Complimentary Beer/Wine Discontinued Jan 1, 2014 for transpacific/asia flights
#181
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 146
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?

#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: 1,238
You mean like that mythical frog in the pot of slowly heating water?

#184
Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2009
Programs: UA 1k
Posts: 1,208
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.

#185
Join Date: May 2004
Location: US
Programs: UA Lifetime Gold, IHG Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 880
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.

#186
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 502
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?!

#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 Plat
Posts: 59,434

#188
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: LAS ORD
Programs: AA Pro (mostly B6) OZ♦ (flying BR/UA), BA Silver Hyatt LT, Wynn Black, Cosmo Plat, Mlife Noir
Posts: 5,992

#189
Join Date: Dec 2006
Programs: United 1k
Posts: 1,614
sorry but does this affect micronesia flights?
(japan guam
guam manila etc)
thanks
(japan guam
guam manila etc)
thanks

#191
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Hoboken, NJ; Pembroke Pines, FL
Programs: CO Gold, SPG Gold
Posts: 2,939
Because shrill hyperbole aside, very few people will actually make carrier decisions based on whether there is free alcohol served in Y.
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.
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.

#192
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Dystopia. Part of Wokeland.
Programs: 1K, *G for "life", Global Entry, Hertz PC, and my wallet
Posts: 19,137
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.

#193
Join Date: Jun 2008
Programs: TK*G (E+), AA OWE (Plat Pro), IHG Plat Ambassador
Posts: 7,355

