Posted on 06/12/2008 4:07:11 PM PDT by SilvieWaldorfMD
US Airways is imposing new passenger fees in the face of rising jet fuel prices, but it's going even further than some other airlines have recently.
The Tempe, Ariz.-based carrier (NYSE: LCC), which has a large presence at Reagan National Airport, will start charging $2 for nonalcoholic beverages in coach class on all domestic flights. The fee covers sodas, juices, bottled water and coffee. The charge for alcoholic beverages in coach will increase to $7.
Following the lead of several other airlines, US Airways also will charge $15 for the first checked bag for tickets purchased beginning July 9 for all flights within the U.S. and to and from Canada, Latin America and the Caribbean. US Airways will waive the fee for its most frequent customers.
"Our industry is profoundly challenged by the dramatic increase in fuel prices, and we must write a new playbook for running a profitable airline in this new and challenging environment, " US Airways Chairman and CEO Doug Parker said in statement.
The carrier also will close the US Airways Clubs at BWI/Marshall Airport and the Raleigh-Durham International Airport effective Aug. 6.
The airline also is imposing a $25 service fee for domestic tickets and a $35 service fee for international tickets purchased through its call center reservations line.
There will be a new fee to redeem frequent flier awards under its Dividend Miles program on all tickets issued beginning Aug. 6. The fee will be based on destination ($25 for domestic and Canada tickets, $35 for Mexico and the Caribbean, and $50 for Hawaii and international flights). US Airways is also eliminating its bonus miles program for preferred status Dividend Miles members.
Effective Sept. 3, the airline will close it Las Vegas night operation, except for limited night service to the East Coast, and it will reduce its fourth quarter domestic mainline capacity by 6 to 8 percent on a year-over-year basis. The airline had previously planned a 2 to 4 percent decrease in domestic mainline capacity in its fourth quarter. The reduced flying will require about 1,700 fewer positions across the airline's system, including roughly 300 pilots, 400 flight attendants, 800 airport employees and 200 staff and management.
Aviation-related ping.
Why can’t these idiots realize that there would be far less customer disgust & resistance if they just raised ticket prices, rather than this nickel & dime junk.
So they want us to pay $2 for half a 50 cent soda, what $5 for 10 tiny pretzels?
“Here’s $21.00. Let’s have a nice flight.”
They can market and sell their services any way they want. It’s called free enterprise; sort of. I don’t have a problem with it as long as they do it openly.
Nothing irks me more than idiot passengers maneuvering large carry-on luggage - which they try to fit into a little space overhaed - disregarding any other passengers who might want to place their stuff overhead too, and I cringe if I have a connecting flight somewhere and I’m sitting in the back of the plane — one time I made it to my connecting gate with only 2 minutes to spare because several a**holes were taking up to 10-15 minutes taking down and hauling their crap!
Next they’ll charge for their company inflight magazines and skymall. Maybe they could have the flight attendants start selling ‘lap dances’? How about a cover charge for the predeparture safety briefing? Have a carry-on? For $5.00 you can use the overhead locker. Have a question about a connecting flight? Flight info for sale $3. Here’s the big one—On board toilet use now $5 for 5 minutes. Anything to keep those ticket prices low so they can compete with all the other nickel and dimers.
The unintended consequence of this $$ for first bag policy (United appears to be adopting as well) is that it will cost the airlines more time.
To wit,
Fewer people will want to check their bags because of the cost
More people will try to cram their bags into the already over committed overhead space.
Flight crews will have to check more bags at the tarmac
Such checked bags will now delay the departure of the plane
Plane will now spend more time at the gate idling their engines
.... burning more fuel
I think people would object a whole lot less if they put vending machines at the boarding gates so folks could select their preference of snacks before boarding.
And, too, there’s ALWAYS the train.
Yet another stupid decision by a poorly run airline. They deserve to fail.
They can “market” all they want and they can “free entreprise” all they want. The passengers will slowly start peeling off aviation, and stop flying.
Give this contestant a cigar!
Just give me THE PRICE, and I can accept it or go to a competitor.
How much to find your lost bag?
-PJ
And it will get worse if people have to pay for luggage.
They should just put on the required number of flight attendents and make them wear helmets and bright orange vests that say SAFETY CREW
“How much to find your lost bag?”
Right.
Also, perhaps TSA will start charging to use those bins that we have to put our shoes in.... and the airlines might start charging to watch the crappy movie.... and for a window seat as opposed to an aisle seat....
That’s why SWA is the best Airline to fly. This will put SWA in the consumer friendly
But who is to say that SWA won’t follow suit in the future?
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