It's as if the headlines said, "712 Passengers Saved on Titanic" and overlooked that inconvenient number, 1,503, who were not.
I'm endlessly amused by airline PR that twists itself into knots to present bad news as good news. But I'm also disgusted with it, because this sort of thing illustrates just how much disdain the airlines really have for their customers.
Here's this today from Midwest Airlines, which says it "Retains Service to 32 Cities" while burying the actual news, which is that it is discontinuing service to many cities and making a "transition to seasonal Orlando service."
As the Associated Press does the arithmetic today, the new schedule will leave Midwest with 90 daily departures to 28 cities, down from 118 departures to 38 cities; and its regional-jet service Midwest Connect with 102 daily flights, down from 138.
Airlines seem to be incapable of simply telling it straight.
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By JOE SHARKEY
Bio
- Joesharkey.com
- Joe Sharkey's work appears in major national and international publications. For 19 years until 2015 he was a weekly columnist for the New York Times. He is now a weekly travel and entertainment columnist with the global website Travel.Buzz, as well as an adjunct professor of journalism at the University of Arizona, He has written five books, four non-fiction and a novel, one of which is in development as a movie. Previously, he was an assistant national editor at the Wall Street Journal and a reporter and columnist with the Philadelphia Inquirer. On Sept. 29, 2006, he was one of seven people on a business jet who survived a mid-air collision with a 737 over the Amazon. All 154 on the 737 died. His report on the crash appeared on the front page of the New York Times and later in the Sunday Times of London magazine. He and his wife Nancy (who is a professor of journalism at the University of Arizona) live in Tucson with horses and parrots. He is working on a new novel about an international travel writer who hates to travel. "JoeSharkey.com" is Copyright (c) 2006-2015 by Joe Sharkey.
2 comments:
Joe,
This is absolutely true. The airlines just don't tell it straight. Check out American Airlines e-mail to their "most valued" customers about the new, improved frequent flyer fees!
Yer Pal,
Kate
Joe,
As Usual, you hit the nail on the head.
Did you see this? At first you might think this is a positive thing...but NO, read on my friend.
Move To The Front Of The Plane!
Dear Kathleen Hanni,
Did you realize that your AAdvantage® miles could move you into Business or First class on your next trip on American Airlines*? That's right - AAdvantage members traveling on most purchased fare tickets have the ability to use miles or miles plus a co-payment to upgrade to the next cabin of service.
You can request a mileage award upgrade when you purchase your ticket or alternatively, at anytime up until 2 hours prior to departure. If an upgrade is not available when you request it, we will add you to our upgrade waitlist and you will be automatically confirmed when an upgrade award becomes available**.
Members purchasing full Economy fares (booked in Y or B) may use as little as 5,000 miles each way to upgrade on domestic itineraries and as little as 8,000 miles each way to upgrade on international itineraries.
Effective October 1, 2008, Upgrade awards from most Discount Economy fares will change as follows:
Upgrade within the continental U.S. and Canada, within and between the continental U.S. / Canada / Mexico / The Caribbean or between North America and Central America will require 15,000 miles plus a $50 co-payment.
Upgrade between North America and Europe, Japan, China, Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile or Uruguay will require 25,000 plus a $350 co-payment
Upgrade between North America and India will require 40,000 miles plus a $350 co-payment
The current award structure will apply to members who request upgrade awards prior to October 1. For complete information regarding award changes, visit www.aacom/awardchanges.
Make the most of your AAdvantage miles and treat yourself to an upgrade on your next trip. We hope to see you on board soon!
Sincerely,
Rob Friedman
President
AAdvantage Marketing Programs
Terms and Conditions:
Mileage Award Upgrades are capacity controlled and seats may not be available on all flights. Upgrade co-payment is non-refundable. Standard AAdvantage Award terms and conditions apply and are available at www.aa.com/aadvantage.
*Valid on American Airlines marketed and operated flights.
**Waitlist clearance may occur up until 6 hours prior to departure. Miles are deducted and co-payment, when applicable, will be charged once the upgrade is confirmed.
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