Someone is complaining about us!!
Oct 17, 1999 | 10:18 pm
#1
Original Poster
Company Representative - Air Canada
Join Date: May 1999
Location: Canada
Posts: 24,224
Someone is complaining about us!!
From www.oag.com online frequent flyer magazine, July 1999 edition, a person actually sent in a letter to the forum section of magazine saying that
Unbelievable comments...does he knows that we are the biggest business of the airline, let see what happens if the airline lose all of it, this guy must be insane or something.
Regards,
Empress
"people at frequent flyer forum are using the board for whining and snivelling. I'm tired of hearing about someone recliing their seat(It's their right), the airlines limiting carryon baggage(it's their right), poor food or lack of meal service (it's not supposed to be a culinary experience) and restrictions on frequent flyer programs(there is no free lunch).
I can't begin to picture how the whiners conduct any kind of successful businesses in their travel, since they're obviously so incapable of dealing with the least discomfort, or with a preceived benefit someoneone else is receiving that they, alas, are not.
Buy a first class ticket, or shut up...
I can't begin to picture how the whiners conduct any kind of successful businesses in their travel, since they're obviously so incapable of dealing with the least discomfort, or with a preceived benefit someoneone else is receiving that they, alas, are not.
Buy a first class ticket, or shut up...
Regards,
Empress
Oct 17, 1999 | 10:36 pm
#2
Join Date: May 1999
Location: New York City
Programs: UA MM-1P, Hilton Life Diamond, Marriot Life Gold, ICH Spire
Posts: 4,080
Back when I used to subscribe to the Pocket OAG, their Frequent Flyer magazine eventually reached the point where the forum section (letters to the editor) was the most entertaining part of the magazine.
However, it should be noted that OAG is, in many respects, Randy's competitor, and most of us will have no doubt as to where our loyalties should lie.
However, it should be noted that OAG is, in many respects, Randy's competitor, and most of us will have no doubt as to where our loyalties should lie.
Oct 18, 1999 | 10:45 am
#5
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Oxford, United Kingdom
Posts: 1,976
I think the tone of the letter was pretty offensive and the last section is clearly inflammatory, but this bit:
is more or less right on the money. It covers most of my pet gripes, actually. (I find myself wondering if I penned the letter on a drunken Friday night and have forgotten it... 
)
[This message has been edited by james (edited 10-18-1999).]
I'm tired of hearing about someone recliing their seat(It's their right), the airlines limiting carry on baggage(it's their right), poor food or lack of meal service (it's not supposed to be a culinary experience) and restrictions on frequent flyer programs(there is no free lunch).
)[This message has been edited by james (edited 10-18-1999).]
Oct 18, 1999 | 11:01 am
#6
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: May 1999
Posts: 46,817
Perhaps it's just me, but it seems just a bit strange for someone to take the time and effort to complain in one forum about others who complain in another forum.
Sometimes, as many FT's know, I miss the point!
Sometimes, as many FT's know, I miss the point!
Oct 18, 1999 | 11:54 am
#7
Join Date: Feb 1999
Location: T82
Programs: AA Gold, HH Gold
Posts: 2,845
When I used to subscribe the OAG, I started reading those letters to the editor. After a while, some of them sounded like they were written by the same person. And they sounded like they were "plants", put there specifically to stir things up. I stopped reading them after a while and stopped subscribing altogether. Don't miss it.
Oct 18, 1999 | 12:09 pm
#8
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Tucson, Southern Arizona, North America, Western Hemisphere, The Earth, a small planet in the solar system. Previously OnePass Infinite Platinum Elite, now over entitled 1K
Posts: 2,293
What are we supposed to do, write about how nice and wonderfull modern air travel is? Gimmie a break!
Oct 18, 1999 | 4:18 pm
#10
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Naples FL, Munich DE
Programs: UA MM, AA 2MM, Marriott LT Titanium, Hilton Gold
Posts: 6,814
Empress is writing in English, a wonderful language, rather than PC-speak, an abomination.
For those to whom PC-speak is their milk tongue, in English this is called the "unstressed usage".
For those to whom PC-speak is their milk tongue, in English this is called the "unstressed usage".
Oct 18, 1999 | 10:11 pm
#12
Original Poster
Company Representative - Air Canada
Join Date: May 1999
Location: Canada
Posts: 24,224
I said "he" because there was actually a name signed at the end of the letter. It's not exactly necessary to publish the name. But if you guys want, I can...
Regards,
Empress
Regards,
Empress
Oct 19, 1999 | 7:50 am
#14
Founder of FlyerTalk
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Colorado Springs, CO
Posts: 6,540
I did read that letter and think that indeed, the person is referring to rec.travel.air newsgroup since we all know that anyone who visits here knows this is "FlyerTalk" and how could someone refer directly to us in any other way?
As for OAG, actually, I've neve considered them a competitor since their focus has always been business travel in the broader sense with just a slight coverage of frequent flyer programs (complimentary rather than competitive). The unique thing is that when i started, I was an 8-page newsletter and they were a 80 page magazine. I'm now almost an 80-page magazine and they are now 30 pages and were delisted by Advertising Age. I actually used to write a column for OAG but when a new publisher came in, whom I had never met, he immediately sent me a "no thanks" letter, referencing the fact that he thought I was a direct competitor and stiffed me for payment of two columns they owed me and delted my name from several interviews that I had provided research for in articles to be printed. Needless to say, my opinion of how they run their business has ebbed ever since. But, I do wish them well.
As for OAG, actually, I've neve considered them a competitor since their focus has always been business travel in the broader sense with just a slight coverage of frequent flyer programs (complimentary rather than competitive). The unique thing is that when i started, I was an 8-page newsletter and they were a 80 page magazine. I'm now almost an 80-page magazine and they are now 30 pages and were delisted by Advertising Age. I actually used to write a column for OAG but when a new publisher came in, whom I had never met, he immediately sent me a "no thanks" letter, referencing the fact that he thought I was a direct competitor and stiffed me for payment of two columns they owed me and delted my name from several interviews that I had provided research for in articles to be printed. Needless to say, my opinion of how they run their business has ebbed ever since. But, I do wish them well.
Oct 19, 1999 | 9:14 am
#15
Join Date: Apr 1999
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Million Miler (mostly earned on CO)
Posts: 2,599
I subscribed to OAG for quite a few years and was a regular reader of Frequent Flyer magazine, which is a giveaway that comes with the OAG flight guide. I'm pretty sure that the letter writer was complaining about a string of letters in previous issues of FF that contained the various whines referred to in the letter. Note that "Forum" is the name of the letters section of FF.
It struck me as kind of ironic to have a whiner whining about whining!
FWIW, I dropped my subscription to OAG this year, got a subscription to InsideFlyer after reading a few sample issues I somehow got ahold of, and took out a subscription to the AmEx SkyGuide that came with a nice bonus of 5,000 SkyMiles.
It struck me as kind of ironic to have a whiner whining about whining!
FWIW, I dropped my subscription to OAG this year, got a subscription to InsideFlyer after reading a few sample issues I somehow got ahold of, and took out a subscription to the AmEx SkyGuide that came with a nice bonus of 5,000 SkyMiles.