Usually, when a company with whom I do business starts making noises about protecting my privacy, I get suspicious. This started with all of the "privacy policies" I began receiving about two years ago from banks, which really ought to be called "no privacy policies" considering everything they'll do to market your personal information if you don't specifically "opt out" of them doing so. However, I wasn't expecting these kinds of games from Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan, which I've highly recommended to my friends for years.

Unfortunately, the business of selling your privacy appears to have expanded to the airline industry, at least according to the following statement in the Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan Fall, 2002 newsletter:

WE'RE WORKING TO PROTECT YOUR PRIVACY

At Alaska Airlines, we value your privacy and work to protect the personal information you share with us as a Mileage Plan member. We may from time to time make lists of Mileage Plan member names and mailing addresses available to Mileage Plan members so they may mail you information about products and services that may interest you.

If you do not want to receive such information, please let us know by sending an email to opt.out@alaskaair.com or writing to us at Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan, PO Box 24948, Seattle, WA 98124. Please be sure to include your name, address, telephone and Mileage Plan account number in your corresopndence. Or, you may call Mileage Plan at 1-800-654-5669.

For your protection, we do not share Mileage Plan member phone numbers or email addresses with anyone outside of Alaska Airlines, and do not share member names and mailing addresses with anyone other than Mileage Plan partners. We also do not share names and addresses of Mileage Plan members that we know or believe to be under age 18 with anyone outside of Alaska Airlines.

I considered the headline to be disingenuous and bordering on doublespeak, so I sent an angry reply to the marketing director of Alaska Airlines.

-> Page 2: The Angry Reply

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