US Airways’ dangerous soft-drink precedent

by Janice Hough on June 13, 2008

US Airways’ controversial business model transformation, which it announced yesterday, not only threatens to turn passengers into dehydrated malcontents. It could be downright dangerous.

Under the carrier’s new “in-flight beverage purchase program” it will begin selling all non-alcoholic beverages Aug. 1. That including sodas, juices, coffee and bottled water.

Selling water? Yes, water. A bottle will cost you $2.

American Eagle tried this a few years ago, but customers revolted.

Since airlines don’t learn from their own mistakes, let me explain why charging for drinks is a bad idea.

It’s going to be a real time-waster, no matter who you are. Business travelers will need receipts for their beverage purchases. So this means that flight attendants, in addition to having to make change, will have to figure out ways to issue receipts.

Where does it end? Are cream and sugar extra? How much for a refill? What happens if flights are delayed on the runway. Do you at least get free bottled water?

And what if you buy your own drink? If you want a cup of ice, will there be a corkage charge?

To those of us who can’t afford a bottle of water, or just don’t have the change, what happens if we go without? Prolonged exposure to the bone-dry cabin air can be hazardous to our health. Has US Airways thought that through.

Considering that the TSA still doesn’t allow us to bring our drinks through the checkpoint, US Airways’ move is not just avaricious. It’s mean-spirited. It has us over a proverbial barrel, and it knows it. And now it’s going to cash in.

Airlines should think twice before following its bad example.

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Tagged as: dehydration, drink charges, US Airways

  • http://notravelmlms.blogspot.com John F

    I think it sucks for sure, but I think the logistics are going to be fine. They have the portable credit card swipers to charge cards and produce instant receipts. I am sure for cash customers there will be a little pad (ala taxi fares) that they will tear off and give you. They may even equip the FAs with those belt change dispensers that the bus drivers of yesterday used to wear.

    When AE tried it there was a revolt. But now (unfortunately) people are almost expecting it. Yes it is a hassle, but I think it will stick this time.

    How to revolt? Well, if you are now paying for it, you ought to get some service with it. Will the FAs be taking orders or is it going to be beverage service as usual. The airlines will not listen to the passengers. Make life miserable for the flight crew and there might be a shot at repeal!

  • Cliff Woodrick

    If some elderly person, like me, with several problems which dictate that they must remain hydrated on long flights has a heart attack or some other problem that requires the aircraft to land and discharge the sick passenger. I believe that the costs of landing and taking off once would pay the water / soda for many flights. A legal question – Is not the airline supposed to provide a safe environment for the passengers – ie the very dry air requires drinking fluids therefore how can the airline charge the passenger for the fluids? What if a passenger drinks water from the water faucet in the head and gets ill. Is this the fault of the airline. I suspect a jury would hammer the airline on this.

    Any lawyers out there?

    Have a wonderful weekend – Cliff

  • Aaron

    As I posted in the forums, by doing this, US Air will be able to lighten their load.

    There is no way I will pay $2.00 for a can of soda. I would have to be dieing of thirst before even considering doing this.

  • anonymous

    US is asking for trouble, so does UA and AA.

    Suggestion: Bring an clean empty bottle past security, then fill it up at the tap.

    You could probably create a little racket buying a brita pitchers, some clean empty water bottles and sell water (buck each bottle??) on US flights under cutting the airline.

  • Keith Henrickson

    I think this is a great idea… If they could get the TSA to co-operate with them, they could make the security lines a real cash cow. For instance, get the TSA to ban laptops on planes. Then, the airlines are right there ready with laptop insurance for $500. A business traveller can’t afford to leave his laptop home, so… $500 extra in the airline’s pocket. Of course, if you DON’T buy insurance, they’ll go the extra mile to make sure it gets smashed. There are TSA approved locks, which is a start. But, why not TSA approved shirts and pants? People have to wear shirts and pants. And again, the airlines must be ready with $25 shirts and $50 pants. This is only the beginning, and good co-operation between TSA and the airlines will bring it to be.

  • Jerry

    As I read it, you can still purchase water or soda from the airport vendors (usually $3/bottle or more) or bring an empty bottle and fill it, once past the TSA checkpoint. If you read what they have published, their avarage per passenger fuel cost has jumped from $70/flight to $299/flight. That is pretty much what has happened with your car gas too. Airlines (and many other businesses) price their tickets/products/services out 180 days in advance. That became impossible to do with the rapid rise of the fuel price. And what they are doing is only recovering $3-400 million of a projected $2billion increase in fuel costs.

    Other airlines will follow suit or go out of business. If one airline fails then watch the price of air fares go up!

  • http://www.budgettrouble.com Anna

    This has been normal on all budget airlines in Europe for years. And not just budget airlines. Scandinavian started charging for drinks in economy a couple of years ago.
    It’s also standard on all charter flights, even those trans-continental ones. America is simply catching up.

  • larry bradley

    US Airways drinks are apparently on sale. Spirit Airlines charged me $2 for water on my trip to Guatemala City and then raised it to $3 on my trip to Peru. Of course I only paid $44 each way to Guatemala and $69 each way to Peru. I thought I got a bargain on the total cost of the trip.

  • Ed Kummel

    I smell collusion here…The TSA in in cohoots with the airlines…I can imagine the secret clandestine meetings in darkened back rooms lit by a single bare bulb…”we need a way to get *more* money out of our cheap-skate customers. What if claim that terrorists are preparing to smuggle explosive liquids on airplanes to get carryon liquids banned, then we can charge whatever we want for normally free sodas? They’re 35,000 feet above the earth, what are they going to do, get out at the nearest 7-11 for a big gulp?”

    Isn’t there a clause in the Geneva convention that says that prisoners are to have access to basic food and water?
    Dictionary.com has as one definition of “Prisoner” as such:
    “a person or thing that is deprived of liberty or kept in restraint. ”
    This sound very much like a person the back of the airplane, doesn’t it?
    Now isn’t that an image to keep in your mind…Pilot is the warden, the flight attendants are the jailers and the passengers are prisoners…Sheesh, Con-Air anyone?
    Ed
    web/gadget guru

  • Addie

    it is a little outrageous that we’ll have to pay for drinks soon, but what’s another $2 when you’re flying? it already costs an arm and a leg to fly, $2 will hardly make a difference. if you don’t like spending the money, don’t get the drink! they have to do something to stay in business!

  • Jennifer

    It is amazing, we pay $ 2 for a bottle of soda out side a grocery store. Yet, when passengers are asked to pay for what they use there is out cry. This is standard procedure on European Flights. Water is not being denied to passengers who require it for medications or medical condidtions. The airline busines is not doing well because of oil prices. US Airways will fire 1,700 good people (pilots, flight attendants, airport staff, and mangement staff) before the end of the summer. Of course that bottle of water is so much more important over that right?. And y-all are bitching about a bottle of soda. Get your prioties straight. If you don’t want to pay it, don’t buy it…to easy.
    P.S. Lay off the employees at the airport and on board, they are not the ones who asked for this either.

  • http://lettcoastsportsbabe.com Janice Hough

    To Jennifer, I actually am a strong defender of the airport and onboard employees, I still think this proposal is wrong-headed. If airlines need to raise fares, so be it, but this nickel and diming makes it HARDER on airport personnel, and harder on those who can least afford to fly.

    Some sense in pricing and executive compensation would save more jobs than charging for any of this little stuff. The CFO of Continental, for example, will step down next month and receive a 3 million bonus, partly to keep him from working for another airline… (not like he has done that well at Continental.)

  • http://nateharris.com Nate Harris

    I really don’t have a problem with this, with one major exception. It really chaps my hide that I pay an equal fare to some 1st class passengers who:
    1. have a semi private bathroom
    2. get meals included
    3. get complimentary drinks

    Why is that? Club membership? It’s really annoying, and I would pay a little more for a flight that had ZERO 1st class seats.

    ALso, if I have to pay for this, then why not let me buy vouchers when I buy the ticket? I pretty much never carry cash, except now I have to either my water for ($4 bottle in the airport) or $2 on the plane, and since the plane doesn’t use plastic I have to pay the higher price.

    Honestly, I hate flying. It’s annoying, loud, cramped, miserable and a microcosm of the world we live in today.

  • dmitriy

    The $2 fee for drinks is not that horrible. I hear people ready to commit suicide over 2 bucks. Cmon ! What I am more upset is that $15 first bag charge. Thats a rip off.

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