In Oh, the humanity (not sure exactly who it is, the blog post is attributed to "economist.com") it is clear that the author has never experienced the pleasures that come from being an elite member in an airline frequent flyer program.
I've never seen anything quite so blatantly designed to appeal to the self-absorption of an the emerging upper-middle class. Are those of us who—please, have a hanky ready before you read this next—have absolutely no elite frequent flyer status at all really expected to wail in sympathy at this? That seems a bit rich, particularly if we happen to be (as we so often are) holding the paper in front of us as we shift helplessly from foot to foot on the four-hour airport security line.
As my 13 year old daughter, Lauren, would say "you're just jealous!"
I'm not responding at all to your complaints about the NY Times (even though, as a youngster, my first real money making job was door-to-door selling subscriptions to the paper where I typically earned $100/week back in the mid '70s -- pretty darn good salary for a teenager back then) - just to your clear lack of experience with privilege and its loss.
It's been less than a month since I lost my United Global Services Status and I already miss the fact that a human would answer the phone when I called them, or I would be met upon arrival at LHR to be escorted to my connection, etc., etc..
Perhaps I too am unreasonably crying, but once you experience these things, it is hard to go back.
Tags : economist / frequent flyer / United Airlines / UAL / LHR / Global Services
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