Just to go omni for a moment, I'm getting good traction around my office on having this as a quasi-official slogan.

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif

Greg

ScottC, so you think that because British Airways state welfare subsidies aren't really handouts/welfare, because they come with supposedly "strict" rules? Grow up.
Greg99, yes, we all know Bank of American still has VIP customers, but the point was the VIP lines aren't there anymore. Bank of America DISCLOSES every privlege VIP customers get, out in the open, and in advance. There's NO mystery there. Airlines don't disclose what they give THEIR "best customers". Sorry you didn't get the point.
Bahrainlad, we're all VERY jealous of your teriffic booze-loving "ISLAND OF LIBERALISM" you're living in... Tell us, how are the strip clubs there? When is the next Gay Pride Parade in Bahrain? How many pornos do they stock in the local video store? How many Jewish temples do they have? What's the penalty for smoking marijuana? How many female government officials do they have at high levels? How do they treat their servants from the Philipines and India? I'm glad all it takes to make you happy is some alcohol to forget your troubles, cloudless skies, a DSL line, and a swimming pool. Most of the rest of us, who claim to be unabashed liberals, might not agree with YOUR view of paradise.
I'll take my smog-infested, gay-rights loving, sometimes crime-ridden but FREE society ANY DAY, over YOUR "island of liberalism" for even a one hour stopover. But if you've convinced yourself you're happy there, than I'm happy for you too.
Enjoy!
Jim

This thread is getting really off topic.

Regardless, as I said before, I think it's pretty clear to most or all that premium passengers get better treatment.

Go to ticketing - there are special lines for premium passengers.

Board the plane - premium passengers are called first.

Furthermore, elite benefits (priority waitlisting & standby, for one) are well disclosed on airline Web sites, and you can also call the airline's FF program and ask about the benefits. (Even basic FF members will usually get priority over non-FF flyers in these situations)

Sorry if customers don't go through the trouble of seeking out the information. Maybe we could mandate that the government requires a full copy of the contract of carriage and elite FF benefits with each boarding pass.

Finally, as we've said before - it is common practice for private businesses and individuals to treat the best those whom they have the best relationships with. It's really not a secret.

d

I agree Doppy, let's stay on topic..., which admittedly, most of the time we have.
Glad you think airlines do disclose all of this on websites, as you claim... So tell me, where is the exact and specific PECKING ORDER disclosed? I must have missed the website where any airline admits to that, and publishes it for all to see. Until they do, all of your and the other's writer's arguments are baseless. Businesses aren't allowed to make rules up as they go along. People have a right to know what rights are included with their ticket. It can't be a mystery who gets priority in irregular situations. I very well might be willing to pay TWENTY TIMES the price for a ticket I could get for $200, if it's imperative that I get on the flight I'm confirmed on, or in an irregular situation, the first flight with available seats... Basically, airlines can't SELL rights to some people, and NOT OFFER TO SELL those rights to other people. If there were specific disclosure about these pecking orders, this problem would be resolved.
Jim

I got the point entirely - it's just that your statement is entirely wrong. There are a number of privileges/amenities/features that BofA gives their Premier Banking customers that are not publicly documented.

We keep coming back to the same issue - you feel very strongly that there's something that requires airlines to disclose every benefit that they provide to their customers.

On what basis do you make this claim? Is it anything more than "fairness"? Can you point to a legal obligation? I don't think you can.

There's nothing in the conditions of carriage that say the airline can't do this.

If "fairness" is all you having going for you on this argument, that airlines shouldn't do this, you're going to be tilting at windmills for a long time and with a whole lot of companies.

Greg

Yes, they do disclose the contract of carriage, as well as elite benefits including priority standby and waitlisting, just as I said.


Well, since I never said it was there, I can't really answer your question. I can say that I have seen a detailed pecking order from AA. It has about 200 different categories of people. Top priority goes to essential deadheading employees - above ANY passengers, regardless of fare paid, check-in time, reverse dutch auction, or whatever method you suggest.


Actually they can. Fortunately our country more or less allows businesses the freedom to pursue profits as they see fit. It's worked out pretty well so far, and I'm not too big on the government coming in and telling every business they need to disclose how they'll treat each customer in every situation.


You have the right to purchase tickets at whatever fare you want. Furthermore, you also have the right to achieve top-tier status on the airlines.


Also, in many of your previous posts you've be perpetuating a negative and incorrect sterotype of FTers as fat-cat elites traveling on big corporate travel budgets. As that claim is baseless and useless, I'd prefer it if you stop offering it up. I'd also like to note that my elite status is paid for by my personal bankroll, not my fat-cat, highfalutin company.

Finally, as I've said before, limiting what an airline can do, in the way that you would like, will probably only have negative effects. There are times when, during an irregular or force majeure situation, where airlines might be prohibited by your legal menacing from taking actions that may help a great majority of travelers, at the expense of the few. Flexibility can only help everyone.

d

Greg99, all Bank of America VIP privledges are disclosed, and out in the open. If you know of any secret unwriteen privledges, please share them with us. Yes, there is a LEGAL OBLIGATION NOT to commit FRAUD... that is, selling one kind of ticket and not disclosing what rights come along with it, while giving special rights to another kind of ticket, also without disclosing what those supposed different "rights" are.
Doppy, come one...there's no pecking order ever written down anywhere... Sure, some airlines may have a secret list, which is NOT disclosed, but someone by now should have informed us of a written policy... they haven't because it's not public information.
And yes, I have the right to purchase a ticket at whatever fare I want, and the seller, (airline) has an obligation to disclose what rights come with each kind of ticket. They can't make up rules as they go along. And to all the FAT CATS on expense accounts, it's great that you've convinced yourselves, if you run a business and pay for your own tickets, that ULTIMATELY, you write off those charges, and simply deduct flying first class from your taxes. Which translates to the average taxpayers gets LESS government/social services, because a lot of money had to go and pay for YOUR first class tickets, which you have written off from your taxes.
So please don't try to make anyone think that money is coming out of your pocket to buy your first class tickets... it's really coming out of services taxpayers won't get.

HOpe that makes all of you FAT CATS feel great: while you're luxuriating in FIRST CLASS, some poor taxpayer sitting in some County hospital somewhere MIGHT not be able to get medical treatment they desperately may need, since so much tax money went to pay for YOUR first class tickets... That is, there may be LESS tax money to hand out to County hospitals, since you FAT CATS are "writing off" your luxury travel...
Jim

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/rolleyes.gif

Does everyone else hear the violin playing?

That's it, I'm done.

Not worth being on this thread if this is the direction the discussion is going.

Greg

"All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others."

Animal Farm by George Orwell

We'll miss you, Greg99...
I guess the truth/reality does hurt a bit...
Knowing that you people, when "writing off" your taxes all this LUXURY travel, are DEPRIVING people in COUNTY hospitals MEDICAL CARE they may need TO SURVIVE--it's rather, selfish, isn't it. So when you fill out your tax return, and you deduct that $5,000 first class ticket, PLEASE think of someone trying to get a bed in a county hospital, who may have never even taken an airline flight in their life... That doesn't cross your little minds, does it... Instead, you prefer to stick the taxpayers with your bills... Shame.
Jim

This thread has really gone downhill....

When does a first class ticket have anything to do with someone in a county hospital?

Did anyone here imply they write off their "luxury" tickets?

So sorry to see this go so downhill.... and so slowly... http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/frown.gif

William

I just called AA to get a ticket rolled over because a fare dropped.

Does this mean little Suzy won't be able to get that tumor removed?

Ha! You FAT CAT! Back in old country we did not have McDonalds...or trucks...or roads...

Well, it actually started at the very bottom, so there really wasn't anywhere to go downhill. Fact is, this is classic troll behaviour, starting with feigned outrage at some imagined slight, escalating into progressively more name calling and accusations, as well as the introduction of unrelated info. This is invariably supported by a lot of made up facts and unsubstantiated (and ever more unlikely) claims. flywrongs (Eddie in real life) is just trying to see how far he can string people along.

So if this thread is not worth participating in anymore, lets at least convert it into something enjoyable. In fact, why not obtain a Happy Fun Ball and start "throwing" it around?

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I just hope the Moderators are soon going to end this otherwise endless diatribe!