Not an impossible equation to work out really - but yesterday at Hyderabad mallya was answering in platitudes and slagged me off for not knowing type ratings (when I asked about the fact that there is virtually no commonality in his and Jet's fleets) and how to run an airline. Obviously forgetting the simple fact that evidently nor does he. To be fair to Naresh Goyal, at least the chap has slept on the floor at one time in hisd life and actually sounded apologetic about firing people. Anyway, I don't want to make this an aviation post, but I really think that government money should not be handed out to rich mofo's who can't run their businesses properly. And since I believe that at least ten per cent of any bail-out package will fund the NCP, well that pisses me off further. By the way, India's favourite son-in-law (and I don't mean Dr. Tankha) was at the air-show today looking up private jets, Mummy-ji is making noises against the 'statuesque' Mayawati but Robert is already looking for a plane to fly out of India if things get hairy in April. Hmmm...
Plus, how on earth do people in Hyderabad read such tripe,, between them ToI Hyderabad and Deccan Chronicle have next to no news. ToI Hyderabad seemed to have missed the firing story concentrating more on the fact that there was an airshow where the Minister spoke - instead of the Laurel and Hardy act of NG and VJM (And I will get hell for what I just wrote)... but anyways. Oh and DC is well, horrible is maybe too harsh a term, but thank god for the internet. More when I get back to the city - tonight is Biryani night!
Showing posts with label Aviation. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Aviation. Show all posts
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Sunday, April 08, 2007
Airline tickets.
I hear from sources, well make that readers, that the Times Group has blocked this blog (and some more) in Bombay. I'm genuinely surprised, because I actually wanted to say good things about the ToI, like how their cricket coverage over the last week has shattered the competition - in TV as well as Print. Inside, outside and exclusive interviews - brilliant interview with Greg Chappell yesterday.
Anyway, on the ethics front, I had an interesting insight on Friday. I had gone to visit a senior executive at an airline and while waiting for him in the Corp Comm's guys office, I overheard a phone call. The phone call was made by a journalist from an organisation I once worked at, and he asked for a 'free ticket' - the CC guy laughed saying that the guy would pay the taxes, but I still was horrified. Fair enough, it is a low-cost and a return ticket would be what - maximum Rs 8,000? But still, asking for a free ticket - that is a bit wild even in my opinion. I offered to give the CC guy the number of the guy's editor, but he didn't want it. He told me with a straight face, "If he wants this, if he wants to sell his soul to me, I'll get my own back."
Of course, during the course of the conversation, it became apparent that this was 'not' an isolated incident - quite a few journalists, not particularly senior ones also try to pull their 'PRESS' status for more than skipping traffic offenses, and frankly, I was a bit shocked. I know that one or two certain airlines don't mind dispensing trips, but they give them out to very senior journalists and a free ticket is rarely wasted on those folks - because you never know, during their best Tony Bourdain impressions on Travel and Living they might just mention the airlines' name.
On another note, everybody's favourite minister PRDM now claims the idea of the draconian 'Broadcast Bill' is to save the media from 'vested interests'. Have you seen a more delusional man? Anyway, I will grant him this much, after much humming and hawing, the government has allowed us to watch 'Adult Content' between 11-5. If this means I can see movies where the 'F' word is used is every possible form I will drink to that. Anyway, it is Sunday and the Formula One race is about to begin at Sepang, so till later...
Anyway, on the ethics front, I had an interesting insight on Friday. I had gone to visit a senior executive at an airline and while waiting for him in the Corp Comm's guys office, I overheard a phone call. The phone call was made by a journalist from an organisation I once worked at, and he asked for a 'free ticket' - the CC guy laughed saying that the guy would pay the taxes, but I still was horrified. Fair enough, it is a low-cost and a return ticket would be what - maximum Rs 8,000? But still, asking for a free ticket - that is a bit wild even in my opinion. I offered to give the CC guy the number of the guy's editor, but he didn't want it. He told me with a straight face, "If he wants this, if he wants to sell his soul to me, I'll get my own back."
Of course, during the course of the conversation, it became apparent that this was 'not' an isolated incident - quite a few journalists, not particularly senior ones also try to pull their 'PRESS' status for more than skipping traffic offenses, and frankly, I was a bit shocked. I know that one or two certain airlines don't mind dispensing trips, but they give them out to very senior journalists and a free ticket is rarely wasted on those folks - because you never know, during their best Tony Bourdain impressions on Travel and Living they might just mention the airlines' name.
On another note, everybody's favourite minister PRDM now claims the idea of the draconian 'Broadcast Bill' is to save the media from 'vested interests'. Have you seen a more delusional man? Anyway, I will grant him this much, after much humming and hawing, the government has allowed us to watch 'Adult Content' between 11-5. If this means I can see movies where the 'F' word is used is every possible form I will drink to that. Anyway, it is Sunday and the Formula One race is about to begin at Sepang, so till later...
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