Anyone else had the 'no champagne before take off' blag tried on them ?

[MAN Flyer]

Last year my mother and girlfriend where flying SQ327 from MAN in Raffles. They don't fly that often (especially my mother) so were excitedly looking forward to their pre take-off glass of champagne. They were therefore rather disappointed to be told they don't serve it before take off. As they are not the most frequent flyers they were in no position to argue so left it. I told them it was nonsense and it must be just a (thankfully rare) moody crew.

Well last week I got the same thing, on SQ327 again. I was one of the last half a dozen in Raffles to board and the steward came over with the tray of drinks with Water, OJ and Apple Juice. I asked for a glass of champagne and got 'Sorry sir, we don't serve champagne before take off'. Suffice to say I 'explained the situation' in full to him and he went back to the galley and returned with a glass....

The ladies across the aisle then enquired as to how I had got a glass when they were told no. They were non plussed when I told them it was nonsense and mumbled about how much the tickets had cost them.

I just wondered if this blag had been tried elsewhere and/or if it is another worrying sign of petty attempts to penny pinch when they think they can get away with it ?.

[jhm]

There was a discussion about this on the BA board on TOF in the last few months.

I can't remember the exact details but the upshot seemed to be that BA (penny pinching) have decided not to pay the UK duty on some or all of the alcohol so it can't be served pre-departure. Whilst you can try to persuade the crew to serve it to you and they might, they and the airline would get into trouble if there was somebody from HMRC who saw this.

I don't know whether this applies to SQ's situation.

[SQFAN]

I hope it is not a sign of things to come.

Thanks goodness I have not had to experience this as I have always been offered it. Without sounding pretentious, lately when I fly Raffles, I don't even bother asking for Champagne. Don't seem to like Piper...only Krug. Hence, Krug anytime of the day for me in SQ F (If I ever get to fly it again). He he he

Silightly OT: Some countries like Qatar, enforces the rule as it 's a dry state. A I did not expect to get a champagne prior to take off, the BA FA nevertheless, offered me a glass. Considering the whole day of me being out in the hot weather, it was bliss!

[EKrew]

Thats true. All alcohol which is served onboard is regarded as duty-free and as a result can only be served after cabin doors are closed.

To by-pass this regulation it is common practice to pay the duty tax for approximately three bottles of champagne which can be served prior to departure.

[MAN Flyer]

I know the rules over the duty. My main point is it happening to me now for the first time. I've flown SQ327 many times including seven this year and this is the first time I've come across this.

I suppose with the way they are these days any little blip is suspected of being a penny pinching excercise. How times change....

[taipeiflyer]

it's happened to me- but with a caveat. i have been told that they don't serve krug in the F cabin pre-takeoff, only Dom. however, i have never been declined champagne altogether pre-takeoff.

[FlyingDobber]

Happened to me last month...The excuse was the UK licensing laws, previously MAN-SIN we have had champagne. I did comment on how I was looking forward to a glass but sorry was the same reply.

Strange...

[SQFAN]

it's happened to me- but with a caveat. i have been told that they don't serve krug in the F cabin pre-takeoff, only Dom. however, i have never been declined champagne altogether pre-takeoff.

Eh? I always (well, when I travel in F) get Krug pre take-off. Loved the sound of the popping cork.

[MAN Flyer]

it's happened to me- but with a caveat. i have been told that they don't serve krug in the F cabin pre-takeoff, only Dom. however, i have never been declined champagne altogether pre-takeoff.

That's nonsense as well. I have always had Krug as my pre take-off drink in F. I had it last week before take-off on AKL-SIN. I even took a picture with my phone and sent it to a BA Premier friend of mine asking him has it returned on BA yet. I can't help thinking I may have been tempting fate....

Happened to me last month...The excuse was the UK licensing laws, previously MAN-SIN we have had champagne. I did comment on how I was looking forward to a glass but sorry was the same reply.

Strange...

Oh dear, so it's not an isolated incident. UK licensing laws ?. Boll*x!. They didn't attempt that with me. I told them I fly the route all the time and we'll always get champagne. That was enough.

Now the two comments above have me genuinely worried. We're all aware of the continuing cutbacks on the ground, but I really thought they would be sensible enough to refrain from trying to cutback on the on board experience, which is now the only place they are ahead of the pack.

This has the potential to backfire badly.

[FlyingDobber]

This has the potential to backfire badly.

Too right, I wanted to have a glass of chamapgne, we were off on a long trip and the start of a 6 week holiday. This was a nice way to start!

I am even more annoyed now that I have been fobbed off, maybe I should complain! The only redeeming feature of Manchester is SQ fly FROM here, the return to the airport from SIN is truly awful.....

[meducate]

Eh? I always (well, when I travel in F) get Krug pre take-off. Loved the sound of the popping cork.

Not from flights originating in the US

[Snaffled]

The only time I have been told it's not possible is from Delhi (they said due to local laws about alcohol). It's been consistent at that airport for the 5 or 6 times I've been there. Haven't flown out of MAN though...

[Enlightened]

Champangne??

Last year my mother and girlfriend where flying SQ327 from MAN in Raffles. They don't fly that often (especially my mother) so were excitedly looking forward to their pre take-off glass of champagne. They were therefore rather disappointed to be told they don't serve it before take off. As they are not the most frequent flyers they were in no position to argue so left it. I told them it was nonsense and it must be just a (thankfully rare) moody crew.

Well last week I got the same thing, on SQ327 again. I was one of the last half a dozen in Raffles to board and the steward came over with the tray of drinks with Water, OJ and Apple Juice. I asked for a glass of champagne and got 'Sorry sir, we don't serve champagne before take off'. Suffice to say I 'explained the situation' in full to him and he went back to the galley and returned with a glass....

The ladies across the aisle then enquired as to how I had got a glass when they were told no. They were non plussed when I told them it was nonsense and mumbled about how much the tickets had cost them.

I just wondered if this blag had been tried elsewhere and/or if it is another worrying sign of petty attempts to penny pinch when they think they can get away with it ?.

Just my 2cents worth..
1stly- Airline operations to different countries are dictated by local laws.That includes Customs and Immigrations..and nowdays even Homeland security.
2ndly-I dunno if u remember lately there's a ban on liquids,gels and aerosols...but i do pity the crew when it came into enforcement as there are plenty of ppl "tearing" the crew's head off for it.
3rdly-A glass of liquor,in the eyes of all the MAJOR airlines is virtually cost free given their tender and bulk buying habits.
4thly-Have u tried asking for a glass in Saudi Arabia??

My humble point(albeit ignorant if u want) is;
1-If i dislike the traffic laws of a country; Do i "tear" down the heads of the Trafiic policemen?
2-To a frontline service personnel;does it matter to him whether skimping on a glass of champagne cuts into his bonuses or pay?? I'm pretty sure he/she is way too low down the pecking order to be affected by it.He/she is serving u an Orange Juice,H20 or whatever;so trust me it really doesnt matter to the person and he is more than happy to give u whatever that is "legally" possible.
To impose and expose the person to legal liability(a hefty fine if our dear HMRC decides to do a spot check) IMHO smells of boorish behaviour and unwarranted of senior management people who travels Business and First class frequently.
Just my 2cents worth..

[MAN Flyer]

Just my 2cents worth..
1stly- Airline operations to different countries are dictated by local laws.That includes Customs and Immigrations..and nowdays even Homeland security.
2ndly-I dunno if u remember lately there's a ban on liquids,gels and aerosols...but i do pity the crew when it came into enforcement as there are plenty of ppl "tearing" the crew's head off for it.
3rdly-A glass of liquor,in the eyes of all the MAJOR airlines is virtually cost free given their tender and bulk buying habits.
4thly-Have u tried asking for a glass in Saudi Arabia??

My humble point(albeit ignorant if u want) is;
1-If i dislike the traffic laws of a country; Do i "tear" down the heads of the Trafiic policemen?
2-To a frontline service personnel;does it matter to him whether skimping on a glass of champagne cuts into his bonuses or pay?? I'm pretty sure he/she is way too low down the pecking order to be affected by it.He/she is serving u an Orange Juice,H20 or whatever;so trust me it really doesnt matter to the person and he is more than happy to give u whatever that is "legally" possible.
To impose and expose the person to legal liability(a hefty fine if our dear HMRC decides to do a spot check) IMHO smells of boorish behaviour and unwarranted of senior management people who travels Business and First class frequently.
Just my 2cents worth..

Maybe you should read the thread again, and you'll see it has absolutely nothing to do with the points you raised above. It's nothing to do with laws, legality or taxes, as they serve it on the same flight all the time. It's penny pinching, which is the point of the thread.

FWIW I have been to Saudi Arabia numerous times, and have enjoyed many an alcoholic drink there as well. But I' don't quite get the comparison between trying to get a getting a drink in a dry country and being denied a glass of champagne on a flight from the UK to Singapore.

Welcome to SQTalk.

[SQOZflyer]

Not from flights originating in the US

That's correct...everytime I asked for Krug ex. LAX the crew politely told me that they are not allowed to open the bottle before takeoff due to tax laws... they served me Dom instead and Krug right after takeoff...

A LS also told me, that similar rules exist ex. India...