Goodwood rip-off!!!
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Goodwood rip-off!!!
Hi All
My daughter's partner is participating in the Festival of Speed at Goodwood over the weekend of July 11th - 13th.
Due to my daughter having to attend a family wedding on the Saturday, I offered to fly her down to Goodwood on the Sunday morning.
I just called Goodwood Ops to book an arrival slot for the Sunday morning, as they only started accepting bookings on Monday.
Well, the good news was that they have plenty of arrival slots available, the BAD news is that they are imposing a whopping landing fee of £50.00 per SEAT !!!
Now, according to the Goodwood aerodrome web site, the visitor landing fee for our aircraft (a Jodel) is £16.38, but as technically our aircraft is a 2 + 2 seater, we would be charged £200.00 landing fee !!
The official explanation is that 'they are encouraging aircraft to fill all their seats......'
Yeah right...........!
The words 'off' and 'rip' spring to mind.
My daughter's partner is participating in the Festival of Speed at Goodwood over the weekend of July 11th - 13th.
Due to my daughter having to attend a family wedding on the Saturday, I offered to fly her down to Goodwood on the Sunday morning.
I just called Goodwood Ops to book an arrival slot for the Sunday morning, as they only started accepting bookings on Monday.
Well, the good news was that they have plenty of arrival slots available, the BAD news is that they are imposing a whopping landing fee of £50.00 per SEAT !!!
Now, according to the Goodwood aerodrome web site, the visitor landing fee for our aircraft (a Jodel) is £16.38, but as technically our aircraft is a 2 + 2 seater, we would be charged £200.00 landing fee !!
The official explanation is that 'they are encouraging aircraft to fill all their seats......'
Yeah right...........!
The words 'off' and 'rip' spring to mind.
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I flew in a year or two back and the standard landing fee for a PA28 included a car to take us to the event
About a year later they seemed to discover that the market would stand a great deal more
Curiously enough I haven't been to the event since then.
About a year later they seemed to discover that the market would stand a great deal more
Curiously enough I haven't been to the event since then.
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Sadly, Johnm has hit it on the head, they've discovered people will pay much more so they'll charge it! That's not just L/fee but gate price too.
It is a real shame as the FoS is an excellent event, I went to the first few in the mid-90's and it was good value, after a break of some years I went again '03-'05 as an engineer/camera op on the television OB so got in free but was shocked at the extent the prices had skyrocketed.
Like I say, it's a great pity as it's one of the only events of it's kind, well organised and suits the real enthusiast but is now so grossly over-priced it deters the people it was originally intended to attract.
It is a real shame as the FoS is an excellent event, I went to the first few in the mid-90's and it was good value, after a break of some years I went again '03-'05 as an engineer/camera op on the television OB so got in free but was shocked at the extent the prices had skyrocketed.
Like I say, it's a great pity as it's one of the only events of it's kind, well organised and suits the real enthusiast but is now so grossly over-priced it deters the people it was originally intended to attract.
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I bet plenty of people will pay. I love the Festival of Speed. Its just basic Supply and Demand.
If I owned Goodwood and knew the demand was there I would charge more.... I bet the cost of flying into F1 at Silverstone (heli's of course) is far far greater.
If I owned Goodwood and knew the demand was there I would charge more.... I bet the cost of flying into F1 at Silverstone (heli's of course) is far far greater.
No, it's not supply and demand, it's a rip-off. 
There is a fair and reasonable price to pay for anything; then there is the price you actually pay. IMHO it is as morally wrong to keep raising prices 'to see what the market will bear' as the current practice by supermarkets of battering farmers in order to sell produce for absurdly small amounts on the supermarket cells using the excuse that making things cheaper for the consumer is always a good thing. They don't call this place 'Rip-off Britain' for nothing. I think it's a curious twist that Britain is famously a socialist country, yet suffers from the worse failings of pure capitalist greed.
I imagine I'm not alone in simply boycotting events which are ridiculously over-priced. It may smack of cutting off my nose to spite my face, but I'd rather not got to an event where I would spend the whole time resenting the entrance fee. The people who are more than happy to pay unreasonable amounts are probably not the sort of people in whose company I would want to spend time anyway...
[Rant over]
There is a fair and reasonable price to pay for anything; then there is the price you actually pay. IMHO it is as morally wrong to keep raising prices 'to see what the market will bear' as the current practice by supermarkets of battering farmers in order to sell produce for absurdly small amounts on the supermarket cells using the excuse that making things cheaper for the consumer is always a good thing. They don't call this place 'Rip-off Britain' for nothing.
I think it's a curious twist that Britain is famously a socialist country, yet suffers from the worse failings of pure capitalist greed. I imagine I'm not alone in simply boycotting events which are ridiculously over-priced. It may smack of cutting off my nose to spite my face, but I'd rather not got to an event where I would spend the whole time resenting the entrance fee. The people who are more than happy to pay unreasonable amounts are probably not the sort of people in whose company I would want to spend time anyway...
[Rant over]
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There is a fair and reasonable price to pay for anything; then there is the price you actually pay.
Otherwise, if it's not worth it, you'll choose not to pay the price.
"Rip-off" only applies if there's something dishonest going on, like for example making it impossible for you to find out what the landing fee is until after you've landed, and then impounding the aircraft until you pay.
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Quote: "Rip-off" only applies if there's something dishonest going on, like for example making it impossible for you to find out what the landing fee is until after you've landed, and then impounding the aircraft until you pay.
Not in my book..........
Dictionary: rip-off (rĭp'ôf', -ŏf')
n. Slang.
A product or service that is overpriced or of poor quality.
Something, such as a film or story, that is clearly imitative of or based on something else.
A theft.
An act of exploitation.
Not in my book..........
Dictionary: rip-off (rĭp'ôf', -ŏf')
n. Slang.
A product or service that is overpriced or of poor quality.
Something, such as a film or story, that is clearly imitative of or based on something else.
A theft.
An act of exploitation.
Goodwood encouraging pilots to risk overweight operation
Due to their absurd landing fine policy, the robbers of Goodwood are ipso facto encouraging aircraft pilots to fill all their aircrafts' seats.
This may well encourage the unwary to operate aircraft such as the PA28-140 with 4 adults - and probably overweight.
Any accidents caused as a result could well be a direct outcome of Goodwood's corporate greed....
Has anyone mentioned this to them?
This may well encourage the unwary to operate aircraft such as the PA28-140 with 4 adults - and probably overweight.
Any accidents caused as a result could well be a direct outcome of Goodwood's corporate greed....
Has anyone mentioned this to them?
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I enjoy cars.
I have only been to the festival once. It was brilliant to fly into Goodwood, miss all the traffic (which I gather can be horrendous) and be bused into the show ground via the VIP entrance. On that occasion the service was first class.
However that said, the "show ground" was packed with car manufacturers predalling their cars and the hill climb, whilst interesting, was for me hardly exciting. Setting aside the cost (and of course the entertainment of the hill climb) I am not convinced I want to pay that much to visit a "trade" exhibition when I can visit dealers show rooms for nothing.
Of course that is just my personal view and I fully appreciate an awful lot of people consider it very good value. Goodwood are entitled to charge whatever they like - and ultimately if people consider they are charging to much they will not go.
Personally I think the Revival far surpasses this event.
I have only been to the festival once. It was brilliant to fly into Goodwood, miss all the traffic (which I gather can be horrendous) and be bused into the show ground via the VIP entrance. On that occasion the service was first class.
However that said, the "show ground" was packed with car manufacturers predalling their cars and the hill climb, whilst interesting, was for me hardly exciting. Setting aside the cost (and of course the entertainment of the hill climb) I am not convinced I want to pay that much to visit a "trade" exhibition when I can visit dealers show rooms for nothing.
Of course that is just my personal view and I fully appreciate an awful lot of people consider it very good value. Goodwood are entitled to charge whatever they like - and ultimately if people consider they are charging to much they will not go.
Personally I think the Revival far surpasses this event.
Last edited by Fuji Abound; 12th Jun 2008 at 11:53.
Utter nonsense.
Nobody is obliged to attend. I may choose not to go due to the charges, but have absolute respect for Goodwood (or anyone else's) right to set charges for their own airfield as they see fit.
Nobody is obliged to attend. I may choose not to go due to the charges, but have absolute respect for Goodwood (or anyone else's) right to set charges for their own airfield as they see fit.
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Mariner9
On the specific issue of should they charge this amount I dont think it is that simple.
Of course they can charge what they like.
However there are many businesses that take an alternative stance by recognising that even in a capatilist economy there are other factors at work.
For example I have started a thread on the question of whether airports should charge for go arounds. Of course they can, but some might argue they have a responsibility to encourage pilots to conduct themselves safely.
In the case of Goodwood there are many of us who visit them frequently. We might like to believe we are good regular customer who contribute to their airfield income throughout the year. We might also like to think that as good customers the owners would not always want to charge the most they could simply because they can but would recognise that we are part of a small community.
Imagine what the LTA could charge for centre court tickets on finals day if they simply took the view that the tickets should be priced on the basis of what the market will stand - no they are to be commended for recognising that there is a community of tennis players that supports the LTA throughout the year and rightly the tickets should be made available to that community through the clubs at a reasonable price rather than on the basis of who is prepared to pay the most.
On the specific issue of should they charge this amount I dont think it is that simple.
Of course they can charge what they like.
However there are many businesses that take an alternative stance by recognising that even in a capatilist economy there are other factors at work.
For example I have started a thread on the question of whether airports should charge for go arounds. Of course they can, but some might argue they have a responsibility to encourage pilots to conduct themselves safely.
In the case of Goodwood there are many of us who visit them frequently. We might like to believe we are good regular customer who contribute to their airfield income throughout the year. We might also like to think that as good customers the owners would not always want to charge the most they could simply because they can but would recognise that we are part of a small community.
Imagine what the LTA could charge for centre court tickets on finals day if they simply took the view that the tickets should be priced on the basis of what the market will stand - no they are to be commended for recognising that there is a community of tennis players that supports the LTA throughout the year and rightly the tickets should be made available to that community through the clubs at a reasonable price rather than on the basis of who is prepared to pay the most.
You raise some fair points Fuji, but I maintain my view that Goodwood's charges are entirely up to them.
I've no support per se for high landing fees, but perhaps Goodwood management would say that the income from this event allows lower landing fees for the rest of the year for their loyal customers.
Will be interesting to see how many aircraft actually do fly in this year, particularly given the current economic climate. If attendances are low they will certainly be forced to re-think their strategy for next year's event.
I've no support per se for high landing fees, but perhaps Goodwood management would say that the income from this event allows lower landing fees for the rest of the year for their loyal customers.
Will be interesting to see how many aircraft actually do fly in this year, particularly given the current economic climate. If attendances are low they will certainly be forced to re-think their strategy for next year's event.
Just for clarification, these higher landing fees are only charged by Goodwood during their motorsport events (ie Festival of Speed and the Revival Meeting.)
At all other times, the landing fees are very reasonable. And Goodwood is a lovely airfield (and area) to visit.
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Has anybody else considered the fact that whilst charging for super expensive times, it makes it cheaper for the rest of us during the quieter times ?
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some on here have said it makes it cheaper for the rest of us during the rest of the year. i had to pay 15 pounds in landing fees for a C152 last year and thought it was a bit too much...
Are you kidding Wombat?
The price you pay for something is rarely linked to what it's worth to you! That kind of black and white statement avoids the point entirely. My willingness to pay £1.30 for a litre of diesel in no way represents what I think that litre is worth. I have no choice but to pay whatever they charge. Expanding on that analogy, the high oil prices we are paying are being manipulated by OPEC. They could increase supply in order to reduce price at the pumps, but they have us over a barrel (excuse the pun), and would prefer to keep supply low and prices high. They would also say that the market is 'bearing' the price.
Just because going to Goodwood is voluntary and there will always be those with more money to throw at these things than others, does not excuse the blatant profiteering. IMHO of course.
The price you pay for something is rarely linked to what it's worth to you!
That kind of black and white statement avoids the point entirely. My willingness to pay £1.30 for a litre of diesel in no way represents what I think that litre is worth. I have no choice but to pay whatever they charge. Expanding on that analogy, the high oil prices we are paying are being manipulated by OPEC. They could increase supply in order to reduce price at the pumps, but they have us over a barrel (excuse the pun), and would prefer to keep supply low and prices high. They would also say that the market is 'bearing' the price.Just because going to Goodwood is voluntary and there will always be those with more money to throw at these things than others, does not excuse the blatant profiteering. IMHO of course.
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Rip-off
On balance I would say that this is a rip-off, a charge of £50 per person would be reasonable but charging per seat is clearly charging for something that due to performance reasons can't be used with a lot of aircraft.
On those grounds charging for something that can't be used is undoubtedly a rip-off as defined in the dictionary above.
On those grounds charging for something that can't be used is undoubtedly a rip-off as defined in the dictionary above.