No Free Coffee on US Airways

[SS255]

For clarification, I was asking a question, not making an assumption. The double whammy of no more free drinks as of 8/1 + no more bonus miles for flights booked as of 8/6 seems like it MIGHT result in lower bookings. Has anybody heard if it has?

 

[Kieran]

:cop: This one is getting way off course. Let's get it back on track, without the personal attacks. :cop:

 

[LoneStarMike]

Sorry, Professor, I read it as an assumption. My original response was if there actually WAS any proof to back up her "question". I will go back to that. With the "questioning", is there PROOF that bookings are down because of what that was "questioned"

Here is the quote

I'm wondering if the combination of the beverage charges and the 8/5 cutoff for elites being able to book flights which will earn them bonus miles resulted in a steep dropoff of bookings?

IMO that does not read as an assumption, but rather, a question.

If the quote had been

I'm wondering if the combination of the beverage charges and the 8/5 cutoff for elites being able to book flights which will earn them bonus miles resulted in the steep dropoff of bookings?

..then you might have a point.

Question - what about juices? Don't they come in much smaller cans than the sodas? Is there a $2.00 charge for them as well?

 

[jimntx]

I talked this morning with a friend of mine who is a senior f/a at LCC. He just worked a CLT-PHL-CLT-ORD (I think. It may have been CLT-PHL-ORD. I know he started at CLT and ended at ORD.) He said they sold a grand total of about 25 drinks--sodas, juice, water--the entire day.

 

[songbirdstew]

Actually, the word is that the beverages selling is doing far better than they expected.....even F/A's are saying that they haven't deposited that much money in years from these flights. They are saying though that some flights sell next to nothing but others are doing pretty well. So, I guess it just depends on the odds, as usual. Passenger perception overall not bad either, you have the occasional negative person who wants to make a scene because they're miserable so everybody has to be miserable! Gee, we've not seen that before! :huh: Also heard that the Brinks safes were full in PHL over the weekend so crew were using the old safes next to them to deposit monies. I have a feeling the beverage charging is here to stay!

I worked a full 321 PHL-LAX and we sold $300 in beverages including alcohol. Coming back to PHL, it was about $200. The problem going out however is that the Europeans are pi$$ed because they got off their flight from Europe, cleared customs, ran from the A gates and think they will get drinks and a meal going to the coast. Some have not even changed their money yet and have nothing to pay with.....and half (if not more) of our flight was Europeans. They are all dehydrated and tired and then we want 2 bucks for a bottle of water.
Some got smart and started asking for tap water which I happily gave them ---we all used to drink it 10 years ago so why not now???
Also, as far as this going away---I say no way. It will probably increase with us selling even more stuff like we used to---the power bars, cans of Pringles, etc. This is making the company money folks and I think other airlines will follow suit in a few short months since there has not been the riot that was forcast.
Bottom line---if US is the cheapest fare or we're the only ones that go where someone needs to, the pax will either bring a few extra bucks or purchase something in the airport. Selling bevs is here to stay---I myself think it is tacky and hate doing it but I think it's going to stick around.
Just my opinion.

 

[Flufdriver]

I worked a full 321 PHL-LAX and we sold $300 in beverages including alcohol. Coming back to PHL, it was about $200. The problem going out however is that the Europeans are pi$$ed because they got off their flight from Europe, cleared customs, ran from the A gates and think they will get drinks and a meal going to the coast. Some have not even changed their money yet and have nothing to pay with.....and half (if not more) of our flight was Europeans. They are all dehydrated and tired and then we want 2 bucks for a bottle of water.
Some got smart and started asking for tap water which I happily gave them ---we all used to drink it 10 years ago so why not now???
Also, as far as this going away---I say no way. It will probably increase with us selling even more stuff like we used to---the power bars, cans of Pringles, etc. This is making the company money folks and I think other airlines will follow suit in a few short months since there has not been the riot that was forcast.
Bottom line---if US is the cheapest fare or we're the only ones that go where someone needs to, the pax will either bring a few extra bucks or purchase something in the airport. Selling bevs is here to stay---I myself think it is tacky and hate doing it but I think it's going to stick around.
Just my opinion.

I think your right songbird...things have changed and some of these customers have to realize that. I personally own a very expensive restaurant where a meal for a couple will be in the $150 to $175 range easy with drinks and we dont give them a free beverage. Hasn't hurt business at all. If these people can go to their destination, spend atleast $100 per night, probably alot more for a hotel and rent a car....I don't think a $2 dollar water is going to hurt them.....they are just spoiled. These are the same people Bi***ing that go buy a yuppy coffee for five bucks and thats fine. Airlines should have done this long time ago. Next time you go out to eat see if they bring you a free bottle of water. Don't think so. Bravo to the airline for doing this....now you see how cheap some people are not wanting to fork out a buck or two for a drink....tired of the emplyees carrying the espense of things on their backs....good luck to all!!!

Gotta go the the restaurant now, and NO we will NOT give any free cokes or water except on the table tonight...you want it....pay for it!!

 

[john john]

i dont know what the deal is but for some reason "weather" never seems to effect WN like it does US...

I’ll give you a hint what makes up 2/3 of US departures

 

[FlyUs]

Maybe Tempe can use some of the proceeds and really upgrade First Class!! Keep the high end flyers happy

 

[US1YFARE]

Gotta go the the restaurant now, and NO we will NOT give any free cokes or water except on the table tonight...you want it....pay for it!!

Funny, there is a restaurant around me that i go to every week. And my party never gets charged for its non-alcoholic drinks...it is sort of their gesture of saying, thank you for being such a loyal customer...and I certainly spent a lot more on US than I do at that restaurant.

 

[JS]

I worked a full 321 PHL-LAX and we sold $300 in beverages including alcohol. Coming back to PHL, it was about $200. The problem going out however is that the Europeans are pi$$ed because they got off their flight from Europe, cleared customs, ran from the A gates and think they will get drinks and a meal going to the coast. Some have not even changed their money yet and have nothing to pay with.....and half (if not more) of our flight was Europeans. They are all dehydrated and tired and then we want 2 bucks for a bottle of water.
Some got smart and started asking for tap water which I happily gave them ---we all used to drink it 10 years ago so why not now???
Also, as far as this going away---I say no way. It will probably increase with us selling even more stuff like we used to---the power bars, cans of Pringles, etc. This is making the company money folks and I think other airlines will follow suit in a few short months since there has not been the riot that was forcast.
Bottom line---if US is the cheapest fare or we're the only ones that go where someone needs to, the pax will either bring a few extra bucks or purchase something in the airport. Selling bevs is here to stay---I myself think it is tacky and hate doing it but I think it's going to stick around.
Just my opinion.

That is not a good long term strategy.

 

[JS]

I think your right songbird...things have changed and some of these customers have to realize that. I personally own a very expensive restaurant where a meal for a couple will be in the $150 to $175 range easy with drinks and we dont give them a free beverage. Hasn't hurt business at all. If these people can go to their destination, spend atleast $100 per night, probably alot more for a hotel and rent a car....I don't think a $2 dollar water is going to hurt them.....they are just spoiled. These are the same people Bi***ing that go buy a yuppy coffee for five bucks and thats fine. Airlines should have done this long time ago. Next time you go out to eat see if they bring you a free bottle of water. Don't think so. Bravo to the airline for doing this....now you see how cheap some people are not wanting to fork out a buck or two for a drink....tired of the emplyees carrying the espense of things on their backs....good luck to all!!!

Gotta go the the restaurant now, and NO we will NOT give any free cokes or water except on the table tonight...you want it....pay for it!!

That's silly. Of course a restaurant charges for beverages, as well as meals. Likewise, it's no surpirse that US Airways charges for air transportation.

Do an experiment to see how successful Tempe's strategy can be -- remove the table cloths and candles and store them where the coats are stored now. Announce to your customers that they will have to hang their own coats elsewhere, and if they want a table cloth, it will set them back $2, or $1 for a candle. Tell them you're unbundling your service, and if they don't like it, quit whining about a measley couple of bucks on a $150 outing, and get lost.

 

[ggiby]

The fares from Southwest are NOT the sole issue. It's the value delivered for those fares.

so what is the value???

flying from Point A to Point B.... on time.... in one piece.... Alive......

its a bus....

we are now just a bus.... point a to b....

no value..... point a to b.....

the only time you have value is if you are on your own chartered jet.... otherwise you are on the bus....
the bus in the sky

 

[ggiby]

Just finished my trip today. I'm surprised to say that there were no problems at all selling non-alcoholic beverages. We took in a few hundred dollars each day. There were, however, a few complaints about $7.00 beers. All-in-all, no big deal.

$7.00 beers are quite much...

when a PAX wanted A Scotch on the rocks... I said.... oh.... but this includes a mixer.... take it for your seat mate.... how about a bottle of h2O you paid for it??!!

 

[Flufdriver]

Funny, there is a restaurant around me that i go to every week. And my party never gets charged for its non-alcoholic drinks...it is sort of their gesture of saying, thank you for being such a loyal customer...and I certainly spent a lot more on US than I do at that restaurant.

Since when did Wendys start giving free sodas out.....Our restaurant corporate policy is....you will be charged...Come to our restaurant and you will be charged and we turn about 370 customers every weeknight. Not one person has every questioned that policy....if you want a drink on the airplane...bring it with you...no big deal, plus you get what you want. US1, you really need to break away from Wendy's though. We make, net profit an average of $140 per night on non alcoholic drinks times 30 days, $4200 bucks a month after paying for the product, just on Coke products and iced tea....now let me tell you about "real" drinks".

By the way...servers will do anything, like a freebie so that tip goes up, been in this biz way to long to get BS'ed. Its hurting our business, so far tonight we are over 395 and two more hours to go....one free coke, a spill.

Want it, pay for it...we would rather give you great service and a outstanding meal then a "memorable" free Coke. Gotta love America....

Basics to "Restaurant 101"...wanna hear about net profit on real drinks and $49.00 steaks and everything else is priced additional to that steak...I'm sure you still get your "freebies" in First Class...remember, those are very expensive "free" drinks.....

 

[US1YFARE]

By the way...servers will do anything, like a freebie so that tip goes up, been in this biz way to long to get BS'ed.

Wendy's...funny 🙄

i have no idea what you're talking about. but, it's the owner of the restaurant that i've been going to for over 12 years that gives me freebies without asking. in fact, she almost called my house the other day because I had not been in and was worried something had happened to me. US on the other hand doesn't care that tens of thousands of dollars walked out the door as long as they have people wanting to pay $2 for a soda.

As far as great service....you certainly don't see that on US so if US is comparable to your restaurant, it must suck.