东南大学英语考博阅读理解.docx

东南大学英语考博阅读理解.docx

《东南大学英语考博阅读理解.docx》由会员分享，可在线阅读，更多相关《东南大学英语考博阅读理解.docx（8页珍藏版）》请在冰豆网上搜索。

东南大学英语考博阅读理解

2012东南大学考博英语真题阅读理解

TEXTB

Cooperativecompetition.Competitivecooperation.Confused?

Airlineallianceshavetravelersscratchingtheirheadsoverwhatsgoingonintheskies.Somefolksviewalliancesasablessingtotravelers,offeringseamlesstravel,reducedfaresandenhancedfrequent-flyerbenefits.Othersseeaconspiracyofbigbusinesses,causingdecreasedcompetition,increasedfaresandfewerchoices.Whateveryouropinion,there'snoescapingairlinealliances:

themarketinghypeisunrelenting,witheachofthetwomega-groupings,OneworldandStarAlliance,promotingitselfasthebestchoiceforalltravelers.And,evenifyouturnawayfromtheirads,chancesaretheywillfigureinanyofyourtravelplans.Bytheendoftheyear,OneworldandStarAlliancewillbetweenthemcontrolmorethan40%ofthetrafficinthesky.Somepunditspredictthatfigurewillbemorelike75%in10years.

Butwhy,afteryearsofoftenferociouscompetition,haveairlinesdecidedtobandtogether?

Let'sjustsaythetimingismutuallyconvenient.NorthAmericanairlines,havingexhaustedallmeansofearningcustomerloyaltyathome,havebeenlookingforwaystoreachouttoforeignflyers.Asiancarriersarestillhurtingfromtheregion-wideeconomicdownturnthatbegantwoyearsago-justwhensomeoftheairlinesweretakingdeliveryofnewaircraft.Alliancesalsoallowcarrierstocutcostsandincreaseprofitsbypoolingmanpowerresourcesontheground（ratherthaneachairlinemaintainingitsowngroundcrew）andcode-sharing-thepracticeoftwopartnerssellingticketsandoperatingonlyoneaircraft.

Soalliancesareterrificforairlines-butaretheygoodforthepassenger?

Absolutely,saytheairlines:

thinkofthelounges,thejointFFP（frequentflyerprogram）benefits,theround-the-worldfares,andtheglobalservicenetworks.Thenthere'sthepromiseof"seamless"travel:

theabilityto,say,travelfromSingaporetoRometoNewYorktoRiodeJaneiro,allononeticket,withouthavingtowaithoursforconnectionsorworryaboutyourbags.Soundsutopian?

PeterBuecking,CathayPacific'sdirectorofsalesandmarketing,thinksthatseamlesstravelisstillevolving."It'sfairtosaythattheselinksareonlyintheirinfancy.Thekeytoseamlessnessrestsininfrastructureandinformationsharing.We'reworkingonthis."HenryMa,spokespersonforStarAllianceinHongKong,listssomeoftheotherbenefitsforconsumers:

"Globaltravelershaveaneasiertimemakingconnectionsandplanningtheiritineraries."Maclaimsalliancesalsoassurepassengersconsistentservicestandards.

Criticsofalliancessaythemuch-toutedbenefitstotheconsumeraremostlypieinthesky,thatalliancesareallaboutreducingcostsfortheairlines,rationalizingservicesandrunningjointmarketingprograms.JeffBlyskal,associateeditorofConsumerReportsmagazine,saysthepromotionalballyhoooveralliancesismuchadoaboutnothing."Idon'tseemuchofagainforconsumers:

alliancesarejustamarketinggimmick.Andasfarasseamlesstravelgoes,I'llbelieveitwhenIseeit.Mostairlinescan'tevengettheirownconnectionsundercontrol,letalonecoordinatewithanotherairline."

Blyskalbelievesallianceswillultimatelyresultindecreasedflightchoicesandincreasedcostsforconsumers.Insteadoftwoairlinescompetingandeachoperatingaflightonthesamerouteat70%capacity,thealliedpairwillsharetherouteandrunonefullflight.Sincefewerseatswillbeavailable,passengerswillbeobligedtopaymorefortickets.

Thetruthaboutalliancesandtheirmeritsprobablyliessomewherebetweenthetravelutopiapresentedbytheplayersandtheevilempiresportrayedbytheircritics.Andhowmuchtheyaffectyoudependsonwhatkindoftraveleryouare.

Thosewho'vealreadymadetheelitegradeintheFFPofamajorairlinestandtobenefitthemostwhenitjoinsanalliance:

thentheyenjoytheFFPperksandadvantagesonanyandallofthemembercarriers.Forexample,ifyoureaMarcoPoloClub"gold"memberofCathayPacificsAsiaMilesFFP,youwillautomaticallybetreatedasavaluablecustomerbyallmembersofOneworld,ofwhichCathayPacificisamember-evenifyou'veneverflownwiththembefore.

Forthosewhohaven'tmadethetopgradeinanyFFP,alliancesmightbeawayofsimplifyingtheearningoffrequentflyermiles.Forexample,IbelongtoUnitedAirline'sMileagePlusandgenerallyflylessthan25,000milesayear.ButIearnmileswitheveryflightItakeonStarAlliancemember-AllNipponAirwaysandThaiAirways.

IfyouflylessthanIdo,youmightbesmartertostayoutoftheFFPgamealtogether.Huntforbargainswhenbookingflightsandyoumightbeabletosaveenoughtotakethatextratripanyway.Theonlyrealbenefitinfrequentflyerscandrawfromanallianceisaninexpensiveround-the-worldfare.

Thebottom