Years ago, the only time you heard credit card pitches while traveling is when you were walking to or from the gate (this was the best on-the-fly answer I ever gave to one of those people). And then, several years before the pandemic, airlines got the bright idea that flight attendants should try to get passengers to to apply for their branded credit cards. Of course, this was on top of all their other responsibilities.
We didn’t talk to any flight attendants at the time (we weren’t even writing YMMV yet when these “opportunities” started on planes), but I’m sure some of them hated doing the spiel, and others appreciated the kickback they got (in mid-2018, Chicago Business Journal reported that, as per a memo they obtained, American Airlines initially paid their FAs $60 for each approved credit card, and, “compensation could increase to as much as $100 per approved application with bonuses factored into the equation). According to Heather Poole, a FA herself, as well as an author, at least one FA apparently made quite a sum from these kickbacks.
One flight attendant I know said he made almost 20k handing out credit card applications in flight. Good for him. I just don’t want airlines thinking this is how they’ll pay us. By giving us opportunities to hound passengers to make more money. #CreditCardPitches
— @Heather_Poole (@Heather_Poole) July 18, 2018
Meanwhile, as other airlines saw how much money could be made by offering credit cards to a captive audience, how could they NOT jump in on the fun? So American Airlines does it. United does it. Delta does it. I’m sure other airlines do too and I just haven’t noticed.
The problem is, after so many spiels during so many flights after so many years, people are just tired of hearing about it. It came to a head on Reddit the other day, with this thread, started by user StudioLoftMedia, on the American Airlines subreddit:
I am tired of hearing the AAdvantage Credit Card offer spiel mid flight, multiple times
I get it.. The flight attendants make $50 on each approved applicant. They live in the same world I do and they need money.. But they are getting too aggressive.
Its one thing to mention that they have a credit card at the end of a safety spiel, but there is a fine line between “hey, we offer this card with X miles sign up bonus” to the 5-6 minute talk over the about what the card offers and all the potential vacations that many miles could get me to.
I have been tolerating this, but what pushed me over the edge recently was a redeye from LA to NYC, it was 5 in the morning and the flight attendant practically swallows the PA phone as she proceeds to wake up the entire aircraft and begin the 5 minute rant about why we need the card. I thought I was done… nope, as soon as we landed and were taxiing to the gate we get the rant a 2nd time. Followed by walking down the aisle waving the pamphlet in each aisle-seat passenger’s face – shaking it a little to really get our attention.
This is going to turn into a safety issue. Frequent flyers such as myself are actually going to start to ignore every message the flight attendants say under assumption its another credit card rant. Do I pause my music to listen to the PA? Lately, no.. because most of the time they are just trying to make their $50 bonus. What if the PA was related to an emergency?
Realistically, on an average flight >50% of the PA announcement time (in total seconds) are related to the credit card.
I only make mid-tier status each year, never top tier.. I am honestly considering switching my airline next year just to free myself of the American Airlines AAdvantage Aviator Exclusive Bonus Offer In-Flight Only Preferred Passenger No-Annual Fee (first year only) credit card.
The response was fast and furious, and ran the gamut from angry to sardonic:
- It’s a special deal, only for this flight. — Ravingraven21
- (in response) i’ve never seen this many miles offered! — cremedelakremz
- (in response) The truth is, this flight has been specially selected to receive this offer. And the response has been so overwhelming that we only have a few applications left. So make sure to ask us for one when we come down the aisles. — TrowTruck
- (in response) Take one for a friend — dmznet
- (in response) This actually does bug me- when they are borderline-unethical/untrue in what they are saying in these pitches. Anecdotes like this seem a bit disingenuous in my opinion and make for a poor customer/AAdvantage member experience. — sitcellar
- (in response) I mean, they’re clearly lying. We know they’re lying. It’s just a thing. Kinda like when they say they’re boarding in 10 minutes and there’s no aircraft at the gate. — Ravingraven21
- (in response) You’re tired of hearing the spiel? Well do I have some exciting news for you… today only, 50,000 miles! That’s enough miles to purchase a private island, and then have us fly you & your family there on a private E175! — BluejayAppropriate35
- (in response) And the flight after that, and the one after that. I literally had a trip with 3 legs and all 3 hawked the same “exclusive this flight only” deal. Guess what: the exclusive code is valid way longer than the flight. — dnuohxof-1
- (in response) Incredible. I heard this limited time, soon to be gone, extra special deal was only available on my last 829 flights! — Sleepindag
- Every airline nowadays is basically a credit card company with a side gig for flying planes — strangechicken
- Other airlines do it just the same and it’s nauseating…I was in ATL flying Delta – my city is a AA hub – I was in line checking bags and the Delta employee was begging me to take the pamphlet. I told her Delta only flies to 5 destinations from my home city and she still asked if I could just take the pamphlet. Then I heard it mid flight and after landing…it’s everywhere — Notnearlyalice
- It’s way worse on American than United. One year I took two AA flights and probably 30 UA flights and they were neck and neck for # of credit card speeches it seemed. It was absolutely wild they were doing it so much on a 6am flight. — Chayes83
- Bose QuietComfort 3 to the rescue. — MrSnarkyPants
- We all are. Get used to it. It’s not going away. — Massive_Heat1210
- A guy on my flight from DFW to Tampa was told by the FA that he should absolutely get the 50k bonus on the CC bc he will be able to fly RT TO AUSTRALIA AND he leaned over to his wife and said they need to tell their son to get the CC too so they can all go on their dream trip.
I was ASTOUNDED. The FA and him talked about what a good deal 50k bonus was for ten minutes.
Homie – ain’t no way in hell. — aimusername - Tampa to Sydney: 384,000 pts. I agree I wish FAs would stop lying when selling the cards. You’re going from a steward of the air to a shady con artist. — dnuoxhxof1
- My buddy is a pilot and he hates it…tells them to cut it out — dbundi
A few people, who said they were flight attendants, chimed in, as well:
- I don’t do the announcement on short flights, redeye flights, flights where there’s no chance of a corporate ghost rider, etc.
Most of us hate doing them as much as you hate hearing them. At the MOST it’ll be a quick bare minimum mention and/or walkthrough. No homemade speeches or getting in your face
But coworkers have gotten written up just because someone from corporate or another vindictive FA didn’t see them do the announcement.
As for the ones who try really hard to sell it, $50 is $50. It’s not for me but I can’t blame the hustle — MLZ005 - (in response) What in the world are you talking about? are you sure your talking about american? because i’m currently an AA flight attendant and it’s completely optional to do the credit cards. There are plenty of flight attendants who choose to not do it including myself. No one is going to get written up for not doing credit cards.
Your also making it sound optional on when you can make the PA “i don’t do the announcement on short flights …etc.” It is a rule that if your selling credit cards your not allowed to do them on a red eye flight or if a flight is delayed. Were also not allowed to read off script which every flight attendant who sells credit cards does any way. The script has been carefully review by lawyers so all information is clear with the credit cards. When FAs ramble for 5 minutes in their own version they can possibly give out misinformation and that passenger can sue American.
So girl, if you work for american you need to brush up on our policies. — mandy1862 - Hey look…. AA FA here who does not peddle the card. I make a great salary as I’m over 30 years at this. I’ve been through the blood, sweat & teAArs and am just coasting at this point.
This Barclays gig is a tier program. It’s not just $50/approved card, the award goes up to $100/card. Also, during the summer months there’s the chance to win a car. A friend scored a Jeep a few years ago. And, summer months bring seasonal flyers so it’s the best time to score new card holders.
Yes, it’s annoying and even moreso when announcements are made outside of the “hours” they’re supposed to be peddled. I cringe at times but also the best way to keep a secret from a flight attendant is to make a PA so I’m oblivious at this point.
There are thousands of newbie FA’s out there that are at first year pay. A lot are living in apartments with six other peeps. This program gives them extra $ in their pocket. I personally chalk this up to the sweat and tears years.
I will say though that with the amount of complaints regarding these announcements I handle way more Barclays cards for payments onboard so I hope you’re enjoying your exclusive card benefits….. - (in response) Same story, 28 years in, two years away from retiring, make a good living and I don’t do credit cards, and hold no animosity toward those who do, however…..when someone is doing overkill (5-7 minute speech, I’ve seen ’em) or saying something that is an absolute lie about the benefits, I do say something to them. It’s really sad how our industry has reduced itself to making our customers a non-equation. — Rueben-
The funny thing is, back in late 2019, Thrifty Traveler wrote that American Airlines was going to rein in their in-flight credit card pitches. As per an internal memo at the time:
- Credit card presentations should last “no more than one minute,” and involve no more than one trip up and down the aisle with applications
- Pitches won’t happen before 8 a.m. or after 9 p.m., when passengers may be trying to sleep. And they’ll be suspended during significant flight delays or turbulence
- Flight attendants should be more “considerate,” and not bother “disinterested passengers” or pressure flyers to take an application
- Flight attendants will read a script word-for-word
Sounds like times have changed.
Then again, in late 2021, Wendover Productions did a whole expose on why airlines don’t make money by flying, an how they’ve quietly become banks. It really all falls in with why they’re focusing so much on hawking credit cards. Take a look:
Best line in the video? “Airlines are credit card companies that fly planes as a side hustle.”
That’s really what they’ve turned into, aren’t they?
So…credit card spiels over the PA system isn’t going to go away any time soon. Any flight attendant who either is willing to try to get $50 for someone to sign up, or who is (ahem) “strongly suggested” by their employer to do so, will. And from their point of view, why shouldn’t they? I know a FA who has been known to make $2000/month on credit card commissions; that’s some decent side hustle, AND you have permission from work to do it! ;-).
Get those noise cancelling headphones and ear bugs ready.
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3 comments
What Delta flights do them? I’ve flown Delta multiple times per month for nearly 10 years and have never once seen the flight attendants do this bit.
Take the pamphlet/application, tear it into at least two pieces, and put it in the setback pocket. If nothing else, it might result in the airplane being cleaned a little better.
Remember that Federal regulations require passengers to comply with all crewmember instructions. So just take the application brochure and recycle it into the bin at the airport as you exit the jetway.