Does anyone else find this sleezy?

[The Raven]

While I applaud Westjet for contibuting to the Haitian relief efforts, isn't it a bit sleezy to promote the airline through photo ops and interviews?

Why not do what other airlines do? That is, just get on with the relief flights and get the job done. No need to capitalize on other people's suffering to promote your own airline.

Photo-Op/Interview Availability: WestJet loads World Vision relief supplies on flight from Pearson to Haiti
MISSASSAUGA, ON, Jan. 18 /CNW/ -


WHAT: Loading of a Boeing Next Generation 737-700 passenger plane
provided by WestJet to fly 13,000 lbs of World Vision relief
supplies (medical and water purification supplies) to earthquake
victims in Haiti.

WHEN: Monday, January 18, 2010

TIME: Media to meet at 2:45 p.m.
Loading will start at 3:00 p.m. and will last approximately one
hour.
Take-off shots available at 7 a.m. Tuesday morning

WHERE: Pearson Airport, Terminal 3 WestJet check-in counter

WHO: Robert Palmer,
Manager, Public Relations, WestJet



WestJet is Canada's preferred airline, offering scheduled service throughout its 67-city North American and Caribbean network. Named one of Canada's most admired corporate cultures in 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008, WestJet pioneered low-cost flying in Canada. WestJet offers increased legroom, leather seats and live seatback television provided by Bell TV on its modern fleet of 86 Boeing Next-Generation 737 aircraft. With future confirmed deliveries for an additional 49 aircraft through 2016, WestJet strives to be one of the five most successful international airlines in the world.


For further information: Media attending must RSVP to arrange security passes for access to the loading ramp. Please contact: Robert Palmer, WestJet, ropalmer@westjet.com

[moreccsplease]

Good on the donation. No class on the photo op.

[Legacy]

Do you mean like when Borek went down to the Antarctic to rescue that doctor a few years back? The whole world knew about that one. Just being trolls again you are!

[circlingfor69]

I agree, a cheezy way to get media attention. Although I do applaud them for joining the relief effort it seems like shamless self promotion in the face a terrible tragedy. AC recently flew relief aid into Haiti with the 67 but you didnt read to much about that.

But hey being "Canada's preferred airline" comes with its privilages!!

[The Raven]

I suppose one has to look past the photo op and self promotion and give them credit for helping out. Well done!

[BLZD1]

Its wrong! I think they forgot to advertise the tax credit for doing it. Pretty low exploiting others hurt!!

[stickontheice]

You're pretty sad Raven. Using the situation in Haiti to promote your agenda and uncontrollable jealously of our airline. I know this is the kind of feedback that you love and it feeds some sick sense of fun that you have. 200 000 people could be dead and you're worried about an airline bringing attention to situation through a press conference? Why don't you go and raise some money or volunteer your time? Man up already.

[JMACK]

Maybe the coverage will make others get in the relief effort! way to go WJ!

[Herc_Driver]

This is standard operating procedure for companies and even government agencies.

It's called a "media advisory".

It is standard practice and it is the method that public relations and communications departments of various organizations use to coordinate the media response. There is no hidden agenda in it. After an initial press release notifying the company's/agency's activity, this sort of media coordination is required to coordinate the shear numbers of print, radio and TV media.

Here's another example:

TRENTON, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - Jan. 13, 2010) - There will be media availability to observe the loading of a CC-177 with humanitarian assistance that will be provided to the people of Haiti on behalf of the Canadian Government. This will include components of the Canadian Forces Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART).

WHEN: 8:00 p.m., January 13, 2010WHERE: In front of the C-17 Hangar at 8 Wing/CFB Trenton

There will also be a media availability to observe the take-off of this CC-177.

WHEN: 2:00 a.m., January 14, 2010WHERE: At the 8 Wing Passenger Terminal.
Note to the editors: Media representatives are asked to be present at the passenger terminal at 8 Wing/CFB Trenton no later than 7:30 p.m. They will then be escorted to the aircraft. For the aircraft departure, please be present no later than 1:30 a.m.


Relax .... get over it.

[BLZD1]

There is a big difference with the Canadian government doing a photo ops versus WestJet doing one. With the Canadian Forces doing a photo ops tells the public they are helping the poor people of that country and our taxes dollars are being spent the way they should be. If the Military did not do photo ops it would cause a lot of unrest in different communities of Canada. Also they are trying to bring light to the situation so more people will donate to the relief cause. WestJet is just advertising to fill more seats.

Big Difference Guys!!

[gulfan]

Media releases get you great articles written like this one:

http://money.canoe.ca/money/business/ca ... 03354.html

It's great to know as I sit here sipping my Tim Hortons Coffee, waiting for my WestJet flight that I choose two corporately responsible companies to spend my money with today.

I also heard sd made a huge personal donation of $50,000 too. Truly a testament to the caring attitude of all WestJetters. Well done!

[ravensrule]

How about the fact AC did the same thing?

http://www.cnw.ca/en/releases/archive/J ... c9223.html

The donated Air Canada aircraft and volunteer crew are scheduled to depart Saturday morning at 06:30 ET from the carrier's Montreal headquarters base to Port-au-Prince, once the necessary preparations have been finalized overnight. The return flight later the same day will be used to transport evacuees, in collaboration with DFAIT and the Canadian Embassy in Port-au-Prince.

Air Canada employees are working around the clock to prepare a Boeing 767-300ER aircraft for the relief flight.

All usable space in the belly and in the passenger cabin will be used to transport relief supplies. The Boeing aircraft has a cargo capacity of approximately 14,800 kgs and seating for 211 passengers allocated for search and rescue workers, medical personnel, Air Canada volunteers, and, for the return flight, evacuees returning to Canada.

Different format, same message.

I also saw footage of the 767 land in Haiti and the news discussing what AC did.

Our guests were wondering what WestJet was doing, so here was an opportunity to show them.

[jjj]

I do not find it sleazy.

it's a media advisory as Herc put it.

I hope that the media takes a few photos along and makes an articles showing a few companies banding together to send relief.

People need to know that this crisis will not fade away quickly. It will worsen yet unless massive humanitarian aid gets to Haiti.

I donated 500 bucks to the Canadian Red cross Raven - how 'bout you?

In the same time it took Raven to post his anti WS propaganda I was able to make an online donation on Saturday - it only takes a minute and every bit helps. The Canadian Government will also match your donation dollar for dollar.

http://www.redcross.ca

[2R]

Did not take "les idiot" long to start complaining like a typical cheese eating surrender monkey

PARIS , Jan. 18, 2010
French Minister Slams U.S. Role in Haiti
Says International Aid Efforts Are about Helping Quake-Ravaged Zone, Not "Occupying" It
Font size Print E-mail Share 4 Comments

People gestures as a U.S. helicopter makes a water drop near a country club used as a forward operating base for the U.S. 82nd Airborne Division in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Saturday, Jan. 16, 2010. (AP)
(CBS/AP) The United Nations must investigate and clarify the dominant U.S. role in earthquake-ravaged Haiti, a French minister said Monday, claiming that international aid efforts were about helping Haiti, not "occupying" it.

U.S. forces last week turned back a French aid plane carrying a field hospital from the damaged, congested airport in the Haitian capital of Port-au-Prince, prompting a complaint from French Cooperation Minister Alain Joyandet. The plane landed safely the following day.

Complete Coverage: Devastation in Haiti
Haiti Quake: How You can Help

French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner warned governments and aid groups not to squabble as they try to get their aid into Haiti.

"People always want it to be their plane ... that lands," Kouchner said Monday. "(But) what's important is the fate of the Haitians."

But Joyandet persisted.

"This is about helping Haiti, not about occupying Haiti," Joyandet, in Brussels for an EU meeting on Haiti, said on French radio.

In another weekend incident, some 250 Americans were flown to New Jersey's McGuire Air Force Base on three military planes from Haiti. U.S. forces initially blocked French and Canadians nationals from boarding the planes, but the cordon was lifted after protests from French and Canadian officials.

The U.S. military controls the Port-au-Prince airport where only one runway is functioning and has been effectively running aid operations. However, the United Nations has stepped forward to take the lead in the critical task of coordinating aid.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Saturday the U.S. government had no intention of taking power from Haitian officials. "We are working to back them up, but not to supplant them," she said.

Joyandet said he expects a U.N. decision on how governments should work together in Haiti.

"The U.N. is working on it," Joyandet said, adding that he hopes "things will be clarified concerning the role of the United States."

Both nations have occupied Haiti in the past.

France occupied Haiti for more than 100 years, from 1697 to independence in 1804 after the world's first successful slave uprising. More recently, U.S. Marines occupied the country from 1915 to 1934 to quiet political turmoil.

[The Raven]

Just a word to the wise operating the Westjet flight to Haiti.

1...Don't forget your identification number (you're not getting in without it).

2...Take lots of fuel (expect to hold for a couple of hours). Fuel may be at a premium, so tanker enough to get you out of there.

3...Might want to put a ladder in the cabin. Airstairs might not be available for your aircraft.

[stickontheice]

Did hell freeze over??? A useful post by Raven?!! I volunteered my time to fly down there but I was told they're putting senior captains on it so I'm sure they have it covered. I made a donation too. Hopefully everyone is reaching into their wallet. This is such a sad situation.

[whiteguy]

How about the fact AC did the same thing?

http://www.cnw.ca/en/releases/archive/J ... c9223.html

The donated Air Canada aircraft and volunteer crew are scheduled to depart Saturday morning at 06:30 ET from the carrier's Montreal headquarters base to Port-au-Prince, once the necessary preparations have been finalized overnight. The return flight later the same day will be used to transport evacuees, in collaboration with DFAIT and the Canadian Embassy in Port-au-Prince.

Air Canada employees are working around the clock to prepare a Boeing 767-300ER aircraft for the relief flight.

All usable space in the belly and in the passenger cabin will be used to transport relief supplies. The Boeing aircraft has a cargo capacity of approximately 14,800 kgs and seating for 211 passengers allocated for search and rescue workers, medical personnel, Air Canada volunteers, and, for the return flight, evacuees returning to Canada.

Different format, same message.

I also saw footage of the 767 land in Haiti and the news discussing what AC did.

Our guests were wondering what WestJet was doing, so here was an opportunity to show them.

Bit of a difference between media covering a story or setting up your own press conference and advertising using it as an advertisement.

[DanJ]

I just tried to return to the photo gallery on pbase that I looked at the other night showing the loading of the AC 767, complete with half a dozen news crews, but the photographer appears to have deleted the gallery. I doubt those crews just happened to be at YUL in the middle of the night covering the floor polishers.

I don't have any problem with companies publicizing things like this. It isn't like AC, WS or the Air Force weren't going to do these flights if no news crews showed up. But it's good for the moral of the employees at those companies to know they are helping out like this, and it's good for Canadians in general to see that they donations they are making are actually being put to use.

[B-rad]

I don't disagree with WestJet doing this. They are a business and care about the bottom line. I don't expect any social moral to come from a company or for them to care about anyone other then the shareholders. Supplies are getting to where they need to be and that is important. It's all business and if they can play on bleeding hearts they will. Would they have still made the trip if they didn't get any exposure? Who knows.

[Machiavelli]

While there's black (Raven=sleazy) and white (WestJet's spin), let's maybe agree on a shade of grey and call it a win-win. There's media coverage, employees and even all Canadians feel good about providing some help, some organizations get some positive press but most importantly, some very desperate and needy people are provided a measure of relief. Sneer if you must. Better to shut up and help.

[CanadaEH]

Good on any individual, business, company, or corporation for doing their part to help. I guess it was only a matter of time until the trolls came out and started to criticize an airline publicizing its efforts. Air Canada.. Air North (or was it Canadian North?).. Westjet.. Transat - they all did it to varying degrees. It would be nice to see the idiots on this forum drop the hate and respect the fact that the aforementioned groups are doing what they can to help out, even if you don't "like" them.

Anyway, don't we have more important things to complain about? Like whether Westjet employees get written up for not smiling?

[Troubleshot]

Way to go WJ!! Nice to see big business taking the lead on the relief effort...as it should be!

[highlander]

Let's not forget that aviation is just one of many industries hit hard by the economic recession. Kudos to WJ and AC for donating aircraft, crews, $ and supplies.

There are lots of billion dollar industries out there that could and should be helping out. A little media attention can't hurt them at all. Why not be proud of helping out.

Perhaps we should comment on the various charitable organizations that use photos of people from these disaster stricken areas to try and get people to donate. I for one, find that inappropriate. But I guess in our world, in order to get a message across, we need the shock value.

[stickontheice]

Just a quick follow up for those who thought WJ's generous donation of a 800 and full crew was nothing more than a media stunt...turns out the media was invited by World Vision Canada. They wanted attention brought to the situation. Honestly I think those who thought it was sleezy should bloody hang their heads and maybe get the truth before promoting their agenda on the back of a tragedy. There's more to life than what logo is on your tail.

[BLZD1]

This is what I find offensive! Including this garbage.

WestJet is Canada's preferred airline, offering scheduled service throughout its 67-city North American and Caribbean network. Named one of Canada's most admired corporate cultures in 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008, WestJet pioneered low-cost flying in Canada. WestJet offers increased legroom, leather seats and live seatback television provided by Bell TV on its modern fleet of 86 Boeing Next-Generation 737 aircraft. With future confirmed deliveries for an additional 49 aircraft through 2016, WestJet strives to be one of the five most successful international airlines in the world.


I am not say Air Canada is any better. But do not advertise as you are trying to help out people in need. It is not needed. I feel there is nothing wrong with World Vision advertising because they are looking for donations to help these poor people. Same goes with Goverement trying to please the Taxpayer. Taxpayer wants to know the funds are being spent.

A true giver does not need recognition for giving. I think I learned that before I was 5 years old.