Sir, I feel compelled to write to you regarding the current threat by Aer Lingus transatlantic cabin crew to undertake strike action due to their dissatisfaction with their accommodation in Manhattan. I live in Hoboken, New Jersey, and in the past eleven years myself and my husband have provided Aer Lingus with a lot of business, not including the business provided by our many visitors. We have often discussed with our friends and acquaintances the unfair and grossly uncompetitive monopoly Aer Lingus enjoys between the two countries and have wished for another airline to step in and provide some incentive to the company to reduce fares.
At the present time it is cheaper to fly to Paris or Rome than Dublin or Shannon. Last year for a brief period this did occur when World Airways commenced flying from Newark to Dublin. The fare was $150 less than that offered by Aer Lingus, plus the trip to the airport was ten minutes as opposed to an hour and a half to Kennedy Airport. We have often bemoaned the fact that Aer Lingus did not attempt to fly into and out of Newark as it is a very lucrative route. Whether this was an overlooked possibility by management or unobtainable for other reasons I do not know.
Ah, but now we have been enlightened as to the high fares! The poor cabin crew have been trapped in a hotel located "close to Harlem" with no "swimming pool" or "sundeck" which incidentally costs from $130 to $250 per night. I feel it is my duty to explain to your readers the location of this hotel. It is situated on the upper west side of Manhattan - in an exclusive neighbourhood populated by young professionals many of whom are bankers and brokers and involved in the arts. It is within half a block of chic boutiques and popularly rated restaurants. It is close to many popular cultural venues: Lincoln Centre, the Children's Museum, the Museum of Natural History to name but a few. Eight hundred acres of parkland lie a couple of blocks to the east if a place to sit out is required. I am quite sure John McEnroe, Macaulay Culkin and Madonna, among a host of others, would not agree with the description of their neighbourhood as outlined by the delusionary cabin crew. It is very apparent they would only be satisfied with the Plaza Hotel or Trump Tower, and we must stay silent and suffer the corresponding high fares and interruption of services yet again. - Yours, etc.,
Hoboken New Jersey.