If You Can’t Beat ‘Em, Change ‘Em

Three of the nation’s largest airlines have come up with a way to improve their on-time rankings: They want to change the rules.

Northwest, America and Delta airlines have asked the Department of Transportation to change its definition for a “major” airline. The proposed definition would eliminate Southwest, America West and Alaska airlines from the department’s monthly performance comparisons. Needless to say, Southwest, America West and Alaska have better track records than their larger competitors.

The proposal follows a policy Northwest already uses in its ads. Last summer, the airline boasted it has the best on-time record, the kindest baggage handlers and the fewest customer complaints of the “seven largest U.S. airlines.” That knocked out Southwest (the eighth largest airline) and America West (the ninth largest).

The Department of Transportation hasn’t said how it might act on the proposal, which would raise the annual revenue requirement for a “major” airline from $1 billion to $3 billion. A spokeswoman for Southwest, with $1.5 billion in revenue, had this to say: “If we raised our fares to match the high fares of other airlines, we would have $3 billion in revenue.”

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Bah-humbug: Though far from conclusive, evidence suggests that Christmas is shaping up as a not-so-merry holiday in recession-weary Southern California.

TeleCheck, the check acceptance service, said holiday spending in the Southland fell over the Thanksgiving weekend, the beginning of the shopping season and usually the busiest selling period of the year. In Los Angeles, purchases made with checks fell 3.1% from 1991. In San Diego, retail purchases with checks fell 8.4%.

For the entire nation, purchases were up 5.1% on Thanksgiving weekend.

The percentages don’t reflect actual spending since many people use cash or credit cards, an especially popular form of payment this holiday season. Nonetheless, TeleCheck said its figures indicate overall shopping trends.

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Walker ban: A baby walker may not look like a deadly vehicle, but the American Medical Assn. is asking the Consumer Products Safety Commission to ban them as a “lethal form of transportation.”

The AMA said that the walkers, which are banned in Canada, result in more injuries each year than any other baby product. The AMA said that injuries rose 45% from 1986 to 1991, and that six children have died in accidents involving walkers in the last three years.

Walkers are seats with rollers that babies use to propel themselves across the floor before they can walk. Accidents happen when walkers tumble down stairs. More than 2 million walkers are sold in the United States each year, some as Christmas gifts.

The Juvenile Products Manufacturers Assn. opposes a U.S. ban. A spokeswoman said that with proper supervision, walkers are safe.

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Going for gold: Just in time for Christmas, consumers across the country with poor credit records are receiving offers for what looks like a great deal--pre-approved low-interest gold cards with dream-come-true credit lines up to $10,000.

The mail solicitation from Credicorp Inc. of Dallas has an important catch, according to the credit card industry newsletter CardTrak. The gold card is not a Visa or MasterCard, the newsletter said. It is a retail card good only for purchases from Credicorp’s catalogue of electronics equipment and household goods.

A customer service agent for Credicorp said the company has thousands of satisfied customers who purchased merchandise at competitive prices. She said Credicorp gives consumers with poor credit an opportunity to rebuild their credit standing.

CardTrak publisher Robert McKinley said the solicitations--which don’t mention the catalogue--seem to promise more than they deliver. “It may be legal, but it is certainly misleading,” he said.

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Where to complain: With Christmas fast approaching, the state Department of Consumer Affairs is warning consumers to be alert to misleading ads. The law requires stores to stock enough of an advertised item to meet a “reasonably expected demand.” A store that is consistently out of advertised items may be engaging in unlawful bait-and-switch tactics. If you have problems with ads, contact the department at (916) 445-0660.