An alert blog reader sent me a link to an absolute catastrophe of a propaganda video from Delta (One Mile at a Time also covered it):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iwJ6I4qpTAI
What a whiny, miserable, stupid, lazy, clickbait, factless, baseless, useless, hopeless, pile of non-family-friendly word garbage. And I almost feel bad for calling it garbage because that’s an insult to the millions of tons of garbage we produce every day.
Here are the points the poor flight attendant had to run through:
- ALL US airline employees could be out of work in just a few years
- Three Middle Eastern airlines (Emirates, Etihad, and Qatar) are illegally subsidized by their governments
- These governments give their airlines billions of dollars so they can lower ticket prices
- Middle Eastern airlines don’t have to make a profit because they will never run out of money
- Other airlines are following the rules and are losing business solely because they’re following the rules
- US carriers have had to cut international routes because they can’t afford to compete in those markets
- 1500 Americans (you read that right) lose their jobs for every route that is canceled
- If US carriers keep cutting routes the military won’t be able to keep us safe
- The USA has Open Skies agreements which apparently restrict these sort of subsidies
- This is scary and it’s not simple
- Air Canada added international flights
- If the Canadians can do it WE CAN TOO
- By visiting Delta’s propaganda website you can save America
- This is political but somehow isn’t politics
Where do I even begin?
Maybe calling the video “Our future, our fight” wasn’t the best idea in light of recent events
One of these poor US airlines whose entire existence is threatened by three airlines had an incident where a passenger was beaten aboard its aircraft due to the actions of said airline. Although I guess they could’ve moved on from that fight and are back focusing on This New Fight again.
There is no possible way for every single airline employee to lose their job
The Delta employee says competition is a good thing, yet the US domestic air market is completely monopolized by US carriers who cannot accept foreign investment. This is an absurd statement designed to scare you into doing whatever the lady says to do in order to fix it. Also Delta should be embarrassed to say that their business model is completely subject to international competition from Middle East carriers. What a stupid thing to say when they’re making money hand over fist right now. Somehow one of America’s most respected companies managed to sound like a South Park clip:
The Obama administration chose not to act on these “illegal” subsidies
They had the chance and they chose not to.
US carriers get billions in subsidies too
The US carriers are in the biggest glass house possible throwing the biggest stones possible. Tax breaks, municipal contributions to expand terminals, etc. are subsidies of equivalent (or more) value to what the Middle East Three are receiving.
Delta didn’t mention SkyTeam member Saudia (who is Middle Eastern and therefore scary according to Delta logic) nor China Eastern, in whom Delta has an ownership stake
Don’t expect Americans to believe half-truths. The whole truth is you picked and chose which countries and airlines you wanted to criticize while ignoring blatant red flags that are either part of your investment portfolio or your airline alliance.
1500 Americans are not tied to the existence of each individual single international route
Plus I wonder how many jobs were lost when Delta decided to cancel their 787 Dreamliner order with Boeing and instead went with Some Foreigners at Airbus for their A350?
Middle Eastern airlines are not the reason US airlines are losing business
The real reason US carriers are losing business is the gigantic race to the bottom that all three big US carriers seem to be winning in their own special unique way: United with the unhappiness of their crew and the beating of their customers, American with further squeezing of passengers by adding more seats to their already-cramped 737s and their wanton and vicious devaluations to their once-proud AAdvantage program, and Delta with the wholesale slaughter of the SkyMiles program to the degree they even stopped publishing an award chart because why should you have any right to know what a SkyMile is worth?
The military will be able to position soldiers just fine
Give me a freaking break, how low do you have to be to make an argument like this?
This isn’t scary, it’s business
Quit serving a steaming pile of garbage to your customers every time they fly and you’d be amazed how quickly we’d be willing to pay more. Shove me into a 777-300ER with 10-abreast seating for a 16 hour flight in a 17″ wide seat and you’ve made your choice.
Maybe don’t allow comments for videos like this
This is the first video I’ve ever seen on YouTube not to get even a single like. Delta is getting eviscerated in the comments as well.
Quit talking to people like they’re idiots
Don’t insult the intelligence of the American people. We’re the ones who actually pay money to fly on the airlines you’re saying need to survive and we’re MISERABLE. Basic Economy fares, snack baskets in first, reduced legroom, checked baggage fees, they’re all designed to suck away either our money or our comfort. And then you turn around and desperately ask for our help and for us to feel sorry for you?
Ok I’ve calmed down
This is simply the worst video about this stupid fight that I’ve ever seen. Delta should know better. Their customers certainly do. Delta, earn the loyalty of your customers. Quit hiding behind the government and getting other people to fight your battles for you (insert United joke).
Good grief.
I love that you included the South Park clip in this post! Perfect!
I don’t fly the ME3 b/c I love ‘Murica!! P
Spot on…good rant. Hard to convince folks of how bad you have when your making record profits…which I’m good with btw, but quit the pity party and the “poor US3” charade.
But Andy, if I don’t suffer on American carriers, how can we bring freedom to the Middle East?
It’s really scary! Yes….U guys (the US airlines) are! Seriously sometimes its not only about the price. Reputation plays a part as well.
I wonder how much the UAE paid you for making such a biased and uninformed website. Delta has already had to pull out of Dubai and Mumbai, due to the unfair competition. Take a look at the US maritime industry and you can see the exact thing has happened before. Talk to some of the pilots that fly the routes Emirates creates. Crews are chronically fatigued and often feel unsafe.
Sadly Andy, you are uninformed. It is not about your seat room or your snacks or your lounge. It is about unfair illegal operations. The Middle East carriers Are losing money but like China does with steel and other markets they (the UAE govt, etc) want to dump seats into markets at a loss to drive out competition. United Arab Emirates has tried to promote the medical industry and the vacation industry in their countries which hasn’t taken root. Their oil revenue I’ve heard only has 15 years left and they need to invest in something long-term …they’re putting all the eggs in building unbelievable airports and unbelievable number of airplanes given their tiny population. Yes I believe competition is great for the consumer but you’re not going to like the outcome in the long run of unfair competition. Just look at what has been happening ( Europe Asia India Middle East Australia ) it’s not due to the US carriers inability to complete its due to the US carriers inability to compete with an unlimited government financing of expenditures which would normally result in The bottom line as losses.
So do you believe Delta should include fellow Skyteam members Saudia and China Eastern in their initiative?
Seems like this Andy fella needs to do a little more research before writing his ignorant thoughts online. Please research some facts before you write your opinion
Andy,
You are being foolish. Do just a little research. Sure the video is propaganda but it’s not wrong. This is happening. In addition to the other comments already posted the US International Carriers actually lost the contract to carry our troops and government employees to the Middle East last year when Jet Blue won the contract even though they dont have a single plane capable of flying across the ocean. They immediately gave the flights to Emirates who invests in them.
With regards to profits look at the actual margins the airlines make relative to other industries. It’s modest at best. Where is your rant on beer or cell phone contracts or a sports ticket. Give it a rest. Air travel is one of the least expensive ways to travel. You are making yourself look ignorant.
The number one threat to the industry is overcapacity and you can’t deny the size of the Gulf Carriers fleet on order. It’s over 3 times the size of all other carriers international fleets combined. The size of the travelling public is not growing to that extent. If this is allowed to continue it will end poorly for all.
Wake up!
Your attack on Delta is everything that you describe Delta’s article to be. You are not only badly misinformed but your mean spirited attack of Delta demonstrates what kind of person you are. What is your travel background anyway. You should find another cause that is worthy of your tunnel vision and short sightedness.
Emirates, Etihad and Qatar should be banned from flying to the US. They flagrantly violate the trade agreements they signed with the US govt in 2005, which allowed them to fly to the US. The agreement stated they would not receive any more financial aid from their respective governments. They have since received over $50 billion. How else do you think they can grow so fast, flying the unprofitable A380 with showers in them?
Time for the US to wake up. If a foreign nation isn’t following a trade agreement, the agreement should be cancelled. Just like they’d do to us.
If you support Emirates, Etihad or Qatar…you are anti-American worker and either a pro-monarchist (brutal dictator), communist or socialist (pro-government owned companies).