NOTHING is free anymore

It's mainly American airlines due to their bloated union contracts and poor cost structure. Their financial inflexibility sent almost all of them into bankruptcy after Sept. 11, 2001 and most of them have yet to recover.

I flew Delta back to the States last time I went and it was a nightmare. They tried to charge me $4 for a beer and my wife $4 fora glass of wine. I didn't have $$ or Euros on me (planned to hit the bank machine upon arrival) and they refused to take rubles despite flying from Russia! When we started to throw a hissy fit, they gave us one round of drinks. Luckily, the in-flight entertainment system broke down and they started giving everyone free drinks. We also had to pay for both food and drinks on our domestic connecting flight. Unheard of!!

By contrast, Aeroflot Russian Airlines (and most Russian carriers) offers free drinks including beer & wine (and hard drinks on longer flights), as well as a hot meal, hot towel, pillow, etc, even on domestic flights. And they're overseas fares are cheaper! I actually prefer flying Aeroflot abroad nowadays!
 
It makes sense though. The budget airlines have it down to a T. Why pay the overheads for a printed ticket when you can print out your confirmation code? Do you need a pillow?

These just seem like silly things budget airline fliers are used to doing without. Fair enough on long haul I can imagine you'd need stuff, but for the average flight for me to Ibiza I dont need much!

Nice to see you again PG. Still coming in September?
 
I agree about the tickets, but a pillow is nice on long flights (I rarely fly less than 3.5 hours and I always take a nap).

In any case, this article was talking more about the major US airlines than the budget carriers. They charge more than budget ones but now you'll be doing without any extra services.
 
yes but so they can make them more competitive with the budget airlines no?

trim costs an all. ie. making sheets of toilet paper 2cm shorter etc. pedantic but it works! think how much a days tickets cost. i dont think i've ever used a pillow on a plane before! Whats wrong with a jumper. Im more in favour on the cost on flying coming down no matter what, and if you want that extra, pay for it, as you would with a more expensive fare had they not trimmed costs!
 
fatphilb said:
yes but so they can make them more competitive with the budget airlines no?

trim costs an all. ie. making sheets of toilet paper 2cm shorter etc. pedantic but it works! think how much a days tickets cost. i dont think i've ever used a pillow on a plane before! Whats wrong with a jumper. Im more in favour on the cost on flying coming down no matter what, and if you want that extra, pay for it, as you would with a more expensive fare had they not trimmed costs!
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I don't understand what are you saying Phill.
It seems that you are paying more than flying with a low cost airline but getting the same service. :?
 
Exactly, Silvia.

If they want to be more competitive with low-cost carriers, then they should become a low cost carrier. Regular airlines already charge more...now they want you to both pay more and pay again for "extras". They have bloated cost structures and instead of fixing their inherent corporate problems, they're looking to skimp on little things.

Also, Phil, it's different if you're just flying around W. Europe where you're never in the plane more than a couple of hours. I'm talking more about flights from here to W. Europe, for example... trans-Atlantic flights, or across the US.
 
NEVER fly air Canada if you can help it.. trust me... sometimes its the only way to get out of the country... crap service...last time I went over it took 2 hours before they came round with the drink cart.

I always fly zoom or air transat( charter airlines) when I fly to Europe... MUCH better service.
 
no I know, read my 1st post. Im just offering my opinion on it, can see its quite a contentious issue with those of you who fly lots.

However, this person makes me laugh

stupid fat spoiled passenger said:
Sharon Ansara, a government supervisor from El Paso, Texas, flew an American Airlines flight from Dallas to Washington Monday morning.

"We didn't even get peanuts," she said after the 2-1/2 hour flight. "They offered us a snack pack for $4. It stinks."

American spokesman Tim Wagner said that passengers have made it clear that their first priority in buying an airline ticket is price. The company offers a la carte services — such as snack packs — for those willing to pay for them.
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Price before all else I say. The bigger companies are having to cut costs to remain competitive, and with high fuel prices (or have I read it wrong?), therefore, they have to offer a "similar" service, or put their prices up and give everything away free. Im not agreeing or disagreeing with any of it!
 
Hey phil! Nice to see you too sweets. Yes, I am still going in September and think about it more than sex on a daily basis hahahahahaha :p

I am sorry, but charging for a blanket and pillow or a soda?? RIDICULOUS after the amount of money you've already spent purchasing the ticket! I guess I am just sick of seeing EVERYTHING (like, REALLY bad in California) skyrocket in price! From gas to housing to produce... gimme a damn break. I wanted to make my mom's famous guacamole last weekend so I could bring it to a party... until I went to the grocery store and discovered that they were charging $2.60 for ONE MEASLEY AVO!!! Hahaha... not like its an import... the Capital de Avocado, Escondido, CA (my hometown as a matter of fact), is just 30 minutes away and has more avocados per square mile than anywhere else in the entire world.

I know I am preaching to the choir when it comes to all you Brits and all the utterly outrageous prices you guys pay for stuff. Can't wait to see the disgusting prices for club entry and drink on the White Isle this summer, considering I have been on a three-year hiatus. I'll be bringing my bank roll and then some!

Rant over. LOL -xoxo PG
 
i read somewhere that in the 70's, pan-american airlines saved $80,000 a year from taking out one olive in every one of thier salads!8O
 
i know for a fact sainsbury's employed a similar cost cutting excercise (including the loo roll example) a few years ago (before justin king was appointed and actually started making them better).
 
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