American Airlines pilots will finally be able to offer airplane trading cards to passengers, though it’s proving to be a bit controversial.
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American pilots now have access to airplane trading cards
Airlines try to create brand loyal customers (or so they claim), and also like to encourage people to be aviation geeks, so it’s common for airlines to give their pilots airplane trading cards. The idea is that passengers can ask for these trading cards, and then they typically feature the aircraft being flown, so that passengers can collect different cards.
It seems the general popularity of airplane trading cards has increased massively in recent times, perhaps thanks to social media, and the number of people posting online about them. For example, while Delta has had trading cards going as far back as 2003, the number of times they’re being requested has hugely increased.
Heck, Spirit even recently invested in rolling out trading cards, to give you a sense of how this is being viewed as non-negotiable by some airlines.
American has been the exception among major airlines by not having these, but that has finally changed, as flagged by PYOK. However, it’s not the airline rolling this out, but instead, the Allied Pilots Association (APA), the union representing pilots.
The APA describes this initiative as being intended to “enhance the experience of our passengers,” and there are at least four types of cards, covering different planes in the fleet. The cards have union branding, rather than airline branding (though they do show pictures of aircraft in their full liveries). Of course it’ll be up to pilots to actually pick these up from bases and bring them onboard, to distribute to passengers.
Now, I can’t help but be curious if there’s a QR code on the back of these cards leading to a certain website, as one wonders what the real motive here is. 😉 We have seen American’s pilot union be (understandably) very frustrated with management, and they’ve promised to take their displeasure “to all American stakeholders.” Could this be part of that plan?
As you might expect, pilots are conflicted on this
Interestingly, the union rolling out this initiative is getting mixed reactions from pilots on social media. Some are coming out in favor of this, with one pilot saying “thank goodness,” and “there is nothing I hate saying more than, ‘sorry, kid, I don’t have any.'”
Other pilots are less pleased with this initiative, with the most common complaint being along the lines of “my dues at work.” Another pilot comments “while I like the idea of AA providing something resembling a decent product for our customers, and trading cards would be cool, not sure I’m excited to be spending union dues money on this.”
Another person comments “so your union will pay for them but your company won’t,” and “no wonder AA is doing so well.”
Honestly, it does seem pretty low that this is being funded by the union rather than by the airline, and I think it gets at part of American’s bigger cultural issue. If you’re a customer focused airline, you encourage interactions like this. When Delta put out press releases about trading cards, it even emphasized how the interaction between pilots and customers can be “impactful” and “elevates and enriches the flight experience.”
I think Delta is exactly right here, and that’s part of the issue with American’s culture. The airline doesn’t put enough effort into understanding the importance of positive interactions with frontline employees, and how they impact the perception that passengers walk away with.
Bottom line
American pilots now have access to airplane trading cards, but this is being offered through the union, and not through the airline. So I wouldn’t necessarily expect for these to be as available as on other airlines, where the company as such is paying for it.
Pilots are conflicted on this new initiative. While some are happy to finally be able to give out trading cards, more seem to be unhappy that their union dues are paying for this.
What do you make of American’s pilot union rolling out trading cards?
Isn't that the point from the start? The union wants to use this to make American leadership look bad. Instead of being funded by the airline's promotion budget, the union is paying.
Once DL decides to step away from the B717, they need to come up with a "legacy" series of cards like DC-9, MD-80, MD-90 & B717. Each reflecting the variations of the DL logo as time progressed.
If you wanted to push it, a legacy series reflecting all the airlines that eventually rolled up into DL (Northeast yellow bird, Northwest, Southern, Republic, North Central, etc) that had a DC9 in their fleet at one time or another.
I'll trade you a Delta A321 for a Derek Jeter 1998...
This clearly is not one of the most important issues in the industry
Ben,
It’s a harmless, fun idea for kids, avgeeks, and passengers who enjoy a bit of connection with crews. If what you state is correct, the company didn’t do it, so the union stepped up. No kudos for them eh? You and Gary tag teaming this thing?
This kind of reflexive negativity over something so trivial is tiresome. There wasn’t even a token attempt to see it in a positive light. At this point...
Ben,
It’s a harmless, fun idea for kids, avgeeks, and passengers who enjoy a bit of connection with crews. If what you state is correct, the company didn’t do it, so the union stepped up. No kudos for them eh? You and Gary tag teaming this thing?
This kind of reflexive negativity over something so trivial is tiresome. There wasn’t even a token attempt to see it in a positive light. At this point it really does feel like American crews can’t win in your coverage—damned if you do, damned if you don’t.
But keep punching down on your “hometown” airline. I’ll make sure my kids ask the crew for a card.
Sure feels like Gary (and I guess surprisingly Ben today) love to bash unions… like, fellas, bootlick and shill all you want, but you’re not getting a Concierge Key invite because you toted managements anti-union lies.
I find him to be shockingly pro union. It doesn’t take an equity analyst to see what unions have done to US airline costs structures. There’s a reasonable debate to have when you benchmark with airlines around the world as Ben often does.
AA's customer service problem isn't fuzzy-wuzzy marketing pap about "impactful" "enrichment" when interacting with their employees. AA's customer service problem is that it took them until just a few months ago to offer free Wi-Fi, and that long wait reflects AA's screwed-up priorities from the C-suite down. Outside of those chained to AA's perks program, no one flies AA when they can fly Delta.
After the Ethiopian Airlines Flight 961 (Nov 1996): hijack all airlines agreed to pull the ranges of aircraft off their promotional literature. Now it’s being printed on the trading cards???
Feels like a wild false equivalence… but ok.
I mean how would you know how much fuel had been loaded?
This is definitely not true I have seen ranges on British Airways, BMI, and Lufthansa literature
Those are pretty cool. Hope to find a deck on eBay.
Genius move by the union, makes management look like fools, makes pilots look good and customers happy. Win win
Hey, the cards are cool, and so are unions; they built the middle class in our country.
Is it really acting on members best interest.
Especially if members say it's a waste of their membership fees.
Just because it exists during that period doesn't mean it's actually responsible for the positive consequences.
It's like calling feudalism are cool; they built EU.
"...they built the middle class in our country."
No, they didn't.
@Eskimo — You can’t let perfect be the enemy of good. There will always be something someone else considers wasteful. Yet, for those (mostly kids and av geeks) who enjoy these cards, the nominal cost is worth the benefit and joy.
@Mike P — They sure did, and a lot of bridges, tunnels, skyscrapers, too.
As usual, the extent of your economics knowledge is rooted in your high school textbook. Time to do some serious research.
Hahaha. Mike P… learn to dance. Stop being shy.
Mike, thanks for attempting to ‘re-eduate’ me… but, no, the ‘free market’ is not going to ‘decide’ to do anything but exploit people and resources; we need sensible regulations, including worker protections, often achieved through collective bargaining and organizing. Meanwhile, it’s clear, you think anarchy, chaos, and corporate feudalism is best… yikes. No.
They did not. Henry Ford said he wanted his workers to be able to afford his cars. Not a union.
WWII and American innovation built the middle class - and then unions helped destroy it by making their companies uncompetitive.
Sadly that doesn't apply to airlines because of cabbotage.
If unions cared about a middle class today they would be changing seniority structures and doing everything they could to give young people access...
They did not. Henry Ford said he wanted his workers to be able to afford his cars. Not a union.
WWII and American innovation built the middle class - and then unions helped destroy it by making their companies uncompetitive.
Sadly that doesn't apply to airlines because of cabbotage.
If unions cared about a middle class today they would be changing seniority structures and doing everything they could to give young people access to jobs within them instead of restricting labor supply.
James, it is the careful balance of capital and labor, military success, and yes, innovation, that have historically made the American economy the strongest in the world.
However, we’re no longer upholding the rules and fairness, or investing in people, infrastructure, and that very innovation that actually made us actually ‘great.’
Instead, we’re allowing oligarchy to enrich themselves through generalized corruption.
The people need to reject the overreach of the capital/donor class...
James, it is the careful balance of capital and labor, military success, and yes, innovation, that have historically made the American economy the strongest in the world.
However, we’re no longer upholding the rules and fairness, or investing in people, infrastructure, and that very innovation that actually made us actually ‘great.’
Instead, we’re allowing oligarchy to enrich themselves through generalized corruption.
The people need to reject the overreach of the capital/donor class who think the rules do not apply to them. Yes, unions are part of this. Ultimately, people need to fight for their best interests. Remaining independent contractors, or getting fired ‘at-will’ isn’t going to go well for them. You’d have to be willfully ignorant to be a worker and hate unions today.
Perhaps.. you are not a worker.. perhaps.. you think you’re an oligarch.. you are not. Unless you’re already a centi-millionaire, you’re just a useful idiot attacking unions.