Yeah, that's right. Didn't BA handle competition from Laker really, really well "apparently"? Them and BCal, I think. And don't they have an excellent record of behaving ethically towards Virgin?
If BA are so brilliant, then how come they make an operating loss in many places other than North Atlantic, where they and other carriers (including ironically Virgin) are protected by Bermuda 2, and they were given such a massive commercial advantage over the competition to start with? Have you any idea how tough OFTEL were on BT?! What anti-competitive restrictions have BA had to deal with? How come the odour of "dirty tricks and subterfuge" has continued to stick so closely to them? Do they really need these to beat competition?
Branson may have pulled a stunt, but at least this is a fair and legitimate means of promotion - even self promotion. What's wrong with that? Aren't you influenced by advertising? Whose trainers are you wearing? Whose aftershave? Whose coffee do you drink? Whose soft drinks? Where do you eat out? Is that based on an evaluation of comparative qualities of brands? Now, if you bought a pair of Nike trainers that cost the same as a rival pair because an executive from there came up to you and said, "I'll slip you a fiver if you buy those ones", would that be ethical?
[Edited as worried about libel ....]
[ 21 December 2001: Message edited by: Exile from Groggs ]</p>