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Delta
Airlines may be ready when we are
but $100 standby charge really hurts
By Elliott Brack
editor and publisher
GwinnettForum.com
(Editor's Note: Delta Air Lines says it will
introduce a $100 charge for all stand-by passengers.-eeb)
SEPT. 13, 2002 -- Say, Delta: you say you are ready when we are.
But at a price, boy, what a price!
Here we thought taking an earlier flight and leaving you that seat
vacant for someone else was helping you as much as it was helping
us.
You see, we figure if that plane we wanted to catch on standby
leaves without every single seat filled, why you, Delta, are the
loser. You can't get any revenue from that empty seat. So by sticking
one of us on standby in that seat, it allows you to sell our former
seat on the later flight to someone who really needs it.
You are helped. We are helped by arriving at our destination sooner.
The person who was hoping to get out of that airport somehow when
all the flights might be full is pleased with Delta for getting
him where he wants to go earlier than he had hoped.
Everyone wins that way.
But now you go and mess it up, by charging us standbys $100 if
we want to get hope quicker.
Some of us have been talking. You see, we're not going to pay that
price for what helps you as much as it helps us.
In fact, unless we need to mighty bad, we're going to give up tacking
on a few measly miles for flying Delta. We're gonna look hard at
the alternatives.
Granted, living in Metro Atlanta, you fly to many more places at
many more times than all of your local competitors put together.
And we recognize that, which means we may be required to fly on
your airline from time to time. But reluctantly, we add.
Realize there are other fish in the sea, as they say, or even other
birds in the sky. And that's what we will try to take, another bird
who will not bully us and does not tack on $100 fees to their frequent
guests.
Maybe this happened: perhaps most of your marketing department
was out of the country the year Customer Service was on the calendar
back in their undergraduate days. For your treatment of your frequent
customers is mighty thin with this $100 stand-by fee. Indeed, such
treatment seems a way to turn a traveler from frequent to occasional.
Just last week, for instance, I was originally scheduled to fly
out of Lexington, Ky. in mid afternoon. Your kind and alert toll-free
people told me the night before that it looked like I could get
on an earlier flight. So happily, I "stood by" and got
a seat on the mid-morning flight, giving up my seat on the crowded
mid-afternoon flight. (I suspect you sold that seat eventually).
I thought I was helping you as much as I was helped, and happily
for me, arrived home nearly seven hours sooner.
And you want me to pay you another $100 for that two-way assistance?
No thank you, Delta. You may be ready, but we are not.
SPECIAL
ANNOUNCEMENT
Three charities to share proceeds
from Harry's Farmers Market Day
Three charities in Gwinnett will benefit from contributions from
Harry's Farmers Market in Gwinnett. The food market will contribute
five per cent of its total sales on September 14 to three charities.
Its customers selected the community organizations that will be
the recipients of Harry's Farmers Market's Community 5 Percent Day.
Based on the number of nominations submitted by shoppers and area
residents, the Gwinnett Humane Society, Habitat for Humanity, and
the Chattahoochee Nature Center will each receive divide five percent
of total sales for the company's Community 5 Percent Day on Saturday,
Sept. 14.
The Gwinnett Humane Society promotes animal welfare by preventing
animal cruelty and reducing pet overpopulation. The Chattahoochee
Nature Center is a private, non-profit environmental education center.
Habitat for Humanity is an ecumenical Christian ministry dedicated
to eliminating poverty housing.
Founded in 1988, Harry's Farmers Market pioneered a grocery concept
offering international and gourmet foods. Harry's Farmers Market
has three Atlanta locations in Alpharetta, Marietta and Duluth.
In 2001, Whole Foods Market purchased the three Harry's Farmers
Market mega-stores, and a warehouse and distribution center.
FEEDBACK:
9/13: Do something
meaningful this week
Editor, the Forum:
For each of us, today (Sept. 11) begins with honoring and remembering
those who lost their lives a year ago. We will observe a moment
of silence and participate in other remembrances. But our thoughts
will not end there. For while September 11th, 2001 was a day of
horror, is was also one of heroism, and a day that brought forth
unity, resilience and strength.
As we pay tribute to the people who were tragically lost a year
ago today, we can also look forward to our future with confidence
in the strength of our nation, our leaders and ourselves. Do something
meaningful this week to show your strength and determination to
push forward and make this place a better world.
-- Dave Cross, Suwanee
9/13: Praying for
our nation and its rulers
Editor, the Forum:
Between the twin pillars of the beginning and ending days of the
Jewish New Year, it is even more appropriate to quote the words
in the New Year Prayer Book:
Prayer for Our Nation and Its Rulers:
We pray for all who hold positions of leadership and responsibility
in our national life. Let our blessing rest upon them, and make
them responsive to Your will, so that our nation may be to the world
an example of justice and
compassion.
Deepen our love for our country and our desire to serve it. Strengthen
our power of self-sacrifice for our nation's welfare. Teach us to
uphold its good name by our own right conduct.
Cause us to see clearly that the well-being of our nation is in
the hands of all its citizens; imbue us with zeal for the cause
of liberty in our own land and in all lands; and help us always
to keep our homes safe from
affliction, strife, and war. Amen.
-- Allan Hytowitz, Norcross
9/13: Upset over small
election turnout
Editor, the Forum:
Tuesday we had a "runoff" election, and I am quite frustrated.
I was the poll manager at the Civic Center. We had a total of 16
persons voting in a 12 hour period. Our first voter arrived at 9:35
a.m.
A number of people complained that the election was not publicized.
I can't go along with that, but I do feel that we can do a better
job of bringing them out.
The Civic Center itself can be intimidating because of the parking
and because many people have never been there. It can be a very
cold place for a newcomer and I feel the "responsible"
people of the county have never pushed to the general public to
be aware of its presence.
Perhaps that will change with the new arena, but as with my neighbor,
he was wondering if there was a symphony orchestra in Gwinnett County.
There is an art museum in the complex, but who knows where it is
and what is being shown. In other words the Civic Center is a place
that needs to be publicized and some way of telling the people of
the county and the area that it is theirs and not just the Chamber
of Commerce and the motel tax that built it.
Is this sour grapes? I don't believe so.
-- Howard Fox, Norcross
THOUGHT
FOR THE DAY:
A prayer of dedication
The following prayer was given at the dedication of the new
City Hall in Lawrenceville this week:
"Almighty God: We come before your throne of Grace to seek
your blessings upon us as we dedicate this newly constructed City
Hall building. It is a beautiful building; it is functional and
will be a standing testimony of our culture; the way we live.
"Unite us in the common cause of justice and peace. We are
reminded of the many people who preceded us and loved Lawrenceville---the
men and women who served in both World Wars, who lived through deep
economic depressions. They did so much with so little.
"We honor our present leaders, the mayor and councilmen, who
recognized the need for an adequate building to administer the city
business. It is particularly meaningful for us to dedicate the clock
tower to the former councilman, Ray Oakes, who worked unceasingly
for this building to become a reality.
"We will remember this day, Sepember 11, that will be another
day that will live in 'infamy'. This day took away our innocence.
taught us to be more observing. Help us to hold on to the values
that make us who we are. Help us to know we are really safe only
as we abide under the wings of the Almighty.
"May God bless our community and our nation. God bless America.
Amen."
--The Rev. W.C. Corley, Lawrenceville.
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