In an effort to increase revenues, Sky Air recently

In an effort to increase revenues, Sky Air recently partnered with several airlines to create a joint frequent-flier program. In the new program, miles
earned on all partner airlines can be combined for reward tickets valid on any airline in the partnership. Sky Air’s CEO cites a recent increase in the number of passengers on all the partner airlines as evidence that the new frequent-flier program is having the desired effect. Industry analysts doubt the CEO’s claim.

Which of the following, if true, best supports the analysts’ position?

a) Air travel tends to be seasonal, with more passengers traveling during warmer months and holiday periods.
b) The recent increase in passenger rates for all the partner airlines was preceded by the lowest rates of air travel in the last decade.
c) Many travelers achieved reward tickets more quickly under the new frequent-flier program and redeemed them recently for free travel.
d) Travelers redeemed frequent-flier rewards on Sky Air’s partners more frequently than on Sky Air.
e) A study of frequent-flier programs showed that they generally result in increased long-term airline revenues.

I would go with A, which offers an alternative explanation. Seasonal trend explains the surge in passenger.

between A and B ! i choose B !

a. we dont know wether the increase happens during warmer months or holiday periods

b. the increase was preceded by very low rates. therefore the increase that already happened was due to the very low rates at that time.

(A)
lower rate does not mean more passenger.

OA is D.

This was a very tricky one. I picked A too

But once you know the OA it makes sense. D says that passengers redeemed their reward tickets with Sky Air’s partners. This implies that given a choice they prefer the partner airlines over Sky Air.

hmm ... I doubt the OA because CEO claims
"a recent increase in the number of passengers on all the partner airlines"

so his claim is still valid. Had he claimed Sky Air’s increased its number of passengers then it is a different story.

gayathri would you mind sharing the source of this question?

Praveen, this is from a PR handout that a friend passed on to me. It does not have any explanations

I think D makes the most sense in this case because they are talking about partnership bringing out the desired effects..

I find it hard to believe OA is D

Following the line of argument:

The passage starts off with "In an effort to increase revenues..." and later goes on to quote the CEO of SKY air in "...as evidence that the new frequent-flier program is having the desired effect.."

The desired effect is the increase in SKY's revenue figures and the CEO claims that it is increasing because of the frequent flier program. However, the analysts think otherwise. Now, there is a very thin line here - a classic trick. What do the analysts think otherwise about? (a) Whether or not he frequent flier program is helping the partnership or (b) Whether or not the revenue of SKY is increasing?

Since the original intention was to increase SKY's revenue, D is the only argument which leads us to think that in spite of the fact that the number of passengers has increased, there has been no direct impact on SKY's revenue because "Travelers redeemed frequent-flier rewards on Sky Air’s partners more frequently than on Sky Air."

This question is very vague. If it said like this in the beginning, I probably got it right.

In an effort to its increase revenues, Sky Air recently partnered ...

Without "its", I could say "revenues" are for all the partners, not only for Sky Air.

I would have chosen "D" if the stem had said

"Sky Air’s CEO cites a recent increase in the number of passengers on all the partner airlines Combined as evidence".

Other than combined it was confusing whether CEO was only refering to increase in passengers in the entire group or increase in each partner airlines.