Todays news,tomorrows fish and chip wrapper!lets move on. Yeah MON's immediate 'brand' has been tarnished but the general public will soon forget,did people stop flying BA (fuel waxing,landing short),AF (447),RYR (s*** service!) no they did'nt.
Well, my partner has been very clear that I don't need to think about booking with Monarch on my usual BHX-MUC route after recent events. I know her well enough that she means that. Long-term. ;D
Does anyone know if MON have decided what they are going to do with the long haul side of the business yet? I understand it has been in a bit of a state of flux recently. Once Thompson get their factory-fresh 787s in the next few months, i'm sure many will look over with jealous eyes! I hope Monarch manage to keep it going and rejuvenate their long haul product.
Friedrichshafen is obviously well positioned for Bodensee (lake Constance if we must), and also not badly located for resorts such as Todnau and Feldberg in the Black Forest.
However the principal target for the FDH route must the the Allgau which includes the major ski resort of Oberstdorf, though it has to be said that Memmingen, served by Ryanair is better than FDH even for the Allgau.
These resorts aren't so well known as package tour destinations but I feel sure that many independent travellers will know and use them for their ski holidays.
A330's are staying for a while yet. A300's are going though. The 757's and One A320 (possibly the other two old ones in the next few years) are also going.
I remember Spotty M saying there was a long haul route going this year but I may be wrong.
Presumably to replace the Aurelia 737 lawn-mower, Monarch are sub-chartering an MD83 from Swiftair of Spain. A Luton-based A320 has gone to Brum and the Swiftair is currently at Luton. Anyone know the seating capacity of an MD83?
Just had my first flight with Monarch today on the Munich - Luton Route.
I was impressed, professional old school crew, Aircraft very clean on the inside, and booking was easy with a good choice of extras;
Only negative was forking out for seat selection as it came with the promise of online check-in, however online check in not possible on this scheduled route However no queue at Munich check in, and the flight seemed to be full, so glad i got my aisle seat.
Thus far the first flight after the incident was Titan, then as you say a Luton based A320 operated the weekend but that left last night and another Titan 757 positioned in and has operated Alicante and Palma.
Nice was on a Monarch A320 released by the Titan operating the ALC.
Other than that things seem to be operating okay although I think there was a slight delay on the Air Explore.
I just wish Monarch would go back to the days of Crown Service - a highly respected and popular, quality product. I wish the airline would segment itself in a niche, rather than partly be a low cost carrier and a leisure/charter airline.
-Continue to cater for long haul charter routes (maybe even convert some popular routes (SFB?) into scheduled routes, rather than focusing just on the fiercely competitive short haul routes, as is Monarch's long term strategy. Heck, how many short haul routes aren't already catered for by Ryanair or easyJet already? And quite a lot of time, they'll undercut.
-Invest in a large scale marketing programme to get the name out there - make use of the companies' history and legacy. Go back to "Classic Monarch". The recent 787 dreamliner advert from rivals Thomson was superb in my opinion. Compare that to Monarch's cheap advert targetting Northern passengers.
-Be different. Offer an "all in one" price. How many headlines do you see as locos add a dozen extra admin fees or charges? Offer a "free" in flight meal and a complimentary beverage. Offer in flight entertainment on 2-4hr routes. But increase the price and make a profit - money that passengers can just opt out from. Obviously, the economic situation means price sensitive customers, but surely there's still a huge market out there for this sort of thing. Be "the low cost airline that cares." For instance, where easyJet would offer £50 for a starter rate for a 1-way ticket to Alicante for instance, Monarch would offer the same flight for £75, but eliminating baggage charges and admin fees. Market this to their advantage and you have more money and happy passengers.
Maybe I'm deluded or just living in hope? People may also say why bother? Monarch are filling their aircraft at the moment.
Much as I agree with your sentiments, fact is your average British punter knows "the price of everything, but the value of nothing" which is why Ryanair do so well.
If Monarch were to advertsie a headline fare 30% higher than the others, then the result would be would be PAX would migrate to the other carrier, and quite happily pay for all the extras the Monarch would include.
When you look at some of Monarchs fares for next summer,it makes them look like a high cost premium airline. Have to start checking some of the genuine schedule airlines fares out. Like the previous post said, bring back Crown Service.
I worked for a scheduled carrier operating under the 'flag carrier' on Monarch style routes. We offered everything you wished for, similar to crown service and more besides. Passengers loved the service, they lapped it up........'proud to be British' I often heard as they rolled off the A320/A321 merry in TFS. They just weren't willing to pay for it.
However, if post crown service Monarch, were £10 cheaper they would go with Monarch et al. The result being a full service being offered at LCC prices.
The LCC's can go too far, i think Ryanair is an example of it. At the other end of the spectrum, the old days were great but we have to let it go. Passenger expectations have changed, we now see passengers onboard flights who have never experienced an inflight meal and that isn't strange to them. Meanwhile, the majority are just happy with the situation we're in. They aren't estatic, flying is as much fun as it once was but they get to travel more...and quite often they place more value on that.
Your vision will appeal to many but alot of them, when it comes down to it, just won't pay for it. Those that are willing will not keep an airline a float.
I sound old......i'm only just 29.
Last edited by easyflyer83; 26th Sep 2012 at 00:35.
Sadly Easyflyer and the others are right, these days people will not pay..A present day analagy is the situation of Brittany Ferries, long established high quality operator on almost monopoly routes, excellent safety record but very high costs whilst providing a `crown Service` type operation at sea. As a result its ships are all presently tied up in ports and the company is on the verge of bankrupcy.....The customers wont pay their prices..
Instead they can swap Tesco vouchers and have a free ride on the Euro Tunnel...now thats what the British public love. As someone said they know the price of everything and the value of nothing and that aint gonna change soon...............makes you weep
However no queue at Munich check in, and the flight seemed to be full, so glad i got my aisle seat.
People may also say why bother? Monarch are filling their aircraft at the moment.
