I recently became a big fan of Delta Air Lines after witnessing first-hand how they treat members of our military and how they do a nice job giving free upgrades to their frequent fliers (they still have the worst frequent flier program in terms of redeeming miles at their lowest award level, but that’s another story).
My beef with Delta is how they encourage their flight attendants to push their Delta American Express credit cards in the middle of the flight. I can understand that the airline and the flight attendant want to make more money (they must pay the flight attendants a commission) and build brand loyalty, but there’s a time and place for everything—and the middle of a flight is not one of them.
It seems that the head flight attendant usually pushes the card for a second time an hour before landing, which is when most passengers are sleeping, watching movies or working on their laptops. The last thing they want to hear is some flight attendant get on a loud PA and speak for two to three minutes about the perks of a credit card. Actually, the last thing passengers want is to hear the pilot get on the horn and say we’re having mechanical problems. But you get my point.
Each time I’ve heard a Delta flight attendant makes this long, disruptive announcement, I’ve watched the passengers around me grumble and shake their heads in disbelief. I’m one of them, too. Yes, the Gold card is a very good one. We’ve even written about it and its many perks on this site. But don’t make a second announcement. Just make your first plug after the safety briefing. Or if that’s not good enough, run a silent commercial on the screen. But making the second announcement actually turns people off and makes the airline and the flight attendants look desperate.
FYI: Each time, after they make this announcement, I watch the flight attendant walk down the aisle with sign-up pamphlets and I’ve only ever seen one passenger take one.
Have you noticed this? Does it irk you too or is it just me? I hear US Airways and Alaska Airlines does it as well but I can’t confirm this since I haven’t flown them in a while.
I flew Delta recently and just ignored those pitches. What irks me is how much I have to pay each year just to have an Amex Skymiles card and the price is going up again — will use the remainder miles asap and then cancel and find another card.
It is actually cheaper for the credit card company to have the announcements while in the air. Commercials on TV are being skipped over by those who have DVR’s. This way, the credit card company has a “captive” audience. Is anyone else sick of the Chase credit card commercials? In an hour show you may see it 2-3 times. On a 4 hour flight, only 2x. Not saying I think they should hawk credit cards on a flight, it is still annoying. Unless they are giving a really, really good deal, I ignore them just because they bugged me.
What I find most aggravatingly hypocritical about this is that if you want an extra snack, soda, or pillow, let’s say or just a friendly face from a flight attendant, you are reminded that they are there “first and foremost for your safety”, particularly in post-9/11 air travel. Somehow, the airlines will easily overlook the purpose of safe-guarding against terrorists for the purpose of their bottom line.
If this was the ONLY thing DL did to piss off passengers, I would be overjoyed!
it is like flying on the HomeShoppingChannel
This is good info to know beforehand. I suggest that a person stop the FF, ask for their brochure and then tear it in half as a protest. Not a word, just an action.
@JohnnyJet, And you make your living how? …selling credit cards, right?
On some of the cards I get a commission but I don’t sit you in a room and wake you up so you can hear about it.
Yep. Your point was not that credit cards were being sold, but the manner in which it was done.
RyanAir flight attendants spend the entire flight selling something, even lottery tickets, but i don’t think they have done credit cards yet. I don’t mind it on Ryanair because the flights are so cheap and the flight attendants are always friendly as they are in sales mode at all times. Delta etc is another matter. Im willing to be shown a tv ad on my backseat monitor or in an inflight magazine or brochure but i don’t want a human to invade my space to sell me a financial product while inflight!. its not appropriate.
Too bad for the flight attendants but really in the greater scheme of life, It’s much to do about nothing. I like to keep my underware out of a knot especially when flying! LOL
I cancelled my Delta Amex card, mostly because of Delta’s lousy frequent flyer program, and their lousy connections to Europe. Also, hate having to pay for leg room.
You cancelled your card but did you give away your miles? i.e. did you cut off your nose to spite your face?
Yes, Alaska does it too but I just ignore it. It that so hard for you. Alaska does it once at the end of the flight after they have made the prep for landing announcement. Everyone is getting ready to land so they aren’t waking anyone up. I have absolutely no problem with it. I carry two of their credit cards and have used them for numerous free flights so I have no problem with them telling others about them. I just wish Alaska would follow Delta’s lead and give us one free bag if you carry the card.
Not my favorite thing, but it’s a great card and there are plenty of way more annoying things about flying to get worked up about. Maybe you’re travéling too much! : )