Little "surprise" gift from AS on yesterday's flight
Feb 24, 2016, 6:08 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2005
Programs: Northwest, United
Posts: 3,256
Little "surprise" gift from AS on yesterday's flight
SPOILER ALERT...
Flying home yesterday, the cabin crew had a little surprise gift... You know, on every flight, they give their pitch for the AS Visa credit card. I have tuned this out (literally, at this point in the flight, I'm usually listening to music with the volume up high enough that I can't hear anything else). This time, I must have been between songs on my playlist, because I heard them. They gave the usual pitch, but then added this: if anyone on board already had an AS Visa card and showed them, they would give you a $5 Starbucks gift card (maybe they've been doing this a while and I've just been oblivious?).
Of course, I never go anywhere without one of my AS cards - I certainly make a point of having it with me when I fly AS. So I flashed them the card, they smiled and handed me the Starbucks card (which I then gave to the wife after I got home - I don't do Starbucks). Nice gesture.
(I thought briefly of asking them if I showed them multiple AS cards if they would give me a Starbucks GC for each one of them, but then thought better of it, didn't want to start THAT conversation there and then....but I was tempted!
)
Once again, AS shows that they "get it" about providing a good customer experience. Yeah, it cost them 5 bucks per, big deal. Imagine other US legacy airlines actually giving away something to make customers feel better. OK, actually, I can't imagine that...
Flying home yesterday, the cabin crew had a little surprise gift... You know, on every flight, they give their pitch for the AS Visa credit card. I have tuned this out (literally, at this point in the flight, I'm usually listening to music with the volume up high enough that I can't hear anything else). This time, I must have been between songs on my playlist, because I heard them. They gave the usual pitch, but then added this: if anyone on board already had an AS Visa card and showed them, they would give you a $5 Starbucks gift card (maybe they've been doing this a while and I've just been oblivious?).
Of course, I never go anywhere without one of my AS cards - I certainly make a point of having it with me when I fly AS. So I flashed them the card, they smiled and handed me the Starbucks card (which I then gave to the wife after I got home - I don't do Starbucks). Nice gesture.
(I thought briefly of asking them if I showed them multiple AS cards if they would give me a Starbucks GC for each one of them, but then thought better of it, didn't want to start THAT conversation there and then....but I was tempted!
)Once again, AS shows that they "get it" about providing a good customer experience. Yeah, it cost them 5 bucks per, big deal. Imagine other US legacy airlines actually giving away something to make customers feel better. OK, actually, I can't imagine that...
Feb 24, 2016, 6:42 pm
#2
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: SEA
Posts: 2,021
SPOILER ALERT...
Flying home yesterday, the cabin crew had a little surprise gift... You know, on every flight, they give their pitch for the AS Visa credit card. I have tuned this out (literally, at this point in the flight, I'm usually listening to music with the volume up high enough that I can't hear anything else). This time, I must have been between songs on my playlist, because I heard them. They gave the usual pitch, but then added this: if anyone on board already had an AS Visa card and showed them, they would give you a $5 Starbucks gift card (maybe they've been doing this a while and I've just been oblivious?).
Of course, I never go anywhere without one of my AS cards - I certainly make a point of having it with me when I fly AS. So I flashed them the card, they smiled and handed me the Starbucks card (which I then gave to the wife after I got home - I don't do Starbucks). Nice gesture.
(I thought briefly of asking them if I showed them multiple AS cards if they would give me a Starbucks GC for each one of them, but then thought better of it, didn't want to start THAT conversation there and then....but I was tempted!)
Once again, AS shows that they "get it" about providing a good customer experience. Yeah, it cost them 5 bucks per, big deal. Imagine other US legacy airlines actually giving away something to make customers feel better. OK, actually, I can't imagine that...
Flying home yesterday, the cabin crew had a little surprise gift... You know, on every flight, they give their pitch for the AS Visa credit card. I have tuned this out (literally, at this point in the flight, I'm usually listening to music with the volume up high enough that I can't hear anything else). This time, I must have been between songs on my playlist, because I heard them. They gave the usual pitch, but then added this: if anyone on board already had an AS Visa card and showed them, they would give you a $5 Starbucks gift card (maybe they've been doing this a while and I've just been oblivious?).
Of course, I never go anywhere without one of my AS cards - I certainly make a point of having it with me when I fly AS. So I flashed them the card, they smiled and handed me the Starbucks card (which I then gave to the wife after I got home - I don't do Starbucks). Nice gesture.
(I thought briefly of asking them if I showed them multiple AS cards if they would give me a Starbucks GC for each one of them, but then thought better of it, didn't want to start THAT conversation there and then....but I was tempted!
)Once again, AS shows that they "get it" about providing a good customer experience. Yeah, it cost them 5 bucks per, big deal. Imagine other US legacy airlines actually giving away something to make customers feel better. OK, actually, I can't imagine that...
Feb 24, 2016, 6:59 pm
#4
Join Date: Jan 2001
Posts: 2,838
Bank of America personnel has periodically done this in the past. And yes, they have additionally rewarded those of us with multiple cards. Haven't experienced it with AS employees though.
Last edited by flytoeat; Feb 24, 2016 at 10:31 pm
Feb 24, 2016, 10:32 pm
#11
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2009
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Maybe it's a late attempt to sort-of copy DL's holiday promo (roughly the month of December) to flash a DL AmEx card in the lounge and get two free "Luxury Bar" drinks. Free French champagne before a domestic flight is nice.
Feb 24, 2016, 11:00 pm
#12
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2005
Programs: Northwest, United
Posts: 3,256
It was definitely a nice gesture, lots of smiles all around. Looked like a pretty good investment to me.
Yes indeed - the wife was delighted.
She loves it when I get Starbucks cards, since I have no use for them.
Feb 25, 2016, 12:13 am
#13
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend, Moderator, Information Desk, Ambassador, Alaska Airlines
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: FAI
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Don't think so...just a way for AS to say thanks with another SEA business. It's been done before, although I haven't been *that* lucky before. Personally I'd like a few bonus miles from AS 
I do miss the booking bonus.
Originally Posted by MSPeconomist
Maybe it's a late attempt to sort-of copy DL's holiday promo (roughly the month of December) to flash a DL AmEx card in the lounge and get two free "Luxury Bar" drinks. Free French champagne before a domestic flight is nice.
I do miss the booking bonus.
Feb 25, 2016, 12:13 am
#14
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend, Moderator, Information Desk, Ambassador, Alaska Airlines
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: FAI
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Everyone who showed their card got one (not just the first person who did). I'd estimate that was roughly 1 out of every dozen passengers. This was on a flight inbound for SEA - Alaska's "home", where I'd expect they have pretty good market penetration for the credit card.
It was definitely a nice gesture, lots of smiles all around. Looked like a pretty good investment to me.
Yes indeed - the wife was delighted. She loves it when I get Starbucks cards, since I have no use for them.
Shocked it was that low... if it was to ANC it would probably be 12:1
Originally Posted by nwflyboy
It was definitely a nice gesture, lots of smiles all around. Looked like a pretty good investment to me.
Yes indeed - the wife was delighted.
She loves it when I get Starbucks cards, since I have no use for them.
Feb 25, 2016, 12:17 am
#15
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Anchorage, Alaska
Programs: AS MVP 75K, DL Gold
Posts: 204
I was on a SEA-ANC flight back in January, and we got the hardest sell for the BofA AS card. It was a senior FA and he was even advertising to everyone over the intercom that you could get a second card even if you already had one and get the bonus again. I know this is true, but kind of doubt BofA wants that advertised. I asked for the application and the FA stressed that I had to use the paper application that he gave me. This would give him a bonus of some amount and me an extra 2500 miles.