Consumer satisfaction with airlines has been tanking as carriers tack on fees, strip away amenities and squeeze passengers into smaller seats.
American Airlines wants its passengers to be happybut they dont necessarily want to have to do anything to improve the overall customer experience.
This week, the legacy carrier rolled out a new ad campaign that salutes the worlds greatest fliers. Who exactly fits this mold?
Apparently, its the passenger that brings his or her own noise cancelling headphones on board when a baby is crying. Its the passenger who walks faster in airports and packs like theyre solving a jigsaw puzzle.
One print ad reads that the worlds best flier is: Always upbeat, great fliers make the best of their situation no matter where theyre sitting.
In other words, American just wants its customers to smile through the pain that is modern day air travel.
On Monday, Fernand Fernandez, Americans vice president of global marketing, saluted the new campaign saying, Customers really have a huge impact on the flying experience.
But as the commercial spot began circulating and news of the campaign broke, many on Twitter didnt take too kindly to the airlines plea for passive passengers.
Not happy flying crappy American Airlines? New ad campaign puts the blame on you! – The New York Times https://t.co/EiAPSaOSZb
Image caption Liam Sherrell and Collins Suleaudu are about to set up their own media management business
Liam Sherrell and Collins Suleaudu learned their skills on the street – and both ended up involved in crime. But now they’ve signed up to learn the legal hustle, along with others who want to turn an aptitude for robbery and dealing drugs into legitimate business opportunities.
Street 2 Boardroom was set up by Clayton Planter, a social entrepreneur from Bristol. He says he can help young people with a chequered past use the knowledge and confidence gained on the street “to do what’s done in the corporate world”.
“Entrepreneur is just a fancy word for hustler,” he says.
For example, dealing drugs involves planning, knowing your market, determination and teamwork. A street crew could be equated to a workplace team.
Mr Planter says anyone is welcome on his eight-week course: “I don’t care what colour you are, where you come from – it’s about diversity – if you really want to change your life. It’s not where you are from, it’s where you are going to that’s important.”
The programme involves weekly workshops – including “learning business jargon” and “networking” – and has funding from Avon and Somerset Police and Crime Commissioner. The Prince’s Trust has given them a room to use for free.
Mr Planter is already developing a new module – on how to be a boxing promoter.
“Everybody wants to be a boxer or a musician and if you’re interested in that industry then look at the industry broadly. You could be a coach, a promoter, a physiotherapist. If it’s music then there’s marketing, promotion or music management.
“My main thing is turning a passion into a career.
“Don’t chase the money, chase the dream and the money will come after.”
Image caption The programme involves a series of eight weekly workshops and has funding from Avon and Somerset Police
Mr Planter, 34, grew up in Bristol and has no criminal background. He’s worked in banking and local government but says he got fed up when he was “unable to develop in the workplace to senior management level,” which he believes was down to “ignorance, institutionalised racism and fear”. So he set up his own business.
He says his message to employers is to “stop employing yourselves, people who look like you, people in your own image”.
Mr Sherrell, 22, says he’s hoping to set up as a music manager for his rapper brother, and other artists “who are willing to put in the effort”.
“There’s a need for music managers in Bristol,” he said.
“Most rappers are from the street and that’s what they rap about. Most don’t have the knowledge of networking and management.
“Street 2 Boardroom taught me about jargon language, digital marketing and gave me connections for what I need to do. Life is what you make it – the higher the risk the higher the reward.”
Media captionHow the language of the street and the boardroom are not so different
Mr Suleaudu, 26, says Street 2 Boardroom has inspired him as well as giving him business skills such as building his own website and making grant applications – something Ruth Kapadia from the Arts Council says is important.
“A lot of people don’t realise they’re entitled to apply for funding,” she said.
“Our investment in the arts should represent as wide a cross-section of society as possible.”
Avon and Somerset Police and Crime Commissioner Sue Mountstevens is also on board with the project, describing it as “an innovative way to address an issue affecting young people,” which she says she hopes will help the force’s campaign to attract more black and minority ethnic recruits.
A former head boy and school sports captain, Mr Planter also worked until recently as a presenter on Bristol community radio station Ujima.
He says he went to “quite a white school in Bristol” but also lived in the black community so he is “able to understand both cultures”.
“I realised if you give the young people and adults in the black community the skills and confidence and knowledge they can also achieve greatness.”
Image caption Clayton Planter said there’s “no red tape with this course – it’s real”
The Prince’s Trust gave the project a head start when it referred three young people to Mr Planter’s scheme.
Kathryn Strachecky from the trust said: “It was a true inspiration to see Clayton’s dedication and unwavering belief around young people’s abilities to take control of their own lives and pursue their dreams.”
The next series of workshops starts in September and Mr Planter’s five-year goal is for Street 2 Boardroom to be rolled out nationally.
(CNN)“This is your brain on drugs,” a man says, holding up a frying pan with a sizzling egg, in the famous 1980s anti-drug public service announcement.
Three decades later, Partnership for Drug-Free Kids, formerly the Partnership for a Drug-Free America, is bringing back the classic advertisement. This time, it comes with something more than just a fried egg.
The last line of the 1980s ad — “Any questions?” — is the beginning of the new “Fried Egg 2016” PSA. It’s followed by children asking a series of poignant questions about prescription drugs, heroin, marijuana and their parents’ drug histories. The ad ends with the voice of actress Allison Janney directing parents to the partnership’s website to prepare themselves with answers.
The old and the new
Unlike the straightforward 1980s ad and the 1990s version, in which actress Rachael Leigh Cook smashes an egg (and a kitchen) with a pan while talking about the adverse effects of heroin, the latest anti-drug PSA is aimed at adults.
“We have evolved to meet the need of parents today. They were teens back then, and now they are parents,” said Kristi Rowe, the chief marketing officer of Partnership for Drug-Free Kids.
As children learn about drugs from a variety of sources, she said, parents are going to be faced with the need to have open conversations with their kids and combat some of the messages they’re getting elsewhere.
“We want them to know that we have resources to help them,” Rowe said.
“If you look at the 1987 ad, it’s slow,” said Stephenson. “If you look at today’s ad, you’ll see how quickly the ad moves from one cut to another. … They are taking advantage of the research done on the effects of messages on audience.”
Marsha Rosenbaum, founder of Safety First at the Drug Policy Alliance, which provides anti-drug resources for parents, finds the tone of the new PSA calm and reasonable. She said that framing the ad as a conversation is an improvement from 30 years ago but that there is a lot more for parents to learn and think about beyond the information provided on the website.
“I would caution parents to dig in there. … Look at various information and websites,” she said. “Make sure that … what you’re telling your kids are actually true, based on solid science.”
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Of course, Rosenbaum said, the best message is “don’t do it,” but in reality, some children might have already started doing drugs. In that case, she suggests that parents learn about the harm-reduction approach and talk to their kids about how to stay safe and increase safety when using drugs.
Telling kids not to do drugs is not a one-stop shop to prevent drug use, Rosenbaum said. Parents also need to be supportive and understand their children. It is important that children have the appropriate resources and an engaged and balanced life, she said, such as participating in extracurricular activities.
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