Remember when you were a kid and all you had to do was cry "wolf" to get your parent or guardian to come to your aid? Well, apparently that doesn't work anymore.
Thanksgiving air travel went well; in fact it went so well it prompted CNN anchor Rob Marciano to exclaim, "Maybe the media sufficiently scared everybody."
CNN's "American Morning" and NBC's "Nightly News" reported the good news on Thanksgiving air travel, with CNN's Kiran Chetry saying it "wasn't so bad" and NBC's Amy Robach calling it a "relatively easy experience."
But both broadcasts forgot an important detail: military air space opened up by President Bush along the East Coast.
ABC's "World News Sunday" gave credit where credit was due - but left out a key point.
"Those express lanes, allowing flights to detour through military air space along the East Coast, also worked," said ABC's Jeremy Hubbard, forgetting to mention that Bush had authorized the air traffic change.
As the Business & Media Institute pointed out on August 29, while the networks were quick to blame airlines and CEOs for flight delays, the media were not as willing to blame the government-run air traffic system - a common theme that ran through 2007.
"And new airline industry numbers out today show that while millions of passengers suffer through record delays, cancellations and lost baggage - airline profits have been soaring," ABC "World News" anchor Charles Gibson said September 17.
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Bill O'Reilly, too, has
November 26, 2007 - 18:36 ET by Chris NormanBill O'Reilly, too, has been going off on commercial air travel over the last month. He berated an air travel analyst a couple of weeks ago, like it was her fault that some flights were running late (as he is wont to do with his guests). There have been some egregious problems in the last couple of years, but I think it's getting better. It's just that the airlines have now become a such a popular whipping boy of the media (and a seemingly great example of how the world "has gone to hell in a hand basket" under Pres. Bush), they just don't want to stop whipping (not when they can implicate the Bush Administration in the air traffic problems, too).
Missed opportunity
November 26, 2007 - 19:33 ET by acumenWhat? No demedia lamenting about all the additional jet fuel hydrocarbons released in the atmosphere by Bush opening up this normally restricted airspace? Evidently much of the demedia was traveling by air during Thankgiving which would explain them trading their silence for convenience.
I'm glad it went well
November 27, 2007 - 01:42 ET by CloudfishI'm glad it went well for most everyone---for my fiance's trip this last week it did not. She had a trip with two connections--and on the first her flight was cancelled twice. Not only that, but she actually had to pay to be put on standby. When she told them (United) no they told her she would have to pay with some of her sky miles. Anxious to make her next connection she felt she had to comply. How many sky miles is yet to be determined---they told her they would call....
I'm a professional pilot. No, I don't fly for an airline but I make my living flying airplanes---so I'd say I have a firm grasp on things aviation. Firstly, I give kudos to President Bush for making the announcement. However, when I and my coworkers (pilots) heard this we all had to laugh. In the last 20 years of flying I have only been vectored around military airspace (MOA's, MTR's, etc.) maybe three times. Total. Additionaly, it is very rare for that special use airspace to even reach the flight levels that most airlines fly. Even so, if it truly made a difference on the east coast--as at least seems the case--expecting the MSM to say anything positive of the results of Mr. Bush's action is a pipe dream.
Not being the bravest flier
November 27, 2007 - 12:28 ET by porterjervisNot being the bravest flier at any time, my family and I left for Detriot from Reagan Tuesday afternoon. No scheduling issues at all. Seemed like a quiet day at the airport.
Came back Friday evening around 7:00 and we were the only people in line at the McNamara terminal.
Me not afraid...
Credit Pres Bush for better results
November 27, 2007 - 15:06 ET by PawpawNBet we'll never hear anyone in media give Pres Bush the credit for the better results over the Holiday. They've already forgot what he laid out 2 weeks ago, since there were no real slowdowns, problems, etc.