New "enhancement": alcohol
Jun 15, 2018, 8:56 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Heraklion, Greece
Posts: 7,564
New "enhancement": alcohol
I found out yesterday that as of last April on all "seasonal" (summer) flights from/to HER, RHO and CFU but not from/to ATH alcoholic beverages can now only be purchased for money! €4 for a can of beer, €6-7 for a small bottle of wine and €6 for 50 cl of "hard" liquor. They also sell 50 gr of olives and 75 gr of cashew nuts, both for €3. I was told that Russian destinations are also exempt from that, but the flight purser who gave me the info was not 100% certain about that. She was not certain either about flights to/from the remaining Greek airports serving seasonal destinations.
Last edited by KLouis; Jun 18, 2018 at 8:33 pm
Jun 16, 2018, 8:01 am
#3
Join Date: Nov 2016
Programs: A3*G
Posts: 42
So on these specific flights one has to pay for:
- Alcoholic beverages
- Seat selection
The difference between Aegean and the other low-cost carriers (e.g. Ryanair, EasyJet, etc.) is only the food, which is still free on Aegean.
Are they testing this new policy on the summer routes, in order to evaluate customers' reactions and introduce it on all routes?
- Alcoholic beverages
- Seat selection
The difference between Aegean and the other low-cost carriers (e.g. Ryanair, EasyJet, etc.) is only the food, which is still free on Aegean.
Are they testing this new policy on the summer routes, in order to evaluate customers' reactions and introduce it on all routes?
Jun 16, 2018, 8:58 am
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Heraklion, Greece
Posts: 7,564
So on these specific flights one has to pay for:
- Alcoholic beverages
- Seat selection
The difference between Aegean and the other low-cost carriers (e.g. Ryanair, EasyJet, etc.) is only the food, which is still free on Aegean.
Are they testing this new policy on the summer routes, in order to evaluate customers' reactions and introduce it on all routes?
- Alcoholic beverages
- Seat selection
The difference between Aegean and the other low-cost carriers (e.g. Ryanair, EasyJet, etc.) is only the food, which is still free on Aegean.
Are they testing this new policy on the summer routes, in order to evaluate customers' reactions and introduce it on all routes?
Jun 16, 2018, 4:46 pm
#5
Join Date: Nov 2016
Programs: A3*G
Posts: 42
Besides food service on A3 flights, I can't see any other significant differences. One would argue, that seats in Ryanair and EasyJet are more dense. Let's wait for the arrival of the new A3 Airbus planes.
'My point is that the A3 experience is constantly declining. They are offering less, while the airfares are sky-high.
Jun 16, 2018, 6:55 pm
#6
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: BRU
Programs: A3 *G & FB G
Posts: 639
I wasn't exaggerating. The LCCs I had in mind are the ones I gave as examples.
Besides food service on A3 flights, I can't see any other significant differences. One would argue, that seats in Ryanair and EasyJet are more dense. Let's wait for the arrival of the new A3 Airbus planes.
'My point is that the A3 experience is constantly declining. They are offering less, while the airfares are sky-high.
Besides food service on A3 flights, I can't see any other significant differences. One would argue, that seats in Ryanair and EasyJet are more dense. Let's wait for the arrival of the new A3 Airbus planes.
'My point is that the A3 experience is constantly declining. They are offering less, while the airfares are sky-high.
However, we can't deny A3 is a sweet spot to gain *A Gold and thus the *A benefits are there in comparison to low cost carriers.
Let us hope their FFP will not become revenue-based like M&M...
Jun 17, 2018, 3:09 am
#7
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 4,477
I wasn't exaggerating. The LCCs I had in mind are the ones I gave as examples.
Besides food service on A3 flights, I can't see any other significant differences. One would argue, that seats in Ryanair and EasyJet are more dense. Let's wait for the arrival of the new A3 Airbus planes.
'My point is that the A3 experience is constantly declining. They are offering less, while the airfares are sky-high.
Besides food service on A3 flights, I can't see any other significant differences. One would argue, that seats in Ryanair and EasyJet are more dense. Let's wait for the arrival of the new A3 Airbus planes.
'My point is that the A3 experience is constantly declining. They are offering less, while the airfares are sky-high.
A3 are still far ahead!
At least you can still get:
1, Free seat selection as Gold as long as you are not fussy about sitting in front
2, Free beverages as long as you do not order alcohol.
Point me to one single LCC in Europe offering free seat selection, free beverage service and free food?
Criticism has to be fair. I think you have not been fair to criticize A3. Like KLouis said, you have to compare A3 to American legacy carriers, not LCC. At least A3 still provide all service for free while introduce payable portion of service. But they have free version for you which LCC does not.
Jun 17, 2018, 5:29 am
#8
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Paris
Programs: Miles&Bonus *G
Posts: 318
Have you been on BA or IB airplane yet? They are pseudo-LCC now.
A3 are still far ahead!
At least you can still get:
1, Free seat selection as Gold as long as you are not fussy about sitting in front
2, Free beverages as long as you do not order alcohol.
Point me to one single LCC in Europe offering free seat selection, free beverage service and free food?
Criticism has to be fair. I think you have not been fair to criticize A3. Like KLouis said, you have to compare A3 to American legacy carriers, not LCC. At least A3 still provide all service for free while introduce payable portion of service. But they have free version for you which LCC does not.
A3 are still far ahead!
At least you can still get:
1, Free seat selection as Gold as long as you are not fussy about sitting in front
2, Free beverages as long as you do not order alcohol.
Point me to one single LCC in Europe offering free seat selection, free beverage service and free food?
Criticism has to be fair. I think you have not been fair to criticize A3. Like KLouis said, you have to compare A3 to American legacy carriers, not LCC. At least A3 still provide all service for free while introduce payable portion of service. But they have free version for you which LCC does not.
Jun 17, 2018, 7:42 am
#9
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,882
I found out yesterday that as of last April on all "seasonal" (summer) flights from/to HER, RHO and CFU but not from/to ATH alcoholic beverages can now only be purchased for money! €4 for a can of beer, €6-7 for a small bottle of wine and €6 for 50 cl of "hard" liquor. They also sell 50 gr of olives and 75 gr of cashew nuts, both for €3. I was told that Russian destinations are also exempt from that, but the flight purser who gave me the info was not 100% certain about that. She was not certain either about flights to/from the remaining seasonal Greek airports serving seasonal destinations.
Jun 17, 2018, 3:09 pm
#10
Join Date: Nov 2017
Posts: 167
I flew recently Iberia and Royal Air Maroc on the same day, both in Economy.
- Iberia: brand new A321, true low-cost experience, nothing is for free, and the legroom is absolutely awful.
- RAM: old 737-700, but legroom, seat comfort, food and drinks in Economy were vastly superior to an intra-european Business class. (The actual business class on the same flight had a comfy 2+2 configuration, similar to legacy American carriers).
15 years ago, European airlines were providing the same service on Economy that RAM is (still) providing today in Economy.
The service that European carriers are providing in regional Business today is similar to the one they provided in Economy 15 years ago.
So yes, Aegean is still way better than a low-cost carrier like Iberia; but we can legitimately be afraid of where this is going.
Last edited by LacMajeur; Jun 18, 2018 at 2:08 pm
Jun 18, 2018, 8:31 pm
#12
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Heraklion, Greece
Posts: 7,564
Yes; read my OP a little more carefully. It's all in there!
PS There was never free alcohol on domestic flights, as a matter of fact, they were always alcohol-free...
PS There was never free alcohol on domestic flights, as a matter of fact, they were always alcohol-free...
Last edited by KLouis; Jun 19, 2018 at 1:08 am Reason: Added PS
Jun 18, 2018, 11:48 pm
#13
Moderator: British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Jan 2009
Programs: Battleaxe Alliance
Posts: 22,127
It's pretty much about what they are competing with, it seems? Those are leisure routes and they are mostly competing with LCCs and 'legacy' airlines with BoB (buy on board) service in Y like BA. They have no incentive to offer free alcoholic drinks in Y when their competitors are offering essentially nothing (not even soft drinks) for free.
Not that I'm saying it should be liked, but I'm just saying that I can see why they do that.
Not that I'm saying it should be liked, but I'm just saying that I can see why they do that.
