Complimentary Beer/Wine Discontinued Jan 1, 2014 for transpacific/asia flights
Dec 22, 13, 11:33 pm
#181
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 144
But here's an honest question for airline folks to ponder: Aside from the possibility that a loss of even one revenue seat per flight eliminates the cost savings completely, doesn't the free distribution of a little alcohol help the bottom line in other ways?
Perhaps people are more comfortable with free drinks and 1" less pitch, allowing a full row more seats per plane. Or maybe a couple drinks and they don't notice the cheaper food or the lack of IFE. Wouldn't a little wine SAVE an airline $ because it extends the life of their old worn out Y seats?
Perhaps people are more comfortable with free drinks and 1" less pitch, allowing a full row more seats per plane. Or maybe a couple drinks and they don't notice the cheaper food or the lack of IFE. Wouldn't a little wine SAVE an airline $ because it extends the life of their old worn out Y seats?
Dec 23, 13, 7:23 am
#182
Join Date: Dec 2007
Programs: Star Alliance
Posts: 5,049
Originally Posted by danville 1K
Please don't! You're just giving them more ideas.....
Dec 23, 13, 3:06 pm
#183
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: SEA, OGG(I wish)
Programs: was UA 1K now Gold, cuz UA 1.3 MM; HA,DL,AS (no status in these), Marriott Gold
Posts: 1,234
Originally Posted by Denver Enzo
Perhaps people are more comfortable with free drinks and 1" less pitch, allowing a full row more seats per plane. Or maybe a couple drinks and they don't notice the cheaper food or the lack of IFE. ....
Dec 23, 13, 3:46 pm
#184
Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2009
Programs: UA 1k
Posts: 1,208
Originally Posted by Silver Fox
I remember when they brought it in, without any announcement that I noticed, for a TATL flight that I started in December (free drinks) and returned in January (not free) and just thought they are nickel and diming. The problem for me is I am 1K and cannot be bothered to start again with another airline so it does not deter me. I just think it is cheap and is just another part of the race to the bottom.
Dec 23, 13, 3:58 pm
#185
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Houston
Programs: UA Lifetime Gold, IHG Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 795
I hope they dont do it. They dont know what they are losing. It could drive away many Asian customers, especially Japanese. Once the word spreads, yields/loads could suffer. There are other ways to save money, may be increase the oneway redemptions by 10%, DL does not even have oneway redemptions.
Dec 23, 13, 4:41 pm
#186
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 462
It seems to me that if all these predictions about United losing customers are true, the company will go under and merge with Delta or AA. I wonder how many people here would view that as a win?!
Dec 23, 13, 4:51 pm
#187
Moderator: United Airlines; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.85MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Gold
Posts: 49,275
Originally Posted by maskedmesothorium
It seems to me that if all these predictions about United losing customers are true, the company will go under and merge with Delta or AA. I wonder how many people here would view that as a win?!
Dec 23, 13, 5:09 pm
#188
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: LAS TPE HND LHR
Programs: BA Meltdown soft-landed Silver, OZ♦+ (BR/UA), B6 Mosaic, WoH♦, Mlife Noir, TR 7*
Posts: 5,170
Originally Posted by invisible
Guys, honestly, you think UA's management is so dumb that they can't figure out this on their own?
Dec 23, 13, 5:55 pm
#189
Join Date: Dec 2006
Programs: United 1k
Posts: 1,473
sorry but does this affect micronesia flights?
(japan guam
guam manila etc)
thanks
(japan guam
guam manila etc)
thanks
Dec 23, 13, 6:52 pm
#190
Join Date: Mar 2006
Programs: AA EXP, UA 1K, F9 Elite, Hyatt Diamond, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Gold
Posts: 1,307
Originally Posted by invisible
Guys, honestly, you think UA's management is so dumb that they can't figure out this on their own? Don't be such naive please...
Dec 24, 13, 3:59 am
#191
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Hoboken, NJ; Pembroke Pines, FL
Programs: CO Gold, SPG Gold
Posts: 2,939
Originally Posted by kettle1
My question. Why does anyone still "choose" UA? Why?
Rational fliers should estimate the number of ill-advised drinks they will consume on the flight, multiply by $8, add that to the price of the ticket, and then make their purchasing decision.
I don't see many people doing that much drinking on flights anymore. And are people really saying that HVFs would really get in a huff about free sub-par alcohol? I'd more likely imagine that what HVFs really want is the ability to buy top-shelf alcohol on-board.
Dec 24, 13, 4:23 am
#192
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: LHR/SFO
Programs: 1K (until 2021), *G for "life", Global Entry, Hertz PC, Cadbury's Rum and Raisin Emeritus
Posts: 16,162
I would like free alcohol. The problem I have is that it is just nickel and diming. Is it enough to make me leave, good lord no. Does that make it a "sensible business decision" because "no-one's leaving"....of course not. It's a bit like a crash happening and someone saying "well no-one died". So that's alright then.
Dec 24, 13, 5:53 am
#193
Join Date: Jun 2008
Programs: TK*G (E+), AA OWE (EXP), IHG Plat
Posts: 6,563
Originally Posted by lensman
Because shrill hyperbole aside, very few people will actually make carrier decisions based on whether there is free alcohol served in Y.
). Quite a few of them requested to fly TATL on AB (Air Berlin - oneWorld carrier, but also partially owned by Etihad) only because booze (including hard booze) is for free.
Dec 24, 13, 10:57 pm
#194
Join Date: Oct 2009
Programs: UA 1P; HH Diamond; MR Gold
Posts: 83
I see what you did there! 
Originally Posted by kale73
The ethical path would be to steer those passengers who express a need to drink to AA. :-:
Dec 25, 13, 5:50 am
#195
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Alameda, CA, USA
Posts: 794
Originally Posted by bryanwallace
sorry but does this affect micronesia flights?
(japan guam
guam manila etc)
thanks
(japan guam
guam manila etc)
thanks
