Direkt nach München
When I first learned about the new weekly flight from Bermuda to Munich that will begin next year, I was excited. In addition to its potential for bringing vacationing Europeans to Bermuda, it sounded like something that ought to make it easier for us to take holidays over there.
Then I read that all seats will be business class, and will be priced accordingly.
Airport General Manager James Howes has said that there has been an "excellent" response to the new flight and he thinks it will be a major selling point at a large tourism trade show in Germany in March.
I'm amazed. At business class prices, I can't image that it will be very popular with tourists, who think that the economy fares to Bermuda are too high. And how many executives regularly travel between Bermuda and Germany?
Is there really a big enough market for this flight to survive?
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You'll probably find that the German Business Class fare is cheaper tha BA economy.......
Posted by Jim Saltzer on 21.12.05 at 18:12
Willkommen, Ich bin ein Bermudianer....... we like rich tourists.
Posted by SmokingGun on 21.12.05 at 18:29
If it's not cheaper than BA economy, then the tourism dept are morons and need to have their heads examined...
Posted by Full Fullish on 21.12.05 at 18:57
Good grief..now no-one is going to be able to get a lounge chair around the hotel pools. ;)
Posted by ace on 21.12.05 at 19:14
Yes but the sales on Speedo's should go through the roof!
Posted by SmokingGun on 21.12.05 at 19:21
I think it is not a really bad idea - flying from JFK to Munich is running over $1000. This comes just in time to book flights over to Munich for World Cup action next summer. When I was trying to figure out the cheapest way to go, it came down to two flights and a eurorail pass and it totalled up to around $2000, economy class. $1700 business is music to my ears for a once in a lifetime trip.
Posted by Christine on 21.12.05 at 19:28
"Yes but the sales on Speedo's should go through the roof!"
Could lead to increased sales, for sure...but supply is no doubt currently quite low already due to the increase in MEF restaurants and staff. Just saw they opened a new shop up at Belmont.
Another possible avenue for new revenue streams locally would be to have "Umpah" bands trained to play Octoberfest-like tunes. Nothings gets them Germans hopping like a good "Umpah" band....well except for maybe military marching bands. ;-)
TB...get on it dude!
Posted by ace on 21.12.05 at 21:44
Ich bin relativ froh, dass es so etwas gibt - je mehr moeglichkeiten je besser. Aber wenn man darueber denkt, wird es wahrscheinlich doch immer noch schneller sein, mit British Airways zu fliegen (ausser wenn man nur direkt nach Muenchen fliegen will). Dann muss man nicht die Gepaecke in Muenchen wieder abholen und danach mit der Bahn fahren oder noch einen Flug nehmen. Aber gleichzeitig muesse man nicht zwischen Gatwick und Heathrow fahren - das ist immer ziemlich anstrengend und gar nicht so schoen.
Posted by americanbermudian on 21.12.05 at 21:59
Und ja die Deutsche tragen Speedos sehr gern...
Speedos = wunderbar in Deutschland.
Posted by americanbermudian on 21.12.05 at 22:03
"Welcome, to Fantastically Expensive Island..."
All credit to Combat Banker...
Posted by Adjustah on 21.12.05 at 22:45
This is a new breed of airlines that is springing up. I have read a fair bit about them. Since BA and others have had their economy plus cabins (basically economy with extra leg room and the old Club seats where 2 seats take up the space of 3 economy in width), airlines have seen that there is a market for this. So these new airlines are now marketing their entire flights as this sort of class or better. One airline flying daily between UK and Florida is charging BA business class fares and giving the equivalent of BA first class (or better) service. The Boing 767 (I think) plane(s) which are capable of holding nearly 400 in sardine class, carries just 100 in this new class. There is also a lounge area with sofas.
The thing is they are selling easily!
Posted by Bandit on 22.12.05 at 05:45
I listened to the Dr. speaking of this and other plans for flights to Bermuda in the next couple of years while driving home the other evening. One thing is for sure - he sounded like he was actually trying to accomplish getting more load capacity to the island. And he came over passionate about the subject of tourism too. I congratulate him on that. This flight will not add any capacity from a traditional market place - but maybe the types of tourists visiting the island needs to be diversified? In that regard this flight is a good start.
Posted by Somers on 22.12.05 at 08:42
It will also be great because it begins in March, just in time for World Cup in Germany this year. I'd pay extra for business for a direct flight.
Posted by ours on 22.12.05 at 09:29
Well, if the flights start in June, I think that it would be prudent for non-Germans to start putting their beach towels on the poolside deckchairs at Sonesta around the last week in April at the very latest.
Posted by loki on 22.12.05 at 10:01
I'm assuming this will be like the all Business class seats that Swiss have from JFK to Zurich. It is a 737, so not that many seats. The price on that flight is standard business class fare.
I go regularly to Munich, so I can see taking this flight back, but unlikely I will fly out on a Saturday and stay all week and come back on Friday's flight. Direct flight sounds great though, maybe I'll just go early and hang out in the English Garden.
Posted by H Reardon on 22.12.05 at 10:01
I apologize, because I know it was prolly a typo, but...
"Boing 767 "
Had me howling! BOINNNNNNG!
*ahem* Sorry...
Now back to your regularly scheduled debate.
Posted by Uncle Elvis on 22.12.05 at 10:59
right there with you Elvis...open those topless beaches and let the German's pour on - time to dig out the honda helmet, mirror shades, karate slippers and cutoff jeans for a stroll down horseshoe!!
Posted by b,w&p?? on 22.12.05 at 11:19
"The Boing 767"
Wasn't that the plane that got diverted to Bermuda last week?
Posted by SmokingGun on 22.12.05 at 11:27
No SG...that was the Boink 767 last week
Posted by Two Cents on 22.12.05 at 11:30
Ah yes - you are correct.
Was it Flight 69 heading for Munchen?
sorry.......
Posted by SmokingGun on 22.12.05 at 11:41
Oh dear...I just can't help myself when having a little "dig" at the Germans, but believe me it is all in jest.
To bw&p I'd just say that perhaps you might want to think about ANOTHER increased revenue possibility for our retail sector....hair removal products.
lol
Again..to be clear, this is all in good natured jesting to any of our German friends who might be reading this site. Please don't take offense, I am happy to take any return "jabs" about Bermudians.
A wee story:
When I worked in Toronto we had two Germans in the audit department. They were great guys, lots of fun and we were good friends.
The entire audit department decided to have a paintball tournament one winter playing outdoors, darn cold but we kitted out properly so it had a kind of "Ostfront" feel to the whole thing.
One day prior to the event at lunch the two German guys happened to walk into the lunchroom. I asked one of them "Hey Marcus, are you going to play paintabll with us?" He declined saying he had work to do on his house. I then said "But Marcus man...your German...you'd be REALLY good at this game!", whereupon another guy in the room piped up "Yea, Marcus and Andreas would be out annexing farms in the surrounding area."
lol
They took it well and in good humour as it was all meant to be. ;-)
Posted by ace on 22.12.05 at 11:41
Speedos = wunderbar in Deutschland.
Posted by americanbermudian on 21.12.05 at 22:03
americanbermudian - I have to admit my Germans about as good as JFK's was. Does this mean it's OK to wear your speedo to the nightclubs in Germany?
In another world: Imagine Ewart Brown and Gene Steede dressed in Lederhosen doing their "Pop & Schnitzel" thing.
Posted by SmokingGun on 22.12.05 at 11:52
"...honda helmet, mirror shades, karate slippers and cutoff jeans..."
NOW I recognize you! *lol*
God... yer bringing back memories. I need to get some teeny RayBans, I think.
Speaking of honda helmets...
http://www.helmetsetc.com/detail~product_id~dot-jockey.htm
DOT approved!
Sorry.. off topic.
Um. Germans = German.
Bermuda = English.
Nope. I'm not seeing a problem here, communications-wise.
Posted by Uncle Elvis on 22.12.05 at 11:52
If they can make money doing it, by all means...
Maybe now we can get a steady stream of bratwurst at Lindos. The beer in Munich is the best--load it up byes.
Posted by silencedogood on 22.12.05 at 12:14
This could be the start of reinventing the tourist product as a truly high end holiday.
For the prices people pay in Bermuda it should be an island of exclusive 5 star hotels and Michelin stared restaurants.
I say only allow non-residents to fly business or first class and ban the cruise ships altogether.
Of course this flight will probably be used more by business types in reinsurance and rich residents heading off to the world cup, Oktoberfest and any trips to Europe with the added benefit of not having to sit in close proximity to the unwashed masses.
Posted by Yet Another Limey on 22.12.05 at 14:54
As my German secretary has just pointed out to me, unless service standards in many of our hotels improves, don't count on Germans flocking here for their vacations. If there's one thing that the average German won't put up with, it's laziness and poor service.
Posted by loki on 22.12.05 at 15:03
Well we don't need no flocking Germans any who how.....
Actually often the best service comes from German and Eastern European waitstaff. Maybe what we should really do is ban Bermudians from working in the service industries all together and import more workers from Europe.
Disclaimer: Otti that was a joke........ in a half joking sort of way....
Posted by SmokingGun on 22.12.05 at 17:23
The weekly nonstop Munich Airlines flight begins June 3, 2006. It is a Boeing 767-200ER with 90 seats (10 First Class + 80 Business Class). Introductory fares as low as $1300 round-trip. The airline's website is:
www.munichairlines.com
Posted by James Howes on 23.05.06 at 13:00
hey - and they are giving away a free pink sportscar too!
http://66.249.93.104/translate_c?hl=en&u=http://www.takemetobermuda.de/
Posted by Somers on 23.05.06 at 14:57