Something from the trolly??

[cabin lad]

I think a lot of goods that airlines sell on-board (apart from duty free) are a load of rubbish. Tacky bangles,earrings,pens,chains etc. I'm sure this comes down to 'old habbits die hard' as this has been the case for years. <img src="rolleyes.gif" border="0"> . .Most scheduled and charter sell the same c**p!

Now, it's time for a change................ .What do you think should be sold on-board?

[ 21 February 2002: Message edited by: Thunderbird One ]</p>

[Xenia]

Yeah, right... certainly what we think will make the difference!. .I also believe it is not 100% up to the airline, but also to whoever provides the goods!. .About "same c°*@p" I could have few things to say... get a closer look to the articles found on board airlines such as Alitalia (just to name one) or Air France (just to name another). .Maybe you might get "tacky bangles" on UK charter airlines, but not on the above. Maybe each airline sell what they expect their average pax to buy.

[ 21 February 2002: Message edited by: Xenia ]</p>

[flapsforty]

Thunderbird bit of a sweeping statement there? <img src="wink.gif" border="0">

It might not always be to my taste, but by and large we sell quality articles which the comp goes to great trouble to find.. . All to make money of course, but also to project the right brand-image.. .Certainly not ashamed of our assortment.

Xenia probably hits nail on head, airlines stock the kind of merchandise they expect their passengers will want to buy! <img src="wink.gif" border="0">

........Personally I'd like to see the whole silly thing abolished. I have a strong dislike for walking behind that particular trolley. If I'd wanted to sell people expensive stuff they really don't need, I'd have become a sales clerk at an upscale department store. . .But that's another story alltogether....... <img src="rolleyes.gif" border="0">

[Iguanahead]

The quality and choice of merchandise on the aircraft is also decided by the cost to the company of stocking that particular product. A lot of companies target the airlines to promote their products and will offer these products at very attractive discounts. This means the airlines can enjoy a larger profit on the actual sale price when the cost price is so low.. .Of course they like to stock the products that sell, thats why you often find that they all look alike. . .Duty free ranges bring a lot of money back to the company at very little cost to them. Often the brochures are completely paid for by the advertising companies to showcase their products so the airline doesn't have to pay for that either.. .Perhaps some of the things that are on board are tacky to us but as they say beauty is in the eye of the beholder. <img src="tongue.gif" border="0">

[cabin lad]

The majority of UK SCHEDULED and charter do sell the same type of tacky c**p and is supplied usually by bond from one of the airline catering. .companies. If you have a look in some of the in-flight magazines it is all the same products in different brochure with maybe a slight variation.. .I travel as a passenger on airlines too and would never buy any of the rubbish they sell. I'm sure that many passengers would agree with me therefore they are not catering for all passengers 'wants and needs'

I have a lot of friends who work for various airlines (scheduled and charter) who sell the usual c**p which actually doesn't sell that well. .probably because it is c**p.

Lets get back to my origional question:

What do you think should be sold . .on-board???? <img src="rolleyes.gif" border="0">

[sweety]

Well, I'm not going to mention the name of the airline (for my own reasons), but I bought a Toblerone once on board and guess what? - it was way out of date (the date was actually sort of scratched off, but me with my eagle eyes saw it anyway)! Didn't taste very nice... <img src="eek.gif" border="0">

[Iguanahead]

Ok Thunderbird here's what I think they SHOULD sell on board:

Personalities for those who forgot to pack them - crew included <img src="tongue.gif" border="0">

Happy pills for those grumpy heads who wouldn't know a smile if they tripped over one :)

Condoms for the weirdo's that want to join the mile high club after all safety is our job <img src="wink.gif" border="0">

A dictionary, encyclopedia and an atlas globe for all those stupid inane questions that are asked every day <img src="rolleyes.gif" border="0">

Nicotine patches and gum for all the smokers, better still does it come in drip form <img src="tongue.gif" border="0">

And last but not least more handcuffs 'cause you can never have enough of them for work OR play!

:) <img src="wink.gif" border="0"> <img src="tongue.gif" border="0">

[ 22 February 2002: Message edited by: Iguanahead ]</p>

[flyblue]

I am quite happy with AF inflight duty free. We have a wide range, from the 5£ logo keyring to the Hermès scarf which is worth more than the ticket fare. We actually sell lots, and the pax seem to like it. The F/A are less happy being paid peanuts for it, and some neglect it for that reason(I am not one of those).. .Thunderbird, if your airline sells c***, suggest they fire the DF manager :) :) :) and then apply for the position!!!

[sweety]

Iguanahead!. .http://www.stopstart.fsnet.co.uk/smilie/jump.gif

[Flygor]

While I do agree that some things we sell on board are rubbish I think as crew we attain lets say, higher expectations than the average charter pax.

Personally I enjoy inflight sales a lot and do all I can to sell as much as possible. A couple of years back my company started selling toe rings, much to the disgust of the crew, but after a few weeks they had sold out, they practically walked off the aircraft and still do. We might think this stuff is rubbish, but hey it sells! If it makes money for the airline and commision for they crew and the passenger is satisfied with their purchase then give me more rubbish to sell!

[PAXboy]

As pax, I ALWAYS look through the shopping catalogue as I am amused and fascinated by what they sell and agree that much is of poor quality and much of it over priced. As a result, I hardly buy anything!

I presume that it must make money for the company but they also perceive it as being some kind of value add that helps to makes up 'service'.

I would be interested to watch the CC at work and see which pax bought what! Can you guess what someone is going to buy?

[Cayman]

For some clues,

The product has to be light and a fairly small package to fit into the carts. Often priced in that 'gift' price range for Mum's birthday etc. Brought cheap by airline and sold as quality as a reputable airline would not sell c**p would they ?? So apart from booze, fragrances and fags what is left ?

Costume jewellery, kids toys to shut them up during the flight, airline related product. Add the high value items that they only need to sell one of to have the same income as 100 packs of ciggies and that explains why you have to sell what is there.. . . . Any further info please mail me

C