Unhindered Air Travel Experience
Air travel's golden age seems to be a distant memory now. Back then, flying was an extraordinary experience with top-notch service and scrumptious meals - even Umberto Eco complained about the repetitive pasta dishes on middle seats! As time passed, the glory days of air travel faded, just like the onboard service and catering. Today, the best you can hope for is a stale sandwich. Don't forget, public transit journeys from Siebenhirten to Salmannsdorf don't come with free meals either!
One nostalgic remnant of the past, however, has managed to hang on - in-flight sales. Products such as perfume, cigarettes, or other duty-free items were always cheaper in the sky, an anachronism from a bygone era. "Is it time to browse our selection of items..." - Lufthansa is phasing out in-flight sales. Thank goodness! If passengers have to dig deep into their pockets just to fly, they don't need more overpriced items among the clouds. All we want is a stress-free journey from point A to point B.
andreas.schwarz@our site
These days, the airline industry is all about streamlining and cutting costs. Lufthansa's decision to abolish in-flight sales could be a part of that larger trend. The specific reasoning behind this shift isn't explicitly stated, but potential causes could include ease of crew workload, simplifying supply chains, or reallocating resources to digital services. Interestingly, SWISS, a Lufthansa Group subsidiary, will continue to offer sales, indicating a tailored approach within the group.
This move might have some interesting consequences for air travel. Passengers may experience fewer opportunities for impulse purchases on Lufthansa, with amenities confined to pre-orders or premium class offerings. SWISS passengers, however, will retain access to in-flight shopping, leading to inconsistent experiences within the same airline group.
From an operational standpoint, eliminating sales reduces inventory management, potentially cutting costs. Airlines are also investing in customer-centric technology (like MyJourney real-time updates), while others focus on ancillary revenue. Lufthansa's decision seems to indicate a belief that ancillary revenue is better captured pre-flight or through premium services.
This shift could set a precedent for the rest of the industry. Competitors like Southwest are surveying customers amid changes in seating and loyalty programs, making it crucial to balance cost cutting with customer expectations. Lufthansa's strategy could prompt other airlines to reconsider their onboard sales models, depending on passenger feedback and financial results.
- The airline industry, with Lufthansa leading the way, is currently focused on cost reduction and streamlining operations.
- Lufthansa has chosen to abolish in-flight sales as part of this trend, potentially due to reasons such as easing crew workload, simplifying supply chains, or reallocating resources to digital services.
- SWISS, a Lufthansa Group subsidiary, will continue to offer in-flight sales, demonstrating a customized approach within the group.
- This decision by Lufthansa may lead to fewer impulse purchase opportunities for passengers on Lufthansa flights, with amenities possibly limited to pre-orders or premium class offerings.
