Originally Posted by Thalassa
Regardless of how good the Cazanove Grand Apparat is (it is actually one of Cazanove's entry level cuvees), it is simply a surprising, and, ultimately, the wrong champange choice for BA F.
(Paying) F flyers expect (and rightly so) a certain level of exclusivity and prestige. In terms of champagne that translates to a Grande Marque and to a good cuvee at that. Grand Apparat is neither.
Financially, this makes no sense for BA, either. A bottle of Grand Apparat probably costs them around GBP 10 - 15 wholesale. Even Krug would probably be max. GBP 40 wholesale (it goes for about GBP 70 retail in taxation-heavy Finland). I.e. BA is saving maybe GBP 25 per bottle. Assuming 10 F pax, each one drinking a full bottle, the savings per flight are GBP 250, tops.
Assuming that an intercontinental one-way F ticket goes for GBP 2500 on average, BA loses in the bargain if there is more than 10 % chance even one of the F pax decides to move their business somewhere else even for one flight.
I realize the above calculation is simplistic, but I still think it is illuminating. BA beancounters are simply not seeing the big picture on this one. The premium product from one of the premier carriers should feature premium products...
Finnair, for crying out loud, is serving Pol Roger Vintage in their J class -- something in an entirely different league from the Cazanove.
Cheers,
T.
^ I agree wholeheartedly with everything you sais except one thing. AY has consistently good wine in J, which has often been better than BA's F offering and always better than BA's J winelist. It is thus not surprising that they are serving Pol Roger Vintage.
I think BA have decided they have a captive market of PAX that will pay for the convenience of direct ex LHR flights and their J and F seat (probably W too). The reasoning appears to be "even if we take the P*** these idiots will carry on paying". I mean Heidsick Monopole served in J now I hear is a workmanlike sparkling wine, which I have served myself at partys (when it could be sourced for c.£8.60 a bottle via Tesco Online). Contrast this with even the J offering of any other carrier I can think of. As for serving a non Grande Marque in F well I think I have expressed my opinion enough on that subject elsewhere in this thread.
Since I am not an idiot this sort of thing has a big effect on my paid flying, and thus I will be choosing alternatives wherever possible until the situation improves.