I don't want to start another thread which will cause trouble but I have the very best example of how sometimes you cannot please a customer no matter what.
So we get a phone call. (I manage a small airline in the Arctic) A group of European canoers (always the worst tourists - they have no idea how big, rough and dangerous my country is) are 1/4 of the way on a crazy trip from Manitoba to Hudsons Bay. An EXTREME trip to say the least. They call on Sat phone asking if we can come and rescue one of their part who has become ill and needs to get out. They want to know how much it costs.
So I give them a quote, tell them 2 hours by airplane but I can't guarantee I can land in their location, but am confident I can land within a few miles. The guy is to weak to travel so I give them a quote for the helicopter, and send him off on a 160 mile one way trip to get this guy. The chopper is billed by the hour and it's a long trip in a slow aircraft. He's looking at $1000 an hour plus fuel.
We get the guy back here. He was too weak to climb into the chopper himself...that's how bad it is. The whole way back he's timing the flight. When he gets to Baker Lake we take him to the clinic, he gets out goes to the hotel, eats a mountain of food, then while pouring his tea is handed the bill. It was in the neighborhood of $7000. He starts slamming mugs and stamping his feet and becomes quite unreasonable saying that's not what he was quoted (I guess he thought he only pays for the trip one way???).
In the end I suggest that if he feels that bad about it I can fly him back to the bush and kick him out free of charge. He pays his bill, which we reduced and he is not a happy camper.
So here's a guy who departs on an insane trip in the worlds most hostile environment and is faced with the a bill for $6 grand or dieing and he is still unhappy. Sheesh. Whats your life worth? I should change the name of the airline to Charity Airways...If you can't pay don't take the risk! STay home. (Norway in this case)
****breaking news...just got a call he's being medivac to Winnipeg now. That's going to be $20-30000...I hope he bought travel insurance. I don't wish him any ill but come on people take a look around you. A can of Coke costs $2.60 here.
So we get a phone call. (I manage a small airline in the Arctic) A group of European canoers (always the worst tourists - they have no idea how big, rough and dangerous my country is) are 1/4 of the way on a crazy trip from Manitoba to Hudsons Bay. An EXTREME trip to say the least. They call on Sat phone asking if we can come and rescue one of their part who has become ill and needs to get out. They want to know how much it costs.
So I give them a quote, tell them 2 hours by airplane but I can't guarantee I can land in their location, but am confident I can land within a few miles. The guy is to weak to travel so I give them a quote for the helicopter, and send him off on a 160 mile one way trip to get this guy. The chopper is billed by the hour and it's a long trip in a slow aircraft. He's looking at $1000 an hour plus fuel.
We get the guy back here. He was too weak to climb into the chopper himself...that's how bad it is. The whole way back he's timing the flight. When he gets to Baker Lake we take him to the clinic, he gets out goes to the hotel, eats a mountain of food, then while pouring his tea is handed the bill. It was in the neighborhood of $7000. He starts slamming mugs and stamping his feet and becomes quite unreasonable saying that's not what he was quoted (I guess he thought he only pays for the trip one way???).
In the end I suggest that if he feels that bad about it I can fly him back to the bush and kick him out free of charge. He pays his bill, which we reduced and he is not a happy camper.
So here's a guy who departs on an insane trip in the worlds most hostile environment and is faced with the a bill for $6 grand or dieing and he is still unhappy. Sheesh. Whats your life worth? I should change the name of the airline to Charity Airways...If you can't pay don't take the risk! STay home. (Norway in this case)
****breaking news...just got a call he's being medivac to Winnipeg now. That's going to be $20-30000...I hope he bought travel insurance. I don't wish him any ill but come on people take a look around you. A can of Coke costs $2.60 here.
...its only an estimate,but it will cost alot
