"You have not flown with us for the whole year, how come?"
Oct 12, 2006, 11:42 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: SZX/HKG/BWI
Programs: UA 1K 1.1MM, CX Diam 1.0MM, Bonvoy LT Titanium, Hertz PC, MGM Pearl
Posts: 2,637
"You have not flown with us for the whole year, how come?"
Called into CX's phone line to confirm my reservations. Had a very outstanding customer agent thank me for choosing CX, confirmed seats, any special catering needs, any special other needs, tell me that check-in at JFK was not handled by CX but by BA etc. etc. Just a very pleasant conversation. Then the question hit...
"Now Mr. XXX, I have looked over your history with us and you have not flied with us for the whole year, how come?"
First of all, I am not offended by the question, yet welcome it because at least they are still trying to get my business. But I had to make up quite the half-... answer. Fact is, I am not stationed in Asia anymore and I use another airline stateside for most of my flight plans. But I did not say that to the lady on the other line.
What are the possible excuses?
*Well, I suddenly developed a weakness for flying.
*I thought the avian flu was still going around.
*SARS, etc. same as first.
*oneWorld stateside carrier AA is AWFUL!!! (I've heard this one used by the way)
Any other creative excuses?
"Now Mr. XXX, I have looked over your history with us and you have not flied with us for the whole year, how come?"
First of all, I am not offended by the question, yet welcome it because at least they are still trying to get my business. But I had to make up quite the half-... answer. Fact is, I am not stationed in Asia anymore and I use another airline stateside for most of my flight plans. But I did not say that to the lady on the other line.
What are the possible excuses?
*Well, I suddenly developed a weakness for flying.
*I thought the avian flu was still going around.
*SARS, etc. same as first.
*oneWorld stateside carrier AA is AWFUL!!! (I've heard this one used by the way)
Any other creative excuses?
Oct 12, 2006, 12:26 pm
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: SZX/HKG/BWI
Programs: UA 1K 1.1MM, CX Diam 1.0MM, Bonvoy LT Titanium, Hertz PC, MGM Pearl
Posts: 2,637
Mrs. mjcewl has worked in a phone center before and she has told me some comments that customers give can be recorded in a "notes" section and will put people in a disadvantage when it comes time to bargain. That's why I did not tell them straight up.
Oct 12, 2006, 12:39 pm
#4
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Living in SIN
Programs: TK/QR Gold, Marriott/Accor Plat, IC Dia Amb, Avis/Hertz PC
Posts: 6,707
Originally Posted by mjcewl1284
Mrs. mjcewl has worked in a phone center before and she has told me some comments that customers give can be recorded in a "notes" section and will put people in a disadvantage when it comes time to bargain. That's why I did not tell them straight up.
Let us know what you want to "bargain" for at a later date and I'm sure someone can then come up with an excuse that will support that
Oct 12, 2006, 10:30 pm
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2004
Programs: CX Green, QF Platinum, BAEC Silver, Hyatt Glob
Posts: 10,780
But if you said something like "I don't find CX to be as good as xxxxx airline anymore and I am using them now" wouldn't it be mroe likely that CX would give you a sweetener to come back?
If you give them a reason that wasn't their fault then they won't do anything for you.
If you give them a reason that wasn't their fault then they won't do anything for you.
Oct 12, 2006, 11:06 pm
#6
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Seat 1A
Programs: Non-status paid F/J (best value for $$$)
Posts: 4,127
Another explanation could be "I now work for a new employer and CX is not one of their preferred carriers". Maybe they could get their commercial sales department to do something about it?