AA doesn't care
 

This week Mr. Walther Moreira Salles died. He was owner of Unibanco, one of Brazilian biggest banks. Just as an example of their size, about five years ago Bill Gates was an actor for Unibanco's TV advertisement in Brazil, when Microsoft developed their home banking system. See what happened, and sorry for eventual grammar problems, since I've translated from portuguese using Altavista, to save time.

Btw, I'm sure they never fly other than F...

<b>AA doesn't care
by Elio Gaspari

For those who had been humiliated by badly-educated airline employees. In this tuesday night, the following happened in American Airlines terminal at JFK:

Two citizens had arrived with their wifes to take flight 973, dep 22h15min, to Rio De Janeiro. They were waiting the call of the flight when the company informed that cancelled it. The waiting room employee said that they would have to take another AA flight, 951, that would leave 22h30min, but took off only by 23h30min. So they went to the gate and there they turn over barred. The guard of the gate, AA employee, didn't knew the cancellation of previous flight and informed that nothing she had with the recommendation of its colleague.

The two passengers had informed the lady about the reason of the urgency of the trip. They were brothers and they were going to the funeral of their father.

- It does not interest me!

the American Airlines representative answered. New argument, same reply:

- It does not interest me!

Then the manager came and added: flight 951 had vacant places, but he would not help them to take it. With much taste, he repeated this three times.

American gained the break. The two brothers had not embarked.

Pedro and João Moreira Salles had arrived GIG in the following day flight. They had to postpone their father's funeral. In return to the work, Pedro Moreira Salles recommended to Unibanco that, from now, none of its employees enters an Amercian Ailines airplane. Besides, he constituted lawyers to suit the company in New York. There, AA will have to present its arguments. If it will be able to present their manager, we are thankful.

This is little, I suspect that AA's account will be much more expensive. Soon the ambassador Walther Moreira Salles meets Greta Garbo and Nelson Rockefeller, old friends of other times, and knew what happens to its children. Greta and Nelson will convince him to go together to the office of doctor Donald Carty, president of American. Doctor Walther goes with that tender white that used in the hot summer of the tropics. The three go to show Carty that it deceived its auditorium of investitors when said that the American was worried about comfort, satisfaction and loyalty of its customers.</b>

I'm always saddened to hear about people having trouble traveling to a funeral, but...

The idea that a single bad travel incident should be a rational for modifying a corporate travel policy to me seems childish and pigheaded.

Also, what does this have to do with frequent flier programs? Is it appropriate for The Buzz?

[This message has been edited by 2 Many Miles (edited 03-04-2001).]

2 Many Miles,

1) Read carefully and you'll notice I've translated from portuguese using Altavista. That's the reason for grammar errors, since the original text is in portuguese;

2) The people in the article are highly articulated, for sure more than anyone at AA gate. But remember their father just died, so probably it was a difficult conversation;

3) IMHO, this "single bad travel incident" is enough for modifying a corporate travel policy. But my opinion doesn't matter: what it matters is Unibanco will never again buy any tkts from AA.

Toxa

Can you post a link to the Portuguese original?

Original text and link:

A American Airlines não se interessa

Para quem já foi humilhado por funcionários mal-educados de companhias aéreas. Na noite de terça-feira, aconteceu o seguinte no terminal da American Airlines do Aeroporto John Kennedy:

Dois cidadãos chegaram com suas mulheres para tomar o vôo 973, das 22h15min, destinado ao Rio de Janeiro. Estavam esperando a chamada do vôo quando a empresa informou que ele fora cancelado. A funcionária da sala de espera disse-lhes que deveriam tomar outro vôo da própria empresa, o 951, que partiria às 22h30min e só decolou às 23h30min. Foram ao portão de embarque e lá viram-se barrados. A guardiã da porta, funcionária da American, não sabia do cancelamento do outro vôo e informou que nada tinha a ver com a recomendação de sua colega.

Os dois passageiros informaram à senhora o motivo da urgência da viagem. Eram irmãos e iam ao funeral do pai.

– Não me interessa – respondeu a representante da American Airlines.

Nova argumentação, nova resposta:

– Não me interessa.

Veio o gerente e acrescentou: o vôo 951 da American tinha lugares vagos, mas ele não os ajudaria a tomá-lo. Com muito gosto, repetiu isso três vezes.

A American ganhou a parada. Os dois não embarcaram e ficaram com um bilhete-mico nas mãos.

Pedro e João Moreira Salles chegaram ao Rio num vôo do dia seguinte. Tiveram que adiar o funeral do pai.

De volta ao trabalho, Pedro Moreira Salles recomendou ao Unibanco que, a partir de agora, nenhum de seus funcionários ponha o pé num avião da American, que estava entre as companhias usadas pela empresa.

Ademais, constituiu advogados para processar a companhia em Nova York. Lá, a American haverá de apresentar seus argumentos. Se puder apresentar o gerente, a choldra agradece.

Tudo isso é pouco diante da forte suspeita de que a conta da American ficará muito mais cara.

Logo que reencontrou Greta Garbo e Nelson Rockefeller, velhos amigos de outros tempos, o embaixador Walther Moreira Salles soube o que acontecera aos seus filhos. Greta e Nelson convenceram-no a irem juntos ao gabinete do doutor Donald Carty, presidente da American. Doutor Walther vai com aquele terno branco que usava no verão do trópicos. Os três vão mostrar a Carty que ele enganou sua platéia de investidores quando disse que a American estava preocupada com “conforto, satisfação, lealdade e disposição” de sua freguesia.
http://zh.clicrbs.com.br/coluna/elio/index.htm

Thank you for informing us of the change in the company's travel policy. Why is this posted here?

Does this type of thing happen more or less on competing airlines? I have had poor and excellent service on virtually every airline I have traveled.

Yes, yes, but the idea of it relating to a funeral tends to add an amount of sensationalism.

Don't get me wrong. I feel for these folks, and i think any airline, especially the ones i fly and try to like, should behave in a dignified, civilised manner. Trouble is, all airlines have their bad moments. It's about ascertaining what airlines generally do best by you and which ones have the fewest "bad days." Yeah, if well-publicised, this could hurt AA, but people still fly NW after some of what they've done...and don't get me started on US.

(Edited because of double post. Sorry! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/frown.gif )

[This message has been edited by gwendolynaoife (edited 03-05-2001).]

Toxa- where does 2 Many Miles ever question the grammar. It seems like a lot of work to do that and so I dont think its right to berate you for posting it here, but next time spare YOURSELF the trouble.

For those who questioned posting the news to the Buzz - The news didn't echo outside Brazil, because of it's mostly local interest to the general public. Since it's not everyday that an airline bumps someone THAT rich, specially in such difficult moment, I thought this is something I should share with other FTers, people who's interest on air travel is supposed to be by far higher than average.
Maybe you just didn't realized that not everybody can afford hiring Bill Gates for a TV commercial. Maybe you just didn't realized the world goes beyond US borders.

For those who questioned posting the news to American Airlines forum - No one here is waived to face any similar situation. If an AA flyer, I would be glad to be aware of such behavior from that airline. Maybe I would even change my airline, as Unibanco did. I'm UA loyal flyer (not proud of it) and I'm very glad for things like www.untied.com.

For those who believe "it happens" - I agree, the main reason for posting it was the importance of the bumped.

CTANK - 2 Many Miles did question the grammar before he edited his message.

[This message has been edited by Toxa (edited 03-05-2001).]

Toxa --

The real issue here is that this is just (a) complaint, and (b) a notice about a change to a company's travel policy.

Neither of these relates to Frequent Flier progams, which is what The Buzz is for. The only *possible* forum on Flyertalk where this would make sense would be General Traveltalk.

And I've seen Warren Buffet, who's worth in excess of $25B bumped from a flight. He didn't make a big deal out of it -- understanding that sometimes, sh*t happens.

I'd rather hear that Bill Clinton got bumped. As least, then, I'd care.

I don't know how many hundreds (or thousands) of people get bumped every day, but whether they've a silver spoon or no pot to piss in really shouldn't be the point; it sometimes happens and always sucks.

Toxca, LorettaG posted her original comment to your (identical) thread on the AA forum and you have read that most concur with her.

"Wealthy" folks have access to charter jets and private aircraft. In the US of A, when one of them uses public transportation, chances are they are standing behind a FTer.

Stay with UA, and don't expect much sympathy from the loyal AA group.

First of, thanx for the clarification. Don't get me wrong, but shouldn't people that rich be able to fly themselves via private jet? I guess the short notice may have caused them to be forced to fly on a regular airline.

Finnaly, when you say "maybe you just didn't 'realized' the world goes beyond US boarders" you come across as flaming 2 Many Miles or myself. While this doesn't bother me in the least, I think it is my responsibility to remind you that many valued FTers have left because of the flaming on these boards. I would add that as a courtesy to them you should refrain from personal insults. To answer your question, I do realize the world goes beyond US boarders, but does that mean I am supposed to be interested in every single thing that happens in other countries? Besides, this took place at JFK.