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FRIAT 2022 Price increase

Post information relating to the Royal International Air Tattoo here.
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Gary
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FRIAT 2022 Price increase

Post by Gary » Wed Jul 07, 2021 2:11 pm

Just received the following email. Might be of use to someone
Air Tattoo 2022 - Your FRIAT Membership

Dear FRIAT Member

I very much hope you are looking forward to watching the 2021 Virtual Air Tattoo next Saturday (17 July) which, once again, will be packed full of exciting aircraft-related news, views and features for you to enjoy.  The Virtual Air Tattoo will also mark the launch of tickets for the 2022 airshow going on sale.

We remain hugely grateful to all of you for carrying over your FRIAT memberships to 2022, some from as far back as July/August 2019, it is however with regret that I must tell you that we are having to apply a price increase to your membership to meet the rising cost of staging the event next year.  The result is that the cost of all FRIAT packages already purchased for 2020/2021 will each increase by £30 for RIAT 2022. 

I understand that this decision will be met with disappointment, but I hope you will appreciate why we have had to do this.  Price increases imposed by an events industry that is struggling to recover post-pandemic have resulted in the cost of grandstands, marquees, furniture, trackway and basic facilities rising considerably, and unsurprisingly these costs have been passed on to RAFCTE as the Event Organiser.

Of course, we are looking forward to welcoming you all back to the FRIAT Enclosure next year, but I appreciate that there may be some among you who are unable or unwilling to meet this additional cost. Of course, we respect whatever decision you make.  Those of you who decide to pay the increase will have over two months to make the payment. Those who decide against will receive a full refund. The cost of any remaining 2022 FRIAT packages that are available will go up by £50 each compared to our original 2020 offer.

Once again, I am very sorry to have to contact you with this news, however, this is but one of several really difficult decisions we are having to make to secure the Air Tattoo's future following successive cancellations which have had a profound impact. Nevertheless, I remain grateful to you for your understanding and continued support as we continue to navigate through these challenging times.

You will receive an email in the next couple of days from our ticket system that will tell you how to proceed. Only the person that made the booking will receive this email so we would be grateful if you could liaise as required.

Kind regards

Paul Atherton

CEO, Royal International Air Tattoo
Posh are going to Wembley (albeit for a tin cup)

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reaper493
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Re: FRIAT 2022 Price increase

Post by reaper493 » Wed Jul 07, 2021 2:24 pm

Is that a pre curser to the normal admission tickets also going up as well?

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Re: FRIAT 2022 Price increase

Post by page_verify » Wed Jul 07, 2021 3:08 pm

I'd say almost certainly, and it wouldn't surprise me if they're quite significant increases.

Rolling over ticket fees from 2020 to 2022 may have given the firm some cash during those painful lockdown months, but now that's going to hurt it. It now has to provide an air show with 2022 costs to a significant number of people paying 2020 prices. They've tried to clawback some of those cost increases from FRIAT members by charging extra because I suspect it's possible to do that with a membership/annual subscription. I doubt whether they can write to every RIAT2020 ticket owner and now ask for some more money.


RAFCTE's latest financial report, published 1st July 2021 and linked to below, details the impact cancelling RIAT 2020 and 2021 has had on the firm.
https://find-and-update.company-informa ... download=0

GVLCN
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Re: FRIAT 2022 Price increase

Post by GVLCN » Wed Jul 07, 2021 5:49 pm

Absolute joke, they’ve had my money for over 2 years come 2022 if the airshow goes ahead! And then they want more money, surely the interest is worth more than £30 alone?

Bad performance RIAT, taking advantage of the pandemic!

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Nighthawke
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Re: FRIAT 2022 Price increase

Post by Nighthawke » Wed Jul 07, 2021 6:24 pm

And we're off with the moaning and groaning. You have a choice of a refund. They've explained and apologised but with the losses they can't afford to give handouts.

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peasus911
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Re: FRIAT 2022 Price increase

Post by peasus911 » Wed Jul 07, 2021 6:25 pm

I would agree with Reaper493, i fully expect a text or email with them asking for additional money for the standard admission.
Not sure how to take this at the moment, not happy to pay more money but happy to pay a little more each year as we normally do.
I know how much things have gone up during the pandemic so I am trying to sympathize with the organisers but do think that a halfway ground should be met.

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reaper493
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Re: FRIAT 2022 Price increase

Post by reaper493 » Wed Jul 07, 2021 6:55 pm

What were the last pricing tiers?

Wasn't it 45, 50 and 55, for super early, early and standard tickets?

I reckon there will be at least £5 on top of those, and maybe no super early or even early tickets. Most will probably be happy to pay, having had no airshows for 2 years.

I wonder if they'll put vendors prices up as well?

All will be revealed I'm sure!!

Mike

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Re: FRIAT 2022 Price increase

Post by page_verify » Wed Jul 07, 2021 7:00 pm

I don’t believe they can now make you pay extra to use a 2020 ticket in 2022, just ask for a donation in return for something etc. It doesn't look as though RIAT's Ts and Cs were written in an era that considered 2022 costs to be much different to 2020 costs.
Last edited by page_verify on Thu Jul 08, 2021 6:37 am, edited 1 time in total.

iainpeden
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Re: FRIAT 2022 Price increase

Post by iainpeden » Wed Jul 07, 2021 8:01 pm

Local accommodation prices always rose significantly anyway. On the 2021 postponement I contacted the hotel I have used, and booked 12 months ahead, for the last 8 year to take the booking over to 2022. They expected £180 a night, double the previous year, paid in full by May 21.
I have booked instead in Cirencester and paid a £100 deposit already; had this news come earlier I would have cancelled my ticket.
Having done every IAT/RIAT since 1977 and now retired it is not worth the close to £600 or so it costs to attend over 4 days. Wall to wall grey F-35s, maybe 150 a/c on the field.
Feeling really disillusioned at the moment.

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Re: FRIAT 2022 Price increase

Post by page_verify » Thu Jul 08, 2021 5:47 am

Some interesting comments over on t'other aircraft forum. Some might benefit from reading the company's most recent financial accounts, and the Ts and Cs for RIAT tickets published on RIAT's web site.

The fact that RIAT won't charge you a cancellation fee if you decide not to pay the FRIAT top-up fee is interesting. RIAT may yet be the first event to try to charge those with rolled over event tickets a top-up fee - but I suspect they'd risk losing more through refund requests than they'd gain from top-up fees given RIAT ticket holders are unlikely to be as loyal as FRIAT members.

Interesting times (for many RIAT reasons..!)

Doughnut
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Re: FRIAT 2022 Price increase

Post by Doughnut » Thu Jul 08, 2021 9:36 am

As always the audited accounts make interesting reading.
If I read correctly the year 2020 results are reduced to six months, being taken from February 2020 to September 2020, (not the full year till January 2021) so expect even worst results for 2020 - 2021, and the knock on affect for 2021-2022
Year 2020 loss £139,000 (six months) yes a loss but to be expected. Sounds like the staff were furloughed which saved part of the staff bill, but £92,000 still allocated to one director. (and that is only for six months ?) Surely the directors, not all of which taken such large amounts, should be taking a pay cut in proportion to the amount of work being asked of them. Even a simple pro-rata three day week would have reduced losses.

Not sure on the legality of charging more to use a deferred ticket, paid for in 2019, just because the face valve of the 2022 is now higher ?

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Gary
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Re: FRIAT 2022 Price increase

Post by Gary » Fri Jul 09, 2021 5:17 pm

Just received my second email from FRIAT about payment details. Mine appeared in the spam folder. So might he worth checking for those who haven't received it. Does say the following
Dear Mr Gary E

Further to the email to all FRIAT members (a copy of which is below) these are the details to enable you to pay the additional £30 per person (£15 for children) on your booking.


*To Pay the Balance* - You have until Wednesday 29 September to do this.

- Please click here to log in to your account and view your FRIAT order
- Click on the Blue 'Pay Balance' button at the bottom of the page.
- This will take you to our secure payment system where you can pay the balance.
- If you would like assistance with this then please telephone Customer Services on the number below.


*To Request a Full Refund* - You have until Wednesday 29 September to do this.

- If you decide not to continue with your FRIAT Membership please telephone Customer Services on 01285 713456 .

- They will then process a full refund.
Posh are going to Wembley (albeit for a tin cup)

65thAgressor
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Re: FRIAT 2022 Price increase

Post by 65thAgressor » Fri Jul 09, 2021 6:42 pm

I have general admission tickets for Friday and saturday. I received an email saying because I had rolled over the tickets to 2022. The Friday ticket of £49.00 I would receive a refund of £5.00 to my account which I received Wednesday

65thAgressor
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Re: FRIAT 2022 Price increase

Post by 65thAgressor » Fri Jul 09, 2021 6:48 pm

To hit Friat members who go every year and spend the most to be there is a kick in the teeth. I think raising the general admission ticket would bring the extra money needed .
And not anger your most loyal and passionate supporters.

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Nighthawke
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Re: FRIAT 2022 Price increase

Post by Nighthawke » Fri Jul 09, 2021 7:25 pm

So you'll be returning that £5 along with a bit extra then? :)

65thAgressor
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Re: FRIAT 2022 Price increase

Post by 65thAgressor » Sat Jul 10, 2021 5:52 am

Haha it was only an idea ,doubt the finance guy from riat reads posts on here.

100arw
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Re: FRIAT 2022 Price increase

Post by 100arw » Sun Jul 11, 2021 9:00 am

"2021" has seen fuel prices increase, food prices increase, accommodation prices increase, and funeral prices increase. So why would anyone not expect RIAT prices to join the growing list of increases?
P

Rob666
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Re: FRIAT 2022 Price increase

Post by Rob666 » Sun Jul 11, 2021 9:37 am

Morning,

Well I am lucky to be able to rollover my ticket and pay the additional £30.00 and live local. I can understand others frustration but for me the year does not seem complete without going to FFD supporting the Benevolent Fund and getting my aviation fix no other show has the variety each year of types and air arms even as the world has changed.

Rob

iainpeden
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Re: FRIAT 2022 Price increase

Post by iainpeden » Sun Jul 11, 2021 11:01 am

100arw wrote:
Sun Jul 11, 2021 9:00 am
"2021" has seen fuel prices increase, food prices increase, accommodation prices increase, and funeral prices increase. So why would anyone not expect RIAT prices to join the growing list of increases?
P
If you look at UKAR it appears there's a lack of balance:

FRIAT - £30 increase regardless of the package bought.
Friday ticket - £5 refund
Day ticket and viewing village - no request for a surcharge.

I've paid the £30 even thought I suspect the show will be limited - for no reasons attributable to DBH. RAFCTE need to get a clarifying statement out asap or long standing members (personally from 1983) will have a sense of unfairness.

Deramore
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Re: FRIAT 2022 Price increase

Post by Deramore » Sun Jul 11, 2021 1:22 pm

Just for clarification the monies raised by Air Tattoo go to the RAF Charitable Enterprise not directly to the RAF Benevolent Fund.

People forget Air Tattoo is a business organisation it is most definitely not a charity. This money is only paid over after all salaries, expenses and admin fees have been paid.

It's all available on the Air Tattoo website.

As an aside the annual report for 2020 (covid) should prove interesting.

In 2019 there were circa 34 full and P/T staff and more interestingly (hold your breath), 43 trustees and patrons unless they work TOTALLY for free that is an astronomical number , with zero income for 2 years but salaries and expenses still to be covered, that might explain the FRIAT increase.

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