首页
登录
职称英语
Airline AlliancesCooperative competition. Competitive c
Airline AlliancesCooperative competition. Competitive c
游客
2025-02-06
9
管理
问题
Airline Alliances
Cooperative competition. Competitive cooperation. Confused? Airline alliances have travelers scratching their heads over what’s going on in the skies. Some folks view alliances as a blessing to travelers, offering seamless travel, reduced fares and enhanced frequent-flyer benefits. Others see a conspiracy of big businesses, causing decreased competition, increased fares and fewer choices. Whatever your opinion is, there are no escaping airline alliances: the marketing hype is
unrelenting
, with each of the two mega-groupings. Oneworld and Star Alliance promote themselves as the best choice for all travelers. And, even if you turn away from their ads, chances are they will figure in any of your travel plans.
But why, after years of often ferocious competition, have airlines decided to band together? Let’s just say the timing is mutually convenient. North American Airlines, having exhausted all means of earning customer loyalty at home, have been looking for ways to reach out to foreign flyers. Asian carriers are still hurting from the region—-the wide economic downturn that began two years ago— just when some of the airlines were taking delivery of new aircraft. Alliances also allow carriers to cut costs and increase profits by pooling manpower resources on the ground(rather than each airline maintaining its own ground crew)and code-sharing—the practice of two partners selling tickets and operating only one aircraft.
So alliances are terrific for airlines—but are they good for the passenger? Absolutely, say the airlines: think of the lounges, the joint FFP(frequent flyer programme)benefits, the round-the-world fares, and the global service networks. Then there is the promise of "seamless" travel: the ability to, say, travel from Singapore to Rome to New York to Rio de Janeiro, all on one ticket, without having to wait hours for connections or worry about your bags. Sounds Utopian? Peter Buecking, Cathay Pacific’s Director of Sales and Marketing, thinks that seamless travel is still evolving. "The key to seamlessness rests in infrastructure and information sharing. We are working on this. " Henry Ma, spokesperson for Star Alliance in Hong Kong, lists some of the other benefits for customers: "Global travelers have an easier time making connections and planning their itineraries. " Ma claims alliances also assure passengers consistent service standards.
Critics of alliances say the much
touted
benefits to the customer are mostly pie in the sky, that alliances are all about reducing costs for the airlines, rationalizing services and running joint marketing programmes. Consumer Report’s Senior Editor Jeff Blyskal says the promotional ballyhoo over alliances is much ado about nothing. "I don’t see much of a gain for consumers: alliances are just a marketing
gimmick
. Most airlines can not even get their own connections under control, let alone coordinate with another airline. "
Blyskal believes alliances will ultimately result in decreased flight choices and increased costs for consumers. Instead of two airlines competing and each operating a flight on the same route at 70% capacity, the allied pair will share the route and run one full flight. Since fewer seats will be available, passengers will be obliged to pay more for tickets.
The truth about alliances and their merits probably lies somewhere between the travel Utopia presented by the players, and the evil empires portrayed by their critics. And how much they affect you depends on what kind of traveler you are.
Those who’ve already made the
elite
grade in the FFP of a major airline stand to benefit the most when
it
joints an alliance: then they enjoy the FFP perks and advantages on any and all of the member carriers. For example, if you are a Marco Polo Club "gold" member of Cathay Pacific’s Asia Miles FFP, you will automatically be treated as a valuable customer by all members of Oneworld, of which Cathay Pacific is a member.
For those who haven’t made the top grade in any FFP, alliances might be a way of simplifying the earning of frequent flyer miles. For example, I belong to United Airline’s Mileage Plus and generally fly less than 25 000 miles a year. But I earn miles with every flight I take on Star Alliance member— All Nippon Airways and Thai Airways.
(A)
If you fly less than I do, you might be smarter to stay out of the FFP game altogether.(B)
The only real benefit infrequent flyers can draw from an alliance is an inexpensive round-the-world fare.(C)
The bottom lines for all the marketing hype, alliances aren’t all things to all people —but everybody can get some benefit out of them.(D)
[br] According to the passage, which of the following categories of travellers will gain most from airline alliances?
选项
A、Travelers who fly economy class frequently.
B、Travelers who fly business class frequently.
C、Travelers who fly occasionally during holidays.
D、Travelers who fly economy class once in a while.
答案
B
解析
本题为推论题。题目问:根据文章所提供的信息,下列哪一类旅客可以从航空集团那里受益?第八段第一句话“For those who haven’t made the top grade in any FFP,alliances mightbe a way of simplifying the earning of frequent flyer miles”中的those who hayen’t made the topgrade in any FFP指的是economy class乘客,所以可以排除选项A,根据下半段的内容可以排除选项C、D。
转载请注明原文地址:https://tihaiku.com/zcyy/3945609.html
相关试题推荐
AirlineAlliancesCooperativecompetition.Competitivec
AirlineAlliancesCooperativecompetition.Competitivec
AirlineAlliancesCooperativecompetition.Competitivec
AirlineAlliancesCooperativecompetition.Competitivec
AirlineAlliancesCooperativecompetition.Competitivec
AirlineAlliancesCooperativecompetition.Competitivec
AirlineAlliancesCooperativecompetition.Competitivec
AirlineAlliancesCooperativecompetition.Competitivec
Unlikecompetitiverunning,racewalkersmustalwayskeepsomeportionoftheir
Unlikecompetitiverunning,racewalkersmustalwayskeepsomeportionoftheir
随机试题
Johnregrettedverymuch____________(对老板说了不该说的话).havingsaid/thathehadsaidwh
下列对锐化滤镜和USM锐化滤镜的说法中,错误的是()A.与模糊滤镜相反,加强了相
泡沫混凝土的干密度、抗压强度、吸水率试件应采用符合《混凝土试模》JG237规定的
消防图例中,该图标表示的是( )。A.系统模块 B.控制模块 C.消防电
下列()状况的出现,表示基差走弱。 Ⅰ.7月时大商所豆粕9月合约基差为
白附子的功效是A.润肺下气,止咳化痰B.降气化痰,止咳平喘C.温肺化痰,利气散结
共用题干 TheColdPlacesTheArcticisapol
分析用控制图的主要任务是()。 A.分析过程是否处于统计控制状态B.分析产品
下列有关进一步审计程序的提法说法中,恰当的有( )。A.注册会计师设计和实施的
下列企业资产中,属于资产负债表中非流动资产的是( )。A.交易性金融资产 B
最新回复
(
0
)