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THE UGLY AMERICAN

Jun 30, 2014 Features / Columnists, Tony Deyal column

“The Ugly American” is a 1958 political thriller that ascribes the U.S. loss of Southeast Asia to the communists as being caused by innate arrogance of the Americans and their failure to understand the local culture.
Now, fifty-six years later, another American is back in town and it is uglier than the first set. Instead of helicopter-loaded Napalm and dope-loaded soldiers, this is an Airline which “loads” everything that is standard on other airlines so that when you add up the cost of your ticket it ends up as considerably more than the price that you thought you were paying.
It is a “nickel-and-dime” strategy that jettisons customer service in favour of a brazen attempt to squeeze every cent out of the unfortunate traveller.
Many years ago, after Eastern Airlines folded because of a management that refused to negotiate with its employees, I became an American Airlines Frequent Flyer, eventually racking up more than 700,000 miles. When that happened my friends joked, “They should give you your own plane and pilot.” Instead what I get for my loyalty is a financial kick up my butt.
I understand Chapter 11 and that American is in it, but it has now started a new chapter in the annals of bankruptcy management – Chapter 12 where you bleed your customers as dry as possible for as long as possible and for as much as possible.
It used to be accepted that when you travel from the Caribbean to the US you would carry two suitcases with one inside the other on your way up and both stocked to the brim on your way down.
So I turned up at the Antigua airport on Monday last week with a wheeled duffel bag and was told that I had to pay US$25 for the pleasure of carrying a piece of luggage.
I said that I had not seen any reference to that when I booked and the counter clerk told me that the practice was initiated in April.  Had I known, I would have put the couple of items in my carry-on (which at this stage they are not charging for but given the trend this will happen soon) and spend my $25 on a new duffel bag or suitcase.
I was really caught unawares. I had rejected the higher priced seats – American is now charging extra for many of the seats – and had also refused to pay extra for earlier boarding. If you want the pleasure of being first to board the plane this is available at a price. If you want something to eat, you pay the price.
I compared this to my flight by Caribbean Airlines from Fort Lauderdale to Trinidad- I got an aisle seat when I did my web check-in and did not have to pay for it, had two pieces of luggage, and did not have to pay to board early and all for US$125.
American knows that it has people like me by the short-and-curlies. I must do a trip or buy some miles every year if I want to keep my existing quarter-million miles so I can take my family on a well-earned vacation.
I am a captive, just like the people at Guantanamo and, in fact, I am surprised that American has not thought of adding water to the boarding process and charging for it.
After all the US Government did that and charged the people with terrorism.  I figure American will come up with a new flag- the skull-and-crossbones and its new chairman will be Captain Jack Sparrow.
I am also certain that the management at American is thinking of further refinements to the money-grubbing and that the in-flight coffee will be more expensive than Starbucks and the movies will all be pay-per-view.

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