A tale of two airlines

Posted by guest blogger, Leslie.

Somewhere in the mid-90s, in the midst of government bail-outs for Canada's then-leading airline, a private venture named West Jet was born.  It positioned itself as an alternative. For example, all employees hold shares in the airline.  Buh-bye unions.  

Canadian airports display the stark difference between the two. Scowls, glares, lost luggage and bumped seats greet you at one gate. At West Jet's there is song-singing, laughter and a consoling smile for those travellers who need to buy a ticket minutes before take-off because the national competitor oversold their plane and heartlessly threw yo' mama from the plane. When big-business needs big-government for survival, it is soul-sucking. Service-oriented, private, capitalism rises up if permitted. And at the risk of getting a little over the top with it...where there is service, there is love. Even at the airport.

With that, the following video footage really happened to ticket holders travelling from Ontario and landing in Calgary.

 

Those who asked for big things got big things; those who asked for little things got little things.

There's a lesson there, I think.

Comments

[ProofBlog]

Very nice!

[Tim Chesterton]

Although, Leslie, in all fairness you must also report that at the Edmonton International Airport, when you look at the 'arrivals' screen, all other things (I.e.weather!) being equal, the vast majority of the 'late' flights are Westjet flights. True. I have seen it over and over again.

[Leslie]

Oh Tim, the travel stories I could tell.

They may run a smidge late while they hand out presents to their customers, but West Jet has never left me stranded. I just can't say the same for the other...

I haven't flown lately, so maybe our leading national airline is straightening up a bit.

In which case, I'd have to say the competition has been helping! Yay capitalism! =D