On Tue, 13 Oct 2009 08:38:00 +0100, Roland Perry wrote:
In message
, at
15:55:42 on Mon, 12 Oct 2009, MIG
remarked:
...there was nothing new or interesting in the programme

It lost credibility for me when they appeared to claim that Electron
cards were not available in the UK. Later they interviewed a lad who had
made several £5 all-inclusive trips, paying by Electron!

I think they said that UK banks don't issue them (whatever they are).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visa_Electron m'lud

Nevertheless, a very soft-hitting documentary. The only thing that
really came through at all was the extent to which they see
vulnerability in others as of benefit to them, eg small airports,
aircraft manufacturers and .

It said they drove a hard bargain with their suppliers. Customers
fretting about this is what's know in the trade as "looking in other
people's pockets". Large numbers of businesses are just as hard-nosed,
and in some respects even worse. I bet Ryanair don't also expect Boeing
to give them an extra discount if all the seats on the plane aren't
filled, but I know of businesses who have models that would be analogous
to that!

I loved the part when MoL required any interview was shown unedited
and when they refused, then went on to manipulate the BBC's guy into
giving him a long advertising opportunity.
IMHO far too many businesses weasel up to the media. It was refreshing
to have someone only deal with them on his own terms.


Interestingly, they didn't allege that Ryanair is slow to pay its bills
(another common characteristic of hard-nosed business). Perhaps that,
and the ability to "sell and forget" is why Boeing (and others) are
happy to do business with them.

... inevitably, cash-strapped families

What are you referring to here? The only "vulnerability" that came up
was the charge for re-printing boarding cards. I agree it's a bit high,
but along with all their other charges, aren't the slightest bit
"hidden". Unlike, for example, the delivery charge I got lumbered with
from Currys last week, which amounted to paying £15 to have them
discharge their WEEE responsibilities (taking away the old TV).

So far as (reprinting) your boarding pass surely any airport hotel has
some sort of cyber cafe that you could log in at and print them from?
Since you need that piece of paper to get through security, then provided
you have time, you could do it yourself for much less than £40 a head.