Episode #6 – Why American Airlines Sucks, Free Photos & Graphics for Your Website, How to Overcome Information Overload, and a BIG Lesson from McDonalds.
May 27, 2008
Episode #6 – I have a rant about the airline industry – I think you’ll relate to it (including the ridiculous new baggage policy at American), there’s a question about how to overcome information overload, a nifty click that gives you access to more than 350,000 royalty free photos, images and graphics you can use on your website, and a BIG marketing lesson from McDonald’s, the fast food chain.
Resources mentioned in this episode:
www.sxc.hu
www.MWaveMarketing.com
May 28th, 2008 at 5:20 am
Hey Andrew,
Many thanks for another great video. As you may know, most low-cost airlines here in Europe charge for – pretty much everything. They charge extra if you are paying by credit or debit card, if you are checking in bags, if you want priority boarding…So in the end, it’s not so low-cost anymore. And it becomes pretty annoying.
Thanks for the free photo site suggestion – that will come in handy!
Lisa
May 28th, 2008 at 9:02 am
Thanks for yet another information-packed show, Andrew! iTunes review duly submitted. ;o)
All the best,
Nina Elin Brevik
http://www.lingualab.net
PS: Thanks for the LinkedIn add!
May 28th, 2008 at 1:02 pm
Hey Andrew – I am with you on the airlines – ridiculous! Oh, but when I tried to write a review at I-Tunes – I could not get the proper link to pop up! I tried everything I could – but no link that said ‘write a review’ per your instruction. I definitely want to help in any way I can to repay this fantastic Free info! Many thanks, Mimi
May 28th, 2008 at 1:19 pm
Hi Guys (& girls),
Thanks for all your comments on iTunes this week, I really appreciate your positive feedback.
If you have trouble with the iTunes link on this page, install iTunes on your computer first, then click on ‘Podcasts’ in the iTunes store, and then search for ‘help my business’.
You’ll then see the logo for the show displayed in the results. Click on that logo, and from that screen you can scroll down to enter a comment.
Again, thank you for your support, and for taking a few minutes of your time to provide valuable feedback.
Andrew
May 28th, 2008 at 6:36 pm
Hey Andrew!
I really enjoy your show. It is only 10-12 minutes a week I invest and I always know I will come away with at least 1 bit of information that can help my business! THANKS!
May 28th, 2008 at 8:33 pm
Andrew,
I look forward to your show and info every week. Thank you! Yes, American Airlines has lost their marketing brain.
May 29th, 2008 at 11:02 am
EasyJet is a great no frills airline if you play by the rules. If you show up last minute at peak travel times and expect a cheap flight then you’ll be disappointed. But if you book in advance and fly at less convenient times, it becomes a great way to get around Europe. They’d actually be one of my examples of a great business as shown by their success. And I wouldn’t be surprised if they’d found this video and fixed the ‘knife’ by the time you fly them again hehe.
Also, for an interesting read on how McDonald’s really started, you should check out Made in America by Bill Bryson. He has a few pages dedicated to how the McDonald’s brothers had already developed the business model, systematised the processes, developed new equipment, created most of the concepts we associate with it today, were legendary in the trade, and opened 6 franchises themselves.
Ray Kroc was a great salesman and due to the McDonalds brothers fear of flying (making it hard to keep their eye on new restaurants), it was a great opportunity for both sides.
The brothers were also noted for having “no special interest in wealth and fame”, but “were single-mindedly devoted to achieving perfection in their chosen sphere.”
It’s interesting how history changes, isn’t it?
May 29th, 2008 at 11:12 am
Andrew, great points as always. It’s amazing how some big companies take advantage of their customers.
The nifty click is awesome. For anyone with a website it’s a great resource to get quality photos.
Thanks again!
John
May 29th, 2008 at 6:19 pm
After extended vacation in Greece/Crete, we came back on the same airline (and partners) we used to get there. Lufthansa.
Likes: excellent service on-board, including real metal utensils I can’t take on a US plane. Dislikes: all announcements made in German first, despite most passengers being non-German. Further, (or is that Fuhrer) the boarding rules by seating are totally ignored by both passengers and boarding officials. So the aforementioned Germanic tribes crowd on board and disrupt the entire boarding process.
May 30th, 2008 at 9:11 am
Really great stuff Andrew. I’ll be the first to admit I was a bit taken back the first time I watched the show but since it has grown on me. Your very down to earth advice and marketing is fantastic! I can’t wait to see some new shows.
May 31st, 2008 at 6:12 pm
First of all, I had no idea American has taken up this ridiculous policy! Why doesn’t the news talk about this?
Andrew makes a very entertaining and informative video and you would be wise to invest the small amount of time each week required to view them all.
Thanks Andrew!
June 2nd, 2008 at 6:55 am
I liked the suggestions for finding my focus
June 3rd, 2008 at 7:24 am
Not only educational but entertaining as well.
June 3rd, 2008 at 12:32 pm
Craig, thanks for your insights. I agree with you about easyjet, they are one of the more innovative providers overall. I wanted to convey that many airlines that are perceived as low cost are actually as expensive or more expensive some of the time – that definitely applies to SouthWest and JetBlue – great airlines but their prices are often more expensive than other airlines.
Ultimately, I believe that it’s not about cost for many travellers. If someone LOVES JetBlue they’ll tend to fly on JetBlue even if they are more expensive. It’s an interesting positioning in the marketplace because they’ve definitely created the PERCEPTION of being a low cost provider.
I strongly feel that the major airlines have lost their way. They’ve taken their customers for granted.
June 3rd, 2008 at 3:58 pm
Thank you, Andrew, for your help. The tips are very useful, practical, and easy to understand.
June 10th, 2008 at 9:03 am
You need to add a link to your site for buying your t-shirts. Love the added touch.
June 24th, 2008 at 8:34 am
Yes, American Airlines has a new baggage charge. Is that because the CEO and the execs took big bonuses about a month ago? Probably. I read that Gerard Arpey gave bonuses that cost the company millions. How can this man justify getting a bonus when he allowed his planes to go without routine maintenance that could have caused an explosion similar to that of Flight 800? Greed is running this airline. He will cut the pay of good Flight Attendants and skimp on maintenance but he will not stop stuffing his pocket. I read yesterday that United is laying off 1000 pilots by the end of summer. All the airlines after 911 had a difficult time financially, but not American. I have read the CEO of Continental is taking no pay for the rest of the year to help keep his airline afloat. Something is very strange about American. I think the answers to the 911 tragedy lie with those people making the money.
June 24th, 2008 at 9:49 am
Gerard Arpey you owe us an explanation.
February 22nd, 2009 at 9:08 am
Great segment. We have stared documenting our processes and with more staff this is becoming priority No.1 do that my time is leveraged as much as possible.
Love this stuff, thanks.
March 7th, 2009 at 5:52 pm
American Airline pilots rape and murder out of O’hare Airport. I have been a victim of theirs and they claim to have murdered two of my coworkers. Gerard Arpey is involved and I intend for the world to know what a filthy stinking pig he is and will always be. Please read:
myspace.com/airlinegangstalkers
Beware. They will target anyone they think they can rape or ruin. These pilots are mentally ill and think they are God. They told me at the rape that they would get away with it because they are pilots and no one will ever question them. Well, an investigation has been opened with the Chicago Police Departmet and I have filed with the State’s Attorney office. I intend to pursue this until Gerard Arpey and his pigs are in jail.
Thanks, Gina
April 2nd, 2009 at 2:13 pm
Gina-
What part does Arpey play in this, was he directly involved?
April 27th, 2009 at 9:00 am
Andrew, though I agree that it is annoying that you have to pay separately for the bags, I am sure there is a sensible reason for this.
Personally I believe it is a case of the marketing trick called “hide the costs”. When they advertise the ticket price, they can show a $15 lower price in the ad this way.
In Denmark where I live, the airlines used to advertise ticket prices without the airport tax. That too allowed them to show very low air fares, even though everyone ended up paying more once the unavoidable airport tax was added. Now government has made that illegal, and requires that all fees are included in the advertised price.
So, you may complain about this now, the extra $15 for bags, and call it a brilliant move in a future show. It all depends on one thing: Did it help AA make more money? If yes, it was brilliant! If not, it was a mistake. And none of us know the answer to that question, do we?
October 5th, 2009 at 3:23 am
The “pay per dump” may not be far away at Ryanair:
Have a look
http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/2009/feb/27/ryanair-toilet-charge
An intercontinental flight can be really expensive – or extremely long…
January 5th, 2010 at 3:10 pm
There is a snotty little flight attendant by the name of Valerie Beck at Gate C of O’Hare Airport. Valerie fronted herself as a Mary Kay Representative and I was recruited under her. Shortly afterwards my problems started, I was raped, gang raped and stalked by a group of American Airline pilots. I could figure out why this happened, but as it intensified I learned more about the crimes against me. Apparently when Valerie was at a sales meeting a man saw me and sent a note to me, Valerie Beck intercepted the note and stood up at the meeting in front of me and called me a BITCH in front of everyone. Valerie never gave me the note, but I found out later that she hired the Jewish mob who are American Airline pilots to take a “hit” out on me for my Mary Kay business and because she liked the man who left me the note and she wants him. Several coworkers, friends and family members either disappeared or died mysteriiously because of this little snot who is a virgin because she won’t sleep with a man until she has a “rich husband”. Valerie has many sexual problems and is an evil freak. All my clothes and furniture were destroyed, etc., because of this jealous little monster. Beware American Airlines hides many felon pilots and fake flight attendants who will murder for a pair of underwear. (not saying all employees are bad but the Jewish run part is the Jewish Mob and many employees are taken advantage of and held captive, including small children)
January 18th, 2010 at 3:18 pm
http://ebnlive.net/edgetube/play/Daniel_Otts_Live_Show_Archive/_Live_Show_Archive_2009/EBNs_Thursday_Reports__3rd_September_2009
Interview about AA.