Airline starting to charge for drinks onboard

[eekee 182]

I agree with mnieto. The only time I've ever gotten a free bottle of water from amtrak was when the train was stuck on the tracks for three hours. If you can afford to fly, you can pay for a bottle of water or to check a bag. And 2-3 hours is so short, I don't see why one would even really NEED food or beverages, barring medical issues. Otherwise I don't see why an airline should provide it for free on a shorthaul flight.

[Cecile and Bryan 0]

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

Because on trains and busses you can bring your own food and drinks, and also because most of the time when people travel by train it isn't a 9 hour ride.

[eekee 182]

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

Because on trains and busses you can bring your own food and drinks, and also because most of the time when people travel by train it isn't a 9 hour ride.

Note what I said about "shorthaul" flights. 9 hours is longhaul and I certainly expect to get food and drink when I fly for that long. But when I fly to Florida from New York on USAirways and people want wine AND soda AND coffee for a 2.5 hour flight, it's kind of ridiculous and understandable why they would want to charge. When I flew from Finland to Russia, by the time they finished serving everyone, the flight was over. And until a few years ago you could bring whatever liquid you wanted on the plane and people still expected all that stuff.

People do take long train/bus rides all the time, and I expect that the number who do will only increase.

Edited June 22, 2008 by eekee

[Reba 2]

people want it for free because up until now, it always has been free. Or rather, included in the ticket price. When ticket prices keep going up, and they keep adding fees to your trip, its entirely understandable that people will be up in arms over a $2 beverage. The point is, a lot of people can't afford to travel anymore, but they do it because they have to. That extra $2 for a drink and $5 for a stale sandwich, and fees for baggage, and and and and...it cuts into the wallet for sure.

[Henia 11]

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?

I never really liked US Airways, so this is just another reason for me why! But I think overall, these types of fees are due to the raising cost of fuel. Something we will all have to get used to ... unforunately

Also I agree with Reba, travelling is expensive enough as it is. They used to include all these (food, beverages and baggage) in the ticket price, but now with these added fees I wonder if mass transit like buses and trains will take off. Cheaper then flying but still hassle.

[eric&gen 0]

Soon you will not be able to do nothig for a vacation cat travel tickets too high can't afford to buy gas for long trips. might as well sit at home couch potato style like a mute in front of the TV looool.

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

Time for one of these.

http://www.thebeerbelly.com/

lol

I'd like to be able to suck out of a man ####### to get beer.

[Marc and Olga 0]

I agree with mnieto. The only time I've ever gotten a free bottle of water from amtrak was when the train was stuck on the tracks for three hours. If you can afford to fly, you can pay for a bottle of water or to check a bag. And 2-3 hours is so short, I don't see why one would even really NEED food or beverages, barring medical issues. Otherwise I don't see why an airline should provide it for free on a shorthaul flight.

Short flights would probably be ok, but one thing I learned flying Korean Air to Russia was that the air on airplanes can dehydrate a person...they insisted on everyone drinking water or juice because of that! I picked Pineapple...YUMMY! but from LA to Seoul was a 14 hour flight! Seoul to Vladivostok was a much shorter flight! LOL

[jundp 191]

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.

Yes. If it's a short flight that is one thing. But trans-Atlantic? Hell no. Bottle of water and food please or let me bring my own from HOME (not bought at the airport). If I'm flying with my kids, then I cannot afford to pay $9 each for a bag of chips and a stale sandwich in the airport.

I disagree that if you can afford to fly you can afford to pay for the water. Not everyone can afford all the extras. When my daughter flies to visit her dad's family and she' flying unaccompanied I already pay an extra $150 for a person to walk her to the gate off the plane and stay with her until I show up. I don't want to send her with a ton of extra money just so the child can avoid dehydration. That's crazy.

Free beverage (even if it's just water) is not an outrageous request. And not in the same category as expecting to take your dog on the airplane for free, etc.

Soon you will not be able to do nothig for a vacation cat travel tickets too high can't afford to buy gas for long trips. might as well sit at home couch potato style like a mute in front of the TV looool.

There are so many places in my area that offer "staycations" because of rising gas prices and the cost of vacation travel. In fact, we just got a fabulous deal on a cabin in the San Juan Islands that was cheaper for 3 nights/4 days than it would be to stay in a hotel somewhere in the city or fly or drive anywhere out of town.

Also, our town (and the larger metro areas of Seattle and Tacoma) do free movies on the big screen at local parks, free concerts in the parks, etc. in the summer so there's always stuff to do around home. Once P gets here I don't know if we'll be able to travel anywhere for a while, so it's nice to know we have options!

[Mags 112]

Have just taken 4 flights (2 short haul, 2 long haul) in the last month I can honestly say I didn't notice water prices being higher in the airport terminal. I flew from Gatwick and the price of water was the same in side as it was outside in London. If you bought a newspaper for 50p it was even free!

Short haul flights I think it is acceptable to pay for your own drinks. I only had a bottle of water on me for my short haul flights and it was no problem for me. Long haul I think the airlines should provide a meal (or two depending on the flight duration) and drinks. Dehydration is notorious on flights (and not notorious on a bus or train, may I add) and you can actually become ill if you don't drink enough fluids. If passengers start getting on board with huge carrier bags full of water bottles I think it might be awkward, not to mention crazy with all these bottles of water sliding around all over the place!

Unless airlines want to see an increase in flights having to land earlier, or being diverted due to passenger illness, I think they should have to continue to provide drink and food on long haul flights.