No more meals in coach class.

[travelcoupons]

Northworst's latest cost-saver:

Cut most in-flight meals on domestic flights.

http://www.freep.com/money/business/nwa22_20010922.htm

I wouldn't be surprised to see the other airlines follow suit.

 

[seashoreCM]

A long time ago they had three classes, First (F) in the forward cabin, Coach (Y) and Economy (K) in the rear cabin. In 1965 economy passengers did not get meals but could purchase box lunches in the airport.

Then meals were served to economy class as well as many varieties of economy class H, Q, K, L, etc. sprung up, as the pendulum swung:
And now --- economy passengers get all the amenities of coach.,
And now -- full fare coach get more amenities than economy,
And now -- economy passengers get all ...
and so on.

Incidentally, by buying your meal in the airport you choose what you want and none of this "We are all out of <whatever entree>" when they get to the back of the plane.

More travel tips:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/travel.htm

 

[Beverly Lynn]

its not like these so called meals were that great anyways. maybe its a blessing that they stop them! LOL

 

[flyingcircus]

Hey, that's why I got a job with the airlines- for the meals!!

American also announced that they are stopping meal services in November. They said it had to do with the security of the planes. Caterers are hired to board the meals, and there might be a security risk there.

 

[SueM in MN]

It also has to do with the meal carts blocking the aisles.

 

[GEM]

We will still get drinks, won't we?

 

[Beverly Lynn]

yes you will get drinks. it has nothing to do with the cart blocking the aisle. it will save money for one and since they lost so much of it they need to cut wherever they can. plus the no frills carriers are doing well without the meal service. after much research they discovered that less than half the meals get eaten. they end up throwing most of them away. the last tiem they did anyting like this was when they cut from the full meal to the "snack " meal. that saved a few million bucks right there. they also swtiched to the liquid soap in the bathrooms..that saved a million too. they will still use the carts to serve the drinks.

 

[flyingcircus]

We better use the carts!!! Can't imagine running drinks out of the galley on a full 747 EEK!
Anyway, I think a 500lb liquor cart, would be a good weapon to use on some person with no good intent!!

 

[danacara]

I read a statistic that said that American Airlines cut two olives out of every salad a couple of years ago, and saved something to the order of several millions of dollars. Perhaps cutting meals entirely will calm the airlines a little bit. Am I the only person who thought that airlines had enough liquidity to survive a really bad month without such incredibly drastic measures and talk of Chp. 11? What have their risk managers been doing all this time?

 

[SueM in MN]

It is mostly to save money, but a flight attendant told me that they are concerned about how long of a time the carts are blocking the aisles between the drink and the meal service.

 

[flyingcircus]

Supposedly there is to be no more than a 5 row difference between the meal cart and the beverage cart. I don't think that is a security issue!! Unfortunately the airlines DO NOT have even liquidity to survive a " really bad month". I heard that there was only a month assets in reserves. Don't know where the risk mangers have been- maybe having too many Mai Tais in Maui

Anyway, I just worked a 777 from LAX to DEN. 2 pilots, 9 f/a's and 40 psgrs, There is NO WAY any airline could survive with that load factor- losing money just by flying the plane!!

 

[Beverly Lynn]

no the memos we get say its due to how much money the carriers will save. but I guess not giving the bigwigs raises wouldn't save any money...lets cut out all the little guys who make diddly squat..yeah that will save money......hey flying circus you can put the beverages in a backpack and serve it that way...I can see it now.....

 

[ducklite]

No--next they'll go to a "bistro" type thing for beverage service. As you turn in your boarding pass, you are handed a paper cup, plastic lid, and straw. Going down the jet way you come to a soda fountain, where you stop to fill your cup (ala Burger King or Taco bell).

Maybe I should close my mouth before I give them any ideas...

Anne

 

[ducklite]

BTW- In all seriousness I see SOOO much food go to waste, especially on the short hauls. I notice a lot of people will take the "boxed snack" nibble on the carrots and ranch dressing, eat the cookie and throw away the rest. Maybe a better alternative would be to offer pax a choice of either the complete snack or a mini snack without the sandwich for those who don't want the entire thing.

Also, I think anything under two hours is ridiculous to even try to do food service on anyhow. I mean two hours actually is only about 90 minutes in air, the rest is spent on the tarmac, runway and gate before pushoff. It's almost impossible for the FA's to even do service on a full flight anyway!

Anne

 

[flyingcircus]

AMEN!!!

You guys can't even imagine what goes to waste. Unfortunately, food can't even be given away to shelters, because it is not considered "sterile" anymore!!!

It is interesting however that no matter how much people complain about airline food, they always try it!!! Yes, believe it or not, I have had requests for seconds!!! If I recall correctly, it was a parole from prison....

I don't know about the beverages in a backpack, BL! Maybe just set up a keg of beer in the back of the plane!! And shelled peanuts that you can just throw on the floor- Oops, I better keep quiet- might be getting ideas!

 

[Planogirl]

We got a pretty good boxed "snack" on our Delta flight this summer and it was very welcome. We had to transfer in Atlanta and since we invariably arrive late, we didn't have time to get food at the airport.

I was thinking that we could bring our own snack if need be but that might be out too depending on what the FAA and the airlines decide. Well, only time will tell.

 

[Firefighter Mickey]

Frontier also announced no food/snacks. They used to do a fajuita-like wrap on most of their flights - no longer. They said besides the cost savings, it will also allow them to better keep on schedule - apparently the security screening for the food caterers is causing slowdowns. I expect this means large layoffs for the airline catering companies.

 

[dcedwards]

We've been flying SWA for years and always bring our own food with us. That way we can nibble when we get hungry and we don't waste that much since I am the one that packs it. I am sure the waste is tremendous and I, too, agree that anything under 2 hours doesn't really need food.

 

[linny172]

Just flew out of MCO yesterday to Detroit Metro(left temp. of 85 and it was 44 when we got in) but anyway, when we checked in they told us the "meal" service had been discontinued due to cost cutting and that if we were hungry to be sure to get something to eat before the flight. We flew out on the 18th and got our "meal".

 

[baileybrad]

I didn't realize that those things that used to be served were actually regarded well enough to be called "meals". If it saves the airlines some cash during these terrible times then more power to them.