mrwunrfl

Oh, and it is NOT contempt. It is a business decision. AA sells transportation and FF miles. BA sells transportation and a happy meal. Take your pick.

Gardyloo

By the way, BA's revenues and costs per passenger mile/km are roughly 40% and 30% greater respectively than AA's. "Free" wine is easy when you're gouging business travelers on shorthaul routes.

My last happy meal on a BA flight (week before last) consisted of two kinds of biltong. Wine was needed.

One thing that comes free with most BA flights is Heathrow. Such a deal.

wally34949

I suppose some of you guys would like the airlines to lower their prices another 5 cents and start charging for drinks on the plane. That would really make the beverage cart move slowly--making the bathroom unavailable.

Yesterday, I flew from San Diego back to West Palm Beach and I was actually happy with the drink service. The flight attendants came by and gave everyone a glass of ice and a beverage--usually a can. The flight attendants did not open or pour the beverage and this made the beverage service move rather quickly through the cabin.

Gardyloo

Actually, my wish is for some LCC to figure out how to do really deep discount longhaul so that the majors will give up on this silly race to the bottom. Then they can increase coach fares by 10% - 20% and put back more legroom or buttroom in coach, restore in-flight amenities to former levels, and concentrate on service rather than volume. Some legacy carriers - US- AND foreign-based - won't make the cut; sic transit gloria. Let the nickel-dime airlines offer nickel-dime service for the nickel-dime pax.

wally34949

Did you see the article in U.S.A. Today, yesterday? It mentioned that many of the U.S. airlines now realize they cut too much after 9-11 and plan on restoring some of the cuts--in Business and First for International travel. This includes real tablewear (not plastic), salt and pepper shakers, more dinner choices and larger cloth hot towels.

The article mentioned that airlines spent half as much on food as they did prior to 9-11.

British Airways needs to compete with many Government run airlines like Emerates and many American's like the services of these airlines.

An interesting article but there were no specifics about coach travel.

mrwunrfl

I'm not going to drink the booze, so I don't care one bit if it is served. I'm willing to pay more for better seats. Willing to pay for an upgrade. Willing to stick with UA E+ and jetBlue for the extra legroom. Go ahead and raise the fare for more buttroom and legroom. I will pay for it if it is available at a price that is affordable. Ironic that with the upgrade comes free booze.

I was in FC on a United flight recently (DEN-LAX) and they had no problem with coach pax using the front loo. So you might try UA if you want to use the fc facilities and sit in coach.

wally34949

I flew last weekend with American. It was OK for women to use the front toilet, but not men. A handicapped man in the second row of coach was told to use the toilet in the back of the plane after walking into first class. An older lady was told to use the first class toilet after walking half way to the back of the plane.

But I was happy on how quickly they finished the drink service and got the carts out of the isle.

joan

I really don't think they're discriminating by sex, as you imply. Most likely, if the front toilet is Occupied, they will not allow a line, and you are then sent to the back. And if there's a line at the back and the front is Unoccupied, a thoughtful FA will send the frontmost person to that bathroom.

That's been my experience...but of course I don't fly a thousand times a year like most on this board.

wally34949

Think about it Joan, every hijacker was male. BTW, I always like to say Hi to Jack, the pilot. (Get it, HI Jack) Pretty funny, uh?