Omnipresent ads plague air passengers
by Dan Schlossberg
Stop the world – I want to get off!
The spin doctors have won, demanding consumer attention far and above the call of duty.
It’s bad enough patrons have to pay exorbitant movie prices but worse when they have to sit through ear-splitting, irritating commercials without benefit of the mute button – the greatest invention of the 20th century.
Teams routinely sell “naming rights” to ballparks, resulting in such mind-boggling names as U.S. Cellular Field (Chicago White Sox), Minute Maid Park (Houston), and Fifth Third Park (Toledo). At least Cincinnati’s Great American Ballpark, named for Great American Insurance, has a logical flow.
Ads on player uniforms already exist in the Japanese major leagues and the Caribbean winter leagues but not in the U.S. majors, though that may change. Tradition always takes a back seat to revenue, no matter what the venue.
Airports are always magnets for advertisers, who know they have a captive audience. The CNN
“Airport Network” blares from every nook and cranny, making it impossible to read or even think. Airports wouldn’t dream of killing it, because of the advertising revenue they reap, but they could be kind to travelers by creating separate sections for those who insist on cellphone jabbering. The proliferation of cellphones is a monster that needs birth control.
So far, U.S. airlines have refrained from following the European example of allowing in-flight cellphone chatter. But they haven’t resisted the urge to allow in-flight advertising, no matter where or when it might rear its ugly head.
USAirways, for example, has placed ads on the tray-tables at its seats. Rick Steves, author of multiple European guidebooks, hates that development so much that he peels them off. Good for him!
Muting out ads, or removing them from sight, is a terrific idea.
SMOKING GUNS
Writers with assignments in Kansas, Michigan, or Wisconsin are now able to breathe smokefree air in all public places, according to Americans for Nonsmokers Rights. But another group, Action on Smoking and Health, warns that the battle for clean, healthy air is far from over.
It reports that American and Southwest are among the airlines allowing passengers to smoke e-cigarettes, which emit a mixture of nicotine, propylene glycol, and a variety of carcinogens and other toxins. ASH research suggests that nicotine from e-cigs combines with airborne chemicals to create a deadly brew that sticks to seats and carpeting, exposing unsuspecting passengers.
ASH has already persuaded New Jersey and Suffolk County, NY to ban e-cigs where smoking is prohibited but needs to put pressure on other state and local governments – and the federal government to enforce a total smoking ban on planes. There’s no way the nonsmoking majority has to suffer in silence. Again.
HANDLING DELAYS
Jeff Michaels, a musician who flies frequently, has found a way to pass all that idle time at the airport. In his new book, Please Hug Me, I’ve Been Delayed, he presents a myriad of ideas that range from celebrity-spotting to game-playing and wallet-cleaning. “Overbooking, lost luggage, and excessive baggage fees are frustrating enough experiences for passengers,” he says. “If I can help at least one person keep their sanity through an agonizing flight delay, I’ve done my job.” To obtain a review copy or arrange an interview with the author, contact Rachel Friedman, News and Experts, 1127 Grove Street, Clearwater, FL 33755 (Tel. 727-443-7115 x206 or Rachel@newsandexperts.com).
THOSE FRIGGIN’ FEES
Tired of those exasperating extra fees airlines are adding to the price of travel? Writer Jordan Simon is collecting comments from consumers at Travelcomments@aol.com.
He says airlines extracted $10.25 billion (with a “b”) in worldwide surcharges in 2008 – an increase of 346 per cent over 2006 – and are still up to their old tricks. Even the discounters are finding ways to milk the public.
Simon says (did we really say that?) the carriers have targeted a half-dozen aspects of flying:
booking, baggage, seat selection, food, pillows and blankets, and even frequent flyer point redemption. Some lines impose airport improvement fees, others charge for headphones, and some tack on fuel surcharges. There’s even a 10 per cent tax for flying with an infant or lap child. Spirit now charges for carry-on bags, while Ryan Air has become a flying version of the pay toilet, giving Seinfeld’s “Can you spare a square?” entirely new meaning.
Changing an itinerary can cost $150 on American, Continental, and USAirways – the carrier that tried charging for non-alcoholic drinks before passengers rebelled.
With the airline industry starting to turn a profit again, the fees are a major source of frustration for flyers. But only a passenger protest will get any of them reversed.
TAXING SITUATION
Although airlines pay the feds a tax of 7.5 cents for every dollar collected in fares, they do not pay any tax on “non-essential services,” such as baggage handling, food, drink, pillows, blankets, and bathroom use. Two bills now in Congress are aimed at changing that loophole. Says tour operator Shebby Lee of Rapid City, SD: “You’d think the Treasury Department would perk up its ears when it learns how much un-taxed revenue is flowing to the airlines. Until it does, we had better become accustomed to schlepping our own meals and being nickled-and-dimed at every step of the air travel process.” Lee insists Spirit’s decision to lower fares but charge for carry-ons was nothing less than a ploy to save taxes. Referring to all airlines, she says, “Now that they have found the golden goose, they may just lose it because of poor public relations in their overzealous implementation of add-on fees. Simply raising their rates would have met with much less resistance.”
FAT CHANCE
Should obese flyers be forced to buy two tickets? Some carriers insist, while others shy away in fear of discrimination lawsuits. Writer Colleen Clark, who weighs 130 pounds, is a vociferous advocate of the two-ticket solution. “What it comes down to is safety,” she says. “In the event of an emergency landing, this (obese) passenger would likely find it difficult to exit quickly, delaying the safe evacuation of everyone behind him. He can’t be seated in the exit rows because federal law restricts them to able-bodied passengers.”
She also suggests that the unfortunate nationwide trend toward obesity will cause carriers to add rows with special seating, with higher fares, and to enlarge the size of emergency exits.
Guess who’s going to pay for it all? Hint: it won’t be the airlines.
PLANE TRUTHS
With airline travel so difficult these days, a look at the lighter side always helps. These are some actual announcements heard on planes:
“People, people, we’re not picking out furniture here. Find a seat and get in it!”
–United flight attendant
“Whoa, big fella, WHOA!”
–Voice on the P.A. system after landing at Reagan National in Washington
“We’d like to thank you folks for flying with us today. And the next time you get the insane urge to go blasting through the skies in a pressurized metal tube, we hope you’ll think of USAirways.”
–USAirways captain
“Please take care when opening the overhead compartments because sure as hell, everything has shifted after that landing.”
–Northwest flight attendant after rough landing in bad weather
THANK YOU NOTES
In concluding this column, it is important to thank all the speakers who gave of their valuable time to come to NATJA’s national conference in Reno. They included prominent public relations executives, inflight magazine editors, authors, and internet experts from all around the country.
In addition, Reno’s Atlantis Resort Casino & Spa – and especially public relations chief Ben McDonald – went above and beyond the call of duty in providing a perfect venue for NATJA’s mid-May meeting.
A personal thanks, as well, to the two-dozen hoteliers, transportation firms, and travel suppliers who provided prizes for the 19th annual travel journalism awards. In a shrinking economy, their generosity is most appreciated.
Dan Schlossberg is president emeritus, awards chairman, and editor-in-chief of The Wayfarer.
He was among the six journalists who founded NATJA in Lyndhurst, NJ in 1991.
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