Convenience Takes Off
Snack-box… $5
Bottle of water… $2
Can of Coke… $2
Sitting on a six-hour flight listening to U.S. Airways flight attendants apologize for their company’s new, charge-for-everything policy… PAINFUL!
U.S. Airways is certainly not the only culprit when it comes to making us pay for what we have for so long taken for granted – small comforts such as checking a bag, pillows and blankets, and a mediocre meal. I understand the financial strain that high oil prices have put on airlines (and I certainly don’t begrudge them making a profit), but I am not sure that making life inconvenient and uncomfortable for the very people that pay their bills is the smartest way to cut corners.
OK, I am ranting, but surely there must be a better way for the airlines to implement these new policies. I rarely have enough time between flights to get something to eat or drink, so I often rely on the airline grub. Now, if I’m out of cash as well as time, I’m also out of luck when it comes to eating, as the airlines won’t take credit cards to pay for these meals. Add to this the fact that I can’t get a receipt for what I do purchase, so now I have to explain to the bean counters at my company why I’m turning in expense reports with missing receipts. They love that.
I get the extra charges – but with business travel such a sizeable chunk of the airline industry’s revenue, I’d like to see options such as pre-paid meals and services. What do you think? How can the airlines cut corners without such inconveniences to the business traveler? Sound off by posting a comment below.
Comments
Ironically, I’ve flown US Airways pretty much exclusively for two years of business travel (largely because they’re the only airline that serves my small local airport in New Haven, CT). My loyalty has gotten me to “silver” status in their Dividend Miles program, which fortunately exempts me from the extra bag fee. However, their service has deteriorated, I’m still responsible for those pesky fees, and my experience with them has steadily dwindled.
I often wonder some of the same things as mentioned in your post above - How can hiking all these crazy fees make customers WANT to fly on US Airways (or their countless counterparts doing the same thing)? And guess who’s laughing all the way to the bank? Southwest. Take a look at all of their advertising - they add up fees, joke about the potential of paying to use the bathroom, and then yell to the consumer, “But that’s not us!” I really have trouble believing that $2 for water is going to save the airline from the woes of oil prices.
To top it off, US Airways even dumped their in-flight entertainment because it “weighed too much.” No offense, but when I’m on a transcon, I want to be able to watch a movie to pass the time. That was essentially my last straw…
After booking my fall travel, you’ll notice one thing: Out of about 15 flights, less than 5 are on US Airways. I’m biting the bullet and driving further to other airports (Hartford or New York City) and flying other airlines, notably Southwest. So, when most years would have seen 15 flights with US Airways, their changes have sent one of their most loyal customers to other airlines.