Open Letter to Milton
#1
Original Poster
FlyerTalk Evangelist




Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Programs: OWEmerald; STARGold; BonvoyPlat; IHGPlat/Amb; HiltonGold; A|ClubPat; AirMilesPlat
Posts: 38,190
Open Letter to Milton
The Globe & mail's Report on Business has an interesting column this morning, an open letter to Robert Milton from Doug Steiner, a somewhat disgruntled Elite. The column can be found at www.globeandmail.com/gam/ROBColumns/20000614/ROUTS.html and it pretty much expresses the angst many of those posting on these forums have been feeling. As a shareholder in AC, I'm beginning to wonder how sick this company is becoming. Is it about to become the corporate equivilent of Walkerton? Or are we overracting to these incidental recollections? No merger of any two airlines is a simple matter. Maybe Merry or some others from Britain can reflect on how British Caledonian staff were integrated into BA, since this is the closest approximation we have: two extremely competitive carriers trying to forge a union. It is quite unlike the U.S. experiences of Delta and Western, or Northwest and Republic. These carriers had few overlapping routes and thus were not pitch competitors.
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: Southern Alberta
Posts: 20,547
Wow!!! This letter capsulizes what many of us have been feeling to various degrees. To paraphrase Shakespeare: " Something is rotten in the kingdom..." Is is going to take the proverbial 2x4 on the corporate head to get their attention? We are still faithful but unhappy to varying degrees. If cabotage (in Canada) is ever allowed for foreign carriers and vice versa, some of us may be voting with our feet...
#3


Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Vancouver, British Columbia
Posts: 3,373
Even a confirmed AC cheerleader like me finds some resonance in this letter.
Touch wood, I have not experienced the problems that others have had. To the contrary, my flying experiences have continued to live up to my expectations.
As an SE, I suppose that is to be expected, to a degree. But I am beginning to feel more and more like an exception.
Touch wood, I have not experienced the problems that others have had. To the contrary, my flying experiences have continued to live up to my expectations.
As an SE, I suppose that is to be expected, to a degree. But I am beginning to feel more and more like an exception.
#4
Join Date: Jan 1999
Posts: 3,065
Sheareholder: I am not sure (at least I hope it be be the case) that the BA acquisition of Britsih Caledonian is comparable - BA didn't really wany BCal, they were leant on by the British government.
As soon as BA purchased BCal they set about dismantelling the airline, some routes were intergrated into the BA route network, the aircraft were sold and alot of the employees were lost.
Merry
As soon as BA purchased BCal they set about dismantelling the airline, some routes were intergrated into the BA route network, the aircraft were sold and alot of the employees were lost.
Merry
#5



Join Date: Jun 1999
Location: YVR
Programs: ACSEMM QRGold SPGLifetimePlat FairmontPlat | TalkBoard Founding Member
Posts: 8,969
Wow, what a great letter!
I hope Doug doesn't try and fly AC anytime soon....can just imagine what Milty has put in the comment field of his Aeroplan account!
Dorian
I hope Doug doesn't try and fly AC anytime soon....can just imagine what Milty has put in the comment field of his Aeroplan account!
Dorian

