[LPPSKrisflyer]

Perhaps it would be better to let Business Traveller make their own respose to JonathanCohen9 rather than deciding for them VK.

I actually think a media investigation in to Skytrax would be rather interesting regardless of who fronts it.

[VintageKrug]

I haven’t made any response on behalf of Business Traveller.

This is a webforum which promotes comment, and I was giving my opinion; if you don’t like my opinion, simply ignore me, as I do you.

An media investigation might be of interest (if only to a very select group of people), as you suggest, but suggesting a direct competitor launches that investigation is not sensible advice.

Please desist from attacking me – I’m sure it’s getting boring for others to read.

[JonathanCohen09]

Thanks LPPSKrisfyer.

VK, two points I would make. First I always thought that BT was there to benefit us, it’s readers and subscribers. You say you are not sure what the benefit would be to BT of launching an investigation into Skytrax? My view is that the benefit is that it would be looking into something that is of interest to a number of it’s readers who care enough to have started a thread and contributed to it.

My second point is that BT are well placed to do a wide ranging investigation into the organisation, it’s structure and ownership. It may be in competition with them through a sister website but I would trust the BT team to write an objective and unbiased piece that could then allow us to put the whole issue into some kind of perspective?

I would really like to know what other regular posters think, particularly those who look at Skytrax as well.

[VintageKrug]

its not it’s

I’d be interested in any investigation BT did, but I don’t think it could ever be impartial.

And I recall from having raised previous issues in the past, BT isn’t keen on getting on the campaign bandwagon.

[JonathanCohen09]

VK, I apologise for my error. will try to do better next time 🙂

[craigwatson]

I have to agree with VK, it would be like coke investigating pepsi, they would be great at finding fault, but would they really like adding anyhting good they find out?

[Henkel.Trocken]

I would love to see an investigative report into Skytrax, it is an organisation rather surrounded in mystery which in this day and age is rather unhealthy particularly as they do censor views which appear not to coincide with their own.

While I take craigwatson’s point about the closeness of BT doing it I think that unless someone like Simon Calder could be persuaded to do it then to be thorough it would have to be a piece from within rather than without the industry as it is rather a specialist field.

@VK I don’t think you’ve been attacked but you do seem to dislike it when views contrary to your own are expressed. If you don’t work for BA, do you work for Skytrax 😉

[Tete_de_cuvee]

Hopefully once Continentalclub is aware of this thread he will be able to proffer forum readers an insiders view as I understand he has professional expertise within this arena.

[VintageKrug]

I have absolutely no problem with my posts or perspectives being disagreed with.

However, it’s just as easy to disagree with what I post, without naming me. Rather like “naming” someone in the House of Commons, it’s best to leave the individual out of the debate, and focus on the matter at hand.

So that the post “Perhaps it would be better to let Business Traveller make their own respose to JonathanCohen9 rather than deciding for them VK.” really needn’t have included reference to either poster, which unnecessarily personalises the post. Which I’m sure wasn’t the intended outcome.

I think it’s long been known that in addition to being a BA Pilot, Willie Walsh’s brother, a journalist, a banker, I am also the CEO of SkyTrax. Now, you’ll have to excuse me, I’ve left my lycra stockings in the wash and the Batphone is trilling mercilessly…..

PS Simon Calder! Ffffffffffffffff. I nearly spat out my tea!

[CXDiamond]

An independent investigation into Skytrax is an excellent idea. They claim to offer rating systems which can enhance or damage the reputation of global airlines but are not in the least bit transparent in the doing of it. I agree, they seem to favour some airlines much more than others; I would agree that SQ have a very easy time with them and I’ve certainly posted negative comments about them in the last six months which have not been published.

I think Simon Calder is an excellent travel journalist and he operates without fear or favour; a bit like Skytrax claim to. May I ask what your problem is with him VintageKrug?

[flying_sikh]

Skytrax is a scam! Lets get over it.

[LPPSKrisflyer]

I can’t see what is wrong with Simon Calder looking in to Skytrax either, he’s known to be an independent journalist and is very well respected in the travel community. I think he would be an excellent choice but of course I would be interested in any opposing views to mine.

[Tom Otley]

Hello,
Sorry, I’ve only just seen this thread. It’s an interesting idea, here are my thoughts.

1. First off, I see our job as reviewing travel products, rather than reviewing reviewers of travel products. You can regard Skytrax as a product, but only in the sense that we are. In the end, the consumer (traveller) will decide who to believe or not.

2. We are often accused of being biased in our reviews (if it’s of an advertiser, then it’s obvious. If it’s of a non-advertiser, we must be trying to curry favour to get them to advertise). Both are wrong, but then, I would say that. Now imagine us reviewing a competitor, even if they are only a tangental one…. ?

3. Having spent 20 years interviewing people in different industries (well, it’s a job), you don’t expect management to criticise competitors (at least on the record) and we’re no different. It just looks like sour grapes, even if we believe we are right.

4. Campaigns are great – I was reading the latest one by the Evening Standard on London’s literacy this evening, but which to pick, and what’s the purpose? To change things, or to position yourself as an, ahem, change agent… and what happens when, inevitably, things don’t change? If we say a third runway at LHR is a good idea, what then? Wouldn’t it be better (as journalists, rather than campaigners) we ran an article looking at the pros and cons and alternatives, rather than simply nailing our colours?

5. Simon Calder is undoubtedly an independent and Independent journalist, as well as an Evening Standard contributor, and Conde Nast Traveller, I think . He is unbiased, but then, we all are….

[VintageKrug]

“5. Simon Calder is undoubtedly an independent and Independent journalist”

nicely put 😉

[rferguson]

Perhaps someone at Skytrax has had a look at this thread. I noticed they just posted an unusually poor review of SQ.

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