HighLife shop to close on Euro services
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 3,547
HighLife shop to close on Euro services
I was speaking to a BA eurofleet crew member yesterday and was advised that Highlife Shop will be closing for good on all Euro services in January 2018. Apparently the soon to arrive A321 NEO's will have very restricted galley space and to bring all Euro services in line, on board purchases will be reduced to those of a M&S nature only.
I guess my RFS ciggie runs to Switzerland were good while they lasted ☺
I guess my RFS ciggie runs to Switzerland were good while they lasted ☺
#2
Join Date: Jul 2014
Programs: Mucci de l'Arbitrage
Posts: 927
Makes sense from a space rationalisation, customer bother and probably financially as well (rarely see anyone purchasing anything).
Arent your ciggie trips cheaper to buy at the GVA or ZRH duty free shops anyway (including arrivals which have great selections)?
Arent your ciggie trips cheaper to buy at the GVA or ZRH duty free shops anyway (including arrivals which have great selections)?
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 3,547
There not a great deal in it cost wise - still worth a day out to ZRH/GVA/BSL compared to duty paid prices in the UK. The additional sweetener for me with Highlife shop is zero exchange rates/fees when purchasing on board in as opposed to at the airport in CHF plus the additional Avios earned with Highlife shop. My better half also usually finds something to purchase on most flights... usually some sort of cosmetic.
#4
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2017
Programs: BAEC
Posts: 325
I am led to believe that the fall-out from this could be even more severe, as the space available is smaller than anyone had previously realised. There is quite a serious debate raging over whether it is better to cap CE at a certain small-ish row limit (and take a hit on CE revenue/Avios availability) or load even less BOB stock (and annoy ET pax some more). The fact that it could easily be resolved by a return to outstation catering doesn't seem to have occurred to anyone.
#5
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 7,168
I am led to believe that the fall-out from this could be even more severe, as the space available is smaller than anyone had previously realised. There is quite a serious debate raging over whether it is better to cap CE at a certain small-ish row limit (and take a hit on CE revenue/Avios availability) or load even less BOB stock (and annoy ET pax some more). The fact that it could easily be resolved by a return to outstation catering doesn't seem to have occurred to anyone.
As always trying to do too many things at the same time and consistently failing.
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist, Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Somewhere between 0 and 13,000 metres high
Programs: AF/KL Life Plat, BA GGL+GfL, ALL Plat, Hilton Diam, Marriott Gold, blablablah, etc
Posts: 30,354
Amen! Maybe slightly less ridiculous toilet issues in Y as BoB+shopping sometimes blocked the aisle for the entire flight!
#7
Join Date: Jan 2015
Posts: 67
#8
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: London
Programs: BAEC, AA, Emirates, Hilton, Hyatt, Taj Hotels
Posts: 2,339
Won't the removal of Duty Free reduce the earnings of crew who, as I understand it, were paid commission on sales?
#9
Join Date: Jun 2014
Programs: Executive Club: Gold - Flying Blue: Gold
Posts: 1,368
It all shambles. I work for a big IT/Network company. The thing you do in a transformation is to study the customer journey from explore and buying until checking out. You want to make sure that you don't forget any aspect of operation and customer experience as you do your transformation. One area of transformation might impact others you might have not thought about. BA has done the worst in that it focused on cost cutting everywhere without assessing the impacts. That's why they are not able to provide BoB at LCY, a decent meal in Y on flights to DME and Duty Free sales in Europe. Cramming more seats, reducing galley space, insistig on everything needed to be paid in ET has lead to operational difficulties and falling customer ratings.
#11
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2017
Programs: BAEC
Posts: 325
And yes, it probably will.
Companies are still hoping for a 'best case' Brexit (despite our government's apparent best efforts to move away from one!), which will mean staying in a Customs union.
#12
formerly southsidesilver
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: San Diego,CA
Programs: BA Gold, UA Silver, HH Diamond
Posts: 996
It won't be missed by me. Mainly just junk I don't need being sold, so will be nice to not have it on short routes where most people don't buy anything.
#14
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 7,168
Is this really an issue? Wizz manages just fine - and with a significantly longer average sector length - and BA's AMM/BEY ex-BMED flights have a higher weight from the fittings and cargo and don't suffer. Well, it could become an issue if BA try to cut back on costs by declaring a lower MTOW again (as they did on some of the A319s...), but that's solved through paperwork!
As for the MED... They do suffer, especially with excess bags on those lovely AMM and BEY and that extra fuel tank.
#15
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2017
Programs: BAEC
Posts: 325
It allegedly came from Airbus... I'm not involved in the project if not incidentally and marginally, but on certain sectors it seems that it might possibly create some sort of issue.
As for the MED... They do suffer, especially with excess bags on those lovely AMM and BEY and that extra fuel tank.
As for the MED... They do suffer, especially with excess bags on those lovely AMM and BEY and that extra fuel tank.