Help from the audience
April 12 2007
I spoke this morning at the Lotusphere Comes to You in Houston. After spending nearly all day yesterday (due to the Chicago snow) to get down to Houston, I have to be honest that I was disappointed in the relatively small turnout for the event. Local business partners reported that they get good turnout for their events, so I wonder if it is just that we had an unusually high percentage of local Lotus customers and prospects attend Lotusphere itself, or if the location or date were a challenge, or if there were other factors. Almost all of the LCTYs so far have had better-than-expected attendance.
The audience was also pretty quiet, too. As many of you who have seen me speak state-side know, I tend to inject humor and occasional self-deprecation into my presentations. Tough to draw a laugh this morning. I would like to thank the woman seated towards the front, who nodded her head in agreement on several points -- that was quite helpful and reassuring given the lack of other feedback.
A couple of other observations on 21 hours in Houston:
- OK, so I finally flew Continental Airlines. I had tried to make an earlier flight out of Chicago yesterday, given the weather, but Continental's systems behave differently than other airlines. Even if a flight is delayed, they cut off check-in or standby for that flight at 40 minutes prior to the original departure time. This meant I got to sit at the gate and watch a planeload of people head off to Houston, including at least ten standby passengers, without ever having a chance to get on-board. I then had the privilege of paying $25 for a confirmed seat on the next flight, which was delayed two hours....to my original departure time. The self-service check-in kiosk didn't bother to mention that the subsequent flight was that delayed, so I felt a bit deceived. FWIW American's self-service kiosks run the same scam.
- Speaking of Continental, they seemed nice enough, but their seat pitch is brutal -- especially when the person in front of you chooses to recline their seat fully for the duration of the flight (both directions!). Considering that I have superelite status on both of the airlines hubbed in Chicago, I should probably have found a way to fly one of them -- though I heard they were both cancelling Houston flights due to the snow yesterday. No-win situation.
- I haven't seen that many Starbucks around the world that are 24 hours, like the one near the Houston Galleria. It was pretty funny coming out of there last night and seeing a partially malfunctioning sign on the building across the street....advertising the "ass Bank". I'm sure Compass Bank's marketing department doesn't appreciate the humor there.
Post a Comment
- 2
Bill McCuistion | 4/12/2007 11:40:26 PM
Hi Ed,
I'm finally glad to have met you in person today. You're very much more approachable in person, than in virtual. Hi.
I can not speak to your expectations, but having been a Lotus/IBM business partner since 1992, there is a definate "Mason-Dixon Line" effect, and we need IBM/Lotus help in the South.
I spoke to another IBM/Lotus partner who was very impressed that you spoke.
I arrived late for two reasons:
1. Varmits, likely possims, spread my garbage cans up-and-down the street and I had to spend half-an-hour collecting it so that my neighbors didn't have to deal with it.
2. IBM sent the original announcment with the wrong address, which lead to me going to the wrong hotel, parking, searching, unparking, driving to the correct location, reparking, and finally, registering.
Then,
3. You didn't wear a badge, so it was 3/4 way through the presentation that I realized the you were "The Ed Brill".
4. As for leaving Houston, don't know what to say, except perhaps you could have stayed for lunch and said "SOA" three more times and kept you same schedule.
IMHO, IBM has largely abandonded the Houston market. The SMB Partner community needs IBM support here. Come-back soon, but let's plan it better next time. OK?
- 3
Bill Brown | 4/13/2007 7:28:24 AM
@2: In the virtual world, I find Ed to be very approachable. The easiest way is the comments here on his blog, if it's related to a posting.
His email address is listed in the left column and he has (so far) responded to every email I have ever sent him. IBM has lost (thank diety) the "We're right, you're just the customer" attitude. I think that has a lot to do with the success they are enjoying.
Personnaly, I am disappointed that I can't make it to Toronto for LCTY this year and will miss seeing Ed speak. Fortunately, a BP is offering a session in Rochster, NY that I will be going to. Just no Ed.
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Rick | 4/13/2007 8:04:44 AM
@1: Check out www.seatguru.com. They provide detailed info on the seating for the planes from most major airlines.
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Keith Brooks http://www.keithbrooks.com | 4/13/2007 9:54:56 AM
Just flew Continental from dublin, ireland to palm beach.\
So much for pleasant customer service. Yes the woman was helpful in Newark when we swapped planes(and had to go 60 gates in the other direction) but was not in the mood to be nice that day because I interrupted her BS session with her mates.
The stewardess on the flight to PBI was equally non-pleasant.
Cheap is cheap which is why we flew it, but it would have to be at least 30-50% cheaper next time to warrant my money.
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Henry Ferlauto http://www.geniusinside.com | 4/13/2007 12:17:07 PM
Continental is my personal favorite of the major airlines. They definitely have the best customer service of any of the major airlines in my opinion. Everyone seems happy to work there; and that does translate into better service.
Seat pitch is their "only" downside. They have the old standard of 32" in coach. Once American retreated on the "more legroom" idea, pretty much everyone else threw in the towel on that front, except JetBlue, which has 34" seat pitch, except for the first 10 rows which have 36".
Back on the pluses, Continental has much newer planes on average. In fact my flight from Lotusphere in Orlando (MCO) to Newark (EWR) was a very new Boeing 767-400. Very comfortable, super clean, personal video displays for everyone. I wish they would add the video to all of the planes, not just the wide bodies.
Continental also has meals, pillows and blankets.
Overall, a lot more good than bad.
- 7
Bill Geimer | 4/14/2007 12:01:47 AM
@1 without even looking at seatguru, try your best for seat a and beg for the exit row. At 6'4" you will need the space. There is zip, zero, zilch room in the cabin for anything bigger than a camera bag or laptop, but the Airlines usually let you drop your carry-on at the door to the plane along with any strollers, and try to have them waiting in the jetway when you deplane. However.in IAH, you might get stairs.
- 8
Mike Dudding | 4/16/2007 2:55:27 PM
Ed, Just a tip for the next time you fly Continental Airlines. If you can plan your trip at least six weeks in advance, join their OnePass program and call their customer service. Ask the agent if they will match your AAdvantage status. They will email you a form which you fill out and mail back to OnePass customer service. Four to Six weeks later, you are a premium OnePass member without even flying one mile on the airline.
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Ed Brill http://www.edbrill.com | 4/16/2007 3:12:08 PM
@8 now see, I was looking for that for Delta...Delta used to status match for IBM employees, but it's no longer mentioned anywhere that I can find. Delta & Continental are Skyteam partners, so that would have worked --and even benefited the occasional time I am subjected to Northwest (such as this week).
I should try it anyway.
Great..I'm flying Continental to Houston and Cleveland next week. Both flights are on Embraer jets. I've never been on that airline. At 6'4" you've got me concerned...