US AIRWAYS CHARGING FOR WATER
 

I don't want to believe this but it is on msn.com tonight:

Luggage and legroom isn’t enough for some carriers — starting today (Aug. 1), coach passengers flying aboard US Airways Inc. must pay for a drink of water.

This morning, US Airways began charging fliers $2 for bottled water and sodas and $1 for teas and coffees. First class members, trans-Atlantic passengers and a select group of others are exempt from the extra fees.

This is another clever way to masquerade airfare increases without increasing airfares," says Randy Petersen, editor of Inside Flyer Magazine. "Everything has been passed along to the consumer."

The Tempe, Ariz.-based airline is among many other carriers scrambling to cut costs and boost revenues amid skyrocketing fuel prices. For now, other major airlines including AMR Corp.’s American Airlines, Delta Air Lines Inc., and Northwest Airlines Corp. say they won’t resort to the a la carte beverage system yet but will continue researching all possible ways to save money. Discount carriers AirTran Holdings Inc., JetBlue Airways Corp. and Southwest Airlines Co say they will also continue serving complimentary beverages.

Continental Airlines Inc. — one of the few airlines left that serves free meals on certain domestic flights — says it is unlikely to abandon its free beverage service. Continental says charging for a soda would detract from passenger comfort. "That’s always been our philosophy, and it’s one that works well with us," says spokeswoman Julie King.

Several other low-cost carriers like Spirit Airlines Inc and Allegiant Air, LLC began charging for beverages a few years ago. These low-budget airlines say their business model offers "unbundled" deals, which strip away extra costs and charge only for the flight. Spirit and Allegiant officials say customers like this plan, which allows flyers to add on extra drinks and snacks only if they desire.

US Airways says it will provide water and drinks for passengers in cases of medical emergency and during extensive delays. If a desperately thirsty passenger does forget a few extra dollars, US Airways spokesman Morgan Durrant says flight attendants will likely "err on the side of the customer" and give him or her water. After all, the airline wouldn’t want its customers drinking tap water from the aircraft bathroom. That water is safe to drink, just not very palatable, according to Durrant.

"Frankly, that’s just not classy," he says.

As long as I can still buy bottled water in the airport (once past the security check point), I'm fine.

<<Everything gets passed on to the consumer.>>

Well, of course it does.

What's really annoying - shopping fares is headache enough - now you have to consider which airlines charge how much for what "extras".

That is such f*ing bull^%#&*!!!! Excuse my French!!

I am sooooo angry reading about this!! X-(

You have to throw away the H2O you bring from home (usually before even getting a sip) at the security gate, pay AT LEAST $2 - $3 at the airport for a new bottle, and lots of times even then have to throw it out if there is another security check down the line, unless they have zipped it/packed it/sealed it at the snack counter.

Sorry, water should be free!!!!!!!!
Maybe after 2 bottles, I could understand them charging for extras. Still, this is getting ridiculous. Alcohol, ok, charge me. Basic food & water on any flight over 1 hour should be an automatic comp.

"You have to throw away the H2O you bring from home (usually before even getting a sip) at the security gate, pay AT LEAST $2 - $3 at the airport for a new bottle, and lots of times even then have to throw it out if there is another security check down the line, unless they have zipped it/packed it/sealed it at the snack counter. "

I'm sorry, but who brings a full bottle of water to the security line knowing full well they'll have to discard it? As for the $2-3 to buy a bottle, why not just bring an empty bottle and fill it up at a water fountain post security? QED. And what domestic airport has a secondary security screening where you have to throw away another bottle?

Author: J62
Date: 08/02/2008, 02:00 am

"As for the $2-3 to buy a bottle, why not just bring an empty bottle and fill it up at a water fountain post security?"

**************************

Hey, good idea. Never thought of that.

I've already tried taking an empty bottle and filling after security so I have water to drink before getting on the flight (we're generally early to the airport) or refilling the bottle bought after passing security because it can often take a long time to get a drink once you're on the plane. Of course, on a long flight, it's hard to carry on enough water, so it would seem that they should provide some free water on a flight of a certain duration.

I guess I have a little different perspective as one who took the Greyhound to college and other places all those years ago and there was no beverages or food provided or available. When I started flying it was pleasant to find that provided. I'd rather pay for some water than get socked for checking bags--that really frosts me because it seems that transporting my luggage is part of transporting me.

J62, has the water bottle thing worked for you? I ask because I've seen TSA make people throw away empty bottles that were over the 3 ounce limit at the security screening.

J62 - I guess you have never been through LAX. They make you apply the ketchup and/or mustard to your sandwich before you board. No liquids, period.

I fly overseas way more than I do domestic. Overseas, secondary screening is everywhere. You HAVE to buy a sealed bottle in AMS, or they will take it at the gate. No drinking until you board. No other bottles of any kind. That is MY OWN experience. In Russia, they sell bottled water 2 feet from the secondary screeing/boarding gate. I was dying for some water, but the guy told me I would not be able to bring it on, even if I bought it right there & then. I decided to wait.

Yes, I have brought empty water bottles through security at about 1/2 dozen airports in the last 6 months without any problem. LAX isn't one of them, so I can't say what the practice there is.

The secondary screening on international flights bound for the US is definitely a problem if you want to buy water or even fill up at a faucet - many airports segregate the last few gates in a terminal for flights to the US because of this and there is nothing for sale after the 2nd security check.

I've never heard of empty bottles having to be thrown out. I have ALWAYS brought an empty water bottle (after having to wait forever for a sip of water once on a bumpy flight)and filled it before boarding. Used to bring my own booze, too, in the good old days, and never had anyone say anything.

Next time one of their planes gets stuck out on the runway for 6 hours, it'll be fun to watch them try and charge people for water.

Many times, I've also had to throw away my water before boarding that I had just purchased after going through Security. And, several times I have been told I could not have my empty bottle.

Selling water after we have been prohibited from bringing our own is really wrong, wrong, wrong. I will avoid those airlines charging this fee as long as I can.

Sandy (in Denton)

Sandy, Please be specific as to some examples (plural, as in your post) of when you have been made to throw away water purchased after security or when you've had empty bottles confiscated at security. It is important that we know which airlines and airports engage in this outrageous behavior.

It's probably not a specific airport or airline, just an employee who has no idea what they're doing.

I have recently started taking a large water bottle through security to fill inside the terminal.
The first time I failed to explain that I WANTED the bottle and the TSA person tossed it, thinking that I did not want it.
Now I let them know that I want to use it on the plane and I have had no problems at all... not even a sideways look on about 25 flights.

The practice of confiscating water purchased after security is live and well in Mexico...had it happen to me in Puerto Vallarta in March and in Cozumel just a few weeks ago.

I'd say the policy varies...but is less likely in the US.

Next they will have a credit card reader on the bathroom and charge you a convenience fee!

I was on a jetBlue flight recently when the lady in the aisle seat in front of me handed her jacket to the flight attendant and asked her to put it in the overhead been.

The FA obliged and, as she was folding the jacket, said "there will be a folding fee"!

At the end of the flight the same FA retrieved the jacket and, as she handed it to the owner, said "there will be an unfolding fee".

travelinandgolf, why are you fine? Wouldn't buying a bottle of water at an airline store be more expensive than buying it onboard?

overhead bin, not "been". The FA was joking about the folding fees, of course.

She was not joking about the $1 fee, payable by credit card only, for use of a headset to go with the great seatback DirecTV they have.

EricH,

I don't remember which airports, I travel a lot . . . 3-5 international trips/year and several domestic trips . . . but it has happened a lot. I do tend to favor 3rd-world destinations and that may be why.

Sandy (in Denton)

clarkgriswold <Next time one of their planes gets stuck out on the runway for 6 hours, it'll be fun to watch them try and charge people for water. >

As OP says, "US Airways says it will provide water and drinks for passengers in cases of medical emergency and during extensive delays."

BTW, how much has the last bottle of water that anyone bought at an airport store actually cost? ((*))

A friend of mine recently took USAir across the country. She was unaware of the "no free water" policy and says they would take only cash on board - and she had none, only a credit card!!! They refused to give her any cold water - only some hot water they use for coffee and some ice. This for a 5-hour flight. What BS!!! How exactly does this endear people to want to fly USAir in the future?

I'm afraid your friend was pretty naive to think she could buy water from an FA using a credit card.

I think your friend was pretty irresponsible traveling with zero currency.

Well, on Southwest Airlines and perhaps others, they ONLY accept credit cards and do not accept cash for alcoholic beverages, etc. I can see how someone who is used to flying Southwest would be surprised to need cash just get a cup of water!!! Also, realize that some people almost never use cash anymore, especially younger people. If you are at the airport, you can always go to the ATM if you need it; getting on a direct flight to your destination where someone is meeting you, there would seem no reason to have to have cash on an airplane.

And it's not naive to assume that you could get a free cup of water on an airplane on a five-hour flight!!!

"Excuse me ma'am, but one of your passengers is lying on the floor near the rear of the plane, dying of thirst.".

"Is it that wacko without any cash? Nothing we can do, sorry."

Andrew,

I've done my fair share of cursing and complaining about the folks in Tempe, but I will defend them on this issue. USAir has made it very clear that beverages in domestic coach cost $2.00. This information is presented on their website and on posters and signs in concourses and around USAir gates before you get on the plane.

Complaining because someone didn't bother to find out USAir's policies about paying for amenities would be like me coming on Fodor's to rant that I didn't know I was supposed to check in 24 hours before my Southwest flight and therefore got stuck with a bad boarding number.

No, MLTimes, I can't agree with you on this. I don't think an airline should charge for a cup of water, period. The reason my friend didn't check USAir's policy on water is that it never occurred to her that she wouldn't be free, I guess. And I can't blame her. It's like checking to make sure you have to pay extra to sit down on a flight instead of needing to stand - who would think to check that?

Shoot, even no-frills easyJet (Europe) gave me a free cup of water when I last flew them, and they charge for pretty much everything else. I think it's an incredibly stupid policy on USAir's part to charge for water AND soft drinks, too, though at least they can make a case for charging for soft drinks. A cup of water costs them about nothing, maybe 1 cent for the cup, and since flying dehydrates you, there should not be a charge for it.

I wonder how many people get dehydrated on USAir flights? Someday, someone's going to pass out and force USAir to make an emergency landing or something - you just watch. But in general it makes the airline look cheap.

Andrew- they are charging for bottled water. You keep saying they shouldn't charge for a cup - well, they're not. They don't give out cups of water. Wouldn't make any sense to give away cups of water and charge for a bottle - kind of like it wouldn't make sense to give away a cup of soda and charge for a can.

This is not new news. Yes that's happening on many airlines. No need to freak out. Just buy yourself a bottle of water after security before boarding the plane, except in certain places like Mexico and South America where they won't even let you take that aboard.

Go crazy and buy a sandwich &/or bag of nuts in case there's no food, or pay-for only food.

It's truly no big deal when you know that's what to expect. Just the way things are with air travel these days.

ooops, how'd this old thread get topped.

no wonder it's not new news... it's a post from last summer!

I believe they would give you a cup of water. I take an empty water bottle and fill it after security.

My apologies Andrew. I misread your post to say that your friend was "aware" of the no free water policy. That is more understandable.

They should just up the airfare from $340 to $342 and include the water or soft drinks. Dealing with the cash, and accounting for it, reconciling, making change, it's all a waste of time....it's not worth the hassle. Airlines are always telling us "a flight attendant is not there to wait on you! Their main function is security and safety!". But then they turn around and make them into 2 dollar soft-drink waiters/waitresses.

"it's all a waste of time....it's not worth the hassle"

Obviously it is worth it to the airline or they wouldn't be doing it. The average traveller is price sensitive when it comes to airfares so raising airfare across the board would cost them some business.

I don't think turning FAs from 2 dollar soda waiters/waitresses into free soda waiters/waitresses is going to free up a whole lot of their time and make the flight safer and more secure.

How hard is it to bring your own water or soda on the plane? The people who are complaining their water was confiscated before boarding were flying internationally, and as clearly stated in the OP, international flights are exempt from the $2 charge for beverages. Much ado (and drama) about nothing. Seriously, passengers passing out and dying from thirst?

Just want to mention to some of you that Continental not only offers free non-alcoholic beverages, but also free food for many of its longer domestic flights at meal time.

So, you do have a choice.

WhereAreWe: <i>How hard is it to bring your own water or soda on the plane?</i>

Well, it's not, but you have to buy it inside security. Can you even buy cans of soda in the stores by the gates? And how will you keep them cold for a 5-hour flight?

But why should I have to bring my own water? In the US, water is universally free. Free at restaurants, free at Starbucks. Free on most airlines. Just not on US Air.

<i>Seriously, passengers passing out and dying from thirst? </i>

People can get dehydrated over time, perhaps after they've gotten off the flight. So how do you know? I'm guessing most people unlike my friend can at least find $2 in cash for a water if they are dying of thirst - but it seems incredibly cheap, like a restaurant charging you for tap water. I mean, they could just raise the price of the entrees $2 I suppose...

&quot;People can get dehydrated over time, perhaps after they've gotten off the flight. So how do you know?&quot;

I don't know. But I'm not the person who claims people are dying of thirst or passing out on the flight - how do you know?

&quot;but it seems incredibly cheap, like a restaurant charging you for tap water&quot;

You seem unable to comprehend the difference between a bottle of water and tap water. Nobody is charging for tap water, not US Airways and not any restaurant I've heard of. Bottled water is not free.

You are right, tap water is universally free in the U.S. That's why it's so silly to complain about this charge when you could just bring an empty bottle and fill it before getting on the flight, for free. Guess some people just want to complain about anything.