Spokane7
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January 25, 2012 in Region
Alaska Airlines retiring meal tray prayer cards
SEATTLE — After 30 years of giving passengers spiritual words to reflect on while they eat their meals, Alaska Airlines is retiring the prayer cards from their meal trays.
Airline spokeswoman Bobbie Egan says the decision was made after hearing from customers who preferred not to mix religion with transportation.
She says the cards began as a marketing ploy to differentiate the regional airline from its competitors. The cards offer a rotating message of different psalms from the Old Testament.
For a long time, the airline got more positive comments than negatives ones. But lately, opinion has shifted.
Egan says the decision was made out of respect for all of their customers.
The airline sent an email to its frequent flyers on Wednesday explaining the change. It will take effect Feb. 1.
© Copyright 2012 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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ChefGus/ John Olsen on January 25 at 1:25 p.m.
the “religious” notes were not in any way offensive to me… although I understand how some might not like them…but they always seemed reassuring to me as I was Landing… (even with highly competent Alaska Pilots)… and were mostly from the Old Testament as my memory…. and more “Proverbial” than in any way sanctimonious….. Did the CEO who started that Retire? gus
deacon46 on January 25 at 1:38 p.m.
Long overdue decision…….My religion is not an airlines concern or business and making assumptions about it is just bad judgement.
jddavis on January 25 at 2:00 p.m.
Who ever thinks that transportation and religion don’t mix, doesn’t understand transportation very well.
Is this really news?
Bruce (aka thatoneguy) on January 25 at 2:02 p.m.
Wow. I’ve never flown Alaska and I didn’t know they did this. I’m kind of torn between surprise that a company would do something like this (I agree with Deacon’s comment, above), and amazement that there is an airline that still serves meals.
ChefGus/ John Olsen on January 25 at 2:08 p.m.
So Bruce… i do not think/believe that the “Deacon” is actually a real “deacon” in any order of any particular church… but he/she ( again unidentified/not out”) can/may correct me…. :)) J
fishinjay on January 25 at 2:58 p.m.
I am no way shape or fom religious, and certainly not a Christian. I fly Alaska all the time and never had a problem with the notes. It’s not like they read them aloud over the intercom or forced you to read them before they would give you a snack.
Some people are just searching for a reason to complain I suppose.
liberal_in_right_wing_land on January 25 at 2:59 p.m.
More people are complaining about it as more people realize religion is just a bunch of fairy tales.
I have nothing against religion even though I don’t believe in it….but don’t want it pushed upon me, so I applaud this decision by Alaska Airlines since I fly them and fly in first class and always got this card with my meal (and no, I never complained to the airline).
Green84 on January 25 at 3:05 p.m.
I think its sad, I have always enjoyed reading them and like it when a person or a company stands for something…..
Next up taking “In God we trust” off the dollar bill!
Leo_Z on January 25 at 3:26 p.m.
I was not offended by the Alaska cards even though I am an atheist. However, I am highly offended by having “in god we trust” on our dollar bill. It has only been there for 55 years, and this country was founded on the idea of a separation of church and state. Having that garbage on our money is in violation of the constitution.
??Riddler?? on January 25 at 4:59 p.m.
?? Leo_Z ??
?? Could you please forward all the above mentioned “garbage” to my bank account ??
tommyt37 on January 25 at 5:04 p.m.
I guess you only got a prayer card if you were in first class…..screw all the other people lol
oneanddone on January 25 at 5:32 p.m.
Meals? What meals. What domestic airlines feed “meals” to their passengers anymore. ‘Course, I don’t fly Alaska ever since they thought greasing the elevator jack screw was a waste of money.
pmbrown49 on January 25 at 5:38 p.m.
I have a prayer
O Lord, please stop Alaska Airlines from raising the miles required to redeem their frequent flyer miles for free trips. Palm Springs used to be 20,000 miles for a round trip, but when I checked yesterday it is now 60,000 miles for a round trip in April. That sucks Lord, so please smite them.
And please keep me anonymous as I don’t want my luggage “lost” on the next flight I take on Alaska.
Amen.
Pigrobin on January 25 at 5:44 p.m.
Now where will I get my dose of religion?
Boggs Thatcher on January 25 at 10:00 p.m.
Those prayer cards might come in handy when the engine fails.
valleyman on January 25 at 10:15 p.m.
Just as it is a business decision for them to cancel the cards, it could also be a business decision for the complainers (God knows we have plenty of them amongst us) to fly on another carrier.
This is ridiculous.