Want To Drink On Finnair? Pay Up!
As if oneworld didn't have enough to worry about with the whole JAL thing, it now looks like Finnair is in huge trouble. We're not talking about how their union is striking and forcing dozens of cancelations tomorrow either. That's bad, obviously. But it's nothing compared to the wrath they're going to feel when people find out they're cutting back on in-flight alcohol, denying their passengers the libations they need to deal with the screaming child in the next seat over. And to think, we just got done being nice to airlines about their alcohol selections. Glad that's over:
From 12 January 2010, a fee will be charged for all alcoholic drinks in Economy Class on Finnair's European flights. Wine and beer will be charged in Economy Class on flights within Europe. Red and white wine will cost 5 euros and beer 4 euros. Sparkling wine and stronger alcoholic drinks already cost 5 euros. In Business Class all drinks are free of charge. In Economy Class on intercontinental flights there is also a fee for sparkling wine and stronger alcohol, while wine and beer is free of charge.
The press release also indicates that alcohol isn't available on Finnair flights before 10am, thereby violating the widely accepted "it's 5pm somewhere, and there's a good chance we're going there" rule that guides airline-based imbibing. Even more disturbing: the limited time window means the new fees are something other than revenue generation schemes. The whole thing seems very nefarious to us, even without the possibility that other airlines will follow their lead - which, given the way this industry works, is pretty much inevitable.
On the plus side it will soon be possible to pre-order cosmetics - presumably at all hours of the day - on "almost all European flights to and from Helsinki." So if you're really desparate maybe you can sniff the nail polish or something. Hint/disclaimer: under no circumstances should you sniff the nail polish.
[Photo: Arcturus / Wiki Commons]
Related Stories:
· Finnair to Charge for Alcoholic Drinks in Economy Class on European Routes [Asia Travel]
· Drinking Travel [Jaunted]
· In-Flight Meals [Jaunted]
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