Post
by Ansett » 01 Jun 2019, 21:14
Unfortunately, I must agree with Poiu. The vast majority of leisure travellers don't care which airline they fly as long as it is cheap. Hence, the huge success of Ryanair all over Europe. Something CS wants to duplicate. We'll see if he succeeds.
Moreover, most leisure travellers don't know and don't care which aircraft they fly. Put them in an old Tupolev54 (if they are still allowed to fly) operated by "Bohemian Airlines" and they will find it OK (most of them), because they don't know the difference between the different planes.
Of course, I am nostalgic, too, and angry that the Brussels Airlines brand is set to disappear.
However, a big question remains which CS has not perhaps thought about : if EW/SN are not part of Star Alliance and/or you cannot earn status miles on EW(SN), frequent business travellers might be tempted to switch to the competition, because for most high yield pax, the status and its privileges are often more important than the miles (or Loops or whatever).
Sorry for the broken record, Poiu, but I have been saying for two or three years already that I avoided LH Group airlines whenever possible (except SN). Out of BRU, for European flights, there are usually enough alternative direct flights.
I'm sorry for SN employees if some travellers (probably not the majority) will start patronizing other airlines like I've been doing for AF-KL. I have witnessed many mergers or acquisitions in other sectors and they all come with tears (if not blood).
As to the best wishes from one or two members on the forum when not flying direct/nonstop, I would like to recall that in BRU we don't have that many direct intercontinental flights and anyway, direct flights are always more (even much more) expensive than flying through a foreign hub. For instance, a direct flight from BRU to BKK with TG or to Toronto with SN (to give only two examples) will be more expensive than flying through a foreign hub (AMS, CDG, LHR etc...). So, most people will fly with a connection, unless their company has a corporate agreement with an airline of group of airlines (and even then, given the limited choice in direct intercontinental flights out of BRU, a connection may be unavoidable).
On a lighter note, SN's livery was not exactly very "exciting" (except for the iconic ones), but it applies to most airlines. EW's livery reflects German lack of fantasy, but it is less boring than the new LH livery which I have seen in several airports and made me think of a hearse (plane).
As to the female flight attendants' uniforms, they also reflect German taste (forgive me, but if you see how CF is dressed, what can you expect ?)
However, as long as I have been flying (also as a child with my parents), I seem to have seen KLM female flight attendants dressed (for decades now ?) in the same (for me) ugly uniforms. So, EW(SN) female cc should not feel lonely.
For me two important questions remain open :
1. Will it be possible to earn status miles with EW(SN) on
a) all Star Alliance frequent flyer programs
b) on Miles&More only
c) or neither of the above.
2. What brand (SN ? EW ? Other ?) will operate SN's current long haul flights ?
Sorry fo the long post.
Have a nice sunny week-end !