[Mal]

What is the big deal with selling cigarettes? Do people boycott Coles, Woolies, or your local convenience store/petrol station because they sell them?

Qantas can sell whatever they want Duty Free. I don't really care as long as they only sell them to those of the correct age.

[trooper]

I am a rabid EX-smoker... but even so..as has been pointed out it is a LEGAL product.. why shouldn't they sell it?

If the Anti smoking groups/individuals (who are, predictably up in arms about this) were really serious wouldn't they be lobbying for a complete ban on importation/sale/use of tobacco?

Yet they aren't. (and to my knowledge never have been?) That's just weird. Instead they want commercial organisations to look after things for them.. with voluntary bans?

How half assed is that?

[opusman]

Cigarettes are a legal product, and frankly, if QF can make a bit of extra money out of cigarette sales maybe it will keep the price of the flights down.

[NYCguy]

Originally Posted by opusman

Cigarettes are a legal product, and frankly, if QF can make a bit of extra money out of cigarette sales maybe it will keep the price of the flights down.

LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[tuapekastar]

Whilst I am quite surprised Qantas has gone back to flogging DF smokes, because it's really difficult to see it being worth their while, I cannot see why such a song and dance is being made about it.

At the risk of repeating what's already been said here, they're legal to posess, legal to sell on the plane DF, no-one's going to smoke them on the plane, and people can buy them at (almost) any airport DF.

Okay, I'm not really surprised the various health and anti-smoking lobby groups are kicking up a fuss...that's their job!

[acampbel]

There are pros and cons in the decision by Qantas to sell cheap cigarettes to the nicotine dependent :-

Pros - they will make more money from their Duty Free sales.

Cons - the name "Qantas" and the phrase "Good corporate citizen" will never be uttered in the same sentence without the accompaniment of derisive laughter.


Good to see that the BAT stooge is making an impact on the Qantas board .....


Cheers,

Andrew

.

[Maca44]

Even though they do not weigh much, my only gripe is the cigarettes
could take up room where some nice scotch, red wine and champers could be stored.

[oz_mark]

Originally Posted by acampbel

Cons - the name "Qantas" and the phrase "Good corporate citizen" will never be uttered in the same sentence without the accompaniment of derisive laughter.

No better or worse a corporate citizen that Coles or Woolworths on this matter.

[NM]

ok, its probably the cynic in me coming out again, but is it just coincidence that the story of selling cigarettes and the announcement of a new member of the Qantas Board appear on the same day? The new board member is Mr Paul Rayner, who was previously the Finance Director of British American Tobacco Plc, and before that the Chief Operating Officer of British American Tobacco Australasia Limited.

[SeatBackForward]

Originally Posted by NM

ok, its probably the cynic in me coming out again, but is it just coincidence that the story of selling cigarettes and the announcement of a new member of the Qantas Board appear on the same day? The new board member is Mr Paul Rayner, who was previously the Finance Director of British American Tobacco Plc, and before that the Chief Operating Officer of British American Tobacco Australasia Limited.

I doubt you need to be cynical. I'm sure it was ansolutely connected. I can imagine the conversation between Rayner and Dixon

Rayner: "I like to see tobacco in Duty free Stores before i fly"
Dixon: "yeha pity we don't sell them onboard"

LIGHTBULB moment.

Dixon: "I'll get onto it right away"