Tuesday 6 July 2004

What about the workers?

There were rumours that this might have happened when I flew out from Edinburgh three weeks ago. Fortunately for me it didn't. But look at the way it is reported:
HOLIDAYMAKERS could face a summer of chaos after baggage handlers at Britain’s main airports yesterday voted to strike following their rejection of a 2.5 per cent pay increase.
It was the same last night on the TV news: "holidaymakers" could be affected by the proposed strikes at airports. But huge numbers of airline passengers aren't holidaymakers but business people, as a glance at the departure area at Edinburgh airport would confirm. For all too many reporters businessmen and women aren't quite as real as "holidaymakers".

1 comment:

David Farrer said...

Comments made on previous template:

Andrew Duffin (213.206.148.225)
Go to a warm country! Carry only hand-baggage! 
 
Incidentally Ryanair have just increased their carry-on baggage allowance to 10Kg per person; that should be enough for a week in (say) Italy for almost anyone. 
 
And remember clothes are cheaper and smarter in most European countries than they are in Scotland. Take nothing! Buy new on arrival! Leave it behind when you leave!

19 July 2004, 12:57:26 GMT+01:00
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Neil (195.93.32.7)
Refering to "holidaymakers" rather than "businessmen" is a way of spinning against the strikers. If it was reported these folk were annoying businessmen nobody but potential businessmen would care. 
 
To be fair it is also primarily holiday makers who will suffer - that is why these guys always strike during the summer.

6 July 2004, 22:38:44 GMT+01:00
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Squander Two (193.116.123.29)
I used to use EasyJet a lot, but came to the view that it's worth a bit of extra cash not to be treated like muck when your flight's delayed. I think they're brilliant if you only ever use their flights first thing in the morning, as those flights are nearly always on time. But they don't allow themselves enough turnaround time, so tend to be delayed by the evening. And their call centre has a policy of obstructionism in order to discourage complaints, which is just pathetic.  
 
FlyBE are excellent, though.  
 
Not related to Scotland at all, but Air Malta are utter crap. And they're not even a low-fares airline.

6 July 2004, 18:07:21 GMT+01:00
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David Farrer (62.49.21.253)
Indeed. When my wife and I flew back from Copenhagen we had been quoted £500 each (one way) by British Midland direct to Edinburgh. Instead we went by EasyJet via Stansted costing £60 each. No choice really.

6 July 2004, 10:20:37 GMT+01:00
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Stuart Dickson (217.211.160.56)
Well the unionist media would not want to publicise the fact that the Thatcher-created BAA airports monopoly throttles cheap, direct flights from Scotland to the severe detriment of commerce and trade. 
 
Break-up the monopoly. If Scots could choose, the vast majority would fly direct. 
 
To the BBC, Scotland is a petty branch economy: tourism, kilts and kitsch. They hide economy stories at the back of bulletins, eg. oil stories.

6 July 2004, 09:57:25 GMT+01:00