When your competitor makes a mistake, should you take advantage of it?

United Airlines has been in the news lately for mistreating customers. This is an obvious opportunity for competing airlines, but what is the best way to handle it?

Some airlines have published advertisements mocking United Airlines. Other airlines have done nothing different. 

Aggressively beating up a competitor in advertising can set you up in a bad way when you make a mistake. And you will make a mistake. 

The best way to take advantage of your customer's mistakes is to remain excellent. 

When you are excellent, people will forgive you when something goes wrong. 

By the way, situations like what happened at United Airlines happen because of the culture of the organization. The way staff talks about customers, even when no one else is around, makes a difference in how customers are treated. Not giving employees the authority to take care of customers leaves them helpless when a situation arises.

Referenced in this episode:

Jody Maberry's Customer Experience Tour to Disney World

Time Magic Management Course