USAirways Soon To Charge Pax for Water & Other Drinks

[On Your Six]

WTF? I guess USAirways will try to further alienate its passengers (more so than normal). I wonder if the pilots will be charged for their drinks/snacks? USAirways is sounding very desparate... Can't wait to see SWA's upcoming advertising talking about their FREE water on flights.

I found this on Yahoo.com:

US Airways to charge $2 for soda, juice, water

Mon Jun 16, 2008 12:41PM EDT

http://f3.yahoofs.com/ymg/null__10/null-559798381-1213634446.jpg?ymRuCj_CY1eMq42XBetter get used to carrying lots of singles next time you fly. US Airways is now terminating free drink service. No, not free mini bottles of Jim Beam and cheap Chardonnay, we're talking about all drinks, including soda, fruit juice, coffee, and bottled water, which will soon cost $2 each. Presumably tap water, which may or may not be contaminated with fecal coliform bacteria, will still be free.

The move is the latest way airlines are attempting to fight rapidly rising fuel prices in a disastrous economic climate. In recent months, the extra fees have come fast and furious. First came extra charges for your second piece of luggage, then came a charge for your first bag. That's not to mention extra fees for choosing your own seat, curbside check-in, booking using frequent flier miles, and the cost of the Santa Fe chicken sandwich.

The beverage fee is even more annoying than most, since you can no longer bring liquids through security at airports. You are really at the mercy of buying them on the plane, or at least buying them once you're in the terminal (which is doubtlessly no cheaper than on the plane). Alcoholic drinks will also go from $5 to $7. That's a lot for a can of Budweiser.
The fee goes into effect August 18, leaving plenty of time for the airlines to come up with other fees to nickel and dime their way to profitability. Can pay toilets be far behind?

 

[TWA Dude]

WTF?

You just noticed this? It was announced over a week ago.

I wonder if the pilots will be charged for their drinks/snacks?

Not if working or deadheading.

USAirways is sounding very desparate...

Duh!! I'm guessing it has something to do with fuel costs.

Can't wait to see SWA's upcoming advertising talking about their FREE water on flights.

So?

 

[On Your Six]

You just noticed this? It was announced over a week ago.Not if working or deadheading.Duh!! I'm guessing it has something to do with fuel costs.So?

First I've seen it jacka$$. I guess you don't understand sarcasm. Regardless, you should feel proud to be working there. Nice to see USAirways leading the airline industry into the doldrums - AGAIN.

 

[eaglesview]

First I've seen it jacka$$. I guess you don't understand sarcasm. Regardless, you should feel proud to be working there. Nice to see USAirways leading the airline industry into the doldrums - AGAIN.

Then one would think you would realize it's old news.

 

[Chairman]

Just a couple of medical diverts for dehydrated pax should fix this!

 

[ex-nutjeter]

One thing that i am wondering if these screwed up airlines have thought of is how much they are paying in service charges to Visa, Mastercard, AMEX, etc. for those $15 per checked bag fee, I mean it is good for the credit card companies, they get like 2% per transaction.

Also, I bet you will find many people wanting refunds when their bag does not show up when they land. Fedex,UPS, give gurantees when you ship something, so I bet if people have to pay per checked bag, they will demand refunds when they don't show up with them, what a waste of time,energy, and money

 

[HA25]

Wow, and they laughed when Skybus did it.. they were bleeding edge I guess!

This would be the best thing Useless Air can do to me after the disaster of a round trip I just got back from..

$800 round trip unrestricted fair to HPN, upgraded to 1st class due to Gold Status, then subsequently bumped off the flight as a result of the seat being sold to a different guy!!! Then begged to get on, so they took a volunteer and gave me a MIDDLE SEAT in coach after I had paid for and secured 6C!!

Then... get into HPN thru PHL minus the bag with my shoes, and critical items for my job interview that next morning!! Mind you, the bag was gate checked as a result of my originally being bumped off the flight and having to take it out of the overhead!! Bag finally gets in at 1am to hotel... I can now go to bed!!

After successful interview, return leg to home was over sold and I was unable to get a seat assignment until I got to the PHL.. HPN customer service was useless, though they tried.. The PHL customer service was the worse experience I've ever had in my life.. down right RUDE.. with a capital R.. (no lie, I walked up to the gate and politely stood to be called... the gal looked at me with total contempt and said.. "what now?") ... again, middle seat assigned even though when I originally booked the flight 7 days prior I go a window!!!

 

[FLYLOW22]

Pretzels won't make the airline profitable.

Passengers do.

Keep pissing them off...

 

[On Your Six]

Pretzels won't make the airline profitable.

Passengers do.

Keep pissing them off...

Thank you FLYLOW22. That's the point I was trying to make.

 

[TWA Dude]

Ok, fellas, I have no intention of defending these new fees but they're not about making profits -- they're about stemming losses. Fares need to be raised 30-40% immediately to break even but if they did that we'd lose an equivolent percentage of passengers. Most travelers are don't care which airline they fly on and they choose by which one is at the top of the search list: the cheapest fare. That's why fuel surcharges aren't included in the fare.

Oh, and here's a secret: travelers can carry an empty plastic bottle through security and fill it with water from a fountain -- for FREE!

 

[eaglesview]

Wow, and they laughed when Skybus did it.. they were bleeding edge I guess!

This would be the best thing Useless Air can do to me after the disaster of a round trip I just got back from..

$800 round trip unrestricted fair to HPN, upgraded to 1st class due to Gold Status, then subsequently bumped off the flight as a result of the seat being sold to a different guy!!! Then begged to get on, so they took a volunteer and gave me a MIDDLE SEAT in coach after I had paid for and secured 6C!!

Then... get into HPN thru PHL minus the bag with my shoes, and critical items for my job interview that next morning!! Mind you, the bag was gate checked as a result of my originally being bumped off the flight and having to take it out of the overhead!! Bag finally gets in at 1am to hotel... I can now go to bed!!

After successful interview, return leg to home was over sold and I was unable to get a seat assignment until I got to the PHL.. HPN customer service was useless, though they tried.. The PHL customer service was the worse experience I've ever had in my life.. down right RUDE.. with a capital R.. (no lie, I walked up to the gate and politely stood to be called... the gal looked at me with total contempt and said.. "what now?") ... again, middle seat assigned even though when I originally booked the flight 7 days prior I go a window!!!

Don't like it...Drive

 

[scarlet]

Fly someone that does provide services.

FLight last week from TUS-CLT=one cup of water 4.5 hours on the plane.=Useless

CAL=you would have gotten 3-4 beverage carts

 

[HA25]

Don't like it...Drive

What a winning attitude... How can you, with a straight face defend that?? ..you don't really sound like you care about the future of the airlines..

Either way, it's a fact... people who can drive are going to drive.. and the bread and butter revenue ($$) customer of this industry, the business traveller is going to the fractionals by the droves!! The only people riding in 1st class anymore are upgrades! Looks at the strong hiring at NJA, and the rest of the Fracs.. Why? in part business travels..

 

[FLYLOW22]

Ok, fellas, I have no intention of defending these new fees but they're not about making profits -- they're about stemming losses. Fares need to be raised 30-40% immediately to break even but if they did that we'd lose an equivolent percentage of passengers. Most travelers are don't care which airline they fly on and they choose by which one is at the top of the search list: the cheapest fare. That's why fuel surcharges aren't included in the fare.

Oh, and here's a secret: travelers can carry an empty plastic bottle through security and fill it with water from a fountain -- for FREE!

*2 points... most people won't be forced into drinking tap water.

and

*what would you rather be? 1) a smaller, robust and healthy airline because fares were raised and the airline adjusts in size accordingly.

or

2) a "larger" airline that flies pissed of passengers who can't wait till you go out of business but fly you out of necessity due to the hub geography, etc.? The passengers leave and now the airline is approximately the same size as option #1 but far worse off financially.

I know what I'd want.

Well, I guess there is Option 3 too but it's more of a result of pursuing Option 2... OUT OF BUSINESS.

A t shirt you all should make for Doug is "There's no sense in being the biggest if you suck."

 

[say again]

So stop at the convenience store and spring the $2 for a bottle of water, and if you can't afford that then you shouldn't be flying. If you're thirsty enough you will pay the measly few bucks.