Airline starting to charge for drinks onboard

[pbgirl 1]

http://tech.yahoo.com/blogs/null/95048

Better 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?

[Dan J 277]

Not really surprising. Airlines cant easily pass on extra costs in ticket prices. So instead they pass it along in extra services.

[William33 110]

They should be required by law to at least provide a bottle of water. One can get pretty parched on a 2-3 hour flight. A bottle of water can be had for 15-20 cents retail or much less if they purchase hundreds of cases.

[amiquechu 0]

Not really surprising. Airlines cant easily pass on extra costs in ticket prices. So instead they pass it along in extra services.

Lap dances from stewardesses??

[pbgirl 1]

They should be required by law to at least provide a bottle of water. One can get pretty parched on a 2-3 hour flight. A bottle of water can be had for 15-20 cents retail or much less if they purchase hundreds of cases.

That's what I was thinking too. Or it should depend on the length of the flight.

[kerewin21 2]

They should be required by law to at least provide a bottle of water. One can get pretty parched on a 2-3 hour flight. A bottle of water can be had for 15-20 cents retail or much less if they purchase hundreds of cases.

That's what I was thinking too. Or it should depend on the length of the flight.

It totally drives me nuts that you can't bring water through security with you and then the places inside the airport charge $2 for a bottle of water. It's totally a racket. I've tried bringing my own empty bottle and filling it at the water fountain but for some reason airport water fountain water tastes terrible.

[pbgirl 1]

They should be required by law to at least provide a bottle of water. One can get pretty parched on a 2-3 hour flight. A bottle of water can be had for 15-20 cents retail or much less if they purchase hundreds of cases.

That's what I was thinking too. Or it should depend on the length of the flight.

It totally drives me nuts that you can't bring water through security with you and then the places inside the airport charge $2 for a bottle of water. It's totally a racket. I've tried bringing my own empty bottle and filling it at the water fountain but for some reason airport water fountain water tastes terrible.

Oh agreed!! I was flying through Amsterdam and I bought a bottle of water at the airport. I guess you have to go through an individual security check point at just the gate you are at, right before the jetway for the aircraft. They took the bottle out of my backpack and told me I couldn't bring it onboard. I was so mad. I tried to explain that I bought the bottle 20 minutes prior (unopened BTW) but they said that was the rule. So then I asked if I could drink it before I went onboard and he told me I had to leave the gate area and go drink it outside. I was furious. What a waste of 3 euros.

[mRx 16]

Time for one of these.

http://www.thebeerbelly.com/

[przy 0]

That is exactly why I love Virgin Atlantic... none of this bullcrap. Even LTU and Lufthansa are great.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

One by one, they'll nickel and dime themselves out of business.

[mnieto 2]

How come that nobody expects free drinks or food on trains or busses?

People expect the craziest things on airplanes, stuff like decaf coffee with soy milk or Jasmin Tea, no kidding! They want you to hold the flight for them when they misconnect, without wasting any thought about the 250 other souls on board which are expecting an on time departure and have their own connections to catch.

And then, they want you to rebook them free of charge even if they have missed their flights by their own mistake, and then they yell at you when they are informed about the rebooking fee and play the "Nobody-informed-me-about-the-rebooking-fee-I-will-never-fly-XY Airlines-again" card....

The best part is when passengers show up with 6 freaking 60 pound bags and start screaming when you have to charge the excess baggage: "What? Are you kidding me???Nobody has ever told me about the baggage policies!"

And here's my favorite: folks who try to take their big-a$$ animal kennels (with even bigger a$$ed animals inside) as a carry on and then go nuts when you tell them that they can't, and then almost get a heart attack when you "surprise" them with the kennel fee....

Seriously, the days of exclusiveness ,when flight attendants served passengers with white gloves, are over. Today,it is nothing more than a way of mass transportation, and airlines are struggling hard to survive. Tons of employees are currently (again) being laid-off, it's not easy for those

who are affected. Costs are being reduced wherever possible. People should also see the other side of the story.

And like I said earlier, do bus companies offer free drinks on board?

No offense, ok?

Edited June 22, 2008 by mnieto

[William33 110]

How come that nobody expects free drinks or food on trains or busses?

People expect the craziest things on airplanes, stuff like decaf coffee with soy milk or Jasmin Tea, no kidding! They want you to hold the flight for them when they misconnect, without wasting any thought about the 250 other souls on board which are expecting an on time departure and have their own connections to catch.

And then, they want you to rebook them free of charge even if they have missed their flights by their own mistake, and then they yell at you when they are informed about the rebooking fee and play the "Nobody-informed-me-about-the-rebooking-fee-I-will-never-fly-XY Airlines-again" card....

The best part is when passengers show up with 6 freaking 60 pound bags and start screaming when you have to charge the excess baggage: "What? Are you kidding me???Nobody has ever told me about the baggage policies!"

And here's my favorite: folks who try to take their big-a$$ animal kennels (with even bigger a$$ed animals inside) as a carry on and then go nuts when you tell them that they can't, and then almost get a heart attack when you "surprise" them with the kennel fee....

Seriously, the days of exclusiveness ,when flight attendants served passengers with white gloves, are over. Today,it is nothing more than a way of mass transportation, and airlines are struggling hard to survive. Tons of employees are currently (again) being laid-off, it's not easy for those

who are affected. Costs are being reduced wherever possible. People should also see the other side of the story.

And like I said earlier, do bus companies offer free drinks on board?

No offense, ok?

We are talking about a bottle of water here....where are you in this?

Edited June 22, 2008 by William33

[Ms. Squirrel 11]

Is that only domestic or international as well?

A direct flight from Frankfurt to Charlotte (US Airways is the only one that flies direct) is 9:30 hrs long and costs about €700 ($1090). I think a bottle of water should be included in that price!

And if not, oh well, I'll just buy my water on the plane. I think if you can still afford to fly nowdays, you can also afford to spend $2 on a bottle of water.

[yogib37 3]

One by one, they'll nickel and dime themselves out of business.

Yes, that is true, and I bet it will be USAirways will be the next victim. They are thin ice as it is, and the service SUCKS!!! the planes are crappy, I just dont care for them.

Yogi

[eric&gen 0]

Do not fly Philippines airlines from my bad scary experience they suck.