Comments on: Why selling differentiated airline products (aka merchandising) is A Good Thing http://www.tnooz.com/2009/12/21/news/why-selling-differentiated-airline-products-aka-merchandising-is-a-good-thing/ Talking Travel Tech Mon, 13 Feb 2012 15:41:01 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: The Week in Travel Tech - December 20 to 26 2009 | Tnooz http://www.tnooz.com/2009/12/21/news/why-selling-differentiated-airline-products-aka-merchandising-is-a-good-thing/#comment-3780 The Week in Travel Tech - December 20 to 26 2009 | Tnooz Sat, 26 Dec 2009 13:03:39 +0000 http://www.tnooz.com/?p=6170#comment-3780 [...] Why selling differentiated airline products (aka merchandising) is A Good Thing [...] [...] Why selling differentiated airline products (aka merchandising) is A Good Thing [...]

]]> By: uberVU - social comments http://www.tnooz.com/2009/12/21/news/why-selling-differentiated-airline-products-aka-merchandising-is-a-good-thing/#comment-3575 uberVU - social comments Mon, 21 Dec 2009 15:25:15 +0000 http://www.tnooz.com/?p=6170#comment-3575 <strong>Social comments and analytics for this post...</strong> This post was mentioned on Twitter by kevinlukemay: Why selling differentiated airline products (aka merchandising) is A Good Thing | Tnooz http://bit.ly/7VbvGn #airlines... Social comments and analytics for this post…

This post was mentioned on Twitter by kevinlukemay: Why selling differentiated airline products (aka merchandising) is A Good Thing | Tnooz http://bit.ly/7VbvGn #airlines…

]]> By: Dennis Schaal http://www.tnooz.com/2009/12/21/news/why-selling-differentiated-airline-products-aka-merchandising-is-a-good-thing/#comment-3572 Dennis Schaal Mon, 21 Dec 2009 14:22:31 +0000 http://www.tnooz.com/?p=6170#comment-3572 Timothy: In the long run, is it really a good thing? I agree with a lot of what you say. Yes, transparency is a good thing. Yes, the GDSs won't be able to keep pace with the tools required to accommodate airline merchandising. Also, along those lines, the airlines would rather have merchandising remain the purview of their own direct channels anyway. But, in the long run, woe be to the companies/airlines that screw the consumers, their passengers, and ram tack-on charges down their throats. If airlines persist in charging for bag fees and meals -- the things that passengers long were accustomed to receiving as part of the price of the ticket -- customer will become more alienated and flock to competitors who treat them more humanely -- aka, as valued customers. They will buy tickets from airlines who treat them with respect and perhaps add new things of VALUE. For now, Southwest Airlines doesn't charge bag fees (although the airline indeed has raised other fees) and it is using this as a marketing wedge. Airlines/flights are becoming more and more like country clubs. If you have a certain status in a frequent flyer program, you are welcomed to the club. If not, get ready to be gouged or barred from entry. Again -- it is a fatal mistake to think you can gouge customers forever. No, merchandising is not a "good thing" for a very important part of the equation -- the customer. Does anyone remember them? Timothy: In the long run, is it really a good thing?
I agree with a lot of what you say.
Yes, transparency is a good thing.
Yes, the GDSs won’t be able to keep pace with the tools required to accommodate airline merchandising.
Also, along those lines, the airlines would rather have merchandising remain the purview of their own direct channels anyway.
But, in the long run, woe be to the companies/airlines that screw the consumers, their passengers, and ram tack-on charges down their throats.
If airlines persist in charging for bag fees and meals — the things that passengers long were accustomed to receiving as part of the price of the ticket — customer will become more alienated and flock to competitors who treat them more humanely — aka, as valued customers. They will buy tickets from airlines who treat them with respect and perhaps add new things of VALUE.
For now, Southwest Airlines doesn’t charge bag fees (although the airline indeed has raised other fees) and it is using this as a marketing wedge.
Airlines/flights are becoming more and more like country clubs.
If you have a certain status in a frequent flyer program, you are welcomed to the club. If not, get ready to be gouged or barred from entry.
Again — it is a fatal mistake to think you can gouge customers forever.
No, merchandising is not a “good thing” for a very important part of the equation — the customer.
Does anyone remember them?

]]> By: Tweets that mention Why selling differentiated airline products (aka merchandising) is A Good Thing | Tnooz -- Topsy.com http://www.tnooz.com/2009/12/21/news/why-selling-differentiated-airline-products-aka-merchandising-is-a-good-thing/#comment-3570 Tweets that mention Why selling differentiated airline products (aka merchandising) is A Good Thing | Tnooz -- Topsy.com Mon, 21 Dec 2009 11:14:44 +0000 http://www.tnooz.com/?p=6170#comment-3570 [...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Kevin May, Aviation. Aviation said: RT @kevinlukemay: Why selling differentiated airline products (aka merchandising) is A Good Thing | Tnooz http://bit.ly/7VbvGn #airlines [...] [...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Kevin May, Aviation. Aviation said: RT @kevinlukemay: Why selling differentiated airline products (aka merchandising) is A Good Thing | Tnooz http://bit.ly/7VbvGn #airlines [...]

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