Chris Elliott: "Elites ruining air travel"/Uses FT as example
#2
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Birmingham, AL
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Posts: 274
What an idiot. He quotes only the few cases that serve his narrowminded envious ends while ignoring all of the everyday occurrences. I have witnessed far more of his bad behavior from non-Elites over the years. Far more. Clearly, this BOY is trying to make a name for himself by skewing the facts. He must be training to be a politician!
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,691
I am inclined to agree with that, reading another piece of his. It's about boarding efficiently.
The savviest air travelers stand in the boarding area at least one zone before theyre called. As that zone winds down, they move in closer, anticipating their number will be next. And theyre at the gate before its their turn.
#4
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: PHX
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And did you notice his personal example that has him standing in the first class line for a flight?! Hmmm.....I guess he's one of us evil elite, F-flying rabid monsters!
Now I'm off to buy the loudest 70s track suit I can, and prepare to run screaming through the airport, "I'm first class/elite, I get to go first!!!!"
[SARCASM]What an amazing journalist he is - so objective and intelligent![\SARCASM]
Perhaps he's trying to recreate the airline version of the French Revolution?
Now I'm off to buy the loudest 70s track suit I can, and prepare to run screaming through the airport, "I'm first class/elite, I get to go first!!!!"
[SARCASM]What an amazing journalist he is - so objective and intelligent![\SARCASM]
Perhaps he's trying to recreate the airline version of the French Revolution?
#5
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: PHX
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Posts: 516
And here is my email to him, for what it's worth:
As both a Psychiatrist and a frequent traveller, I would counter that I have seen many flyers, be they elite, First Class or Economy Class acting in some of the ways described, not just the group you single out. I would challenge you to provide some hard, factual statistics to prove your point.
Your comments about being in a First Class line when the gentleman intruded upon everyone only undermines your suggestion that First Class passengers are all boorish and to be driven off the airplane - why then were you flying in that cabin, I wonder, if you are so superior to elites and F class pax?
I have noticed a departure from intelligent, objective journalism to sensationalism. Congratulations on stirring up controversy and getting more attention paid to yourself, however you will find such tactics will lead you to eventual irrelevancy in the bigger picture.
Part of professional journalism involves not distorting so that a minority of people seem to represent a larger group, but perhaps you have lost sight of that?
Feel free to stop flying and drive - we're all better off without self-righteous people policing the airports!
Best Wishes for your future travels.
Your comments about being in a First Class line when the gentleman intruded upon everyone only undermines your suggestion that First Class passengers are all boorish and to be driven off the airplane - why then were you flying in that cabin, I wonder, if you are so superior to elites and F class pax?
I have noticed a departure from intelligent, objective journalism to sensationalism. Congratulations on stirring up controversy and getting more attention paid to yourself, however you will find such tactics will lead you to eventual irrelevancy in the bigger picture.
Part of professional journalism involves not distorting so that a minority of people seem to represent a larger group, but perhaps you have lost sight of that?
Feel free to stop flying and drive - we're all better off without self-righteous people policing the airports!
Best Wishes for your future travels.
#6
Join Date: May 1999
Location: San Francisco, CA USA
Posts: 213
I take offense at his dragging FT into the mix with a sweeping generalization that we (FT'ers) are all elitists. Clearly he only took a cursory and superficial approach to the limited research and thought that went into his article/diatribe.
#7
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Whether or not most FTer's are elitists in their off-website lives doesn't matter: perception by outsiders of their writings on the board is what counts in this example. And if they look to be elitists, that outsider (Elliott) will label them such. I personally think there are tons of people here who look down their nose at those who fly in Y or those who fly WN...and with terms like "Kettles" and "great unwashed" getting thrown around fairly regularly, I'm afraid that there might be a loss of understanding among those who do not frequent FT. Those people who look down their nose also do a great job of looking like they come off as better than those other people who do fly WN or regularly sit in Y, whether because of their personal means or their lack of status.
Long story short: perception is way more important than truth. And the truth is that a perception of elitism is dominant here. YMMV of course.
#8
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Oakland
Programs: Free Agent
Posts: 1,109
HERE
Thoughts?
He is so wrong. He uses examples that can be applied to any passenger, elite or discount coach. I just .....
Thoughts?
He is so wrong. He uses examples that can be applied to any passenger, elite or discount coach. I just .....
#9
Suspended
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: BUR; LAX; SNA; EWR; AVP
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Posts: 231
See threads: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=835137
and
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=835092
And..
Does "Ombudsman" mean ***hole?
and
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=835092
And..
Does "Ombudsman" mean ***hole?
#10
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jul 2003
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Posts: 60,745
There are a lot of things I'd put on the list of "what has ruined air travel" before I have elites on there. All of his gripes are legitimate, to a degree, but they're relatively minor problems.
#11
Join Date: Jun 2006
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#12
Join Date: May 2006
Location: LAX
Programs: AA EX PLT
Posts: 1,428
i read the article. what people need to realize is that flying sucks and flying alot really sucks, so paying a premium to make it tolerable when you are flying constantly makes sense for the business traveller. If you are a travel editor flying for pleasure on your once a month jaunt, you are not the world weary customer the airlines need to be profitable--so they won;t cater to you.
#13
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: New York, NY
Programs: AAdvantage, Delta, SPG, HHon, etc.
Posts: 99
What a jerk!
His mention of Flyertalk in a negative light was unwarranted.
I've seen a much higher percentage of "issues" coming from coach than I've ever seen from the front of the plane. Any of us that fly weekly know this to be true.
In one way or another, people pay to be in first class, if someone in coach wants "the best of both worlds", they need to book in business class (if their airline has 'middle class') and shut up.
You can always bring your own food on board, save money on the flight and smile all the way to your destination knowing you pocketed a bundle. Slap on the noise-cancelling headphones, blinders and a real pillow and you're all set.
Leave the folks in the front of the plane alone. We're paying for the airline to exist for your benefit!
I've seen a much higher percentage of "issues" coming from coach than I've ever seen from the front of the plane. Any of us that fly weekly know this to be true.
In one way or another, people pay to be in first class, if someone in coach wants "the best of both worlds", they need to book in business class (if their airline has 'middle class') and shut up.
You can always bring your own food on board, save money on the flight and smile all the way to your destination knowing you pocketed a bundle. Slap on the noise-cancelling headphones, blinders and a real pillow and you're all set.
Leave the folks in the front of the plane alone. We're paying for the airline to exist for your benefit!
#14
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: AUS - Formerly MSP, IAD/DCA, SYD, CBR, BNE, JNB
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Posts: 1,100
I'd love to know what airline he is flying with gourmet meals with unlimited alcohol being served in F. I wouldn't call any food served on a domestic flight gourmet and on an international flight with a few exceptions, you still get free alcohol in Y so that can't be a differentiator. (Of course, he isn't the food critic so maybe he just has really bad taste in food). Since he mentioned the 'red carpet' it sounds like United - if he thinks their food on any flight is gourmet then all I have to say is wow!
The rest of his article is typical tall poppy class baiting. Yes, there are obnoxious elites, and yes there are obnoxious first class passengers. There are however obnoxious people in every walk of life, and in every part of a plane. You just notice peoples behavior more when you are sitting shoulder to shoulder with them with few distractions.
Clearly he has never watched "Airline" and seen the behavior of passengers on Southwest - an airline that has no elites, no first class, no frills etc - plenty of downright obnoxious people there. (Interestingly if you compare it to the UK version of the show with Easyjet, there seemed like a lot less obnoxious people on Easyjet (well other than drunk footballers). Both airlines have the same model, just different nationalities of passengers - and of course different film editors)
The fact is, if he has such a problem with elites and first class passengers, he can get pretty much anywhere in the country on Southwest, JetBlue, and Spirit and never have to worry about red carpets, lavish meals, or self-entitled card wavers again. Of course, he wouldn't get an F class seat then....
The rest of his article is typical tall poppy class baiting. Yes, there are obnoxious elites, and yes there are obnoxious first class passengers. There are however obnoxious people in every walk of life, and in every part of a plane. You just notice peoples behavior more when you are sitting shoulder to shoulder with them with few distractions.
Clearly he has never watched "Airline" and seen the behavior of passengers on Southwest - an airline that has no elites, no first class, no frills etc - plenty of downright obnoxious people there. (Interestingly if you compare it to the UK version of the show with Easyjet, there seemed like a lot less obnoxious people on Easyjet (well other than drunk footballers). Both airlines have the same model, just different nationalities of passengers - and of course different film editors)
The fact is, if he has such a problem with elites and first class passengers, he can get pretty much anywhere in the country on Southwest, JetBlue, and Spirit and never have to worry about red carpets, lavish meals, or self-entitled card wavers again. Of course, he wouldn't get an F class seat then....