Pilot giving credit card pitch on arrival
Mar 18, 23, 7:10 pm
#1
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Pilot giving credit card pitch on arrival
I totally forgot to post this but about a week ago in a flight from DAL-MIA when we arrived at the gate the pilot came on and welcomed us to Miami and then he proceeded to go into a credit card pitch for the SW Chase Visa. This was super odd, awkward and a bit cringey. I could tell by his tone he hated doing this and it felt very forced/required and rushed.
Is this something new they are trying, and requiring pilots to give this pitch?
Is this something new they are trying, and requiring pilots to give this pitch?
Mar 18, 23, 10:00 pm
#3
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: ORD
Posts: 65
While of course this is not my top concern, I always appreciated that flying southwest I've never had to see the flight attendant awkwardly walk down the aisle with credit card applications while I try not to make eye contact. Making the pilots do it is something else...
Mar 19, 23, 7:25 am
#4
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Seems strange. Sure it was the pilot and not another crew member?
Still,if they are at the gate, not much of a safety concern at that point. And to be honest, at that point, almost nobody is paying attention anyways.
Still,if they are at the gate, not much of a safety concern at that point. And to be honest, at that point, almost nobody is paying attention anyways.
Mar 19, 23, 8:16 am
#5
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Blue Ridge, GA
Posts: 5,260
Some airline employees get commissions for co-brand card sign-ups. A "Limited time offer" to a strapped-in clientele has a certain Clockwork Orange sensation.
Could always be worse.
Could always be worse.
“Ladies and gentlemen, before we can start boarding, we’re looking for 10 volunteers to apply for the AAdvantage Aviator Red Mastercard.”
Mar 19, 23, 10:09 am
#6
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Originally Posted by NoStressHere
Seems strange. Sure it was the pilot and not another crew member?
Still,if they are at the gate, not much of a safety concern at that point. And to be honest, at that point, almost nobody is paying attention anyways.
Still,if they are at the gate, not much of a safety concern at that point. And to be honest, at that point, almost nobody is paying attention anyways.
Mar 19, 23, 12:07 pm
#7
Join Date: Dec 2019
Posts: 76
I few four separate flights on Friday (2 days ago)... a day trip with connections both directions - so four different airplanes and four different crews - and not one thing was mentioned about credit cards by pilots or flight attendants.
I am not saying your experience didn't happen - Just that it does not seem to be the norm for now.
I am not saying your experience didn't happen - Just that it does not seem to be the norm for now.
Mar 19, 23, 12:54 pm
#8
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 4,553
Originally Posted by GoldenArgosy
I few four separate flights on Friday (2 days ago)... a day trip with connections both directions - so four different airplanes and four different crews - and not one thing was mentioned about credit cards by pilots or flight attendants.
I am not saying your experience didn't happen - Just that it does not seem to be the norm for now.
I am not saying your experience didn't happen - Just that it does not seem to be the norm for now.
Mar 19, 23, 2:31 pm
#9
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Blue Ridge, GA
Posts: 5,260
Southwest asked flight attendants to sell credit cards during flights in exchange for a smaller pay cut in 2020. Gary Kelly warned a “lack of meaningful progress” in cost-cutting negotiations with labor unions.
I saw no FT threads about on-board sales pitches. Apparently, few and far between.
"Dallas-based Southwest, which told union employees earlier this month they need to take a 10% pay cut next year to avoid furloughs, could start selling products during flights, including credit cards, as a way to increase revenue and make up for the dismal number of passengers booking fares.
The credit card pitches came up during a bargaining session this week between Southwest and Transport Workers Union Local 556, representing the 15,000 flight attendants at the carrier, according to a summary of the meeting sent to union members."
The credit card pitches came up during a bargaining session this week between Southwest and Transport Workers Union Local 556, representing the 15,000 flight attendants at the carrier, according to a summary of the meeting sent to union members."
Mar 19, 23, 2:33 pm
#10
Join Date: Jul 2015
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I was reminiscing the other day about the reps that used to pitch cards in the terminal. Haven’t seen those in ages and I haven’t heard a CC pitch on a plane, other than the Allegiant flight I took a couple of weeks ago followed by an AA flight two days later.
Mar 19, 23, 3:12 pm
#11
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Originally Posted by LegalTender
Southwest asked flight attendants to sell credit cards during flights in exchange for a smaller pay cut in 2020. Gary Kelly warned a “lack of meaningful progress” in cost-cutting negotiations with labor unions.
Mar 19, 23, 3:40 pm
#12
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Blue Ridge, GA
Posts: 5,260
Originally Posted by SJCFlyerLG
Really? They say they need to cut FA positions! Do they have that many excess crew now? Seems very unlikely.
