There is no such thing as a "choice" when the seats are never available. This statement is VERY misleading...

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I wholeheartedly agree PG! Yet could it possibly prove to be a bit like the earlier "tax simplification" that we had? http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

My accountant isn't exactly crying or going to the poorhouse! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif

I suppose that Randy is perhaps compelled to be a bit diplomatic when addressing these "sticky" airline issues! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

Perhaps Randy was taken somewhat out of context. Perhaps in the long run, we'll see some mileage sales or something like that.

FWIW- I have redeemed 7 or so tickets in the past 2 years on CO and NW. Precisely 1 has been in the "peak time" in large part because of the additional 5,000 miles needed.

I don't believe their stats for one second.

I also can't believe we aren't offered some sort of apology from CO. I think that it is absolutely the least we are due.

What we are seeing here, though, is a reminder of who is really in charge. If there are a lot of deferred liabilities on their books, and they want to get rid of them, they could inflate them to no limit.

Let's not fool ourselves - the airlines and hotels are in charge, and as much as they might pretend, they don't give a rat's behind about the customer when times get tough. When it comes down to it, we are just a means to an end -money.

If CO alienates enough customers with their bad business decisions, and they find they need money, they'll just go call in another favor from the whores in Washington, who will just write them another check. WHo needs customers when the government will bail you out each time you screw up.

This is rapidly becoming a race to the bottom.

Liar, Liar, Industry on Fire

...Travel is the industry that can’t talk straight. It is so enmeshed in its own deceptions that it doesn’t even know when it is lying anymore. It doesn’t seem to understand why customers now simply assume the worst about the state of travel. And it is unable to see how badly the culture of lying has eroded its credibility.

Consider, for example, the contretemps at Continental, which unfolded this week against the growing mistrust between travel providers and their customers.

In the January issue of Continental’s in-flight magazine and on its Website, Continental chief executive Gordon Bethune makes a simple, unequivocal statement about the state of the airline’s much-admired frequent-flyer program. “We will not cut benefits from OnePass,” Bethune said.

So what did Continental do, even as Bethune’s message continues to appear on the Website and still rides in the pockets of every seat in its fleet? It cut the benefits of OnePass. That has created a firestorm among OnePass members, who are probably overreacting to the exceedingly modest program changes, but who are justifiably incensed that Bethune is saying one thing while his airline has done something else.

The culture of lies is so inbred in the travel industry that it has risen to the level of performance art...

http://www.zyworld.com/brancatelli/branc.htm

He, he, he. Now doc is posting news articles from other parts of FlyerTalk in new threads elsewhere on FT!!! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

doc, I say this in 100% jest, but I just thought it was funny! Maybe it was a slow news day elsewhere on the 'net! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

BTW, I do with all you CO flyers the best of luck getting these changes fixed... seems like a bad deal to me.

Have a great weekend! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

Ah! Please also see:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum20/HTML/004280.html

Sounds to me like CO will be applying for a change of it's airline code to FU soon.

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So they are still available? http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif

There could actually be quite a rush to obtain these telling code "symbols!" http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

new·speak ('nü-"spEk, 'nyü-), noun, Usage: often capitalized. : propagandistic language marked by euphemism, circumlocution, and the inversion of customary meanings. Etymology: Newspeak, a language "designed to diminish the range of thought," in the novel 1984 (1949) by George Orwell. Date: 1950

Please also see:

Airlines Raise Bar on Upgrades,
Freebies for Frequent Fliers

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum1/HTML/006279.html

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum20/HTML/004335.html



[This message has been edited by doc (edited 01-31-2002).]

And you guys will still probably award them the Freddies again!!!

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Well, I surely don't know, but I would NOT bet on it! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

More on Gordon and CO can be found today in a front page (A1) article in the WSJ!

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum20/HTML/004360.html

Northwest is pulling the same stunt. They are trying to pass it off as an "easier, more convient plan" for it's members. They cliam they are doing away with the blackout dates because it was forcing travelers to take vacations during the non-blackout times, when that was not actually the desired time the passenger wanted to travel. Well, isn't that why they started the blackout dates in the first place? To give more affordable travel to those with flexible plans?

Yew, NWA is doing a similar stunt! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/frown.gif

Please also see related threads:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum35/HTML/002563.html

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum35/HTML/002574.html

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum35/HTML/002593.html

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum35/HTML/002595.html

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum35/HTML/002596.html