reason, not just on a whim?
I dont see the point for a name change as the public wont have had much contact with the airline - and if they fly i would bet a million pounds that they will receive hundreds of applications again. Things are quickly forgotten.....take ezy or ryan, you find many people moan but there's always a large queue of people waiting to get in.
Less of the personnal stuff as well.
Teachin'
I doubt anybody who left easyjet would have gone back, surely you leave a company for a reason, not just on a whim?
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Eagerbeaver,
The people who went back to easyJet did so because it was a JOB and it paid a SALARY which they needed to pay their BILLS.
Obviously NOW was not in a position to offer the same.
The people who went back to easyJet did so because it was a JOB and it paid a SALARY which they needed to pay their BILLS.
Obviously NOW was not in a position to offer the same.
Join Date: Dec 2003
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Well I have to say I have read all this thread with great interest, Some supports of Now seem to have waivered! I can't really talk about the management team at Now as I didn't get to know them that well with the short time I was there, I understand the product they were offering and I think it was and still is a good idea.
The people I knew at Now were a few of the pilots, all the No2's and No3's and the Crew mangement. The only reference I can offer is that if the finance management team are as focused and bonded as them then this airline will fly.
I am still in contact with some of the people in the office and a few of the crew, and most still think, it is going to be slow, Now will take to the air.
I may be luckier than most as I have secured myself a crew position at another airline, but I will not say that I won't return to Now when it is airborne.
I may be wrong, I may be right, and I don't dish dirt cause I was laid off, nor will I hold a grudge. I really do hope that Now gets in the air and that people that were interested in the airline will go back, we were a great team.
I have to admit I miss a lot of the people. and it would have been the crew, flight deck and customer relations personel that would have made and will make this not just an airline but a great airline.
so now I have posted I will probably be called misguided and other such comments, but this is how I feel. I may be but I won't give up hope on them..................
The people I knew at Now were a few of the pilots, all the No2's and No3's and the Crew mangement. The only reference I can offer is that if the finance management team are as focused and bonded as them then this airline will fly.
I am still in contact with some of the people in the office and a few of the crew, and most still think, it is going to be slow, Now will take to the air.
I may be luckier than most as I have secured myself a crew position at another airline, but I will not say that I won't return to Now when it is airborne.
I may be wrong, I may be right, and I don't dish dirt cause I was laid off, nor will I hold a grudge. I really do hope that Now gets in the air and that people that were interested in the airline will go back, we were a great team.
I have to admit I miss a lot of the people. and it would have been the crew, flight deck and customer relations personel that would have made and will make this not just an airline but a great airline.
so now I have posted I will probably be called misguided and other such comments, but this is how I feel. I may be but I won't give up hope on them..................
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When i was at my interview last year for NOW, i had a great day, and the people they chose to help get thier airline in the air, where a really good bunch of people, i to keep in touch with a few people and eagerly await every feed-back although i have been taken in by another Airline which i love, Now was the first airline that acctually employed me, i wont forget that, but at the moment i need security!!! but one day im sure i will re join!
See you soon guys/girls
See you soon guys/girls
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Another nail ?
Seems that the supposed first a/c G-IGOC has
been registered G-ZAPV with Titan.
Lets face it - its over!
Hope everyone has found something better to
do and we can put this farce behind us.
Seems that the supposed first a/c G-IGOC has
been registered G-ZAPV with Titan.
Lets face it - its over!
Hope everyone has found something better to
do and we can put this farce behind us.
Join Date: Feb 2004
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The Feed-Back e mail should be arriving soon, although i think it may be the plan to let NOW just fade out, without telling anyone! at least its the way it seems to b e going!
I have been employed with an amazing airline, hope the rest of the NOW crew have too!
good luck !
I have been employed with an amazing airline, hope the rest of the NOW crew have too!
good luck !
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A friend of mine received an e-mail from LW on Thursday last saying "an announcement would be made in March". She replied "what, another one? That's 6 in 12 months and nothing to announce that is positive is surely not worth announcing".
It's dead and it's high time that NG declares this project a failure and moves on, but not to another airline. Nobody will back it financially with the track record NOW have secured themselves.
Why wait for yet another briefing? NOW is like a cake. Half baked and thus not worth tasting.
It's dead and it's high time that NG declares this project a failure and moves on, but not to another airline. Nobody will back it financially with the track record NOW have secured themselves.
Why wait for yet another briefing? NOW is like a cake. Half baked and thus not worth tasting.
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Well we know what tonight's briefing will say, may as well just copy and paste us the previous emails. There again, LW might not bother this time as he didn't bother last week and I only got the email after asking him for it direct. He claimed it went out to all, but now from reading between the lines he didn't send it out...So the game continues.
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teachin give it up, it ain't happening. Read what Tarek Nor last posted. Ok, G-IGOC ain't going to NOW but neither is anything else.
I actually feel a little sorry for LW - he's obviously been drawn into things that he doesn't fully understand. Maybe he needs to be enlightened by people who do know how to obtain finance and start an airline.
eagerbeaver glad you had a nice day in BOD, nice lunch and all. Shame the punters who were going to book with NOW didn't have the same experience.
Change the management structure and it might work.
I actually feel a little sorry for LW - he's obviously been drawn into things that he doesn't fully understand. Maybe he needs to be enlightened by people who do know how to obtain finance and start an airline.
eagerbeaver glad you had a nice day in BOD, nice lunch and all. Shame the punters who were going to book with NOW didn't have the same experience.
Change the management structure and it might work.
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Well no email last night! not all that suprised, maybe i will fire off another request e mail to MR W, see what he has to say for himself,
I too feel a bit sorry for the guy, he really believed this could happen,
Who knows! maybe one day, NOW Airlines will fly!
But for now, im taking a step back!
I too feel a bit sorry for the guy, he really believed this could happen,
Who knows! maybe one day, NOW Airlines will fly!
But for now, im taking a step back!
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NG's ventures normally end in tragidy... or so i have heard, i have just sent off an email to LW asking for a weekly update, i will see if one arrives, if not, a strongly worded letter will follow, asking for some REAL answers and some sort of timeline, as the TOP DOGS in this venture i would hope the had some sort of timeline set out, even if it is a little sketchy, i will keep u posted!
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Everybody listen. This project is dying rapidly and the confidence has gone through the floor. A friend received an e-mail from LW, as mentioned above, saying another announcement would be made in March. If NOW had a decent, well respected finance team and a "top" man at the top, then LW would have himself an airline by now. But, alas, he doesn't and all that is happening is that more and more people are losing faith in LW let alone NOW itself.
panavia you may well be right about NG. This one is clearly failing. Timelines are announced and then come and go, so really they should just say nothing until they have some positive news. Either that or shut it down.
panavia you may well be right about NG. This one is clearly failing. Timelines are announced and then come and go, so really they should just say nothing until they have some positive news. Either that or shut it down.