Dear AARP, please take a stand on the airline mergers

In an earlier blog posting, I wondered why membership organizations with large numbers of air travelers aren’t taking a stand against the coming wave of airline mergers. And so did Eric Voth, an AARP member who wrote to his organization to ask why it wasn’t using its considerable lobbying clout to block these corporate unions that would almost certainly hurt its constituents. You might be surprised by AARP’s answer.

Here’s a condensed version of Voth’s letter to AARP. Now bear in mind that Voth isn’t some guy off the street. He’s a dues-paying member of the organization.

When any airline mergers are officially announced, I feel AARP needs to take a stand in opposition to them. Consumers will not benefit. Consolidation most likely will result in fewer choices, fewer flights, and higher fares. We will be paying more and getting less.

Mergers may result in short-term profits for shareholders, but they often mean long-term losses for consumers and workers. Rep. James Oberstar, D-Minn., chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, writing in BusinessWeek Viewpoint, February 15, 2008, says, “The merged carrier is never greater than the sum of its parts. It is always less, often much less.”

I agree with Mr. Oberstar.

Is there any history of the flying public benefiting as the result of an airline merger? I think not. Therefore, I urge AARP to take a stand in opposition to any proposed air carrier consolidation.

Two weeks later, Voth received the following reply:

Dear Mr. Voth:

Thank you for contacting AARP’s national office to express your views. We’re pleased to hear from you.

Your feedback is invaluable to AARP. The issues you raised are monitored and included in reports to our editors, program coordinators, and legislative analysts. Our Board of Directors and National Policy Council consult these reports when determining the future course of AARP.

Please know that we are constantly weighing policy options and exploring better ways to serve our members. We hope you’ll continue to take the time to share your ideas, concerns, and opinions with us.

Again, thank you for taking the time to share your views. It’s truly the combined interest, energy, commitment, and passion of our 39 million members that gives AARP the power to make life better.

Sincerely,

Betty
Member Communications
Member@aarp.org

What does Voth think of the letter? “It’s similar to one I’d expect to get after writing to an elected federal official or to the federal government,” he told me.

It is, without a doubt, a form letter. But I’m not convinced that AARP has written off Voth and the thousands of other concerned members who would suffer from an airline merger. I think they’re waiting for Delta-Northwest to be announced before taking any action.

At least I hope so.

  • Joe Farrell

    Gee, do you think the senior members of these organizations actually fly the airlines? They have private aircraft. And, when they DO fly the airlines, their position lets the fly in first or business class. They NEVER really see the reality of the average traveling public. What do they care personally? This is a personal issue – personal to their members – and a situation where they can get perks, upgrades and free trips from the airline doing marketing. I’m just very suspect of the conflict of interest that can exist here.

  • Steve H

    AARP is no longer an advocacy organization for the retired or those approaching retirement. It is now a moneymaking behemoth that sells products – especially insurance – to its members. Its concerns now are revenue and profits, and anything that stands in the way of those priorities is quickly compromised.

  • http://www.motorsportsforum.com Michael F. Hollander

    The person running AARP is a former advertising agency executive who’s doing his best to raise important issues. Voth should have written directly to the executive director.

  • Daisy

    I’m not surprised by the response and will not be surprised when AARP does not take a stand on airline consolidation. A few years ago, AARP conducted a survey regarding medical marijuana. The findings, which were overwhelmingly positive, were published on the AARP website. The findings never appeared in the magazine. When AARP was asked why, the answer given was that they “did not believe their readership would be interested”. That’s not leadership, that’s censorship. That’s the day that I canceled my subscription and membership.

  • http://www.goodtimetravel.net Ken Smith

    I agree with Steve H. As a Tour Operator and Travel professional, I feel like I am sometimes in competition with AARP and their penchant for selling products that I am selling. I thought they were supposed to be non-profit advocacy organization also!

    One of the main reasons I have never joined their organization is because I have not seen any benefit to anyone except the employs who are on their payroll who’s salaries are being funded by the members. Oh, unless you count that $5 off your $150 room at a motel you might get if the motel has plenty of availability.

  • Ron Cann

    I agree with the other responders. The AARP is a money earning business and not a true advocacy group. I would not join or lend my personal support to this organization. But you have to admire a clever money making venture.

  • Jim J

    I too agree with what has been said above. I quit AARP when they caved in on the Medicare Prescription Drug legislation and went along with the “donut hole” concept. They also agreed not to oppose a provision in that law that forbids Medicare from negotiating the prices of prescription drugs. I’ve noticed that AARP has now entered the medicare supplement insurance field. I’ve also noticed that the cost of medicine has gone completely out of sight. Shame on you, AARP.

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