[MartynSinclair]

@RichardBarr – “The First Class tasting opportunities in a relaxed setting are something I look forward to when passing through LHR T5”. – my downfall 🙂

[Cheeryguy]

This morning as I passed through the T5 First lounge I was horrified to find, after I didn’t wait for a shower, had a sumptuous breakfast, some cold champagne, was assisted with my connecting flight by a attentive and incredibly helpful staff member at the customer service desk, had a wee doze and boarded my flight on time and departed on schedule that…..in the corner beside a group of braying twonks ( who where rude, disruptive and filling their bags with all they could pinch) was a small stand promoting mobile devices. It was neither intrusively loud, and did not distract from my lounge experience…..unlike the former.
Even so I shall remain up myself, judgemental and will continue to find fault with BA no matter how well they have delivered today…….why?…..because I can’t help myself……happy Saturday!

[FDOS_UK]

Maybe the GF stand is a little more discreet and thoughtfully placed than the GC one?

[LuganoPirate]

[quote quote=758049] @RichardBarr…..totally agree about being forced into the duty-free shopping maze against my will. I have managed to train my wheelie bag to knock low-positioned bottles off the shelves…and smash! So much satisfaction, as I just carry on walking with my trusted bag behind me.

[/quote]

Love it Openfly. Cutting through the duty free (it’s slightly quicker) at MXP my bag caught the lower rows of a pyramid of chocolates, and down they came! I rushed to the sanctuary of the lounge before anyone came after me..

[openfly]

LP…we have the same sense of humour! Isn’t it satisfying….

[Charles-P]

The recent developments at Brussels Zaventem force travelers to walk a winding path through a ‘Duty Free’ zone which has innumerable displays of chocolates, drinks and cuddly toys all of which I have regularly seen crash to the floor as the result of a bag impact (intended or not). What does surprise me is seeing what others buy, a bottle of gin with a price identical to our local Delhaize, sweets which because of some excess packaging now cost extra. Why do they do it ?

[canucklad]

Charles-P
It’s what I call the Toblerone effect.
People, especially leisure travellers seem to become millionaires in their own mind after they’ve been through the X-ray machine.
Possibly, the x-ray machine has a mind alterrating device fitted!!!
Suddenly money is no object and its holiday time, so time to spend, spend and spend some more !!

Business travellers are more reserved with their cash, because in most cases their mindset is that they are at they place of work.
Hence the reason of tempting us, by bringing goodies into the lounge.
A definate case of mountains and Mohammed

[Charles-P]

“the Toblerone effect” – yes I like that.

London City Airport seems to specialise in the giant Toblerone for some reason and sure enough they are ignored by business flyers by eagerly hoovered up by the bucket and spade brigade. I came through Copenhagen about a year ago and there, for reasons beyond understanding about every second person in the line at boarding was holding smoked salmon, this for a flight to Brussels where it’s not exactly unknown or even expensive !

Are there other instances I wonder, does CDG do a roaring trade in cheese or Champagne, does Heathrow shift large quantities of scones or bitter beer ?

[MrMichael]

@charles-p, i suspect it is large quantities of shortbread in London bus shaped tins.

[Charles-P]

MrMichael – yes of course, how could I have forgotten those delightful examples of British ‘culture’.

[canucklad]

The current de-rigour brand, seems to be Lego for some reason.

I was mightily disappointed in Doha recently….tried to buy an Oryx, camels, camels and even more camels, but not an Oryx in sight.
Could I find a Star Ferry model in HKG…..sadly not!

far too many homorganic global brands and no where near enough local tat….

[BrotherJim]

[quote quote=757873]FDOS….I think you have got it wrong. These airport things are, in truth, shopping malls..[/quote]

Indeed so. And Heathrow in particular has a few other tricks to get people to shop. The classic is not displaying gate numbers until about an hour before the flight, thus forcing passengers (without lounge access of course) to wait in the shopping area and if that isn’t enough to entice them to shop they provide only a token number of seats to wait at, again to encourage people to walk through the shops.

Other airports may well do the same, but never seen it as blatentaly as I have in Heathrow and Gatwick (though haven’t used Gatwick since BAA was forced to sell)

[lesmclaren]

Not sure if this forum is still ongoing as the messages are dates September 2016 but appeared January 4 in main menu!

Anyway:
OPENFLY – I think McDonalds would be a great idea in the lounge! BA could take on a WW franchise for its lounges and even develop an on board model [sic], think of the money it would generate for the shareholders!!!

FDOS_UK – As a frequent traveler I rarely buy in “duty free” because I know that in the majority of cases the same product is available at the same price or less on the high street [unless its changed recently, Boots was actually charging more at their airport “duty free” shops], and there is always a far greater choice away from the “premium” brands that occupy much of the airport shopping space.

[Author]

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