Protein Balls in the Lounge [Niche product promotion, LHR F lounge]
May 23, 2018, 6:26 am
#16
Community Director
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Norwich, UK
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I fully agree with you here, looks like some cheap stand which you'd see in a shopping mall and doesn't belong in any lounge especially in a First Class Lounge at Heathrow but I'd also apply that to GC or any other airline lounge. It just doesn't seem aesthetically right.
Out of curiosity do any other lounges do this sort of thing with commercial stands? I personally haven't seen any but I am not that well travelled compared to many, many folks on here.
Out of curiosity do any other lounges do this sort of thing with commercial stands? I personally haven't seen any but I am not that well travelled compared to many, many folks on here.
If you were elsewhere in the lounge you'd probably not even know it was there.
Unlike the Samsung 'in yer face' displays these are very low key, the products likely have a reasonably wide appeal, so I don't foresee many objections in practice. By adding something different to the food offering I think it probably, on balance, adds to the lounge experience rather than detracts from it.
May 23, 2018, 6:26 am
#17
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Herts, UK
Programs: BAEC GGL, HH Diamond.
Posts: 3,177
I fully agree with you here, looks like some cheap stand which you'd see in a shopping mall and doesn't belong in any lounge especially in a First Class Lounge at Heathrow but I'd also apply that to GC or any other airline lounge. It just doesn't seem aesthetically right.
Out of curiosity do any other lounges do this sort of thing with commercial stands? I personally haven't seen any but I am not that well travelled compared to many, many folks on here.
Out of curiosity do any other lounges do this sort of thing with commercial stands? I personally haven't seen any but I am not that well travelled compared to many, many folks on here.
May 23, 2018, 6:34 am
#18
Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: UK
Posts: 10,148
Strangely enough, there doesn't seem quite the same reaction to the various beer, cider and other alcohol led promotions, but yes there are promotions in GC and occasionally CCR too. There would be fairly obvious reasons why Flounge is preferred by some marketers.
May 23, 2018, 6:36 am
#20
Join Date: Dec 2016
Location: London, UK
Programs: BAEC Silver
Posts: 54
Isn't this a positive thing? It's not in your face, and you have the choice if you wish to engage with the promotional stands or not. I could understand if it caused disruption to the lounge experience.
May 23, 2018, 6:41 am
#21
Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: UK
Posts: 10,148
I was actually sitting right next to it last week and didn't find it particularly intrusive - in fact it was quite interesting to hear some of the things the rep was talking about.
If you were elsewhere in the lounge you'd probably not even know it was there.
Unlike the Samsung 'in yer face' displays these are very low key, the products likely have a reasonably wide appeal, so I don't foresee many objections in practice. By adding something different to the food offering I think it probably, on balance, adds to the lounge experience rather than detracts from it.
If you were elsewhere in the lounge you'd probably not even know it was there.
Unlike the Samsung 'in yer face' displays these are very low key, the products likely have a reasonably wide appeal, so I don't foresee many objections in practice. By adding something different to the food offering I think it probably, on balance, adds to the lounge experience rather than detracts from it.
Re other airline lounges I was meaning other oneworld FLounges etc, JAL, CX, QR, QF etc. Genuinely curious! Or is it just a BA thing?
Pete
Last edited by PETER01; May 23, 2018 at 6:46 am
May 23, 2018, 6:45 am
#22
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Join Date: Aug 2010
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The concern stems from a misplaced understanding of the lounge. A vastly changing value proposition which means that if carriers, BA included, do not find alternate sources of revenue to support lounges, the concept will either go away or the service vastly reduced.
Lounges, after all, are not free, they are simply included in the price of a ticket. That is fine if the lounge is truly limited to paid F. But, it is not and as soon as one starts expanding the population permitted entry in an environment where BA's large corporate customers are demanding better price control, the result will be to either increase commercial opportunities or reduce the lounge concept.
Lounges, after all, are not free, they are simply included in the price of a ticket. That is fine if the lounge is truly limited to paid F. But, it is not and as soon as one starts expanding the population permitted entry in an environment where BA's large corporate customers are demanding better price control, the result will be to either increase commercial opportunities or reduce the lounge concept.
May 23, 2018, 6:46 am
#23
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: UK. BAEC AAdvantage
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Posts: 3,671
Yay. This is great.
A lot of the 'snack' stuff you can take on a plane is very carb/sugar heavy, and it doesn't fill you up. Provided they have good behavior around allergies (i.e. have one or two that are glutenfree/dairyfree/vegan) they are exactly the sort of thing that are great for a meal-backup on board.
A lot of the 'snack' stuff you can take on a plane is very carb/sugar heavy, and it doesn't fill you up. Provided they have good behavior around allergies (i.e. have one or two that are glutenfree/dairyfree/vegan) they are exactly the sort of thing that are great for a meal-backup on board.
May 23, 2018, 6:57 am
#24
Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: UK
Posts: 10,148
The concern stems from a misplaced understanding of the lounge. A vastly changing value proposition which means that if carriers, BA included, do not find alternate sources of revenue to support lounges, the concept will either go away or the service vastly reduced.
Lounges, after all, are not free, they are simply included in the price of a ticket. That is fine if the lounge is truly limited to paid F. But, it is not and as soon as one starts expanding the population permitted entry in an environment where BA's large corporate customers are demanding better price control, the result will be to either increase commercial opportunities or reduce the lounge concept.
Lounges, after all, are not free, they are simply included in the price of a ticket. That is fine if the lounge is truly limited to paid F. But, it is not and as soon as one starts expanding the population permitted entry in an environment where BA's large corporate customers are demanding better price control, the result will be to either increase commercial opportunities or reduce the lounge concept.
I hope we don't see the day when the inside of a BA LHR lounge is like a Football Stadium with advertisers all over the windows, stands, tables etc and BA staff have to have Adidas, Coca-Cola, AN Other on their uniforms!
May 23, 2018, 7:26 am
#27
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Brighton. UK
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Posts: 14,195
I don't have a problem with this as long as they are not blaring out mucus or shouting or have flashing lights.
Perhaps BA could locate them in the corridor between the F Wing and the lounge rather than in the lounge instead? Though weren't their plans to put some 'high end' retailers in there?
Perhaps BA could locate them in the corridor between the F Wing and the lounge rather than in the lounge instead? Though weren't their plans to put some 'high end' retailers in there?
May 23, 2018, 7:32 am
#28
Join Date: Feb 2008
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I'm procrastinating, so thought I'd go check out the nutrition of these protein balls. I picked a random flavor and found that 86% of the calories in these protein balls is... not actually protein. They're higher fat and less protein than eating 1/2 a steak sandwich.
I wonder if BA thought that the Protein Ball branding shared the same values as the descriptions of its Business Class seats and food?
I think BA should have stuck with Tullamore Dew in that area.
I wonder if BA thought that the Protein Ball branding shared the same values as the descriptions of its Business Class seats and food?
I think BA should have stuck with Tullamore Dew in that area.
May 23, 2018, 7:55 am
#30
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Scots girl in London
Programs: BAEC Silver
Posts: 257
I'm procrastinating, so thought I'd go check out the nutrition of these protein balls. I picked a random flavor and found that 86% of the calories in these protein balls is... not actually protein. They're higher fat and less protein than eating 1/2 a steak sandwich.
I wonder if BA thought that the Protein Ball branding shared the same values as the descriptions of its Business Class seats and food?
I think BA should have stuck with Tullamore Dew in that area.
I wonder if BA thought that the Protein Ball branding shared the same values as the descriptions of its Business Class seats and food?
I think BA should have stuck with Tullamore Dew in that area.