This past trip to southern climates via Sunwing wasn't my first, but it was the first time that I took to documenting the process that the flight crew has for its guests from the time we step onto the plane until we safely land at our tropical destination.
Sunwing has become a juggernaut in the Canadian multi-million dollar all-inclusive tourism industry - buying up high-end resorts and hotels on the most sought-after beaches for supposed exclusivity and selling their Nexus tours and excursions everywhere that they can get a tourist's attention.
Perhaps, this time, I was in writing mode that I noticed a definite pattern, ripe for my commentary.
This was, after all, my annual "work-cation" where I bring all of my "technological assistants", audio/video gear and spent a few hours each day working on this site and other big projects and even more time planning other ones.
I was keenly observant and even more suspicious.
A good majority of the deals I had found during my recent research for last-minute vacations were all courtesy of Sunwing. (Others were from Westjet that weren't direct flights from Toronto, or Air Canada Vacations with slightly larger price tags or inconvenient flight options.)
If I wanted the best deal with the best flight options, it was most likely going to be a Sunwing holiday.
Here is the "catch"...
They make up for the lost income by selling you anything and everything on our way there and your way home!
Here is the list I made once I sat in my seat (1st row - Elite Plus - in direct view of the crew)...directly from the notes I took on my iPhone.
- 30 min of ads on-screen for other trips, resorts and excursions prior to inflight movie starting
- Selling of headsets
- Selling bottled Eska water (500ml) for $3
- Free 2oz glass of sparkling wine
- Garbage collection
- Movie interrupted for announcement of Bistro service - powdered/dry egg in puff pastry or bacon & egg on english muffin, 2 cookies
- Movie interrupted for "Severe Turbulence" warning and announcement - according to flight crew, this was a "definite warning" and not to be taken lightly. Everyone must get back to their seats immediately, buckle up and brace ourselves.
- Seatbelt sign comes on.
- Movie interrupted for announcement of sales to begin for Nexus tours and excursions.
- Movie interrupted for announcement of sales to begin for duty free merchandise and a special on Beefeater gin
- Movie interrupted for announcement of "Last call for Nexus tours"
- Seatbelt sign is turned off
- Movie interrupted for announcement of "Last call for duty free merchandise"
- After movie end, ads for Nexus/Sunwing trips and tours runs again for 20-25 minutes
- We notice that no one ever came around to sell anything from standard Bistro menu - no profit, we wonder?
- 45 min prior to landing, we ask to buy a beer and wine - bar is closed.
- We are then offered a free cup of water and chocolate-mint.
- 10-15 min prior to landing - Again we are asked via intercom if we want to buy a $3.00 bottled water "for when we land" and duty-free merchandise merchandise one last time.
I had read anonymous blog posts a few years ago from flight attendants admitting to asking the pilots to "arrange for turbulence" so they could have a break from the over-demanding passengers and their beverage refill requests.
This time, I didn't notice a phoned-in request, so I am guessing that it was pre-orchestrated so as to have all of the passengers quickly strapped into their seats so the fight attendants and their wireless card readers can sell Nexus excursions, $3.00 bottles of water and a trolley full of duty-free "sales" to attentive - but slightly impatient - passengers.
I barely felt a bump, let alone anything that could be labelled "severe".
It was obvious that passengers could not veer from "the sales plan".
I was also disheartend and worried that I started thinking of the flight attendants less as my "in-flight stewards of safety" and more of "commissioned sales team" that traded smiles for a glimpse of my credit card.
This trip, if I wasn't careful, could end up costing much more than planned.
NOTE: Trip home? A little easier on the sales and a little more friendly. I may have just caught them on an off day? Next trip south will be in December and if it ends up being with Sunwing again, I will update you here.
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