Ease of Travel

It was reported today in the Washington Post that on a recent Alaskan Airlines flight, during a 30 minute delay on the tarmac, flight attendants encouraged passengers to sign up for a Bank of America credit card and handed out applications to passengers! While the concept of advertising in the air is common, the attendants making the pitch themselves is a bit too much. For those of you who abhor the advertisements before movies at the theatre, you’ll flip out if this happens to you!

Keith Alexander, the author, makes an excellent point that ads do exist in the air in the music, the magazines, and whatever other entertainment venues. Usually people are okay with that because advertisements there are expected, but when the attendants make the pitch themselves to an obviously captive audience - it’s crossing the line. In Alexander’s research, he found that the pitches were voluntary but…

Since last August, Bank of America Corp. has paid US Airways employees $50 for each new applicant they get to sign up for a Visa card. The US Airways employees who nab 15 new applicants receive $750, plus a $75 bonus. The payments extend not only to flight attendants, but also to US Airways customer service and reservation agents.

So… they really aren’t. Unless you don’t want more money.

I suggest that you read the article, it’s very eye-opening, especially when you look at the advertising methods used by some of the smaller airlines (which you may never have flown before). My personal favorite is America West Airlines, who I’ve never flown with, who sells advertisements on their tray tables.

Besides ads, the article goes into some other tidbits like United’s Wi-Fi plans and approvals as well as Northwest cutting out the free bag of peanuts.