posted
It appears that United is going to pull out all the stops to promote themselves. Flew about 16,000 miles on them last year, most recent over 6 months ago, and none so far this year, and do not have one of their credit cards. Nonetheless, got an email today promoting getting and using their card, saying: "MilagePlus Partner, 500 miles are yours when you join MilagePlus Dining, followed by, Dine your way to 4,000 miles, followed by 1, 2, 3 items of things to do for miles, followed by a list of participating 4 star and better restaurant with distances from where I live.
Oh, wow!!!!!!!! actually somewhat scary, particularly with the distances from home which essentially say we know how to find you. Makes me wonder what mud they have on me to throw if I do something they don't like.
Posts: 2808 | From: Olive Branch MS | Registered: Nov 2002
| IP: Logged |
posted
It's horrifying Mr. Harris how "Big Brother is watching" nowadays.
Friday last week, I went to this restaurant for a Lunch with clients. I got there first, asked for a large booth (tax papers to spread out) and dutifully waited, before the waitress even got to me, my phone was chirping with an e-mail saying "here's what real special today at Ditka's Grill 89". How the **** did they even know I was there?
Tomorrow though, I'll be just as glad to get e-mail from United with my boarding pass then updates with a gate and/or delays for my flight to Atlanta.
So let's see what "Big Brother" wants me to have at Capital Grille tomorrow night, or at King and Duke on Sunday.
Posts: 9977 | From: Clarendon Hills, IL USA (BNSF Chicago Sub MP 18.71) | Registered: Apr 2002
| IP: Logged |
quote:Originally posted by George Harris: It appears that United is going to pull out all the stops to promote themselves. Flew about 16,000 miles on them last year ....got an email today promoting getting and using their card, saying: "MilagePlus Partner, 500 miles are yours when you join MilagePlus Dining, followed by, Dine your way to 4,000 miles.....actually somewhat scary, particularly with the distances from home which essentially say we know how to find you. Makes me wonder what mud they have on me to throw if I do something they don't like.
Mr. Harris, even if it looks like practically all United flights out of MEM are of the puddle jumper varietal, you reside ten miles away from there and have flown 'em in the past.
I guess Delta has pretty well disbanded the one-time hub at MEM inherited by way of Northwest from Southern Airways - leaving only Fedex hubbing there, which of course means nothing to a passenger.
Posts: 9977 | From: Clarendon Hills, IL USA (BNSF Chicago Sub MP 18.71) | Registered: Apr 2002
| IP: Logged |
quote:Originally posted by Gilbert B Norman: I guess Delta has pretty well disbanded the one-time hub at MEM inherited by way of Northwest from Southern Airways - leaving only Fedex hubbing there, which of course means nothing to a passenger.
Too true. When Northwest was at their best with the Memphis hub, you could get almost anywhere out of here directly. Fortunately, much of my overseas working was during this time, and remember before their absorption of Southern, much of the NWA claim to fame was their service into Asian points. Now, it is back to the old joke when the best way to go anywhere out of here was Delta, "Before you go to heaven you have to go through Atlanta." You can go many places on American, but you go through Charlotte first. As things are now, my first choice is Southwest. They are more consistent and less likely to hit you with humongous charges if you make changes.
Posts: 2808 | From: Olive Branch MS | Registered: Nov 2002
| IP: Logged |
posted
Gil -- Thank you very much for agreeing with me.
The bone of contention is whether or not all passenger have to obey all orders given by all crew members, whether or not those orders are lawful or sensible. I agree that "you catch more flies with honey than vinegar," but this applies to rew members as well as passengers.
As many others have noted elsewhere, there were other and much better ways to deal with the airline's need to get 4 crew members to the location of their next assignment than the demand that any passenger leave the plane. But, remember:"The buck tops HERE," not anywhere else other than, in this case, the UAL CEO's desk.
Flying should not have to be so darned unpleasant as it too often is.
Posts: 211 | From: California | Registered: Dec 2004
| IP: Logged |
posted
Gil --- Thank you for understanding and agreeing with me. I do appreciate that.
The bone of contention here is whether or not all passengers must alwasy obey all orders given by any flight attendant or crew member. But those orders must be legal and sensible -- and passngers have the right to disobey any ridiculous order(s) by flight crews, but they must expect problems if they disobey even a ridiculous order.
And the problem that caused this huge PR disaster for United was caused entirely by United -- and it does not matter at all who they contract out to; they are still responsible, both morally and legally, for what their contractor does. "The buck stops HERE," and it definitely stopped right on the deck of Mr. Munoz, United's CEO. Remember what happened around 2,000 years ago when someone tried to wash his hands of his responsibility for a big decision? Yup -- his name is still recited every Sunday in many Christian churches all over the world every time the congregation says the Creed: "crucified under PONTIUS PILATE". He could not evade his responsibility for what happened under his administration, either, and no one would ever have heard of him had he not been the man in charge back then.
And it is very sad and quite wrong that anyone is ever allowed to be in any position of authority if that person has anger management issues or other problems. We have a right to expect excellent behavior for all people in authority. And there must be appropriate and non-violent consequences for their bad behavior that will give them good reasons not to repeat bad behavior.
There are many people who should never be in positions of authority.
Posts: 211 | From: California | Registered: Dec 2004
| IP: Logged |
posted
It appears that I have been mistaken on one key point regarding Dept of Aviation Police. The Wall Street Journal reports that, even if not armed, they are sworn peace officers:
Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel has said the city is reviewing the future of the Department of Aviation security force. The 300-strong airport unit is made up entirely of city employees. All are sworn police officers but receive less training than regular officers would at a police academy. They don’t carry weapons, and have battled for years to do so amid heightened concerns over terrorism
There still remains a bit of conjecture as to what constitutes a sworn officer. That to me has always meant one who has completed police academy training and is required to carry a service weapon and holding powers of arrest.
But all I can say is that my flights to and return from Atlanta this past weekend were "just fine". Going down.it was on "real United" and the return was on (drum.roll) Republic. On both, the Attendants kept "my glass full" (First Class), and both were on time and without any incidents coming to my attention. The only hitch was some kind of delay on MARTA (rode to Dunwoody), never really explained, and with the March on Science disbanding on Saturday afternoon that train was packed.
Posts: 9977 | From: Clarendon Hills, IL USA (BNSF Chicago Sub MP 18.71) | Registered: Apr 2002
| IP: Logged |
It would seem, regardless of airline, the scene now resembles a European Soccer match. "Not exactly" how it was for those of us around here who "knew it when".
Posts: 9977 | From: Clarendon Hills, IL USA (BNSF Chicago Sub MP 18.71) | Registered: Apr 2002
| IP: Logged |
I suppose there are some around here, and other like sites, who will simply "swear off" air travel. I just might say same goes as with my Amtrak overnight travels, "First Class or (save family emergency) forget it".
Posts: 9977 | From: Clarendon Hills, IL USA (BNSF Chicago Sub MP 18.71) | Registered: Apr 2002
| IP: Logged |
Printer-friendly view of this topic
