Like other automakers, GM has a lot of credit card holders who accumulate rewards points towards the purchase of a new GM auto. But what happens to them in bankruptcy? Frequent flyer programs have previously been gutted when an airline went bankrupt, so it's not unreasonable for GM cardholders to worry.
But fear not! The airlines whose frequent flier programs were dismantled mostly filed for liquidation, not reorganization. Frequent flier programs are a valuable customer loyalty program, and they're relatively low-cost, since upgrades and even free tickets often simply fill empty seats.
GM's case is a little more complicated--I don't think any of their cars have a near-zero marginal cost. Nonetheless, the program has been affirmed in the bankruptcy, according to Tom Wilkinson, GM's spokesman. And very wise indeed this was of Judge Gonzalez, since if there's anything the company could use right now, it's a captive market for GM cars.
Copyright © 2009 by The Atlantic Monthly Group. All rights reserved.
They already have a captive market.
The same Tom Wilkinson who used to post here?
He did say he was a GM employee, didn't he? Of course, there are probably more than one Tom Wilkinson working for GM, so, who knows?
The GM bankruptcy judge is Judge Gerber. Judge Gonzalez is handling Chrysler.
GM will have a more or less captive market as soon as the Administration starts writing regulations that favor GM's technical specifications. 3 . . . 2 . . . 1
A question: should GM's bankruptcy be classified as "medical," given their legacy health-care costs?
Well, I suppose that depends on who is running the study, doesn't it?
Does anyone know what the typical arrangements are between the merchant (GM) and the financial firm that issues the card (HSBC)? In other words, how are the revenues and liabilities split between the two?