US Airways won't charge for sodas after all

[Tab]

Source: Associated Press

ATLANTA – In the ultra-competitive airline industry, it's tough being out there alone as the only large network carrier to charge some passengers for soda, juice and coffee, especially in the middle of a deep economic recession that is sharply reducing demand for air travel.

US Airways is acknowledging as much, planning to announce Monday that free beverage service will resume on March 1 on board its planes.

The change, detailed in a memo to employees of the Tempe, Ariz.-based carrier sent Sunday evening by Chief Executive Doug Parker, reverses part of the a la carte business model the airline has trumpeted over the last year.

The airline began charging $2 for soda, juice, coffee and bottled water in coach cabins on domestic flights on Aug. 1 2008. First-class passengers and all passengers traveling on trans-Atlantic flights still received free drinks.

"With US Airways being the only large network carrier to charge for drinks, we are at a disadvantage," Parker said. "More importantly, this difference in our service has become a focal point that detracts from all of the outstanding improvements in on-time performance and baggage handling that all of us have worked so hard to achieve over the past year."

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090223/ap_on_bi_ge/us_airways_soda_reversal

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To make up for the lost revenue, though, expect them to start turning the bathrooms into pay toilets.

[MineralMan]

1. That's good, I guess...

but not necessary. Aside from coffee, I rarely drink that stuff on the plane, anyhow. I long ago started buying a nice deli sandwich to eat on the plane, and am quite capable of adding a beverage to my pre-flight purchases. I'd never consider drinking the water on a plane. I do carry a bottle of water, purchased in the secure area, though.

Amenities don't get me on airplanes. A good schedule, decent prices, and a need to go somewhere does. They can keep their sodas, with my blessing. In fact, the aisle-obstructing beverage cart would please me more if it never appeared, so I could visit the restroom, if needed.

How funny it is to watch people pay $5 for a "snack pack" on a Northwest Flight. My $5 bought a very nice chicken sandwich with remoulade sauce before the flight. I prefer that to a "cheese food product," some crackers, and a can of some sort of mystery meat.

It smells better, too, and I can eat it while my fellow passengers are straining to see when the slow-moving cart will arrive next to them.