If you fly US airlines with any frequency, you’ll probably notice the increasing number of credit card pitches onboard flights. Flight attendants get paid commissions for card approvals (I’ve heard of a few flight attendants who make more money on credit card pitches than their flight attendant salary). It’s one of the few areas where airline employees are actually incentivized for results — now if only US airlines could create a similar incentive system for good service. 😉
Twitter user @djjohnpayne shares what’s easily one of the best and most enthusiastic onboard credit card pitches I’ve ever heard. This lady is good, and apparently she had a minute spiel before the video even started about the benefits of the merger.
https://twitter.com/djjohnpayne/status/903020041217740806
But the best part of it all? The American safety video ends with a big round of applause and cheering, and it appears as if she intentionally paused the video, made her pitch, and then had the applause play, to make it seem like it was in response to her announcement. For those of you who have no clue what I’m talking about, here’s the relevant part of the safety video:
THAT. IS. EPIC.
I for one can not stand the credit card pitches. I fly very frequently and it's always in the middle of my nap or my movie. I absolutely hate these pitches and wish it were illegal to do so! 60,000 miles is not worth anything. I had to pay 50,000 for a round trip flight from DFW to MCO, hardly worth paying the annual $450 fee.
I offer these applications onboard my AA flights, and it has been an easy way to boost my paycheck once in a while. CMChan makes some valid points. However, we have been instructed to read the announcement verbatim! Barclaycard is aware that these announcements can be irritating, so they have provided two versions, one slightly shorter. Originally, we were instructed to make the announcement 45 mins prior to arrival, within certain time periods only and...
I offer these applications onboard my AA flights, and it has been an easy way to boost my paycheck once in a while. CMChan makes some valid points. However, we have been instructed to read the announcement verbatim! Barclaycard is aware that these announcements can be irritating, so they have provided two versions, one slightly shorter. Originally, we were instructed to make the announcement 45 mins prior to arrival, within certain time periods only and we were always admonished to make sure it does not interfere with our regular duties. We can now make the announcement when we wish, keeping in mind that requirement.
The problem has become, as was pointed out, some flight attendant are making a LOT more money by being more aggressive. And there is very little monitoring as far as I know, even though we are told that if we don't come comply with the rules, we can be banned from the program.
As with anything involving money, there is always room for abuse. This flight attendant in the video seems like an outgoing person, and would also help to create a pleasant flying environment. That being said, I am sympathetic to many of the responses posted here. I sincerely hope that by complying with the rules as set out by Barclaycard when I qualified for this program, that I make this inflight offer a little less irritating, and hopefully beneficial for those that want to apply and receive the benefits of the card.
Once they are offered in the cabin by myself or a participating coworker, then it is down to the work at hand, offering a safe and pleasant flight for all aboard. That is at least my priority!
First of all, this FA is not following procedure.
The credit card PA is NOT to be done until 45 or 30 minutes BEFORE landing.
I am a FA with AA and my co-workers who insist on breaking from procedure annoy the crap out of me especially the ones who pitch the credit card the whole flight because they want to earn that commission. I already find it extremely tacky that we have...
First of all, this FA is not following procedure.
The credit card PA is NOT to be done until 45 or 30 minutes BEFORE landing.
I am a FA with AA and my co-workers who insist on breaking from procedure annoy the crap out of me especially the ones who pitch the credit card the whole flight because they want to earn that commission. I already find it extremely tacky that we have to pitch this credit card, but a way to earn extra bucks is always welcomed although not my priority, and when co-workers go above and beyond for the card and end neglecting their other duties, its downright embarrassing.
There also seems to be instances wherein some co-workers have cheating the program by pretending to pass out apps for the other FAs but are actually just giving out only theirs.
There was a case wherein a FA was leaving her coded applications at the gates in various airports and hotel layovers. What for? The commission.
Not really fair nor following the procedures.
My advice, when you get on a flight with pushy FAs like these hawking the card, don't take it.
Just remember, the credit card spiel is given Via the PA and we walk the aisle to pass them out 45 or 30 mins before landing. Any other time before that is not procedure.
She should start a blog and sell CCs there. Oh wait, Lucky, bowtie, "thought" leader, & "THE" points guy already got that covered.
She gets $50.00 dollars per application for simply walking through the cabin and hocking these credit cards. Such a deal! She benefits, the credit card company benefits, the airline benefits and the credit card holder benefits.
This is just another example of US nonsense. In the more civilized countries one would not find anything like this.
AS is by far the worst offender with these.
@Lovely Jones
So true.
And to everyone else, come on, get over it. Every company does something that annoys customers. Deal with it.
These are not "pitches". This was a failed empire of hustlers, hucksters, and opportunists whereby everything was monetized. Everything had a financial angle; sussing each other up for a buck. That's why america was a bad joke. Morris Berman, Mumford, Mechten, deToqueville, Kunsler, McDougall all discuss this uniquely american aberration in putrid detail. Get money, get money, and expand. Hustlers.
@Lucky, so why are you surprised? Just as the way you are getting paid!
I can't describe how much I hate these FAs that whore out the credit cards with long PA announcements. Its disruptive and just cheesy, I get they want to make extra $ and don't mind walking through the aisle but things are getting out of hand with some FAs, like the one in this video, way over selling a credit card with long absurd announcements. AS is also terrible in this regard, I had one...
I can't describe how much I hate these FAs that whore out the credit cards with long PA announcements. Its disruptive and just cheesy, I get they want to make extra $ and don't mind walking through the aisle but things are getting out of hand with some FAs, like the one in this video, way over selling a credit card with long absurd announcements. AS is also terrible in this regard, I had one flight where I think the FA went through their entire route network explaining all the places you could fly with the signup bonus - it went on for several minutes! Its 2017 not 1997, anyone who wants the card and has decent credit knows how to get a credit card online, second anyone who would write their SSN on the app and hand it to a stranger is a moron.
Really, that's epic? Low bar around here...
Uhh I guess her enthusiasm is above average and the applause thing was mildly clever, but I'm not really getting the all-caps EPIC-ness of this...
@YHD - it's a long, obnoxious video and she literally paused it only right before the applause.
This isn't verbatim, but it went something like this: "You might be heading to Vegas to celebrate Labor Day weekend. We've got a wedding anniversary on board. We've got a bacheloreete party on board even! But we here at American are celebrating being the biggest airline in the US thanks to our fantastic merger with US Airways....
@YHD - it's a long, obnoxious video and she literally paused it only right before the applause.
This isn't verbatim, but it went something like this: "You might be heading to Vegas to celebrate Labor Day weekend. We've got a wedding anniversary on board. We've got a bacheloreete party on board even! But we here at American are celebrating being the biggest airline in the US thanks to our fantastic merger with US Airways. But what's even more exciting than that is this BRAND NEW, HIGHEST EVER, opportunity to earn miles courtesy of the Barclays! You can't EVEN get this deal online if you wanted to, because this offer just started TODAY (not true, but close,) and ONLY if you take my pen and apply today will you get an extra 500 miles on top of that.
(Also, really weird seeing something I posted on Twitter while taxing get posted on Boarding Area while I'm mid-flight)
This isn't verbatim, but it went something like this: "You might be heading to Vegas to celebrate Labor Day weekend. We've got a wedding anniversary on board. We've got a bacheloreete party on board even! But we here at American are celebrating being the biggest airline in the US thanks to our fantastic merger with US Airways. But what's even more exciting than that is this BRAND NEW, HIGHEST EVER, opportunity to earn miles courtesy...
This isn't verbatim, but it went something like this: "You might be heading to Vegas to celebrate Labor Day weekend. We've got a wedding anniversary on board. We've got a bacheloreete party on board even! But we here at American are celebrating being the biggest airline in the US thanks to our fantastic merger with US Airways. But what's even more exciting than that is this BRAND NEW, HIGHEST EVER, opportunity to earn miles courtesy of the Barclays! You can't EVEN get this deal online if you wanted to, because this offer just started TODAY (not true, but close,) and ONLY if you take my pen and apply today will you get an extra 500 miles on top of that.
(Also, really weird seeing something I posted on Twitter while taxing get posted on Boarding Area while I'm mid-flight)
Nothing is as bad as the pitch on SAA, which happens after takeoff on every single flight. Nothing more annoying than taking off from Perth en route to JNB and hearing how SAA is a "proud member of the Star Alliance" 12 times.
Nothing like a full service airline acting like a low cost..what next, scratch cards during the flight >?
More like that's terrible. Good for the FA, but I'd fly Spirit if I wanted these announcements. United doesn't do this (though I'm told they might start...)
I assume AA doesn't mind that their SAFETY video is now conflated with a credit card pitch. Safety First.....kinda but REEEEAL close to profits!
A site that does credit card pitches highlights an airline employee who does credit card pitches.
:)
These pitches have gotten absurd. Was on a tcon heading west that departed after late one evening. So, in fairness, it's not a red eye where everyone is asleep but the plane is dark and some folks are certainly snoozing -- anyways halfway through the flight they decide it's time for the credit card pitch. They yap over the intercom for a few minutes then proceed to turn the cabin lights on to walk up...
These pitches have gotten absurd. Was on a tcon heading west that departed after late one evening. So, in fairness, it's not a red eye where everyone is asleep but the plane is dark and some folks are certainly snoozing -- anyways halfway through the flight they decide it's time for the credit card pitch. They yap over the intercom for a few minutes then proceed to turn the cabin lights on to walk up the aisles to distribute the forms before coming back with a follow up announcement later on. Needless to say AA Twitter got a few angry tweets from me over the way these have started to go down.