Forgive me if this has been covered ad nauseum, but it's the one thing I dislike about flying AS. I don't mind them passing out applications to a captive audience after a brief announcement. They do have an audience of potential takers, so why not?
But yesterday it was over the top. SEA-OAK flight 314 had a very aggressive lead flight attendant pushing the cards. A very lengthy announcement about the benefits of travel, including matches from various partners (at least 10 of them), embellishment on the romantic and exciting destinations available for 20,000 miles (5 or 6 of them), "Can you imagine a nice break to Cabo San Lucas right now?"
Then, as she was passing out the applications, the aggressive approach continued. Anyone feigning the slightest interest received a full sales pitch, some of them lasting several minutes. One pax a couple of rows back said "no thank you I already have a Visa". Wrong thing to say. "Well, then you won't mind if I tell you the difference". There was a 5 minute discourse on the differences between his card and the benefits he would receive with the AS card. I'm not exaggerating, it was a full five minutes with people walking around her to use the lav.
She was so well versed about the card it seemed like there was a little spiff in it for her if she got some takers. To be fair, she was otherwise a fine FA, but I felt like I was at one of those "free show" booths in Vegas with no escape. I also felt that it was a distraction to her duties, but then her duties are defined my AS management, so maybe not.
rant over
Bose QC2. I saw some sort of paper waving, but that was about it.
AS employees must get some sort of bonus for signing people up. I ran into this in the SEA Board Room a couple of months ago when one of the usually nice ladies at the counter wanted me to listen to her spiel. When I told her that I already had an AS Visa (thinking it would get me out of the situation gracefully) she said that I would get a bonus for upgrading my current card. I asked if I could review the brochure and then pointed out to her that the fine print stated that upgraders didn't get the bonus. That ended her spiel although it was a bit of an awkward moment.
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Another case involved pimps forcing trafficked women to marry them in order to circumvent visa restrictions.16 "Mail-order bride" arrangements may also
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3 posts - 3 authors - Last post: Dec 6, 2000More aggressive than many other workers, Grover refused to accept .. Its may be a "Pimp/Prostitute" business, but there are some good
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It's a real art to say be able to say No right up front at the beginning of the spiel without making the moment uncomfortable. I've got to learn how to do that.
Bose QC2. I saw some sort of paper waving, but that was about it.
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20 posts - Last post: Jun 14, 2007Aggressive Salaries(starting with 55K/annum)with 10% increment after in word format along with your current visa status ASAP and we will
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With the severe consolidation of that industry, there aren't many choices left, and almost no choice in banks that will partner with airlines. There are just a few. I don't know if any of the remaining ones are better than the other. AS card years ago was with Seafirst Bank, which had just outstanding customer service. BofA ate them.
Amex is pretty much the only big card issuer these days with a reputation for excellent customer service. They partner with Delta and a couple hotel chains.
As for my list, Chase is at the bottom, with Citibank being ok. Contrary to what most people have posted here, I've had nothing but positive experiences with BofA, mostly as a result of some great management folks at my local branch who can take care of customers.
Get your ears ready -- a new pimpfest was announced today:
I scarred fo life......
Anyway, so is the nightmare almost over? Or will they keep making these announcements forever? It really does get annoying if you fly often.
Get your ears ready -- a new pimpfest was announced today:
http://www.alaskasworld.com/sweepstakes/default.asp
Since they put their name and employee number on the bottom of the applications to get the $30, that'd be a handy way to ID any overly aggressive/obnoxious VISA pushers in any complaint letters/emails.
I just tell them I already have 3 AS Visa cards and don't need anymore right now, Thank You.
That's always brought the conversation to an end. :D
Comp me a couple drinks, and I'll look over the app...
Just think of it as your own personal Dig-e-player that you can't shut off or change the channel :D
Just tell them that you don't live in the US to qualify...
B of A is pretty much a model of how to build a corporate culture around providing no customer service. It definitely drags AS' reputation down.
With the severe consolidation of that industry, there aren't many choices left, and almost no choice in banks that will partner with airlines. There are just a few. I don't know if any of the remaining ones are better than the other. AS card years ago was with Seafirst Bank, which had just outstanding customer service. BofA ate them.
AS employees must get some sort of bonus for signing people up. $30 per approved application is typically what the pimps make. They're also after the $100/$200/$500 per month bonuses they can get based on the number of applications submitted in a month regardless of approval status. They also get entries for other prizes. Here's a link to details for a recent pimpfest
http://www.alaskasworld.com/sweepstakes/
Aggressive pimping of BofA Visa cards by Alaska FAs on flight has become more and more common, annoying and disgusting. First the entire aircraft gets subjected to a far too long Visa pitch over the PA system and then some FAs spend the rest of the flight working their captive audience.
I was on a recent Alaska flight where the FA was too busy hustling an older couple to be bothered with getting the rest of the FC cabin the drinks we requested. The FA was trying to convince the couple that they should actually send in two applications instead of just the one application they already had taken from her (with her employee number on it of course) by touting the bonus miles. Finally another FC pax got so annoyed that he directly asked the FA in front of the couple how much she made per application. She embarrassedly mumbled something about a contest and headed for the galley.
"no spekee ze Engrish"
Finally (and I'll step down off this soap box - I promise), the company makes a lot of money off of this card, as does every other airline. It's because of things like this that we are still able to offer some amenities that other airlines are not offering any more. As fuel prices continue to go up, airlines will continue to search for other ways to make additional revenue and this is just one of the ways they will do that.
There's no way that money gets put into AS' amenities. Even if fuel prices were virtually free, the airline would continue to search for ways to make additional profit and cut amenities that don't provide a tangible return. That's just the way business works.
That said, the announcements don't bother me so much. I just wish AS would choose to associate with a more customer friendly bank. AS is pretty much a model of how to build a corporate culture around great customer service. B of A is pretty much a model of how to build a corporate culture around providing no customer service. It definitely drags AS' reputation down.
Amex is pretty much the only big card issuer these days with a reputation for excellent customer service. They partner with Delta
Such Irony!!!
Im in 97% agreement with you about BOFA and good service. Rarely have any problems!!
We do get $30 per application that is approved. There are no regular monthly bonuses for the numbers that you turn in. There have been, however, several contests that will offer a bonus for the number that are turned in. Currently, this type of a contest is not going on.
I know that it's irritating to have to listen to the spiel over and over and over again but just know that it is a required announcement. Those that aren't making it are simply not doing the required announcements. Additionally, for new F/A's that start this job making just around 18K-20K per year, this is a way of beefing up that paycheck so you can afford to eat. I don't expect that to make having to listen to these speeches any more bearable but the company definetely wants us to offer these applications and provides an incentive to do so. Having said all that, the company does NOT want us making long spiels over the PA about the card. There is a fairly short announcement that is provided for us to read and that is all we're supposed to read - not make up our own or elaborate on the provided announcement. The company would also not approve of F/A's harrassing customers that have not expressed an interest to us. We aren't supposed to ask each and every customer on board if they want an application, but simply stroll through the aisle with the applications and offer them to those that ask.
I also want to say that I agree, the speech is annoying but there are a number of people out there that don't find it annoying and actually ask for the applications and sign up for the card. To these people, they don't mind the announcements.
Finally (and I'll step down off this soap box - I promise), the company makes a lot of money off of this card, as does every other airline. It's because of things like this that we are still able to offer some amenities that other airlines are not offering any more. As fuel prices continue to go up, airlines will continue to search for other ways to make additional revenue and this is just one of the ways they will do that.
You are correct
There can be quite a bit of money in it for the top tier FA's in terms of how many app's they turn in.
You know, rapper Too Short once said "Pimp's aint nothing but Ho's"
Sort of OT, but I just cancelled my AS VISA last night with Bank of America, after switching all my flying to UA for requal and all our charging to SPG AMEX and HH VISA. There was no hard sell by the retention agent to keep the card. No offer of extra miles, waiver of annual fee, nothing. POOF. :p
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Aggressive Pimping of AS Visa