Comments on: And the award for most irresponsible airline goes to … http://www.elliott.org/blog/and-the-award-for-the-most-irresponsible-airline-goes-to/ Consumer advocate Christopher Elliott's site. Fri, 10 Feb 2012 05:25:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: MikeZ http://www.elliott.org/blog/and-the-award-for-the-most-irresponsible-airline-goes-to/comment-page-1/#comment-22524 MikeZ Tue, 11 Aug 2009 20:09:30 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=7727#comment-22524 Their stated goals may be laudable, but this ranking is just plain silly. The fact that all these airlines rank so closely together -- despite having radically different labor relations histories -- makes it suspect. But even more so is the fact that, for some unexplainable reason, they have omitted dozens of other (foreign and domestic) airlines that also serve the US (e.g., Midwest, Frontier, JetBlue, Air France/KLM, Singapore, Qantas, etc., etc.). They undoubtedly did this to try to promote themselves and their goals. But by doing it so poorly, they likely did themselves more harm than good. The award for the most worthless award program goes to Green America. Their stated goals may be laudable, but this ranking is just plain silly.

The fact that all these airlines rank so closely together — despite having radically different labor relations histories — makes it suspect. But even more so is the fact that, for some unexplainable reason, they have omitted dozens of other (foreign and domestic) airlines that also serve the US (e.g., Midwest, Frontier, JetBlue, Air France/KLM, Singapore, Qantas, etc., etc.).

They undoubtedly did this to try to promote themselves and their goals. But by doing it so poorly, they likely did themselves more harm than good.

The award for the most worthless award program goes to Green America.

]]> By: Kevin M http://www.elliott.org/blog/and-the-award-for-the-most-irresponsible-airline-goes-to/comment-page-1/#comment-22516 Kevin M Tue, 11 Aug 2009 18:32:32 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=7727#comment-22516 I wouldn't phrase it quite as bluntly as Brian (above) did, but yes, Chris, Green America is hardly a disinterested, non-partisan analysis group. While their agenda may be admirable, they do have an agenda, and that has to be weighed in looking at their scores. When the range of scores for "Labor" ranges only from C to D (despite what's obviously a much wider range of labor policies; can you honestly say that Southwest, with its long history of peaceful labor relations, deserves the same score as Delta, American, and Continental?), something's afoot. The only way to really understand this, of course, is to see the actual scoring mechanisms used, the questions asked, and so forth. I suspect that would be quite revealing. If they'd share it, which I doubt they would. I wouldn’t phrase it quite as bluntly as Brian (above) did, but yes, Chris, Green America is hardly a disinterested, non-partisan analysis group. While their agenda may be admirable, they do have an agenda, and that has to be weighed in looking at their scores.

When the range of scores for “Labor” ranges only from C to D (despite what’s obviously a much wider range of labor policies; can you honestly say that Southwest, with its long history of peaceful labor relations, deserves the same score as Delta, American, and Continental?), something’s afoot.

The only way to really understand this, of course, is to see the actual scoring mechanisms used, the questions asked, and so forth. I suspect that would be quite revealing. If they’d share it, which I doubt they would.

]]> By: Renee http://www.elliott.org/blog/and-the-award-for-the-most-irresponsible-airline-goes-to/comment-page-1/#comment-22420 Renee Mon, 10 Aug 2009 00:38:47 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=7727#comment-22420 Continental kept people trapped on one of those crappy ExpressJets over the weekend FOR NINE HOURS. No one is giving any answers. Can you help, Chris? Continental kept people trapped on one of those crappy ExpressJets over the weekend FOR NINE HOURS. No one is giving any answers.

Can you help, Chris?

]]> By: Brian http://www.elliott.org/blog/and-the-award-for-the-most-irresponsible-airline-goes-to/comment-page-1/#comment-22375 Brian Sat, 08 Aug 2009 15:13:41 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=7727#comment-22375 If they are not a group that rolls over for the Unions they will get a "F". Who really cares what this group thinks? Really! If they are not a group that rolls over for the Unions they will get a “F”. Who really cares what this group thinks? Really!

]]> By: David Z http://www.elliott.org/blog/and-the-award-for-the-most-irresponsible-airline-goes-to/comment-page-1/#comment-22357 David Z Fri, 07 Aug 2009 21:00:26 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=7727#comment-22357 Chances are the airlines have accepted the reality they really, really, really can't please everything and everyone. They just do what they realistically can under the circumstances, just like everyone else. It so happens others consider what they're doing...not enough. Chances are the airlines have accepted the reality they really, really, really can’t please everything and everyone. They just do what they realistically can under the circumstances, just like everyone else.

It so happens others consider what they’re doing…not enough.

]]>