££££ – It’s not just the flying display….!
Well, I’m glad that those that went today got something out of it and enjoyed the show, despite the poor weather.
Avro’s Finest,
Sorry to hear you got an earful from Joe Public. 🙁
I do think that some valid points have been raised here though, which all airshow organisers, not just the IWM, should take note of.
Whilst some might disagree, I think maybe it’s time that entry/additional prices get reviewed. I think the main gripe is not necessarily that £23 quid is expensive, but what do you actually get for it? The flying display is one thing, but what about parking, food, view of the display, toilet facilities etc. These are all the things that the display organisers should consider. And are things like the extra cost of say a flightline walk or seating justified and do these increased costs give value for money to the spectator?
If prices do continue to rise but with no real benefit to the spectator, they might well keep people from returning to future displays, be it the knowledgeable enthusiast or non-aviation orientated family. So what I and I guess most of us are saying to the organisers is treat the punter with a bit of respect & decency and give them value for money!
From my experience at this years Flying Legends, it was almost as if those who do not buy Gold or Platinum passes were treated as second-class spectators. You could almost hear the IWM saying, ” We’ve got your money, now sod off and enjoy the day!” O.K, that might be a bit harsh, but at today’s show for example, should you really have to pay for £5 for seating and £5 again for a flightline walk on top of the entry fee and programme? And should you really have to pay £65 for a Gold Pass (This will no doubt go up next year) for what amounts to nothing more than guaranteed & hassle free parking, a seat, good view, a free flightline walk & programme, a marquee with bar and central base for the day?
With the ‘normal’ spectators car parks being so far away at DX (and the other big shows for that matter), it means you can’t stay with the car if you want any chance of seeing the display or shelter if the weather turns nasty. And it also means a long walk with all your stuff (and can also be a problem if you have someone elderly with you) just to find a spot to view the show with nowhere comfortable to sit. Given this, I think it’s about time there were free seats and maybe some form of shelter at these bigger shows, included as part of the entry price.
As for the Flightline walk fee at DX, well it’s not like Old Warden where at least you can walk around the aircraft with a guide and view them at close quarters. And you know the money you’ve paid is going to a good cause.
It does seem to me that some of the airshow organisers take the paying public for granted. :rolleyes:
Now, on the other hand, we’ve heard a lot about the problems of increased costs and bureaucracy incurred to the owners of, in particular, historic & vintage aircraft and no doubt want them to continue to operate them for as long as possible so they can grace our skies and remind us and future generations, of all those that gave their lives so we could enjoy the freedom we do today.
But my fear is that if the airshow organisers continue to hike up prices, but at the same time take the spectators (the people that pay and support the shows) for granted and don’t give them proper value for money, I wonder how long it will be before some of these magnificent pieces of history will remain gathering dust in a hanger? 🙁
A touch melodramatic maybe, but if people stop going to shows because cost and value for money is a factor, it will surely have a knock on effect on the airshow industry as a whole, which of course includes the aircraft operators and owners who rely on airshows to help towards the ever increasing running costs for their machines.
Just my 2 pence worth.
Cheers
Paul
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