Fraudulent Frequent Flying Fiascos. Oh, And Happy Canada Day and Independence Day! (July 2, 2018)
. . .
K “In the past, an airline descending into bankruptcy protection did everything to pull out its frequent flyer program. Now, many of the programs are a fraud and a ruse and . . . morally bankrupt. United Airlines and Delta Airlines are among the worst offenders. By contrast, Alaska Airlines still believes that a mile is a mile is a mile is a mile.”
J “I suffered a stall and spin in March. After an almost 6000 mile trip in a sardine can in the air, I was iron fistedly begrudged about 1500 ‘miles’ on the ground. For each 21,120 feet I endured in the air, I ended up with a ‘mile’ in the program. The new calculation of ‘ground speed’ today is perplexing and vexing. Some byzantine formula discounts the actual mileage based on purchase price, whether you had a middle seat, whether you ate peanuts, whether the flight was delayed, sun spot activity and other irrelevant factors first foisted on impressionable ‘b’ school students to foist on the public.”
K “At least the observant traveler who missed the form letter that starts ‘For your convenience . . . ’ becomes aware of the fraud and the ruse each month and can shift loyalty accordingly. If each consumer acts diligently, the market works adequately. If consumers are involved, the government does not need to get involved.”
J “Most of the statements are electronic and not likely reviewed by the consumer with any care. We are tolerating far, far, far too many M.B.A.s flying around the country.”
. . .
[See the e-ssay at “An Airline (Partial) Survival Guide (January 24, 2005)” discussing the absurd and inefficient pricing scheme for tickets and “Going The Extra Mile: Today’s Airline Mileage Programs (August 19, 2013)” and “Close the Harvard Business School (February 23, 2009)”.]
Bumper stickers of the week:
21,120 feet in the air = 1 mile on the ground
Fly the unfriendly skies
The first thing we do, let’s imprison the M.B.A.s
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