LawnDart From United States of America, joined May 2005, 968 posts, RR: 4 Reply 1, posted (7 years 10 months 1 week 3 days 3 hours ago) and read 1467 times:
Quoting C172 (Thread starter): Folks, c172 has an idea. In-flight vending machines!
Someone proposed a trans-atlantic low-cost carrier a couple of years back, and part of the business plan was to have in-flight vending machines where the galleys used to be...
Can't remember the name - they never got off the ground. Nice idea, though.
Sabena332 From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 2, posted (7 years 10 months 1 week 3 days 3 hours ago) and read 1467 times:
Air France has this since a few years, they provide a snack/drink self service bar next to the galleys.
Only alcohol isn't available there, you have to ask a F/A for it (probably because they can control on this "request way" how much beers/boozes everyone is drinking).
C172 From United States of America, joined Jun 2005, 109 posts, RR: 0 Reply 3, posted (7 years 10 months 1 week 3 days 3 hours ago) and read 1457 times:
Quoting Sabena332 (Reply 2): probably because they can control on this "request way" how much beers/boozes everyone is drinking
PPVRA From Brazil, joined Nov 2004, 8497 posts, RR: 42 Reply 6, posted (7 years 10 months 1 week 3 days 2 hours ago) and read 1418 times:
Quoting C172 (Thread starter):
I can hear the critics now... "they'll take up space that could be filled with a paying passenger...".
I never picked one up, but they look pretty heavy to me.
Quoting C172 (Thread starter): No, wait! IN PLACE OF THE GALLEYS, the airline would place several food/beverage vending machines, simplifying the job of catering/flight attending.
Imagine 100 to 550 hungry/thirsty pax trying to get to the galley area? It would also take a while to refill them on the ground increasing turn-around time.
Not to mention you'll have to get it FAA certified.
Cool idea, but it's more complicated than it seems.
Cheers,
"If goods do not cross borders, soldiers will" - Frederic Bastiat
FLY777UAL From United States of America, joined May 1999, 4510 posts, RR: 3 Reply 9, posted (7 years 10 months 1 week 3 days 1 hour ago) and read 1306 times:
Quoting Bobster2 (Reply 7): They should install a minibar in every seatback.
Utapao From Thailand, joined Jul 2005, 645 posts, RR: 9 Reply 10, posted (7 years 10 months 1 week 3 days 1 hour ago) and read 1287 times:
I can't believe I'm almost agreeing with C172, but if you think about it, a different variety than the BOB snack boxes might help... especially for short-hauls.
I'm NOT saying snack machines... weight, stocking, change, etc...OMG. But instead of complete snack boxes, IF the airlines have to offer food-for-purchase, maybe just snacks on an individual basis could help. In other words, sell a bag of Fritos/Lays/Pretzels for whatever 7-11 sells them.
Bottom line, the flying public has to get over "deserving a meal" for a 2-hour flight when they sit at their desk for 4 hours with no meal served... ride the bus/train with no meal... etc. However, if they could buy a bag of chip for $1 vs. little mini bags of raisins/2cookies/etc., for $5 it might be more palatable.
ASMD80 From United States of America, joined May 2005, 126 posts, RR: 0 Reply 11, posted (7 years 10 months 1 week 3 days ago) and read 1245 times:
Quoting C172 (Thread starter): I can hear the critics now... "they'll take up space that could be filled with a paying passenger...".
Don't look now, AS just added seats 27 A,B,C to their MD80s by reducing the galley size slightly.
Quoting C172 (Thread starter):
No, wait! IN PLACE OF THE GALLEYS, the airline would place several food/beverage vending machines, simplifying the job of catering/flight attending.
You still need flight attendants. Not to mention the airline would be getting tons of complaint letters from angry pax.
Quoting C172 (Thread starter): Other in-flight essentials could be sold as well.
Ikramerica From United States of America, joined May 2005, 21043 posts, RR: 60 Reply 12, posted (7 years 10 months 1 week 3 days ago) and read 1240 times:
Quoting Bobster2 (Reply 7): They should install a minibar in every seatback.Â
EK has minibars in each cubby in first on the A345/6, don't they?
Quebecair727 From Canada, joined Apr 2001, 328 posts, RR: 0 Reply 14, posted (7 years 10 months 1 week 2 days 17 hours ago) and read 1129 times:
Working myself in the vending industry, I think the idea is worth being looked at.
However, I can see right away a problem. It is regarding the currency accepted by the equipments. Having a coin changer and a bill acceptor capable of accepting many currencies is not possible. Canadian coin changers do accept both US and Canadian coin set. That's not a problem. The same is not true for the bill acceptor. As for the euro equipment, to my knowledge, they only accept Euros.
Obvioulsy, the only way such a project could be possible is with the use of a credit card reader. The amount of the transaction would then be treated in the currency of the aircraft nationality. i.e. a French aircraft would charge in Euros, a US aircraft in US dollars and a Canadian aircraft in Canadian dollars.
But before such a project ever comes alive, the vending equipment manufacturers (Crane, AP, USI, Saeco, AMS, Cafection, etc.) would have to redesign their equipments and make them much lighter.
If such a thing ever comes alive, I volunteer myself to fill-up the machines and fix them if need be on the YUL-CDG route in summer and the YUL-PVR route in winter.
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c172... what will he think of next? 
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