No More Pretzels

[hp_fa]

Perhaps put the FA's on commission, like they do with the credit cards.

I personally never liked that idea. I thought it was tacky, especially when there would be an especially aggressive FA doing the pitching. Of course the airlines might say we don't care about the perception of tacky any longer, just "show me the money." (Apologies to Rod Tisdale, Jerry Maguire.)

I would also think that such a system would be, at a minimum, even more of an accounting problem for the airline with counting and accountability issues, plus the factor of how and who gets credit for the sales. If nothing else, do the FA's working First Class or Business Class get credit for sales that were made in Economy Class? If not, First Class assignments may go really junior if the senior "Mama's & the Papa's" decide they want to go make more money in the back of the plane. (Apologies to the singing group of the 1960's.)

 

[JetguyCLT]

Its just some pretzels, if its that serious grab some chips from HMS on your way to the plane. I mean seriously!

 

[InternationalShannon]

Its just some pretzels, if its that serious grab some chips from HMS on your way to the plane. I mean seriously!

I don't really care if we serve pretzels or not. I don't eat them anyway, I think they're gross and smell weird.

 

[FlightChic]

Here's a link if you want to buy your own airline pretzels. It even has US Airways' Cranberry Nut Mix LOL!

Airline Snacks

 

[YVINTERN]

Here's a link if you want to buy your own airline pretzels. It even has US Airways' Cranberry Nut Mix LOL!

Airline Snacks

Maybe US could start giving this out instead
http://www.kingnut.com/shop/Animal_Feed_-9...ag_P626C143.cfm



Shannon...problem solved I'm not even pissed at US anymore about pretzels I'll just buy this
http://www.kingnut.com/shop/Summer_Harvest...rm_P429C140.cfm and chew it loudly on the planes.

 

[DrBeth]

Hi Beth.

The purchased snacks, when compared to the bags of pretzels, will take up much more valuable galley and storage space if they are really trying to make sure there is enough for everyone who wants to buy a snack.

Wait for when they start selling non-alcholoic beverages for a real problem to develop, mostly because of the TSA restriction on carrying beverages through security. So you will have your choice of stuff you can buy past security at their inflated prices, or on the airplane at their inflated prices. And expect the drinks to be a large profit center also. If little old me can buy Pepsi products for about $0.28 a can in a 24 pack, think how much that same can of soda will cost the airline and then their likely charge of $1.00 per can since coin change will be a pain in the rear.

However, think of the unfortunate FA's who will have to account for the sodas and/or the money after every flight. I'm sure that will be a good time.

I would normally be OK on an hour and a half flight (barring no delays), but flights just under 3.5 hours that do not have In-Flight Café options are pretty long without some sort of snack. I understand everyone can start or continue BYOS (bring your own snack) and that it would be less complicated for you as employees. I just thought that selling snacks like some of the other carriers are doing could generate some needed revenue. If credit could be used instead of cash, it would be less additional burden.

 

[SolidCactus]

It is hard for me to buy a snack because I'm one of those US Airways Express connector customers. It is very rare for us to have a minute to spare, especially when connecting in PHL. By the time we get done flying in circles, landing at F, waiting for the bus, etc. I'm usually running to B8 or something. I don't expect free pretzels, but I wish that US would have had a chance to launch paid snacks before removing the pretzels. Its ok tho, if management reads this forum, I'm hoping that snacks for sale are coming in the future...

 

[PHLfa88]

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?

Because The PUNDITS On This Board LOVE To HATE US...Plain And Simple!! Always Was!! Always Will Be!!Period!

 

[Travelpro72]

What kills me is people mention that Continental STILL serves food in coach yet no other airline does. Most of the major airlines as far as I know got rid of complimentary meals in coach after 9/11. Has the traveling public flocked to CO simply because they have free meals? If you are going from point A to point B and US can take you there for the same price as CO but without a connection you can bet your bottom dollar that that customer will nine times out of ten go with US. The same holds true for any other airline. I'm not saying I'm a fan of what this management team does. Just simply saying that maybe the dynamics of the business is not exactly the same from airline to airline resulting in CO still offering meals. Who knows? If it holds our heads above water with the economy tanking and fuel skyrocketing.....bring on the sales.

 

[Singleflyer]

While the food (or snack) and airline serves is usually close to the bottom in the purchasing decision for an airline ticket. However when other items are equal it could tilt the scales. For example

MHT - SFO full Y one way (usual purchase) prices on all airlines usually within a few bucks on one another.

MHT-PHL-SFO Usually an RJ but maybe a 170/175 to PHl. AB321 to SFO. dirty plane, fair entertainment (might get better) OK meal (so I understand)

MHT-EWR-SFO An ERJ145 to EWR. 737-8 or 900. clean plane, good entertainment (to get better) and a good meal, with glass.

For the same money, I'll go with CO all the time. In fact in April US lost $7,500.00 of revenue to CO because of this. I had five weeks of BOS-ANC-BOS.

On a MHT-DCA, US would win all the time. Who care about pretzels.

It is the fact they are (US) in the customer service business, and they are eliminating a long standing service without a replacement in site, is just plain dumb. When NW changed a few years ago, they had a replacement plan in place when they eliminated the snacks,and from the PA anouncements it sounds like they have expanded the offerings even further.

But eliminating the pretzels is not going to make the airline profitable (I know a million here a million there adds up) however they need to make other operational improvements (more efficiencies), not cut services (@ $0.03 a bag) to be more profitable.

 

[Travelpro72]

The longstanding service offering of pretzels may not save the company but the money will sure add up. While ALL major airlines not just US are unable to raise fares at this time doesn't every little change they can make at least help? I sure think it does. MANY are not paying high coach fares but internet fares and I'm sorry but you just can't drive most times for what the fare is. It's ridiculous that the thread of pretzels being removed has gone this far. The airline WILL have something coming soon for the customer to purchase never fear. In the mean time the cost can be realized quicker. Everyone keeps bringing up the cost for one bag of pretzels. Add that up to every airplane flying all year. You don't see a million dollars as a big deal? How much more in fuel have airlines had to pay? If Walmart Super Center or your local grocery store raise prices oh say 10 cents ya pay it. It seems that airlines can't do that.

 

[FlyDCJets]

US DAILY

May 19, 2008


SNACKS GIVE WAY FOR FUEL
Effective June 1, we’re removing the complimentary main cabin snacks from our domestic coach class cabin. This was a difficult decision but one we felt had to be made with crude oil above $125 per barrel. The move does not affect trans-Atlantic service in any cabin or First Class service, only domestic coach. Removing snacks reduces our costs which is critical with fuel extremely expensive.

 

[Travelpro72]

With the new manifest we also have a list of noteworthy passengers in coach. That list could afford the flight attendants the ability to go through the coach cabin and offer THAT passenger a little something extra like a cocktail or for heavens sake a pack of pretzels. I already use that list to take care of our customers that didn't make it to F'd class. I have even brought the basket back and NOT undercover either. Again those paying extremely low fares in coach can do without the pretzels. It may not be innovative for the inbreds up in HQ but it is only the beginning. Say oil hits almost 200 a barrel? What shall airlines do then? I mean really.

 

[BuffaloJoe]

Oh Goodie! Next time I fly US, I am gonna bring on an Large Italian Hoagie with extra Oil & onions.

 

[SolidCactus]

With the new manifest we also have a list of noteworthy passengers in coach. That list could afford the flight attendants the ability to go through the coach cabin and offer THAT passenger a little something extra like a cocktail or for heavens sake a pack of pretzels. I already use that list to take care of our customers that didn't make it to F'd class. I have even brought the basket back and NOT undercover either. Again those paying extremely low fares in coach can do without the pretzels. It may not be innovative for the inbreds up in HQ but it is only the beginning. Say oil hits almost 200 a barrel? What shall airlines do then? I mean really.

Thank you Travelpro, you'll never know how much that means to many of us. It's always people like me, someone with status who bought their ticket yesterday and paid 3 times as much as the rest of coach, and all the upgrades were handed out already. I've experienced this more than a few times, where the FA came back and thanked me for being a chairman, as I was stuck in 4E between two strangers. It does mean a lot to us, because there are so many of us that don't buy our tickets until the day of our flight, or the day before.