USAirways Soon To Charge Pax for Water & Other Drinks

[captainjack]

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.

If Southwest wasn't paying $51 for oil, they would be charging fees too. I think their hedges are great and I'm glad they are able to offer a great product and stable employment.

But for the rest of us, the industry is spiraling out of control and this crisis is worse than after 911.

If Parker thinks that charging for water and sodas will increase our revenue, I'm all for it. How many other industries give you a free coke with your purchase? How many times do passengers order a drink just because the cart is there and it's free?

I do agree that airplanes are a little different as you can't bring stuff through security and you're stuck in a tube, but we are in the business of moving a passenger from point A to B, not the catering business. When passengers go on-line to buy a ticket they almost always choose the lowest fare and the schedule they need. They aren't going to not buy a ticket on an airline because a particular airline charges $2 for a coke.

As for the customers experience on his way to his interview, bad service happens. For all the bashing of US Airways lately, the airline has been tops in on-time for the last six months and the baggage situation is improving.

The labor situation here is FUBAR, but the passenger experience is getting better.

Most of the charges, except for the cokes, don't even apply to elite level frequent flyers, so the extra fees only apply to the people that we barely make any money from in the first place.

As pilots, why do we care what the airline charges for? We want stable employment and airplanes to fly. Let management manage the airline and pilots fly the airplanes. It works best this way.

 

[johnsonrod]

So, will passengers buy water bottles or just cups of water? Does ice cost extra? What about cold water vs. hot water - any extra charge for hot water for tea? If they do buy bottles, how many bottles will need to be carried on board? How much weight will this add? Do you think passengers will end up sipping from the water faucet in the lav with the dirty water to avoid any charges if they don't have much cash?

I think USAirways should charge passengers extra if they bring their own drinks onboard. They should scrutinize the passengers closely like the Skybus Nazis...

 

[Grandpa +65]

Guys, No flame here. But, I recently bought full fare tickets in us usairways , for family of four. We are going on Vacations to SJU. Usairways is the cheapest ones. Round trip from LAX to SJU$475 p.p taxes included. And $1900dls for all four. Other as, JB $805 p.p x 4=$3220, AA $ 597 p.p x 4=$2388 and Delta $695.31 p.p x 4= $2780. So, paying sodas and extra bags (one per person) still under the lowest bidder.

 

[Occam's Razor]

How many other industries give you a free coke with your purchase? How many times do passengers order a drink just because the cart is there and it's free?

I do agree that airplanes are a little different as you can't bring stuff through security and you're stuck in a tube, but we are in the business of moving a passenger from point A to B, not the catering business.

Wait a minute! Are you saying taxis, ferrys, trains, and buses don't automatically provide free drinks and snacks to the passengers who travel on them?

Those industries are SCREWING consumers!

Would it kill Hertz to put a few Pepsi's in my rental car?

(Thank you for having a bigger picture than most)

When passengers go on-line to buy a ticket they almost always choose the lowest fare and the schedule they need. They aren't going to not buy a ticket on an airline because a particular airline charges $2 for a coke.

Right-o! Air travel in the US ceased to be "premium" transportation several years ago. It's simply faster.

 

[FLYLOW22]

Typical American. You feel entitled to something and when you don't get it you sue.

No. I won't sue, but someone else will. Please not transfix the issue in a personal manner.

I travel in uniform and am usually liquids exempt.

I'm talking about your airlines "civilian" customers in plain clothes that are subjected to TSA liquids scrutiny, charge $5 for a bottle of water at the airport shop inside security (because they can) and then they get nickel and dimed by XYZ Airlines for a damned bottle of water (much less a cup of coffee or a soda) once they board their 5 hour flight.

The scenario is ripe for a lawsuit, like it or not.

No company can withhold basic sustainence item, such as air, water, warmth, shelter, etc.

Airlines will not win this boneheaded, ill-thought out venture.

You defending the action won't help or hurt, but it is interesting. Good for you for defending your livelihood.

Somebody needs to! Doug sure isn't.

In the end, water won't save the airlines.

 

[FLYLOW22]

Wait a minute! Are you saying taxis, ferrys, trains, and buses don't automatically provide free drinks and snacks to the passengers who travel on them?

Those industries are SCREWING consumers!

Would it kill Hertz to put a few Pepsi's in my rental car?

(Thank you for having a bigger picture than most)



Right-o! Air travel in the US ceased to be "premium" transportation several years ago. It's simply faster.

Trains and cars can stop frequently, and do.

Planes don't. big difference.

 

[Occam's Razor]

Trains and cars can stop frequently, and do.

Planes don't. big difference.

When those trains and cars stop...do the people at 7-11 give you water, Pepsi, coffee, and snacks for free?

Travelers will have access to liquids and food. The same access they'd have in other modes of transportation...

...for a price.

 

[DTW320]

When those trains and cars stop...do the people at 7-11 give you water, Pepsi, coffee, and snacks for free?

Travelers will have access to liquids and food. The same access they'd have in other modes of transportation...

...for a price.

Agree. How about when you go to a movie? What do you get for your 9 bucks? A ticket to the movie and nothing else. Snacks and drinks are available, for a lot more than $2 a piece, at the concession stand. Are movie patrons suing theater chains over that right and left?

 

[illinipilot]

When those trains and cars stop...do the people at 7-11 give you water, Pepsi, coffee, and snacks for free?

Travelers will have access to liquids and food. The same access they'd have in other modes of transportation...

...for a price.

Passengers in cars, and trains have all the access they want to liquids from home or elsewhere. Air passengers are stuck with whatever they can sneak through TSA or purchase in the terminal.

P.S. my sister recently got a 6oz can of mace through security no problem (crazy TSA).

 

[weasel_lips]

The elephant in the living room for me is these clearing houses like Priceline.com that sell off these "Excess" seats for very low prices, thus forcing an airline to effectively compete with itself.. they should some how quit selling seats to these guys and let the capacity reductions take hold... as long as that last seat can be sold below market value because of some pre-arranged agreement that will put price pressure downwards on the market.

Didn't you work for skybus?

 

[On Your Six]

Soon flying on SWA will be viewed as luxury flying...

 

[PurpleInMEM]

Don't like it...Drive

I do, as often as possible. We deadhead all over the place and I bid trips that start/stop in places that I can drive to. No corporate FedEx dollars on my behalf and no personal dollars either. If I can't drive there or ride FedEx for free...I don't go. Sorry, but that's what this mess has come to. Oh, and I encourage my extended family to avoid the airlines as well. The experience is just too painful all the way around.

I would rather give the oil companies my money. At least I know what I'm getting and derive some value from it.

 

[HA25]

Didn't you work for skybus?

Yes, along with ASA, American, SAG, Gemini and now CitationShares... why?

 

[On Your Six]

Yes, along with ASA, American, SAG, Gemini and now CitationShares... why?

I think he was just making a subtle jab at Skybus's lack of freebies.

 

[HA25]

I think he was just making a subtle jab at Skybus's lack of freebies.

Thanks. Key difference there is they were up front about it and it was their business model, along with 3rd tier airport and fares from $10 to $125. Allegiant is making that work profitably right now.