USAirways has jumped the shark

[regionalcap]

Boilerup,
It is not about the COST of the coke. I bet that coke hardly cost 10 cents. It is about increasing revenue.

 

[BoilerUP]

I simply don't understand your point of view on this. Why are you trying to equate a paying passenger with a working crewmember? Airline pilots have been getting free crew meals for many, many years while coach customers have received nothing but a bag of peanuts. Was that also wrong?

No, crew meals aren't wrong. Crew meals benefit the company just as much as the crewmember; they keep you working without taking a meal break.

Back in 2000, I got a bagel on an early Delta flight from CVG-DEN in coach. I also remember in 2003 American had "Bistro Bags" for coach flights of longer than 3 hours. Only in the last few years have legacy airlines started cutting food service (and now snack and beverage service) from normal operations.

Membership has its benefits. You expect pilots to pay for the free ride they get?

Charging a crewmember for a jumpseat and charging a passenger for a beverage aren't the same thing. Hell, I'd expect most captains to waive the beverage fee for a jumpseating pilot, just as many with a business or first-class cabin seat jumpseaters there if a seat is available.

Boilerup,
It is not about the COST of the coke. I bet that coke hardly cost 10 cents. It is about increasing revenue.

Yes, I'm well aware of that.

What I've been trying to say all along is I think charging for a simple beverage is a crock of sh!t. I'd rather airline management RAISE THE TICKET PRICE to increase revenue instead of nickel-and-diming folks to death.

Look guys, I don't have a personal expectation for ultra-low ticket prices, and I have no problem whatsoever with airlines charging fairly for the services they provide. NO, I don't think jumpseaters should have to pay for their ride or crewmembers should have to pay for a cup of coffee. In the grand scheme of things, $2 is a drop in the bucket to even the cheapest of airline tickets.

That said, I think charging for a beverage is pathetic attempt at revenue generation that will play into the hands of carriers like JetBlue and Southwest that don't charge for a drink. I think pilots who believe a $2 charge will save their airline should spot their company two bones for a Diet Coke. And yes, I do think somebody that buys a full Y fare ticket on a legacy should be entitled to a free beverage while somebody with a $69 internet special fare (as AirTran currently offers IND-MCO) is not.

Who knows, perhaps I'm way off base....perhaps this new pricing structure will be popular with passengers and spread throughout the industry like wildfire...but I can't help but shake my head at the fact the RyanAir-ization of the US airline industry is being spearheaded by legacy carriers.

 

[atlcrashpad]

I dunno about that, Airways has proven to be the turd that won't flush.

I don't kare who you is... dat is sum funny stuff.............
bouyyyyyyyyyy....

 

[PCL_128]

No, crew meals aren't wrong. Crew meals benefit the company just as much as the crewmember; they keep you working without taking a meal break.

And the free drink for the crew is the same thing. Keeps us working without having to take a break to stock up on bottled water in the terminal.

Back in 2000, I got a bagel on an early Delta flight from CVG-DEN in coach. I also remember in 2003 American had "Bistro Bags" for coach flights of longer than 3 hours. Only in the last few years have legacy airlines started cutting food service (and now snack and beverage service) from normal operations.

Depends. Back in the 90s I used to ride a lot on DAL out to PHX, LAS, etc.... If it was the wrong time of the day, coach pax only got a snack and a drink. The pax up front were the only ones to get a fancy meal. I think we had to pay for the headset to listen to the movie also.

I'd rather airline management RAISE THE TICKET PRICE to increase revenue instead of nickel-and-diming folks to death.

What you don't seem to be acknowledging is that airlines can't raise ticket prices. They keep trying, and the other airlines keep undercutting, so they have to cut back again. The only way to increase revenue in this deregulated environment is to "nickel and dime to death."

 

[imacdog]

I can think of one passenger airline that is doing quite well and doesn't nickel and dime people to death.

 

[spitfire1500]

Do you get free drinks at McDs when you order a bigmac? What kind of freebies do you get at the hotels? Do they give you the bottled water($4), free food(way overpriced), cocktails($5-7 beers), local phone calls(.75) 800#s(same) internet($9.95+). You get my drift? Look the airlines are finally doing what every other industry has been doing for years. Nickel and diming your ass Get used to it. You are buying transportation nothing else. If you don't like the cost of the coke, buy one in the terminal.

Or just choose not to fly like the public will start doing. When I'm flying on an airline it isn't McD's and almost every hotel I stay at has free breakfast and free dinner time orderves along with free drinks (including beer and wine). "If I don't like the cost of the coke" .....I'll ride another airline....the funny part they will be cheaper and give me the coke. I started flying JBlue from CLT to NY switching from LCC same exact price and I can watch SAT TV and they offer multiple snacks and drinks they even encourage me to take more than one....Whats next having to pay to wipe your arse...$1.00 to get the door open to the john and buy a pack of toilet paper for $1.00...I think I know where the inflight magazine will end up!

 

[Cobra17]

Why not just increase fares by $2. Then everybody pays whether they order a soda pop or not?

 

[CA1900]

I can think of one passenger airline that is doing quite well and doesn't nickel and dime people to death.

That would be the one that doesn't show up on the travel sites, and thus doesn't get pushed down the list when the customer does a "sort by price" and realizes they're not the cheapest!

That's not a coincidence... to have the reputation of being the cheapest fare, without actually being the cheapest, is a good reputation to have.

 

[PCL_128]

Why not just increase fares by $2. Then everybody pays whether they order a soda pop or not?

Because the other airlines won't match the fare increase, and then you lose your customers. All it takes is $1 to be pushed to the bottom of the list on Orbitz, and then you get no customers. The pax are a bunch of cheap bastards.

 

[Ocity]

Because the other airlines won't match the fare increase, and then you lose your customers. All it takes is $1 to be pushed to the bottom of the list on Orbitz, and then you get no customers. The pax are a bunch of cheap bastards.

A Seat to Chicago is a Seat to Chicago. Travel has become a commodity no different that a bushel of corn.

Why would you pay one extra dollar for a bushel of corn?

Frequent flier programs end up being useful for only a handful of pax. People go for the lowest price because, just like pork bellys, there is no difference between two different coach seats to Chicago.

 

[Hamburger]

Why not just increase fares by $2. Then everybody pays whether they order a soda pop or not?

The best part is, if you have a direct flight and the $2 cheaper flight has two connections and takes 11 hours to cross nine states, they still go for the $2. Business models are driven by the stupidity of customers.


A seat to Chicago is not a seat to Chicago when you have to stop in Kansas City and Las Vegas on the way.

 

[PBRstreetgang]

Why not just increase fares by $2. Then everybody pays whether they order a soda pop or not?

Because the average pax is dumber than dirt! Yous gettem into the plane, lock them down, and steal their lunch money. They(pax) should consider themselves lucky to not have received a blue swirly). Thats the price they pay for expedia.com and "lowest" price.
Fukkem, I say charge them for bags of "purified"air, they are just dumb enough to fall for it.(I would fart in the bags for free!)
PBR

 

[Rizzo]

Well, it's not free, but included in the price (this is why the nice hotels have "free" breakfasts but cost more)

LOL....nice hotels give nothing away for free. It's the Days Inns of the world that offer free breakfast and free internet. At the Hiltons/Sheraton/Marriotts, you have to pay for internet, $7 for a bagel, and $4 for a bottle of water.

 

[BoilerUP]

LOL....nice hotels give nothing away for free. It's the Days Inns of the world that offer free breakfast and free internet. At the Hiltons/Sheraton/Marriotts, you have to pay for internet, $7 for a bagel, and $4 for a bottle of water.

Unless you count the Hampton Inn which is free internet and breakfast, or the free internet provided at Courtyards or HGIs, or the free breakfast at a Springhill or Embassy Suites.

 

[gutshotdraw]

Back to the thread starter: I'll let you know after tomorrow if USAirways has totally jumped the shark. I'm stuck on them (as a paying customer) for a one-stop, 7 flight hour itinerary to an undisclosed location. I think it will be a West crew for both legs so it might turn out okay...:bomb: