Oh Dear BMI Lowers economy!

[Obi Wan Kenobi]

For those of you looking to go with BMI to the USA how to reduce the facilities in Economy:
From their web site
http://www.flybmi.com/trade/en-gb/sectionhome.aspx?p=1904&rid=774


long haul - paid for drinks and snacks 27.09.05

bmi wish to advised the introduction of paid for drinks and snacks- long haul economy cabin - see below for furthere information.

From November, economy customers travelling on our long haul services will have the opportunity to purchase from an updated range of savoury and sweet snacks in-flight. The updated selection will be featured in the voyager onboard shopping guide and the snacks will be available to purchase from the crew in between meal services.

We will also be introducing a paid for alcoholic bar service in the economy cabin from the 3rd of January. Soft drinks will continue to be free of charge and the premium economy and business cabin will retain a fully complimentary service of soft and alcoholic drinks.

This move brings us in line with other carriers such as United who currently charge for alcoholic drinks. This change will give us a greater differentiation between the premium economy and economy cabins.

Our cabin services and product development are working together to ensure that the amended service fits with our longhaul philosophy of delivering a stylish and personal service. Details of the drinks range including prices will be listed in the menus that are handed out by the cabin crew, pa announcements advising customers will also be made in-flight.

Details of the range and prices will be available shortly in the meantime please can you ensure that all your communications are updated immediately to ensure that "all customers are aware in advance of travel."

 

[Bexx]

This change will give us a greater differentiation between the premium economy and economy cabins.

What a strange "reason" to give for doing this! Don't add a perk to PE, just take something away from those in ecomony instead - that will open up the divide nicely!!!

 

[Obi Wan Kenobi]

By the way, do you like the spelling and grammer?
that ,as you can see from the link, is how the press release was sent out!

 

[Scottish-Helen]

Unfortunately many airlines are having to cut costs in order to compete with lower fares. I personally don't usually drink that much on a plane and would rather the fares were kept low and I paid for my drinks than pay more for my fare so that someone else can drink. These things were never free in the first place they were just costed into the fares.

I flew with BMI on my honeymoon to St Lucia and they were excellent, this wouldn't put me off flying with them.

 

[Obi Wan Kenobi]

Unfortunately many airlines are having to cut costs in order to compete with lower fares. I personally don't usually drink that much on a plane and would rather the fares were kept low and I paid for my drinks than pay more for my fare so that someone else can drink. These things were never free in the first place they were just costed into the fares.

I flew with BMI on my honeymoon to St Lucia and they were excellent, this wouldn't put me off flying with them.

IF BMi had lower fares, that could be true, but they are expensive and will continuen to be so. Also I am sure that one day, you will be able to have Ryanair levels of service so that you can have your "cheap is all that matters" level of flights

 

[jdybnsn]

What a shame they are cutting back - I am a big fan of BMI and am sorry they are going down this route. I always thought that the quality of their service put them a cut above the rest.

Just hope this penny pinching does not continue.

 

[Hilary]

What a strange "reason" to give for doing this! Don't add a perk to PE, just take something away from those in ecomony instead - that will open up the divide nicely!!!

LOL!

Unfortunately many airlines are having to cut costs in order to compete with lower fares. I personally don't usually drink that much on a plane and would rather the fares were kept low and I paid for my drinks than pay more for my fare so that someone else can drink. These things were never free in the first place they were just costed into the fares.

As another passenger who, along with both DDs, doesn't trouble the drinks trolley during the flight , I have to agree. We're are happy to pay for the flight as a means of getting from A to B and, as long as it's safe, maybe we don't want to be paying inclusive prices for products and services we won't use. We don't all choose fully inclusive resorts for holidays; maybe we don't all want fully inclusive flights either Surely more choice in the market-place is ultimately better for the consumer?

Also, with more and more emphasis being placed on physical well-being and health and safety in-flight, and the (thankfully, rare) problem of alcohol-fuelled air-rage, maybe 'free' alcohol on flights will become a thing of the past on more airlines.

 

[Pootle]

Also, with more and more emphasis being placed on physical well-being and health and safety in-flight, and the (thankfully, rare) problem of alcohol-fuelled air-rage, maybe 'free' alcohol on flights will become a thing of the past on more airlines.

I couldn't agree more!

I don't use bmi, but friends who regularly do, are always very satisfied with them.

 

[Obi Wan Kenobi]

LOL!

As another passenger who, along with both DDs, doesn't trouble the drinks trolley during the flight , I have to agree. We're are happy to pay for the flight as a means of getting from A to B and, as long as it's safe, maybe we don't want to be paying inclusive prices for products and services we won't use. We don't all choose fully inclusive resorts for holidays; maybe we don't all want fully inclusive flights either Surely more choice in the market-place is ultimately better for the consumer?

Also, with more and more emphasis being placed on physical well-being and health and safety in-flight, and the (thankfully, rare) problem of alcohol-fuelled air-rage, maybe 'free' alcohol on flights will become a thing of the past on more airlines.

As I said, that may be so for you in terms of alcohol, but what about others and also, further cost cutting measures that airlines such as Ryanair are going down the road on, i.e. Why not pay for food, not everyone wants the food, why not reduce weight by stopping the seats from recining, as not everyone needs to recline the seat? why not push the seats together more so you can get more passengers in? not everyone is 6 feet tall, because it does not effect an individual, is no reason to reduce the service for what is already one of the most expensive airlines in terms of ticket price. Why on earth should we be going backwards in terms of facilities ans service provided by airlines?
I want to arrive in comfort, in quality not on a bus. Then again, i do not subscribe to the malaise of this country, that "cheap" regardless of everything else is the way we should go.

BMi are in the death throes and this will just further their demise.

 

[Hilary]

I want to arrive in comfort, in quality not on a bus.

I wholeheartedly agree that the option to do so is wonderful for those who want it. But surely it's not unreasonable for those who don't want / don't need / can't afford anything over and above a safe 'bus' to also have that option. (Oh, and I think some of your other 'suggestions' would suit me, too! )

We tend to stay in resorts in Florida that provide facilities over and above those you might expect to find in a Days Inn (no offence intended to Days Inn, BTW! ). Does that mean everyone else should be denied the opportunity to choose Days Inn if that's what fits their requirements? If I want to buy a car, should I be limited to something that does more / costs more than I need it to, just because it's available? What if I'm happy with a cheap, small, no-frills car?

I still think that consumer choice is a positive feature in pretty much any commodity, flights included

 

[Obi Wan Kenobi]

As you say, there are already the "Days Inn" segument for the people who want the no frills hotels to go with the no frills airlines that already ply the Atlantic.
BMi are going down this route and will lose buisness to other airlines because of this, the same way as if the Hilton chain did the same and became more Days Inn.

To my mind these are backwards steps from an airline that charges more than other airlines for what will be an inferior service, and if people accpt inferior service, that becaomes the norm, rather like buying a car on cost not quality, all the models become rubbish but who cares, its cheap eh?

Your holiday begins at the airport, not at the hotel. In fact, mine starts the night before at the airport hotel

 

[Miffy2003]

If cheaper flights meant I could go more often I would choose the cheaper flights.

I agree with everything Hilary says about consumer choice I don't drink much (if at all) alcohol - wise on the plane so I guess you could argue that my seat price is subsidising those that do drink a lot.

I don't agree with the message they have used to "sell" this new strategy but I don't have an issue with the idea itself.

 

[TraceyL]

If removing this 'perk' means lower BMi prices then that's fine & great for consumer choice - but if the price is to remain the same........

 

[Scottish-Helen]

BMi are going down this route and will lose buisness to other airlines because of this,

I have worked in travel for the past 15 years and unfortunately this sort of thing is just the way airlines have been going. More and more people are able to travel nowadays because really the cost of holidays has not gone up and in many cases has got cheaper over the years and the airlines still have to make a profit. I fly Ryanair a lot these days because I'm living in Dublin. I agree that the service is not the greatest but I can go home anytime I want because the fares are so cheap. I remember when flights to Ireland were over £200 a go, now I pay about £30.

Going back to the service issue with BMI, just because they want money for a drink doesn't mean that the staff are all suddenly going to become rude. For the record I like to travel in comfort which is why I've upgraded to Premium Economy with Virgin for my next trip but I wouldn't object to having to pay for a drink if it came to it.

Most airlines are still struggling after September 11th and are looking to cut costs. I think more will go down the route that BMI is going, they all tend to follow suit on these things.

 

[Cochise]

Strange they feel the need to liken their service to an Airline who has filed for Chapter 11 support following Bankruptcy.

 

[Obi Wan Kenobi]

If cheaper flights meant I could go more often I would choose the cheaper flights.

I agree with everything Hilary says about consumer choice I don't drink much (if at all) alcohol - wise on the plane so I guess you could argue that my seat price is subsidising those that do drink a lot.

I don't agree with the message they have used to "sell" this new strategy but I don't have an issue with the idea itself.

Your seat price is being subsidised by people who pay Buisness class fares and by the Country as there is no (currently ) tax on Aviation fuel or the environmental impact your (and mine) flying creates as opposed to vacationing at home.
Your seat price is being subsidised by the airline staff being kept on lower wages, perhaps you would like to have a lower wage so that your company can compete with other countries products? Why is it in this country that people think that everything should be cheaper except their wages?
In the USA why do you think so many airlines are in Chapter 11?

 

[Miffy2003]

Your seat price is being subsidised by people who pay Buisness class fares and by the Country as there is no (currently ) tax on Aviation fuel or the environmental impact your (and mine) flying creates as opposed to vacationing at home.
Your seat price is being subsidised by the airline staff being kept on lower wages, perhaps you would like to have a lower wage so that your company can compete with other countries products? Why is it in this country that people think that everything should be cheaper except their wages?
In the USA why do you think so many airlines are in Chapter 11?

Obi,

I am unclear on what you are trying to say here: "perhaps you would like to have a lower wage so that your company can compete with other countries products?" I have no idea on what bearing this has on this exchange of ideas in this thread.

I stated nowhere that I felt everything in the UK should be cheaper except wages. I certainly don't think that and I really have no idea how you drew that inference from my post.

I really don't understand why you say people paying Business class fares are subsidising my seat. Business Class is a premium service with various (no doubt lovely) perks. This is surely what the extra money pays for. Are you saying that the few people flying in Business class (in comparison to those of us in economy) are in effect paying for our seats?

I simply stated that:

If cheaper flights meant I could go more often I would choose the cheaper flights

which I am quite sure I am not alone in.

I agree with everything Hilary says about consumer choice I don't drink much (if at all) alcohol - wise on the plane so I guess you could argue that my seat price is subsidising those that do drink a lot.

The point I was making is this. Passenger A on the plane drinks soft drinks throughout the journey at a cost of £X. Passenger B may have alcoholic drinks at a cost of (for example) 3 times X. What I am saying is, perhaps it is a more fair system to allow people to choose what they want to eat and drink - and pay accordingly, assuming flight prices are adjusted.

As I said before, I don't agree with the way they have "sold" / announced, call it what you will - this new scheme. I don't disagree with the idea itself though.

This forum is all about exchanges of ideas and opinions and you are quite welcome to disagree with my opinion, as you clearly do. However, please do not put words in my mouth.

 

[Obi Wan Kenobi]

Of course Buisness and First Class passengers subsidise the fares for economy, its always been that way.
you stated that "if cheaper flights meant I could go more often " I was staing that chaper flights have to be paid for somehow, whether its the effect on the environment or the salaries of the airline staff.
If you want a Ryanair long haul, then there are plenty of those types of airlines available. BMi will still be more expensive whilst devaluing the economy product.

 

[Hilary]

Of course Buisness and First Class passengers subsidise the fares for economy, its always been that way.
you stated that "if cheaper flights meant I could go more often " I was staing that chaper flights have to be paid for somehow, whether its the effect on the environment or the salaries of the airline staff.
If you want a Ryanair long haul, then there are plenty of those types of airlines available. BMi will still be more expensive whilst devaluing the economy product.

If what you're saying about Business and First Class passengers is true, another way to pay for cheaper flights would be to put up Business / First Class fares. I'm sure that passengers like you, who want to "travel in luxury, not on a bus", wouldn't mind paying a bit more for that service so that passengers like me, who just want to get from A to B safely, can have our cheap seats!

Yes, I'm playing Devil's Advocate

 

[Scottish-Helen]

I have just reread the original statement from BMI. The only thing they are starting to charge for is alcohol and snacks. You would still be getting soft drinks and meals included. This is hardly a hardship .

Every airline in the world is a lot less profitable than it once was and is looking at ways to cut costs. This may not mean fares getting cheaper but would allow the airlines to keep them at the same rate for longer (except fuel prices keep putting them up at the moment) I personally think that this is one of the best ways an airline could possibly do this. It is to me not devaluing the product and probably would make the flight a much nicer enviroment as it will stop people getting drunk and loud just because it is free. In fact it would probably make me even more than likely to fly with them.

Makes a refreshing change from them making redundancies and cutting staffs wages.