United Doubling Sales Commission For Flight Attendants To Sell Credit Card

According to leaked internal United documents seen by Skift United flight attendants are having the amount they are paid per credit card application doubled from $50 to $100. It was previously announced that the in flight sales pitches would become mandatory, previously it was optional. I’ve commented before that I don’t think mandatory pitches are a good idea and here’s why:

  • Nobody wants to hear a credit card pitch when they are trying to sleep, or are a sleep. I’d love to see the conversion numbers but I bet they are extremely low in this instance and not worth the brand damage you do when you wake customers up or prevent them from sleeping.
  • It gives you no flexibility to provide better service. On some flights flight attendants are run off their feet either due to demanding customers or other issues. By forcing them to do a credit card pitch you give them no flexibility in these scenarios. If I’m waiting for something or service has been slow and then I see flight attendants do a credit card pitch my level of empathy is naturally going to lower (although it probably won’t for me personally since I know these are mandatory).

I know that in flight conversions are an extremely good way to acquire new card customers as you’re pitching to people that already use your product. A customer acquisition cost of $100 (this isn’t 100% true as flight attendants still need to be trained for these pitches and marketing materials developed and it looks like it’s $100 per application rather than per approved application) is extremely low as well and that’s whats likely pushing this from United. I still think they would be wise to think of the negative brand damage during certain flights.

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Scott
Scott (@guest_619135)
July 19, 2018 10:54

Pretty soon it will be all adverts all the time. I think one airline already sells seat-back table top ads. Since it is a captive audience, they could easily bombard us with verbal pitches.

Or “the soft drink cart is being sponsored by New Cherry Vanilla Coke Zero .. in stores now”.

Creditian
Creditian (@guest_618999)
July 18, 2018 22:15

It’s only for mainline? Or both mainline and feeders?

NinjaX
NinjaX (@guest_618883)
July 18, 2018 18:46

i dont see where it says commission is based on app vs approval. im pretty sure an approval is required. otherwise, ROI would be terrible. its no different than referral links.

PoorChurner
PoorChurner (@guest_618847)
July 18, 2018 17:37

Headphones and hoodies are amazing things to have on a flight with credit card pitches.

Laurel Wang
Laurel Wang (@guest_618842)
July 18, 2018 17:25

If they are paid by application and not approval, why don’t the flight crew themselves just apply every day? Sure, they’ll probably get denied for insufficient income and too many inquiries, but keep it up and soon they will have enough income.

NinjaX
NinjaX (@guest_618792)
July 18, 2018 15:52

so dumb. united needs to understand chase needs to drop 5/24 for united. u dont need to double the commission rate when nobody will get approved except for those not in the game. and those pple wont sign up since they think it will drop their credit score or impact their financial lives.

Kuso29
Kuso29 (@guest_618823)
July 18, 2018 16:52

I agree with this comment completely. Those who are in this game know that you get dinged a few points on the short run for good benefits and are willing to go for the trade. On the other hand, those who care about their scores don’t apply for many cards or even none for a long time cuz they assume there are negative effects. United needs to pitch to Chase to drop 5/24 for this card through this app and they will get a lot more sign-ups.

Someone should just ask out loud during the in-flight announcement if it bypasses 5/24, haha!

NinjaX
NinjaX (@guest_618877)
July 18, 2018 18:40

haha. exactly. great way to network with all the churners on the flight. it would be a legit FTU.

Paul
Paul (@guest_618640)
July 18, 2018 11:37

Flight attendants are primarily here for your safety… after you sign up for one of our credit cards.

Ann
Ann (@guest_618675)
July 18, 2018 12:39

Considering how rare safety incidents are on planes, and that many of them already have to sell food/drinks while in route, why not, I guess.

John
John (@guest_618698)
July 18, 2018 13:17

I’m sorry, life preservers are for passengers who signed up for the United MPE credit card ONLY.

Jason
Jason (@guest_618633)
July 18, 2018 11:34

Would they drag customers if one is declined due to too many inquiries in the past 24 months? Anyone wants to be the DP?

Sam
Sam (@guest_618611)
July 18, 2018 11:02

Not like United care about their brand or the rewards program anyway.

Alex
Alex (@guest_618604)
July 18, 2018 10:54

Can’t wait for the the new no-pitch upgrade option for plane seats. Only 50/per ticket.