Originally Posted by
NickB
Few passengers will make those kinds of detailed calculations. And if you do them, buying the extras on LCCs will typically replicate the experience for less than twice the price of the ticket. The danger is more one of the brand image of being perceived as somewhat better than LCCs being gradually destroyed, it seems to me.
Of course, I was merely pointing out how quickly AF domestic product lost its appeal during the last 24 months.
Even though no one will spend time compiling these differences between airlines before making a purchase, if a company relinquishes all its USP for a given market, at some point it will appear inferior to its competitors for
every customer -- whatever their focus is. You have to be better at something to justify a higher price point. AFKL used to be way better than LCC (being all-inclusive being, by itself, a selling point to some people). Now, it is barely superior to LLC on domestic routes, even for frequent flyers. When asked, pre-Covid, why I preferred AF to EasyJet when flying in France, I used to be able to list perks. It's getting harder and harder: I can bring up SkyP boarding (when it's actually implemented) and on-board service (for now). Making it a rational - even if subjective - choice is going to be impossible if they keep streamlining their offer at this rate.