'A cold day in paradise'
Have you heard the catch phrase, “Fly with the warmth of Paradise.” Sounds really inviting? You have probably saw it in some magazine or even heard it in a song on some TV ad. It’s Continental Micronesia’s sales pitch. Recently, I had the fortunate opportunity to experience this “warmth of paradise” which I want to share with you and the people of paradise.
Last year, I won an economy class roundtrip ticket for one to Noumea in the Proud Bird and ’99 Visit the Marianas Golf Tournament. Last week, I called the ticket counter to claim my prize. Very politely, I was told that Continental Micronesia will fly me to Noumea only on the 23rd and out of Noumea only on October 1st. To give it that “warmth of paradise” effect the airline agreed to leave me stranded in Guam for a whole day before flying me out to Noumea. To further accentuate the spirit of island hospitality I was told that this is their only and final offer before the certificate expires on October 14, 1999.
To live up to their commitment to “fly with the warmth of paradise,” the certificate states that the airline ticket is “non-endorsable, non-transferable, non-extendable, non-refundable. Actually, I was looking for a warning that reads: Bring extra cash just in case Continental Micronesia decides to stop all flights to your intended foreign destination.
If you ask me, this offer has all the trappings of an Air Italy scheme. No thank you, I can’t swim that far and I can’t afford a parachute either.
Jose C. Mafnas
