The makers of a special British Airways centenary gin are attempting to offload an “absolute planeload” of miniatures that are no longer needed by the airline by selling crates of x24 double measures for £32 – down from the recommended retail price of £84. Edinburgh-based gin distillers Pickering’s created the special gin blend that was designed to taste good at altitude exclusively for British Airways but has now been left with “thousands” of unsold miniatures which might otherwise go to waste.
The 10-botanical blend centenary gin was made available to purchase on BA’s short-haul flights in May 2019 as part of the airline’s 100-year anniversary celebrations – but the COVID-19 pandemic has forced British Airways to suspend its Buy Onboard service so Pickering’s has been left in a bit of pickle as to what to do with the unwanted miniatures.
Pickering’s says the gin blend “celebrates the very best of British flora and fauna with rose petals and heather lending a soft and sweet note to our signature Bombay blend.” Containing Juniper, lemon myrtle, heather, lemon, cardamom, cinnamon, rose petals, lime, coriander, angelica root. Pickering’s is keen to point out that the gin tastes just as good on the ground as it does at altitude.
Earlier this month, Australian flag carrier Qantas started to get rid of surplus stock by selling care packages for A$25 each – the packages contained the iconic Qantas Business Class pyjamas, along with an amenity kit, tea bags, Tim Tams and First Class nuts.
With Qantas not planning to restart international flights until July 2021 at the earliest, the airline realised it needed to get rid of stock sitting idle in its warehouses – and in the process make some much needed revenue.
The care packages proved so wildly popular that they quickly sold out.
British Airways, meanwhile, donated more than 200,000 items of surplus in-flight amenities to hospitals and care homes dealing with COVID-19 patients at the height of the pandemic. The airline despatched 74,000 toothbrush/toothpaste kits, 32,000 pairs of first-class socks and 24,000 blankets.
Also included were First Class pyjamas, amenity kits and even 500 spoons.
