USA. Retailer Dutyfreeonboard.com, part of Miami-based inflight retail concessionaire Duty Free World, has launched a new home-delivery scheme which it says negates the need for passengers to buy duty free purchases at the airport and carry them onboard.
The Miami company said it will deliver products bought on its website straight to travellers’ homes in the USA (or anywhere in the country) and absorb any duties itself.
The launch was previewed by Duty Free World in March when it told The Moodie Davitt Report that it would pioneer a digital duty free programme that would be “the first of its kind in the industry”. That statement followed immediately after Duty Free World’s biggest inflight client, United Airlines, announced the cessation of its inflight retail programme, claiming it could not compete with airport shops.
In a message to consumers today, Dutyfreeonboard said: “Duty free means big savings, but the trade-off is convenience, as passengers have to lug souvenirs purchased on their trip. When shopping at duty free airport stores to buy items for themselves or gifts for men or women in their lives, consumers will save anywhere from 10-20% off the US local market prices plus airport and state tax.
“However, based on US Customs and Border Patrol regulations, US travellers can only take advantage of unique gifts found in US duty free stores on their way out, as the US does not have duty free arrival shops like many other countries. This means a trip to the airport store at the onset of their journey and carrying the goods throughout.”
Dutyfreeonboard claimed it can eliminate such hassles and that it offers “all the same brands plus travel essentials online”. In reality its offer is significantly more limited than that, although the range includes 40 skincare lines, 49 fragrance SKUs and the same numbers of men’s watches. Its website offer excludes liquor & tobacco but includes a wide range of men’s and women’s items, with sub-categories dedicated to beauty, jewellery, watches, accessories, fashion, electronics, sweets, kid’s products, travel, special offers and Father’s Day gifts.
Given the retailer’s claims, regarding consumers not having to travel, supply of some brands is likely to be an issue. Certain items shown on the site, notably those from L’Oréal Travel Retail, show as ‘out of stock’. It is believed that the French beauty house company insists on consumers having proof of travel before it will agree to distribution.
Curbside delivery promised
The company also claimed: “If there’s something travellers need when they land, the online retailer will also deliver curbside to most major US airports.” Dutyfreeonboard said its service gets around the barriers posed by airlines in terms of punitive checked baggage fees and limits on carry-on baggage.
“Most major US carriers are now offering basic economy seats that provide little to no overhead bin space,” it commented. Instead, the company claimed, shoppers don’t have to carry products as they will not have to wait until they are actually travelling to take advantage of duty free savings.
It said that while many of the products offered can be purchased online anytime, travellers who seek added value can enter a promo code and receive an additional discount.
Duty Free World, founded in 1995 by Mayra del Velle runs the inflight programmes onboard Aeromexico, TAM and LATAM.
In a statement on its website Dutyfreeonboard said: “Free shipping, enhanced delivery choices, free returns, mobile shopping and exciting new retail partnerships offer us continued opportunities to serve more customers in more ways with a fresh, relevant duty free shopping experience and inspiring style. Destinations change, technology advances and our duty free shopping evolves with it yet our commitment to travel retail shoppers around the world doesn’t.”
