From CNN: Airlines are still operating only a fraction of the number of flights they offered pre-pandemic, and alcohol is banned in many cabins to help thwart the spread of Co.vid-19.
This is adding up to a lot of leftover booze.
Now, American Airlines is hoping to sell and ship some of its excess wine directly to peoples’ homes.
The company said Thursday that a new program — called American Airlines Flagship Cellars — will give customers a chance to buy wine by the bottle, in custom “curated” cases, or via a monthly subscription plan that costs Ninety Nine dollars per month.
The wine bottles are among those that would have been served to customers with American Airlines’ “Flagship” tickets, a luxury seating option on international and transcontinental flights.
The company hopes its new at-home wine program will bring in about forty to fifty thousand dollars in sales during the first three months of the year.
But the short-term prospect of bringing in money from grounded wine bottles isn’t the only consideration.
“Though revenue is important, Flagship Cellars is more so a way of engaging with customers, even when they are not traveling with us,” a spokesperson said. “It also gives them a taste of what you can enjoy in Flagship First or Flagship Business“.
Why do I think this is a bad idea?
With the exception of a couple, airlines are not exactly known for their customer service.
What happens when they “lose” a bottle or case of wine? Will they send you to the to some dark corner of the internet (just like the “lost luggage desks at the airport)?
I see a lot of “delayed” or “cancelled” shipments due to weather, mechanical issues, missing crew members.
But I do applaud their ingenuity.
Selling off inventory (at a profit) that has already been purchased, is a wise strategy.
It will put a few much needed pennies in their bank account.
How can you adapt this strategy in your business?
