Are you willing to pay for drinks & meals on the plane?

[CarolA]

From the USAToday.com website.




How much is that sandwich worth to you?
Some U.S. airline executives are considering charging anywhere from $20 to $50 for your meal in the sky as a cost-cutting measure. Although they say the idea is in the "conceptual stages," according to Washington Post columnist Keith Alexander, if such a move happens it would apply mostly to passengers in coach or those who bought nonrefundable tickets. The swells in first class and business class -- who pay more for their tickets -- will likely still get free food. Air Canada's Tango has already started an a la carte food policy. Passengers pay 64 cents for soft drinks, coffee or tea, and crackers, cookies or fruit are about $2.60. Water is free. At least one frequent flier said she wouldn't take cheaper fares for paying for her food. Patricia Hill of Alexandria, Va., said, "I don't care how cheap an airline says a ticket is -- if I'm paying $700 to fly to Chicago, I should at least be able to get a blasted Coke."

Full ariticle

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A34912-2002Sep3.html

 

[RAD]

They want to charge $20+ for what passes as food, they're out of their minds. However, if it came to reduced fares then I'd be more then happy to make meals/drinks ala carte. Since you can never tell anymore if/when you'll be feed or if it will be a snack or a meal I basically assume that you aren't fed and try to eat before I get on the plane.

Now why don't they go further, charge extra to check your bag, less if you get a center seat, but I draw the line at pay toilets.

 

[CarolA]

Rad,
Actually there have been a lot of articles like this lately indicating that you may indeed find that the really cheap tickets get you seats in the middle or near the back. They are already clamping down on checked baggage, you can have your luggage, but it better not exceed thier requirements or it will be expensive. We shall see.

 

[ducklite]

Unless I'm flying first class, I always eat before getting on the plane anyhow. And if the flight is over four hours, I always fly first class. But to answer the question, I'd just bring my own bagged lunch before I'd pay $20 for the generally inedible snack they try to pass off as a meal.

Anne

 

[scootert]

For $20 I would expect something a lot better than what the usual fare is... I usually pack snacks for us since the food is so bad. Homemade scones and fruit beat out that stale bagel anyday!!

 

[Luv2Roam]

Even flying Midwest Express in January was a major food difference from flying ME a year prior.
Other airlines have only been handing out SMALL snack mix bags, along with a complimentary drink.
I have already become accustomed to taking on my own food. I really don't care if they serve food or not.
By taking my own, at least I eat what I want and when I want, and it is sometimes better anyway.
But the price of airport food! They make WDW prices look like discounts! $2.85 + tax for a bottle of pop. $2.50 + tax for breath freshener gum.
From here on I will make sure to buy elsewhere and carry with me.

 

[idontknow]

charge away and give me cheaper seats, please! LOL .64 for a can of soda is pretty reasonable if you do get thirsty, but $20 for a sandwich? I thought they did away with the meals anyway. We always bring our own food/snacks on board. We have been stranded soooooo many times on the tarmack that we started bringing our own. The last time we flew, St. Louis to Fort wayne, we were stranded for 2 hours on the runway. (in a prop plane!) The stewardess took up a collection of food and then we sent the bag around and shared what we had collected. (the snacks were wrapped of course)

 

[A kid at heart]

If I am going to have to pay for my own drinks now, then I want a choice and not just coke products! I want Pepsi!
I have to say that it certainly has changed in the industry over the last 16 yrs, and not for the better I might add.

 

[CarolMN]

No problem here if an airline wants to charge for food & drink. I usually bring my own, anyway. I prefer the lower fares and do not mind sitting in the middle or back of the plane to get them.

 

[sgtdisney]

It sounds to me that the majors are going to nickel and dime themselves out of business. I mean, doesn't SWA offer soda on their flights? Aren't they making money?

 

[chris1gill]

Sgtdisney,

I agree with your thinking, how is it Southwest continues to make money while all the big carriers are going nearly into bankruptcy? They think by alienating leisure travelers that's going to help them? Not letting us change our cheap tickets or whatever else they're doing? I understand this move has really been to get the corporate money back by really sticking it to the business traveler who can't make their flight, but there are a lot of families (ours included) who may rethink driving vs. flying for relatively short drives...

As for the food, we bring our own... I'd pay 20.00 for a meal if it was GOOD, which airline food definitely ISN'T....

 

[smart cookie]

Originally posted by A kid at heart
I want Pepsi!

Fly Northwest

 

[tonilea]

Just my two cents, but if they will keep their prices lower, I will gladly provide my own drinks, snacks or food. I do wish people would be a bit more considerate about some of their food choices, please, please leave your smelly vienna sausages @ home!