A company is the people. Someone made the decision. That someone is actually responsible.

I’m not asking for censorship. I’m not asking for us, as citizens and patrons, to not speak up when it’s time. When did it become a power play? Isn’t it simply us consuming the services they offer? You have a choice to be their customer or not. I think, many times we (both you, denise, and I) think we are owed something by a company just because they are a company. We’re not owed anything we don’t offer them our money for. Francois IS, in this case, owed something right now because he paid for something he did not receive. THAT is unethical, yes. But, it’s not unethical to ask for them to correct it prior to attempting to discredit the service and value they offer us as consumers.

Your conclusion is founded on false premises that (1) there is an overarching thing called a “Corporation” (with a capital C), and (2) I (and people like me) think everything a corporation does is correct or can be washed away lightly. Both are incorrect and lead to false assumptions such as thinking there’s a power struggle between consumers and every corporation that exists.

Being a consumer only gives you rights because you have the privledge to consume. You are not poor. You are not being taken advantage of by every business (or even every large business) that exists. These business exists to provide value to your life. If you don’t want the value, don’t pay them for it.

IF you think they are not offering something equal to the money you’re putting up, then yes, it’s worth talking about. But, I think sometimes we forget how many pleasant transactions take place every day with that same company. I was offering a different perspective on the same company. I have never been treated as poorly as Francois was. Two different stories. Two totally different experiences.

Is his story more valuable than mine? I think not. Would I want to fly where he did? Not now I wouldn’t.

So if one blogger can influence other customers to speak up about a company that has been deceitful and neglected its customer service responsibilities, then I’m all for it as long as he’s telling the truth (which I assume he is).

I have no sympathy for the company at fault here — remember, no person is actually responsible for the inconvenience of that plane full of people; indeed the company didn’t even send a representative to speak to the customers in person. Does that sound ethical to you?

Why should we as customers censor ourselves? Why should we voluntarily surrender our last bit of power, and give a free pass to a company — or an industry — that has made it a policy to nickel and dime us while simultaneously lowering its standards of quality, comfort, punctuality, and service?

I can only conclude that Nate (and so many others like him) has drunk the kool-aid of the Corporation to such an extent that he’s lost sight of his identity as a customer.

But, with as much as you went through, I don’t blame you for not giving them another chance. It’s easy for me to feel for them since I’ve had good experiences with them.

So, if they truly don’t comment on this blog, or somehow contact you to fix the situation, I’ll be fully on your side in regards to Alaska Air not caring about their customers.

In regards to the ethics part of it – I’m fully on your side already.