Confused Airline Travelers, Brace Yourselves

Re the matter of: The latest challenge for the nation’s air travelers is about to land.

The airlines this week are sending “notices of pendency of class action, proposed settlements with certain defendants, and hearing� to thousands of their customers. These imposing documents tell how the airlines plan to dole out $50 million to settle a landmark price-fixing suit against them. We think.

The Washington-based Consumer Aviation Action Project says the complicated missives are bound to discourage some consumers from seeking refunds. “It will take a lot of work to get through it,� spokesman Con Hitchcock said, suggesting “plenty of caffeine� may help.

We asked a Delta Air Lines lawyer who helped write the seven-page letters why they are so hard to read. Emmet J. Bondurant II put it this way: “They are no more complicated than the complexity of the matter they deal with . . . . The forms are as simple as the subject matter permits.�

Now that explains it.

Consumer activism rising: Concerns about the environment and corporate ethics are influencing consumer grocery shopping decisions more now that at any time in the last 20 years, a new survey by the Food Marketing Institute found.

Five out of 1O shoppers won’t buy products if they disagree with the manufacturer’s policies. Nearly four out of 10 won’t buy products that cannot be recycled. These are the highest ratios in the survey’s history.

Edie Meleski, spokeswoman for the institute, the research arm of the supermarket industry, attributed the changes in part to a renewed attention to women’s issues and a growth in neighborhood recycling programs.

The greatest influence on shopping decisions, however, is cost. Nine out of 10 consumers said they would not splurge for a product that costs too much, an indication of the laggard economy.

Teach them a lesson: First Commerce Bank of New Orleans thinks that young people don’t get enough credit these days, and it has a plan to change that.

The bank is offering college-age children their own MasterCard or Visa, with a $500 credit line, to teach financial responsibility, “the one life lesson not taught in school,� according to a flyer to its credit card customers.

If the young people flunk their lesson in life, First Commerce Bank won’t necessarily lose. The bank requires parents to co-sign the credit card application, and to pick up the tab if their children don’t pay.

An update: The Los Angeles Lakers, in a change of heart, are giving refunds to the 120 youngsters who missed out when the Mike Dunleavy basketball camp was abruptly canceled.

As reported in this column last week, the children paid $275 to attend the weeklong day camp run by the former Laker head coach. But when the camp was canceled, the kids weren’t initially offered refunds. The Lakers said they felt badly for the children but didn’t offer refunds because they weren’t involved with the camp.

The Los Angeles Clippers subsequently stepped forward, showering $150 worth of tickets on the children, along with other goodies.

Not to be outdone, the Lakers on Thursday said that they are giving refunds to children who paid by cash or check. (Credit cards users are being asked to contact their card issuer to reverse the charges.) The team is also giving the kids four free tickets to the season opener and a free week at a basketball day camp run by Brad Holland, basketball coach at Cal State Fullerton and a former Laker.

Consumer Activism The Food Marketing Institute asked these questions of 2,000 adults who do most of the shopping for their household. Question: Refuse to buy products that cost too much:

Percent who answered yes:

Jan., ‘91: 84%

Jan., ‘92: 90% Question: Refuse to buy products manufactured by companies whose policies you do not agree with:

Percent who answered yes:

Jan., ‘91: 47%

Jan., ‘92: 53% Question: Refuse to buy products where ethical treatment of animals may be called into question:

Percent who answered yes:

Jan., ‘91: 38%

Jan., ‘92: 46% Question: Refuse to buy products that are not recyclable or have unnecessary packaging:

Percent who answered yes:

Jan., ‘91: 30%

Jan., ‘92: 38% Question: Join an organized consumer boycott against particular products or stores:

Percent who answered yes:

Jan., ‘91: 13%

Jan., ‘92: 16%