don't know if this has already been posted - email i received from United Airlines

[disneyholic family]

Sent: Thursday, July 10, 2008 12:30 PM
Subject: An open letter to all airline customers


An open letter to all airline customers

Dear [my name],

Last week, crude oil hit an all-time high of $146, and the skyrocketing cost of fuel is impacting our customers, our employees, the communities we serve, and the economy as a whole. United, and the majority of other major U.S. airlines, are asking our most loyal customers to join us in pushing for legislation to add more transparency and disclosure in the oil markets. Please see the attached open letter from the leaders of the U.S. airline industry.

---------------------------------------------------

An Open letter to All Airline Customers:

Our country is facing a possible sharp economic downturn because of skyrocketing oil and fuel prices, but by pulling together, we can all do something to help now.

For airlines, ultra-expensive fuel means thousands of lost jobs and severe reductions in air service to both large and small communities. To the broader economy, oil prices mean slower activity and widespread economic pain. This pain can be alleviated, and that is why we are taking the extraordinary step of writing this joint letter to our customers. Since high oil prices are partly a response to normal market forces, the nation needs to focus on increased energy supplies and conservation. However, there is another side to this story because normal market forces are being dangerously amplified by poorly regulated market speculation.

Twenty years ago, 21 percent of oil contracts were purchased by speculators who trade oil on paper with no intention of ever taking delivery. Today, oil speculators purchase 66 percent of all oil futures contracts, and that reflects just the transactions that are known. Speculators buy up large amounts of oil and then sell it to each other again and again. A barrel of oil may trade 20-plus times before it is delivered and used; the price goes up with each trade and consumers pick up the final tab. Some market experts estimate that current prices reflect as much as $30 to $60 per barrel in unnecessary speculative costs.

Over seventy years ago, Congress established regulations to control excessive, largely unchecked market speculation and manipulation. However, over the past two decades, these regulatory limits have been weakened or removed. We believe that restoring and enforcing these limits, along with several other modest measures, will provide more disclosure, transparency and sound market oversight. Together, these reforms will help cool the over-heated oil market and permit the economy to prosper.

The nation needs to pull together to reform the oil markets and solve this growing problem.

We need your help. Get more information and contact Congress by visiting www.StopOilSpeculationNow.com.

Robert Fornaro
Chairman,
President and CEO
AirTran Airways

Bill Ayer
Chairman,
President and CEO
Alaska Airlines, Inc.

Gerard J. Arpey
Chairman,
President and CEO
American Airlines, Inc.

Lawrence W. Kellner
Chairman and CEO
Continental Airlines, Inc.

Richard Anderson
CEO
Delta Air Lines, Inc.

Mark B. Dunkerley
President and CEO
Hawaiian Airlines, Inc.

Dave Barger
CEO
JetBlue Airways
Corporation

Timothy E. Hoeksema
Chairman,
President and CEO
Midwest Airlines

Douglas M. Steenland
President and CEO
Northwest Airlines, Inc.

Gary Kelly
Chairman and CEO
Southwest Airlines Co.

Glenn F. Tilton
Chairman,
President and CEO
United Airlines, Inc.

Douglas Parker
Chairman and CEO
US Airways Group, Inc.

 

[drakethib]

It is getting bad.

Something needs to be done.

 

[CinderellasSister]

Interesting. Thanks for posting. Something needs to be done. I sent my email.

 

[BriarRosie]

I received this letter, too. I have an October flight with United, and I had signed up for email updates from them. I would think anyone currently booked with any of those airlines received that email.

I support that cause.

 

[jmlaw]

I am currently booked with American for a business flight and with Northwest for our upcoming Disney trip and I didn't receive an email from either airline. In addition to my tickets with them, I also have frequent flyer cards with both of these airlines.

I hope they send it out, because I agree that something needs to be done. In the meantime, I have already sent my email.

 

[disneyholic family]

I received this letter, too. I have an October flight with United, and I had signed up for email updates from them. I would think anyone currently booked with any of those airlines received that email.

I support that cause.

i was very surprised to get it from United (i fly NWA much more, but didn't receive anything from them)..

i was surprised and impressed by their joint action....that the different airlines actually organized together to do something....i don't know if it will help, but at least they're not just sitting around cursing the darkness so to speak....

 

[robind]

but it was from Delta, no idea why that particular airline sent me one. I fly with an a frequent flier member with just about everyone.

To be honest I didn't really read it - it was long and I was busy. I figured they were just whinning about how bad things were and why they had to nickle and dime me to death.

I'll have to check it out now, thanks for the heads up.

 

[disneyholic family]

but it was from Delta, no idea why that particular airline sent me one. I fly with an a frequent flier member with just about everyone.

To be honest I didn't really read it - it was long and I was busy. I figured they were just whinning about how bad things were and why they had to nickle and dime me to death.

I'll have to check it out now, thanks for the heads up.

i thought the same thing...i didn't read it right away....only a day later when i was about to delete it, i actually read it....and was surprised....i also thought it would just be an explanation of why they were charging us more...
not a call to action..

of course, it probably won't do anything....but at least it's an attempt...

or else a nice publicity stunt - good PR and all that....but that's the cynic in me talking...

 

[miss missy]

sent mine!

 

[GBShorts]

My husband got one from Northwest but I didn't... I've got over 100,000 miles on NWA and he has over 200,000.

Go figure.

 

[IWISHFORDISNEY]

I agree it is totally out of control. My tickets for this year are triple last years cost. We might drive down instead.

 

[tickledtink33]

Sent: Thursday, July 10, 2008 12:30 PM
Subject: An open letter to all airline customers


An open letter to all airline customers

Dear [my name],

Last week, crude oil hit an all-time high of $146, and the skyrocketing cost of fuel is impacting our customers, our employees, the communities we serve, and the economy as a whole. United, and the majority of other major U.S. airlines, are asking our most loyal customers to join us in pushing for legislation to add more transparency and disclosure in the oil markets. Please see the attached open letter from the leaders of the U.S. airline industry.

---------------------------------------------------

An Open letter to All Airline Customers:

Our country is facing a possible sharp economic downturn because of skyrocketing oil and fuel prices, but by pulling together, we can all do something to help now.

For airlines, ultra-expensive fuel means thousands of lost jobs and severe reductions in air service to both large and small communities. To the broader economy, oil prices mean slower activity and widespread economic pain. This pain can be alleviated, and that is why we are taking the extraordinary step of writing this joint letter to our customers. Since high oil prices are partly a response to normal market forces, the nation needs to focus on increased energy supplies and conservation. However, there is another side to this story because normal market forces are being dangerously amplified by poorly regulated market speculation.

Twenty years ago, 21 percent of oil contracts were purchased by speculators who trade oil on paper with no intention of ever taking delivery. Today, oil speculators purchase 66 percent of all oil futures contracts, and that reflects just the transactions that are known. Speculators buy up large amounts of oil and then sell it to each other again and again. A barrel of oil may trade 20-plus times before it is delivered and used; the price goes up with each trade and consumers pick up the final tab. Some market experts estimate that current prices reflect as much as $30 to $60 per barrel in unnecessary speculative costs.

Over seventy years ago, Congress established regulations to control excessive, largely unchecked market speculation and manipulation. However, over the past two decades, these regulatory limits have been weakened or removed. We believe that restoring and enforcing these limits, along with several other modest measures, will provide more disclosure, transparency and sound market oversight. Together, these reforms will help cool the over-heated oil market and permit the economy to prosper.

The nation needs to pull together to reform the oil markets and solve this growing problem.

We need your help. Get more information and contact Congress by visiting www.StopOilSpeculationNow.com.

Robert Fornaro
Chairman,
President and CEO
AirTran Airways

Bill Ayer
Chairman,
President and CEO
Alaska Airlines, Inc.

Gerard J. Arpey
Chairman,
President and CEO
American Airlines, Inc.

Lawrence W. Kellner
Chairman and CEO
Continental Airlines, Inc.

Richard Anderson
CEO
Delta Air Lines, Inc.

Mark B. Dunkerley
President and CEO
Hawaiian Airlines, Inc.

Dave Barger
CEO
JetBlue Airways
Corporation

Timothy E. Hoeksema
Chairman,
President and CEO
Midwest Airlines

Douglas M. Steenland
President and CEO
Northwest Airlines, Inc.

Gary Kelly
Chairman and CEO
Southwest Airlines Co.

Glenn F. Tilton
Chairman,
President and CEO
United Airlines, Inc.

Douglas Parker
Chairman and CEO
US Airways Group, Inc.

I received the identical letter from Delta Airlines earlier this week. I agree, something needs to be done or soon many people won't even be able to afford to drive to their jobs.