No more free drinks from US Airways

[kskiska]

Source: News 14 Carolina

CHARLOTTE -- Starting today you will no longer get a complimentary beverage on US Airways flights.

All non-alcoholic drinks will be available for $2 on domestic coach flights, and all alcoholic beverages will now cost $7 instead of $5. These changes come at a time when the airline is battling rising fuel costs.

Read more: http://news14.com/Default.aspx?ArID=597927

[Deja Q]

1. What if I smuggle aboard my 12oz can of Coke, since their 2oz cup couldnt quench even a fly's thirst

:shrug:


(Sorry about the bad grammar, even the lack of apostrophe seems better than to split the subject line... :cry:)

[BunkerHill24]

8. ROFL ....hahahaha

[raystorm7]

13. You have no idea how true your statement is :)

People will start smuggling their own drinks soon enough. Instead of airlines adding the costs onto the plane ticket by itself, they add it onto everything else which essentially just makes things worse for everybody.

[Texano78704]

16. Sort of like...

sneaking your own popcorn into the movie theater?

[pimpbot]

19. You can BYOB, and also BYOSandwich

Of course, you have to buy the drink somewhere airside, since you can't take more than 3oz through the security checkpoint. What a crock of shit.

[whistle]

2. I thought that policy was long gone in the airline industry

[hedgehog]

3. Better yet, pick up a six pack and sell drinks to your fellow passengers for $1.50!

[vinylsolution]

4. With today's miserable flying conditions....

... I always get drunk in the airport bar first.

What would Hunter do?

[Bonobo]

9. I was just re-reading Curse of Lono...

He was describing smoking and even "sprawling" on a flight to Hawaii. Before Ackerman, with the blue arm, comes out of the bathroom.

[liberal N proud]

5. See New Airline Rules thread from yesterday

Yesterday's joke to today's reality

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x3707292

[DarthDem]

6. Unbelievable, Yet Believable

. . . if you know what I mean.

Will they charge for water too? Time for these airlines to go out of business, except for Southwest.

[LisaM]

7. Why Southwest? Every time I try to check theri flights from Seattle to Detroit

It's about the most expensive - and you have to make a couple of stops!

[Orangepeel]

11. I don't know about that particular flight -- most of the time, they are cheaper

not the least of which reasons is that they pay less for fuel than other airlines.

"Southwest is the standout among the U.S. airlines because it knows how to hedge its bets. The Dallas-based airline has used derivatives to hedge the cost of more than 70% of its estimated fuel consumption for 2008 and 55% of its estimated costs for 2009 and is paying a price equivalent to $51 per barrel of crude oil. By contrast, other major airlines have hedged 30% or less of their estimated fuel needs this year. But Southwest's fuel advantage is not permanent. Once its hedges expire, it may lose some of its fuel-cost lead over competitors.

The pioneering low-cost carrier has some other points in its favor. Southwest has a stronger balance sheet than most of its competitors. And a highly productive workforce enables Southwest to fly more aircraft at a lower cost than its peers."

http://www.kiplinger.com/columns/picks/archive/2008/pick0611.htm

[raebrek]

17. Or by then the price may be back down. n/t

[Lydia Leftcoast]

21. MSP isn't served by Southwest, but Portland is, and

I never found them to be cheaper than United or Alaska for flights to San Francisco or Los Angeles.

[aspergris]

26. a very intelligent use of the futures

complexes i might add.

[AllieB]

12. They used to be cheap but they're competitive with the major carriers

and sometimes more expensive (like to FL from Manchester NH during the winter).

[DarthDem]

23. Generally Cheaper AND They Actually Understand Business

As orangepeel says, they are usually (or more often than not) cheaper, but as you and others pont out, not always. A lot of fliers are also turned off by the open seating policy and the lack of movies and such - - as well as the fact that you have to make a "bunny hop" across the country sometimes to get where you want to be.

However, their business model is outstanding. While all these other a-hole airlines are posting record losses and charging for oxygen in the cabin, Southwest has adopted a "no new fees" policy, had the foresight to hedge on oil prices, and just posted a healthy third-quarter profit. They're truly a great company in an awful industry.

[kath]

24. I generally like Southwest. Have you seen the "Bags Fly Free" ad

on their website that promotes their "no fees" policy? It cracks me up.

Yeah, I wish they had some longer flights, instead of all those little bunny-hops. But for the routes we usually fly, their prices are good, and usually more flexible than the others. Plus the employees always seem pleasant and often downright humorous.

[DarthDem]

25. Yes!

Very fuuny ad. They have outstanding, clever marketing people. Their football-themed "Wanna Get Away" ads are always a huge in-season highlight for us NFL fans.

The employees are almost always very pleasant and happy - - the recent incident with the misbehaving children, obviously not the norm, notwithstanding. They are treated well and enjoy good bennies and such. And you simply cannot beat the ability to change your flight right up until departure - - something I have taken advantage of many times. Good people.

[lib2DaBone]

10. In Flight Bathroom 25 Cents....No Change?

Use of the Bathroom will require 25 Cents. Change is available from your stewerdess .... 3 quarters for a dollar. Thank you. It's a pleasure having you on-board today.

[AlexDeLarge]

14. New Schedule of Services

Drink (Non-alcoholic) $2.00
Drink (Alcoholic) $7.00
Snack $2.50
Meal Discontinued
Movie Free
Headphones $5.00
Pillow $2.00 ea
Blanket (Limit 1/customer) $3.00
Flight Attendant Call $2.00 (First Response)
$5.00 (Subsequent)
Overhead Light $.25/minute
Overhead Air $.25/minute
Bathroom $5.00/use
View Thru Window $1.00/ea
Waiting to get Priceless
on/in/out of airplane

[ladywnch]

15. does anyone know if Amtrack long haul routes are still nice

or have they gone to shit? I remember traveling cross country by train as a kid. It was FABULOUS! Easily the best vacation of my childhood. The more air lines cut back and treat people like cattle and sardines the better rail travel looks. If Amtrack is smart, they'd be jumping on this!

[AndyTiedye]

20. Amtrak's Sleepers Are Great!

If I can take the train, I do.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

22. I considered taking the train to a convention in Florida this November, but

we have stripped our national rail system down so badly that I would have had to go from Minneapolis to Orlando via Washington DC!

:wtf:

My original assumption was that I could go via Chicago, which would have made sense...

[raebrek]

18. It has nothing to do with this piece

But I don't think I will get on board another plane again as long as I live. That is unless I absolutely have to do it in an emergency.

Raebrek!!!