No More Pretzels

[usfa304]

Date: Friday, 16 May 2008 19:13 ET
To: USAALLMX.F/A
From:
Subject: Main Cabin Service Change

To All US Airways Flight Attendants:

All of us within the InFlight Services organization are aware of the
importance of providing our customers with the best possible service. In
addition, we appreciate the tremendous effort you put forward day in and day
out to serve our customers and help us earn their repeat business. That is
whyit is difficult to share with you the recent decision to remove the current
complimentary main cabin snack from our aircraft. This change is made after
consideration of several factors and in an effort to help us reduce our
current operating expenses.

Part of our onboard strategy over the past year has been to enhance our
premium products, First Class and Envoy, as well as to develop and implement
an equipment modernization plan for our fleet. To that end, we have:

* Ordered or received over 8,000 light weight carts meal/beverage/trash
* Ordered or received over 75,000 drawers
* New Galley configuration for 757 ETOPS aircraft
* Introduced new First Class menus for our domestic & Caribbean markets
* Launched a new Envoy Business Class product
* Introduced a new transatlantic main cabin service
* Redesigned our buy on board program

We remain committed to these programs and believe our investments in these
areas are the right thing to do for the long term. That said, rising fuel
costs are having a profound impact on our economy as well as our industry. We
are seeing fuel costs rise at alarming rates forcing our competitors to cease
operations, file chapter eleven, ground aircraft and reduce flying. Our
financial strength positions us better than most other carriers to deal with
the economic realities of the current environment. However, we simply cannot
ignore the situation. It is vital that we focus our efforts to reduce our
expenses and increase revenues wherever possible.

Although this is a very difficult decision, we believe it is a necessary one
and hope that you understand why it is necessary and will support it to the
fullest. We are in this challenge together and be assured we are committed to
doing everything possible to ensure the long term success of our company.

 

[YVINTERN]

THIS IS BULLS**T...The only reason I'm fricking willing to put up bouncing around the system to get where I want is because of the Snack Mix AND NOW they're taking it away...I wonder who gave them the idea to eliminate $0.03 snacks.

What next? $1.00 for Sodas?

 

[Singleflyer]

YVinten,

As much as I think the current US Management is CHEAP

you have an extra zero in the cost of the pretzels

 

[Harry Callahan]

That is a bunch of ...................... US just keeps getting worse & worse :down:

 

[Skyward]

Selling candy can only be around the corner!

 

[YVINTERN]

YVinten,

As much as I think the current US Management is CHEAP

you have an extra zero in the cost of the pretzels

Oops...my bad Fixed.


This is one of the reasons I have REFUSED to give US MY MONEY on Revenue flights...You can gander where that Revenue $ goes to but I'll still nonrev on US now and just think of it as a flying bus with hot safety specialists on board.

 

[Itestwell]

This is yet another example of how a flawed business model causes stupid business decisions.

If the company is in such a precarious financial position that a 3 cent bag of pretzels per person, per flight places it in on the verge of financial ruin then something is wrong at the very top of the company.

Yawn..... NW doesnt serve anything either but a drink in coach....and they don't have movies... look at the fuel prices, grab your own bag of peanuts... Do we have to have this same discussion every single time USAir takes something away?

As long as they are not taking it from the employees for a fourth time, I am happy.

Times are tough folks. Maybe you'll realize the severity when God forbid, Frontier goes under, and thousands of employees are on the streets? Will 4 mini pretzels in a bag still be a big thing?

 

[usfa304]

This is yet another example of how a flawed business model causes stupid business decisions.

If the company is in such a precarious financial position that a 3 cent bag of pretzels per person, per flight places it in on the verge of financial ruin then something is wrong at the very top of the company.

Piney,

I couldn't agree with you more....GOD save us all...

 

[YVINTERN]

Yawn..... NW doesnt serve anything either but a drink in coach....and they don't have movies... look at the fuel prices, grab your own bag of peanuts... Do we have to have this same discussion every single time USAir takes something away?

As long as they are not taking it from the employees once again, I am happy.

Times are tough folks. Maybe you'll realize the severity when God forbid, Froniter goes under, and thousands of employees are on the streets? Will 4 mini pretzels in a bag still be a big thing?

OH...HOW WRONG YOU ARE...the industry changes every day my friend...they will be screwing the employees next.

 

[Itestwell]

OH...HOW WRONG YOU ARE...the industry changes every day my friend...they will be screwing the employees next.

I think I get that.... I've been at this for a few years. My point, which went right over your head, is that they are desperate to contain costs in light of the fact that they are not able to price their product at a level in line with todays operating expenses.

Thanks for the warning though, oh wise one, but we've been through it a few times before.

 

[Itestwell]

Not for me. I'll just order extra Gin & Tonic or two and raise their cost by the amount saved by the pretzels.

And there you have it! You have already circumvented the problem! Problem solved sir!

 

[YVINTERN]

I think I get that.... I've been at this for a few years. My point, which went right over your head, is that they are desperate to contain costs in light of the fact that they are not able to price their product at a level in line with todays operating expenses.

Thanks for the warning though, we've been through it a few times before.

Sorry...that was really smart alecked of me to say it but I agree...why did US decide to remove pretzels/snacks instead of charging atleast five cents per bag...thats a two cent profit margin there...well profit is the wrong word but revenue margin at least.

US AIRWAYS needs to hire some Economists to help them determine the actual equilibrium of their supply/demands instead of relying on interns from ASU Economics & Finance Department

 

[Itestwell]

Come to think of it, I believe that UAL only serves a bev in coach as well on some flights, no snack mix, right? So where is the dramatic lengthy thread on the UA board? Or the NW board?

 

[phx___it]

I don't see the big deal. It just makes you buy what you want at the 7-11 before you fly.
Now you have more of a choice than just pretzels. Think of the possibilities. Maybe buy an Almond Joy and a bag of peanuts. Think of how happy you'll be having exactly what you want.

 

[YVINTERN]

I don't see the big deal. It just makes you buy what you want at the 7-11 before you fly.
Now you have more of a choice than just pretzels. Think of the possibilities. Maybe buy an Almond Joy and a bag of peanuts. Think of how happy you'll be having exactly what you want.

Yeah Yeah...now if US was going to sell HEALTHY food "ala carte" pricing in the upcoming months I wouldn't be bit**ing about this but you can at least count on the "free" food in our watered down First class cabin.

Pineybob just try to get as many minis as possible and help YVIntern out through his senior year on a tight budget in the Booze department and I just found out the REAL reason why we're removing Pretzels on flights. Apparently Dougweiser wanted to throw a fraternity kegger at ASU and thought pretzels would be a great way to keep chugging along.