Very true, Mark. But from what have seen here in LA's Korean, Chinese community is that the discounts are usually limited
to most Asian carriers (even on this shallow ground [cuthroat-commission warfare] One is hard pressed to fine Singapore
Airlines in this batch. But I'm certain their non-asian communities where non-asian carriers also encourage 'pushing' there
carriers at all cost...basically it's the deals the AA's and UA's have in place with the untouchables agents (their top
corporate accounts). So I guess the airlines are at fault for encouraging such an atmosphere.
We travelers are now chronically hooked on 'frequent flyers award programs' since AA started this colossal snowball.
I'm certain many other airlines wish that it never happened, their revenue accounting people probably despise it! But
imagine what most of us do it we read on the aviation wires starting this coming Monday..that all FF programs will be
terminated....PERIOD! All carriers would follow suit no questions asked. Many travelers could careless...But the majority
of prolific FF'ers would have a cardiac on the spot...and probably sue to stop it. ( some California resident would most
likely be the first) But this is the equivalent of the 'commission cutback' scheme. A lot of those asian 'bucket shop'
agencies as well as the non-asian ones (those depending on international sales) mostly don't feel this pinch (as the
corporate agencies will not). But the guys caught in the middle who do partake in the rebate game do suffer and whatever
the fall-out be...ultimate the airlines may have to 'pay that price'...whatever it may be.
Mark Greenwood wrote:
> This is a multi-part message in MIME format.
> --------------83C9B5ADB45220EB2BEF8EF9
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
> Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
>
> > I most certainly meant ethnic Greg! Go to China town or little India in any
> > major city and your airfare will be heavily discounted. You can't compare
> > a travel agency that does production travel to any other agency. You and I
> > both know that the majority of that business is front of the bus because the
> > talent doesn't fly coach. And you also know that the studios are for the
> > most part willing to pay top dollar so there would be no need to discount
> > the fare. University students who are going trekking in Nepal for the
> > summer don't pay publishes fares.
> >
> > Once again, let's compare apples to apples.
> >
> > Mark
> >
> > Greg wrote:
> >
> > > Mark, I have no desire to enter a pissing contest with you or anyone
> > > else about this, but since you took the liberty to message this here to
> > > the list and to me personally, first I think you meant to say 'ethical'
> > > (not ethnic) travel agency...and, Secondly, I never engaged in the
> > > kick-back game nor did any of my friends who were also owners. We knew
> > > of agencies that did, but we had staff and other overhead concerns.
> > > In any business is never good policy 'do' everything that everybody
> > > else does. We all know some ethical car mechanics (they may be
> > > out-numbered by the antithetical), and airline service we know that all
> > > of them are not mediocre. I took an Eurowings flight in the summer of
> > > 2000, before push back, the FA kindly instructed a gentleman that he was
> > > sitting in a seat (that I requested remain empty...they asked me at
> > > check -in) that was blocked. I didn't rat the guy out...but that was
> > > their fastidiousness at work.
> > > The bottom line is this not all airlines are crappy and they all
> > > can't be Singapore Airlines either...the reason, it's about separating
> > > yourself from the pack. I don't believe for a minute that all corporate
> > > accounts demand kick-backs (nor are they jizz-bags), and I do not
> > > believe that all agencies obliged them. I may not know what I'm talking
> > > about according to you...but I do know this, the head of studio cared
> > > about concorde and first class specific seats (for themselves and the
> > > other above the line folks) that limos/driver be shit-sharp and on time,
> > > that Five-star hotels be impeccable, after all they were paying rack
> > > expected every cent of it to be represented in their stays (And the
> > > request didn't end here). They could give a rat's ass about any kind of
> > > rebate. They expected (and still do) that an agent always be at the top
> > > of his/her game in making sure all this came together...fashionably and
> > > seamless. And if there was a delay or cancellation...there'd better be a
> > > plan B, C and a D all at the ready! And personally I don't think the
> > > studios are the only corporations with such high standards!...But then
> > > again..maybe I don't know what I'm talking about......
> > >
> > > Greg
>
> --------------83C9B5ADB45220EB2BEF8EF9
> Content-Type: message/rfc822
> Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
> Content-Disposition: inline
>
> X-Mozilla-Status2: 00000000
> Message-ID: <3CA3FC8D.5C31EF33@telus.net>
> Date: Thu, 28 Mar 2002 21:33:02 -0800
> From: Mark Greenwood <mgreenwood@telus.net>
> X-Mailer: Mozilla 4.79 [en] (Windows NT 5.0; U)
> X-Accept-Language: en
> MIME-Version: 1.0
> To: Filmscape@worldnet.att.net
> Subject: Re: Airline Travel Agent Commissions
> References: <20020328040350.OSWO27913.mtiwgwc26.worldnet.att.net@LISTSERV.CUNY.EDU> <3CA1E3A3.B48B94AE@worldnet.att.net>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
> Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
>
> I most certainly meant ethnic Greg! Go to China town or little India in any
> major city and your airfare will be heavily discounted. You can't compare
> a travel agency that does production travel to any other agency. You and I
> both know that the majority of that business is front of the bus because the
> talent doesn't fly coach. And you also know that the studios are for the
> most part willing to pay top dollar so there would be no need to discount
> the fare. University students who are going trekking in Nepal for the
> summer don't pay publishes fares.
>
> Once again, let's compare apples to apples.
>
> Mark
>
> Greg wrote:
>
> > Mark, I have no desire to enter a pissing contest with you or anyone
> > else about this, but since you took the liberty to message this here to
> > the list and to me personally, first I think you meant to say 'ethical'
> > (not ethnic) travel agency...and, Secondly, I never engaged in the
> > kick-back game nor did any of my friends who were also owners. We knew
> > of agencies that did, but we had staff and other overhead concerns.
> > In any business is never good policy 'do' everything that everybody
> > else does. We all know some ethical car mechanics (they may be
> > out-numbered by the antithetical), and airline service we know that all
> > of them are not mediocre. I took an Eurowings flight in the summer of
> > 2000, before push back, the FA kindly instructed a gentleman that he was
> > sitting in a seat (that I requested remain empty...they asked me at
> > check -in) that was blocked. I didn't rat the guy out...but that was
> > their fastidiousness at work.
> > The bottom line is this not all airlines are crappy and they all
> > can't be Singapore Airlines either...the reason, it's about separating
> > yourself from the pack. I don't believe for a minute that all corporate
> > accounts demand kick-backs (nor are they jizz-bags), and I do not
> > believe that all agencies obliged them. I may not know what I'm talking
> > about according to you...but I do know this, the head of studio cared
> > about concorde and first class specific seats (for themselves and the
> > other above the line folks) that limos/driver be shit-sharp and on time,
> > that Five-star hotels be impeccable, after all they were paying rack
> > expected every cent of it to be represented in their stays (And the
> > request didn't end here). They could give a rat's ass about any kind of
> > rebate. They expected (and still do) that an agent always be at the top
> > of his/her game in making sure all this came together...fashionably and
> > seamless. And if there was a delay or cancellation...there'd better be a
> > plan B, C and a D all at the ready! And personally I don't think the
> > studios are the only corporations with such high standards!...But then
> > again..maybe I don't know what I'm talking about......
> >
> > Greg
>
> --------------83C9B5ADB45220EB2BEF8EF9--