champagne...
 

Flew ZHR-YYZ on Thursday. One of the FA's said that they are to no longer serve champagne (in J) prior to departure on that route but that FRA-YYZ they do serve it. She said that their 'monopoly' routes are having 'cut backs' in service.

Dorian

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This doesn't strike me as very logical. 32 baby glasses of champagne cost, at worst, about CAD 150. Total annual cost no more than 55K CAD. Since half the people in J will usually consume mineral water pre-take off, anyway, the cost consequence is not significant. (Especially when they are stocking champagne on board anyway).

I think the explanation is far more likely that the Swiss are imposing punitive duties on opening bottles on the ground.

In order to keep the bar stock exempt from duty and excise taxes, the seals can't come off until the aircraft is off the ground, and the seals have to go back on before landing.

That means that for pre-departure drinks the airline has to either buy it locally (duty and tax paid) or else they have to pay excise and duty on the stock that they have brought in and intend to serve while on the ground.

For stations like LHR and CDG where there is an MLL, it is easy. The airline has to stock that bar anyway, so they just source the extra cases they need. For FRA, they might have a deal with LH on catering procurement (or else they send over the product they have sourced elsewhere in the Common Market).

But ZRH is not an alliance hub, and it is not in the Common Market, which probably makes the logistics more difficult.

Very interesting insights and a very plausible explanation! Impressive!

Dorian

Of course, that explanation wouldn't explain why CP has now stopped serving pre-flight beverages on domestic flights. These are non-alcholic beverages -- water, and a alternative of iced tea, orange juice, or cran-apple juice, depending on the season. 24 glasses of this stuff shouldn't cost more than a dollar or two per flight, when purchased in bulk.

Same applies to the lack of pre-landing candies, only I'd imagine the cost of those would be pennies per flight. Pretty sad, given that the worst of the worst, Northworst, still offers these "benefits."

Has this happened on AC domestic as well.

At end of February AC was still serving pre-flight drinks on transcontinental runs.

Flying YYZ-ZRH 2nite...will see what they do there...supposedly champagne service is terminated on this route...

Dorian

Domestically--there's not much excuse.

If I was being generous and understanding, I might allow for an Einstein excuse (i.e. time and space). On a 767, with a longer boarding period, two aisles and a galley with two routes of access, you can more effectively fawn on J pax than on an A320 with one aisle, one access route, and almost as many pax (24 as opposed to 36/35/25).

However, if I was being cynical (as is often my wont) I would chalk it up to parsimoniousness and a general decline in service.

Just flew YYZ-YEG in J on Cdn and there was no pre-flight drink, as KH has noted. Chatted with flight attendent who was also disappointed they no longer do the French service with the main course. She said she really enjoyed it. And from tonight's meal, it only reinforces the reality that vegetables can only be made properly in flight when cooked separately and added to the plate, not when reheated with the main course on a single plate. Glad I got to enjoy a final taste of the full service on the 29th. Now we're all being brought down to AC's mediocre service standards!

They served champagne on pre-flight on YYZ-ZRH I just got off of.

Dorian

Let us know what happens on the way back...

[I hope this isn't the start of a three month project or anything http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif ]

AC...that was the way back! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

Dorian

'the swiss' just abolished (per july-1-1999) all discriminatory (formerly directed against imports, to protect local viniculture) alcoholic taxes/duties for spirits and all alcoholic beverages http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

So, the timing for giving up serving champagne on the ground, when departing from Switzerland, isn't very logic http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/frown.gif

... and I wouldn't mind to have a bigger turnover of champagne-deliveries to ZRH-airport ... so please inform your airline and ask for it - thank you.

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So I think the conclusion from this thread is that Dorian's experience was a one-off.

Further, it appears to me that the explanation offered to Dorian by the FA was a rational conjecture established by the interlocutor in relation to certain circumstances to create an impression of verisimilitude whereas, in fact, assessing the response--in light of more objective criteria--against standards of factual accuracy and veracity reveals certain lacunae which are not amenable to consistent explanation.

Which is diplomatic speak for, "She made it up."

AC*SE LOL http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif