KEY POINTS:
The free biscuit - one of the great traditions of flying on Air New Zealand's main domestic routes - is on the way out.
The national carrier has decided to axe the free chocolate chip cookie in favour of charging for a range of costly inflight snacks.
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This forum debate has now closed. Here is a selection of your views on the topic.
Gareth Hill
So what if there will no longer be chocolate chip cookies when you fly with Air NZ? Has the human race become so blase? You are flying through the air in a giant metal craft. Take your mind off food for a second and take a look out the window! There are people in this world who can not afford, and have never had, a chocolate chip cookie, let alone an air flight. Here is a message to all you people out there. If you are pathetic enough to complain about not getting a cookie, you do not deserve the privilege of flight. Start walking.
Dennis Dickinson
All I can say is that this latest move by Air New Zealand takes the biscuit!
Murray
A month or two ago, Air New Zealand announced their cut in the lowest domestic airfares. Clearly they are now cutting the free biscuit on domestic flights to pay for it!
Nick
This reminds of the Seinfeld soup nazi episode. "No cookie for you!"
Richard Keys
Is it any wonder we are facing an obesity epidemic when we are worried about net getting a biscuit on a short flight lasting at most 1.5 hours!
Andy Woodhouse
The problem here was apparent on my flight back from Wellington last week, it takes so long to work the paid drinks trolley, which goes first down the aircraft, that the last 6 rows either didn't get their free tea/coffee or did not get time to drink it. If the free drinks go down first, it is not an issue but if you end up with nothing because it takes so long to serve the paying pax then the whole deal sucks. Air NZ are also paying good money to researchers to find out if people would like to pay $5 to be able to change their seat on the express terminals.I could tell them the answer for free!
Catherine
How miserable and mean of them to take the biscuit away. Might seem a small and petty thing to be fussed about, but on a work trip there is often time only to get from the airport to the job then back on the plane. There is no time for food in between or a trip to the cash machine to buy the expensive on board snacks as you can only pay by cash for these on the flights. On many, many trips that little biscuit has been the only saving grace! Qantas does a much better service for passengers on the domestic flights, but my loyalty - obviously misplaced - to the national carrier has kept me going via Air NZ. So, 150,000+ miles and no Airpoints later, several instances of lost luggage (one still awaiting explanation after five months) and today the biscuit withdrawal! Now is probably the time to change my service provider!
Lea
Miserly cheapskates. So much for Kiwi hospitality.
Hester
No impressed! What is the cost of the (small) biscuit anyway compared to the huge cost of a flight? Hosties will not have the time to dispense a drink and separately sell a item, meaning more staff not less perhaps?
Fudge
Okay so NZ does have an obesity problem, but one biscuit does not a fat person make. One biscuit makes a happy consumer who is left with that feel good factor. It is a bit like the tea and biscuit you are given when you give blood. Yes, I look forward to that too!
Rossnz
The decision by Air NZ to stop providing a biscuit on some flights makes the national news. Has the news media lost the plot? Such an insignificant event is not newsworthy. Give us some real news.
Anthony Teo
I have been flying for the last 30 years. I flew to Auckland by Air NZ last year and had a terrible experience, especially from its ground people in Singapore. They are only interested in squeezing out as much money as possible when u have difficulties. The experience on the flight is also sub-standard. On my return, I changed my flight and came back earlier. I was informed I have to pay NZ$70 for the change of date, something I was informed when I bought the ticket, but was shocked that another NZ$50 was levied as service charge. Then what was the $70 about? That was the first and last time I am flying by the airline. No wonder it loses tons of money but only made a pittance profit when there is profit.
Eve
I am originally from the UK but now living in NZ. Every time I fly domestic, I look forward to my bikkie and cup of tea. It is a great Kiwi tradition that makes the domestic flight that much more people friendly. This is just another excuse for cost saving to increase profit margins, Where will it stop?
Murray Hahn
On the short trips between the main centres, I do not see the problem, I dont get it when I travel by bus. On the low cost flights elsewhere in the world you dont get anything; water, tea or snacks all come at a significant price. If helps to keep down the price of air fares, I am all for it.
Raj Subramanian
The price of monopoly: Telecom means the country is left amongst the lowest broadband countries in the world. TV1,2 means we paid millions to presenters to keep the their shows as low as possible. Air New Zealand means they dictate what we need to pay rather than demand and supply market. Duopoly by Qantas and Air New Zealand is just a cover up to show there is competition in this country. They say indirectly "Consumers, you dont have a say in what we do. You should accept it is cookies or not, who can take you away from buying our tickets." I would drive rather than fly. Same thing Telecom created by their adamant pricing and not changing to newer technologies so far. Is it a developed country any more?
Mike Doyle
Cut to the chase and scrap the whole thing. On such short haul flights as in NZ, there is no need for the in flight service at all. Air NZ could save money by reducing cabin crew and pass the savings on to customers.
Maisie
Good on them. It is about the trip not the stupid free biscuit. Anything that they can do to reduce the cost is fine by me. Air NZ has reduced the cost of air travel dramatically in the last 5 years with other airlines having to follow suit. Now air travel is affordable to the majority of New Zealanders and we are travelling more than ever before, plus Air NZ is turning a profit for the government and staying afloat in these uncertain times when many airlines have gone under. What other forms of transport give you a free biscuit? Buses? Trains? Taxis? Ferries? Take one from home. Take a whole packet.
Cookie Monster
Since when was the free cookie a great tradition on Air NZ? Until a few short years ago, you used to get a sandwich at least. Oh well, good to know the cup of cold ditch water is staying.
Daniel Ford
I fly Qantas and get a cheese snack or small delicious meat pie. Why do people continue to fly Air New Zealand, which is considered by many frequent flyers to be the worlds worst western airline? I flew last week on Qantas AKL/WEL. The flight was slightly delayed so the airline put on free drinks as well. Air New Zealand is a national disgrace. It should have been allowed to go bankrupt years ago. Bailing them out was the Labours Governments first big mistake.
Rob Warner
Wow! That was a close call.. I thought I was going to have to pay for the boiled lollies! What would they be? US$1 each? Oh, "but it is what our customers demanded".
R Cresswell
Well done Air New Zealand! Who among us cant travel less than 120 minutes without sugary sustenance? Traditional snacking. No wonder New Zealand has a growing obesity problem. (Although I do expect a deduction on my ticket of US$0.05 for the biscuits absence).
Lauren
For the amount they charge for domestic flights, we should get a whole meal. It is ridiculous that its cheaper for me to fly from Melbourne, Australia to Queenstown than it is to fly from Auckland to Queenstown. Someone needs to get them in line.
Michael Galley
Find another airline to fly with, other countries started this on "budget airlines" to save costs. I think it is disgusting to pay for a flight and the food.
David
Well, it was never free was it. They just wont supply it anymore and enjoy the increased seat yield accordingly. But will they allow passengers to bring their own bickies?
Jim Stevens
Third rate decision, from a third rate airline!
Sam
I would like to point out that any profit made from the new food sold on board will go directly to make a wish foundation. Air New Zealand will not take the profit. Maybe next time your child, your friends child or your neighbours child is sick in hospital you could stop and think that every business made a donation to a childrens charity there may be a faster cure for your child. Air New Zealand makes it possible for terminally ill child to fulfil there dreams and wishes in a time of need. If the wish of a terminally ill child is to sit in the pilots seat of an aircraft Air New Zealand helps that to happen. I dont believe a free cookie amounts to a wish of a terminally ill child. Do you?
Elaine
I do not have a problem with no biscuit, and I am pleased that a cuppa is still free. But who is going to be the cashier for items to be purchased? Will there be an eftpos/visa machine aboard for those who do not carry cash? Surely this will prove more expensive in the long run? I would rather that Air NZ tightened up with the alcohol on long haul flights. Yes, serve wine etc with meals, and perhaps a nightcap, but I hate passengers who think its their god given right to drink/drink/drink, and then get abusive.
Adam
There is no such thing as a free cookie. It is paid for as part of the ticket, and so is the coffee, the cost of operating the coffee machine, the cost of serving the coffee, disposing of the waste and cleaning the aircraft. Everything has a cost. Short haul, I pay to get from A to B, so I can go on holiday, see friends, or do business. I do not fly for an inclusive but substandard cafe service. I say cut out these extras and charge for them. It will allow Air NZ to lower prices (which they do, be honest). Do you really want a full service airline at full service prices or do you want to be able to fly Auckland-Christchurch for the price of a night out at the viaduct?
Jessica Howie
This whole no free snacks for domestic flights does not bother me at all. But they should make sure that the cost of the flight reflects this. Which I bet they wont. If you look at EasyJet in the UK, they dont have free food. You buy the snacks in flight if you want them. If you dont want to pay bring your own snacks. And it is not like we spend hours on a plane to get round NZ. Everyone should just chill out and not stress the small stuff.
Mahau Kingi
We are pleased about our decision made three years ago to move to Qantas because of an overhaul drop in Air New Zealands hospitality and inflight "service" standards. This is another piece of crumble to add to the empty jar. You can only but feel for the inflight staff who now have to strap cash registers to their aprons. "Chaos in the cabin" would be the next headline.
Paul Thompson
The cookies were crap but its the principle of an acceptable minimum level of service that one should expect when you pay for a domestic flight, often at exorbitant prices in the context of a full service International flight across the ditch. Air New Zealand are stooping below what I consider to be an acceptable minimum, and I sense this is only the beginning. Begs the question as to what is next, will they start selling t-shirts and caps? Oh and remember to savour the irony when they say thanks for choosing Air New Zealand. They know damn well in most cases you never had a choice.
Victoria Pichler
Air NZs latest move to slash the food offered on flights is simply the next logical step in its downward spiral for customer service. Other airlines appear to be able to continue to offer a full-service at a competitive price, but not Air NZ. It pretends to be a full-service airline, but it is downright embarrassing to be on a domestic flight sometimes with foreign visitors, who are shocked at the cut price fare that is being offered. As a business traveller myself, I am faced with paying fares of up to US$1000 for flights to Wellington and Christchurch. Removing any last vestige of a food service on the flight is just insult to injury.
Belinda
I m a Kiwi in Oz. I travel extensively all over the world. Kiwis don't know how lucky they are. Numerous countries around the world charge for internal snacks/meals/drinks. Air NZ is a business and if cutting costs is what they need to do to survive then good for them. We do not want another Ansett. I will take great service, cheap airfare, nice aircraft over the meal choice any day. Buy your own if it means that much.
Kay Wallace
We flew to the South Island this summer on Air New Zealand with our two small children for remarkably cheap fares. We were delighted not to have to contend with little sticky fingers from airline meals. We will also continue to fly without the biscuit. If the children are hungry we will just buy one from the cafe before we depart. All aspects of their service was very efficient and we will be repeat customers, very happy with cheaper airfares.
Peter Cook
So long Air New Zealand. I am flying QANTAS domestic from now on.
Sandra
One would think, the price of an airline ticket would be reduced. When we purchase our ticket, Air NZ would have factored the cost of serving me food on their flights, to recover the cost. My husband was on a Air NZ flight when they gave everyone a survey to complete. Which was asking a series of questions, that basically asked would customers prefer a safer flight or to be served food. So as a result "It says it is introducing the service because of "customer demand". (quote from article) was geared to sacrifice not serving food, for safer flight.
Joanna Wilby
I can only imagine how cheap the bulk-buy biscuit is on flights; similarly coffee and tea. It is interesting to me that Air NZ does not have to reduce flight prices despite reductions in the cost of airline fuel because they bought it in advance and they have wads of cash to upgrade their uniforms, branding etc. However they decide to cut the bikkie, coffee and tea. The last few times I have flown domestic, at least a quarter of the passengers declined the bikkie anyway. Tis nice to be offered however. Having to pay for a snack leaves a bad taste in your mouth and makes one wonder where Air NZ is headed in its customer service policies. Will we be forking out for water in a year?
Lesley Fallon
On short flights, food is not really necessary at all but if I was likely to be hungry I would take my own. I presume they are not going to bring in a rule to say we cant eat our own food!
Rach
What a joke! Are they going to start charging us for using the bathroom too, soon? Although on the positive, I like the idea of being able to purchase something a bit tastier or more filling than the tiny biscuit they currently offer.
Marguerite Keir
I only travel to Christchurch once a year but because I change flights at either Wellington or Auckland a biscuit with my cuppa is really welcome. Flights are already expensive enough.
Charlotte
For a flight with a maximum time of an hour and 20 minutes do we really need to eat? We have an obesity crisis in New Zealand and judging by the size of some of the business people and politicians who fly the main trunk cutting out the sugary chocolate chip biscuit is not going to hurt anyone.
Glenn
I guess its better not to do it than have a cheap and nasty gratuity, but lets face it, for the difference of a dollar or so in our air fares, who cares. Are margins really that thin, or is it because they will replace the free bikkie with something else?
Renae
I travel domestic and International often, and have always travelled On AIRNZ to support our own airline. Little things like taking away a biscuit because of high demand is pathetic and I am honestly thinking about changing airlines. The price we pay for the travel itself at the moment we should be getting a free full meal let alone some measly lil biscuit! As for the free boiled lollies, how tight can Air NZ really get! Very disappointed.
Kirstie
Gourmet sandwich for $6? What are they going to charge for a ordinary sandwich or, dare I say, a chocolate chip biscuit? Will such budget food be available? Or will it be yet another case of a $1 Muffin masquerading as a $2+ Muffin.
Lesley Fallon
On short flights food isn't really necessary at all but if I was likely to be hungry I would take my own. I presume they are not going to bring in a rule to say we can't eat our own food!
Tony Bullock
It's a pity we cannot purchase a decent meal on long haul flights as the ones offered have now become almost inedible. As for domestic flights loosing the free 'biccy' and cup of tea or coffee I guess was inevitable as Air NZ now has an almost complete monopoly for the domestic routes. What next, no seat?
Arcia Walker
Well it's crap isn't it! I can understand offering food items for purchase because of DEMAND, but that doesn't explain why they have to get rid of the free cookie!!!! If you are still hungry after the cookie you can buy your gourmet sandwich!
Leonie Caskey-Hatton
I often consider the enormous amount of money spent on alcohol on flights. I myself seldom consume in the interests of the prevention of jetlag; and therefore subsidise the cost of this in my fare for other passengers. It is disappointing that Air NZ feels the need to cut out such basics when alcohol is still provided so freely on international flights.
