Rumour : Say bye to free alcohol in SIA flights

[feb01mel]

Rumour : Say bye to free alcohol in SIA flights

http://sbr.com.sg/aviation/news/say-...in-sia-flights

https://sg.finance.yahoo.com/news/by...063600076.html


SIA may tighten budget on passenger giveaways as fuel cost surges. According to Bloomberg, the on-board giveaways, famously rolled out to every passenger in the 1970s by Singapore Airlines Ltd., will be unsustainable for some carriers after OPEC’s production cuts announced last week drive up the cost of fuel. Quoting aviation analyst, the report said other options would include cutting unprofitable routes, retiring gas-guzzling aircraft and raising fares. Patricularly vulnerable to such rising fuel costs are Asian operators as their profit margins are about half those of their North American peers after competition pushed down fares. "In order to survive, some Asian airlines may be forced to ape U.S. low-cost carriers and charge for extras -- ranging from food and alcohol to checked-in baggage -- that have been taken for granted on long-haul flights for decades, according to Mathieu De Marchi, a Bangkok-based aviation consultant at Landrum & Brown," the report said.

[concept|infinit]

OPEC Cut May Call Time on In-Flight Free Drinks

[...] The on-board giveaways, famously rolled out to every passenger in the 1970s by Singapore Airlines Ltd., will be unsustainable for some carriers after OPEC’s production cuts announced last week drive up the cost of fuel, according to aviation analysts. Other options include cutting unprofitable routes, retiring gas-guzzling aircraft and raising fares... Singapore Air currently has no plans to introduce extra charges, a spokesman for the airline said.

What an attention-grabbing headline. Considering SQ often markets itself as being the first to offer free alcohol among other firsts in Economy, and their positioning as the creme as far as airlines go, I cannot imagine SQ will start charging for alcohol.

[Pinkfloyd]

We might only see an artificial lift (not surge) in fuel prices if OPEC goes ahead with their current plans of cutting production, however this will soon stabilise as we won't be seeing the price per barrel shoot up to what they once were. Of course as we all know, airlines are always quick to raise prices / cut cost once there is an upward swing in the price of fuel, but hardly ever do the reverse when prices go south...

[flyguy]

Do doubt if SIA will charge for alcoholic drinks as then SIA will be relegated to more of a budget carrier and as is now SIA do charge extra for bulkhead seats in economy which us something not so right. Probably SIA can limit the types or brands of alcoholic drinks and not carry so many different bottles. On oil prices we have seen the oil price of U$140 just 2 years ago and have dropped to below USD50 and now hovering around USD50 and at most expected to rise to below USD70 per barrel in 2017/2018. But yet the fares have not gone down much and in fact there's still the "surcharges" in the ticket.

[Ex-SIN]

The way I read the articles, it seems to be pure conjecture and speculation on the part of the authors. I really don't see this happening at SQ.

[bent]

Do doubt if SIA will charge for alcoholic drinks as then SIA will be relegated to more of a budget carrier and as is now SIA do charge extra for bulkhead seats in economy which us something not so right. Probably SIA can limit the types or brands of alcoholic drinks and not carry so many different bottles. On oil prices we have seen the oil price of U$140 just 2 years ago and have dropped to below USD50 and now hovering around USD50 and at most expected to rise to below USD70 per barrel in 2017/2018. But yet the fares have not gone down much and in fact there's still the "surcharges" in the ticket.

U sure fares have not gone down much? ex-SIN to EUR is going for SGD 888 all-in, travel till 31 Mar!

[SQ228]

The way I read the articles, it seems to be pure conjecture and speculation on the part of the authors. I really don't see this happening at SQ.

Thoroughly agree. Some would-be 'journalist' makes some sensational, generic claim with only 'market forces' as evidence, and suddenly it's assumed that SQ management have all but hired the writer as a consultant.

A simple parallel: "Higher plane fares to force travellers to stay at home". Does this mean that I stay at home? I'll assess my own priorities and budget decisions and then I think we know the answer to that dilemma...

[flyguy]

U sure fares have not gone down much? ex-SIN to EUR is going for SGD 888 all-in, travel till 31 Mar!

was in reference to SIA fares - not other carriers

[orionmiz]

was in reference to SIA fares - not other carriers

Ya, that SGD888 is actually the current SQ promo fare.

[SQ319]

Ya, that SGD888 is actually the current SQ promo fare.

https://www.singaporeair.com/en_UK/s...-Paris_118213/

[bent]

Ya, that SGD888 is actually the current SQ promo fare.

https://www.singaporeair.com/en_UK/s...-Paris_118213/

I think this is the lowest SQ has gone for promo fares to EUR with nil GV2 conditions and only 7 days AP.

Even back then with SARS, don't think the fares to EUR went so low before..

[ek&sq]

I think this is the lowest SQ has gone for promo fares to EUR with nil GV2 conditions and only 7 days AP.

Even back then with SARS, don't think the fares to EUR went so low before..

There's a lot of excess capacity in the SIN-Europe market at the present time due to recent upgauges (AY to A359, LX to 77W) and the launch of new routes (SQ to DUS). An article in The Business Times last week also confirmed TK will upgauge to a 77W next summer to meet premium demand. However, they are heavily discounting economy to fill the back of the bus.

[SQfanatic]

I just read this article, and even though I'm not an alcoholic, I still don't believe SQ will charge for drinks of any sort or anything else mentioned.

[SQ228]

I just read this article, and even though I'm not an alcoholic, I still don't believe SQ will charge for drinks of any sort or anything else mentioned.

I wonder what alcoholics think of this article? Perhaps they will discuss it at AA meetings? Hello, my name is...

[SQfanatic]

I wonder what alcoholics think of this article? Perhaps they will discuss it at AA meetings? Hello, my name is...

I'd say shocked and stunned if they flew longhaul regularly, then maybe fighting saying that SQ is a budget airline (It is NOT). I never meant any disrespect to anyone who drinks.

I flew longhaul back to SFO back in 2011 alone and somehow I wish I would have drank alcohol on long haul flights but honestly, having tried a sip from my uncle in India once when I was young, I said never ever drinking alcohol and staying true to my word.