Ala Carte Bevs

[Travelpro72]

The fact that no other major carrier followed US in their decision to "sell" beverages leaves you anti-competitive. I couldn't possibly care any less but the selling of beverages is NOT "in line" with your competition. I wouldn't book away from US simply because soda was $2.00 but it wouldn't draw me to you either.

 

[Justme]

"My son, the docta', ordered me a Coast to Coast on the computa' layst night. What do you mean it isn't heah? What's your name, dearie. I'm going to have my son, the lawya', sue you and this airline for not giving me my Coast to Coast which my son, the docta', ordered for me and paid for already."

(And that's the best case scenario.)

That is the funniest (all humor has to have an element of truth) thing I have ever read on here.

 

[LCC_#1]

All the company would have to say is that we are not experiencing a substantial difference in revenue, therefore we are discontinuing the charging of non alcoholic beverages.

 

[FlightChic]

This is the funniest rumor I have ever heard! So has anybody actually seen the "memo" regarding this? <_< Everyone was talking about the rumor at work today both East and West f/as! Anyway, wasn't the point of selling beverages to eventually get all that added weight off the airplane. They never actually expected people to puchase drinks anyway and many don't except on longer haul flights. US has a lot of problems but selling Cokes for $2 is not going to drive us in the ground. I just don't see why the bean counters would reverse this. It may be a nice thought but I just don't think it will happen.

 

[SolidCactus]

I would never say that charging for soda is making people book away to other airlines. CONCEPTUALLY, at this point in time where fuel prices are so low, and US used the fuel prices as the rationale to introduce this concept, now it looks tacky. We all know that US and all the airlines are losing money now, and the paid soda concept is justified - the average person doesnt know that, nor do they care. All they know is that they pay less for gas now, and US is still charging for soda.

Improving the product, reliability and cleanliness will bring people back.

 

[FlightChic]

I would never say that charging for soda is making people book away to other airlines. CONCEPTUALLY, at this point in time where fuel prices are so low, and US used the fuel prices as the rationale to introduce this concept, now it looks tacky. We all know that US and all the airlines are losing money now, and the paid soda concept is justified - the average person doesnt know that, nor do they care. All they know is that they pay less for gas now, and US is still charging for soda.

Improving the product, reliability and cleanliness will bring people back.

It is definitely tacky but they were planning to do this anyway. Last year when we were testing handhelds in the crewroom to vote on the one we liked the best, sodas listed under beverages in the handhelds and the trainers actually told us that we were going to start selling drinks later on. That was the plan from the beginning but they just used the high cost of fuel as an excuse. Of course, that was about as brilliant as the excuse that my dog ate my homework because now the fuel prices are low and people complain more than ever. It just makes us look that much dumber!

While we're at it, I heard that they are going to make gate agents start charging for checked bags at the gate and they will have HHDs also. I wonder if this is true. Today I received a message about how they are going to solicit volunteers to gate check their bag for free and in exchange offer them a zone 3 boarding priority. I doubt it would work because anytime you mention having to check a bag people go ballistic! Besides, the whole point of boarding early is so you will have room for your bag in the OHB! I know, they should offer a drink coupon so they get a free drink for checking their bag. That way, US can charge for drinks, take things away from them, then give them something for free that they would get normally for free at any other airline. Or better yet, bring back those baskets. If it doesn't fit in the basket, it gets checked. Also the one carry on plus personal item has turned into two large bags like a rollerboard and some other large bag. Or even worse, people bring on huge suitcases that take up all the space! They always get angry when I tell them that their bag is too big! Of course, the company isn't going to offer an incentive that would actually cost money.

Man, I would give anything to have a clean, reliable airline with a product that we can be proud of!

 

[Furloughd4now]

Those HHDs are junk. In the past 4 day I was on, it worked maybe 3 times. Won't transmit. Also in the cold back east, you leave those batteries on the A/C overnight, they are DEAD in the morning. :down: In a small outstation, they don't have the replacements.

Also, what is the point of having them if the FA has to LOAD opening and closing inventory? Kinda defeats the purpose doesn't it? Isn't the whole idea to get the revenue? They can load whatever number they want.

They will most likely keep charging because someone needs to pay for those $1500 pieces of extra weight in the aft galley.

I honestly would luv to get rid of charging for soda. Go back to the pour service. Wanna can? Go to hell LOL

 

[Travelpro72]

The idea of a HHD is great. You may have a HHD that works ok but overall they DO NOT work properly and it certainly IS taking up peoples time before flight and after TRYING their hardest to get them to work. The rollout was a joke, the help was a joke. Like a Jedi waiving his hand in front of you, they'll tell you that "You like these HHD's and they work just fine". Yeah right. 🙄 I just watched a crew do the HHD's on a transcon and it was ABSOLUTELY a joke. Save it sista.

 

[Planemx]

Piney,

That is a great Idea, solves many problems all at once.

That alone means the chances of it happening are pretty slim....but one can always hope.

 

[SS255]

I would never say that charging for soda is making people book away to other airlines. CONCEPTUALLY, at this point in time where fuel prices are so low, and US used the fuel prices as the rationale to introduce this concept, now it looks tacky. We all know that US and all the airlines are losing money now, and the paid soda concept is justified - the average person doesnt know that, nor do they care. All they know is that they pay less for gas now, and US is still charging for soda.

Improving the product, reliability and cleanliness will bring people back.

I disagree to a certain extent. I do think that people have booked away from US because US charges for something that its competitors give away for free. If other airlines charge the exact same ticket price, the average customer who is aware of US's beverage policy WILL fly another airline, assuming that US does not offer a nonstop which would otherwise require a connection on a competitor.

But I do agree that if US's product, customer service and IT infrastructure were better, the average customer would put up with the $2 beverages.

The bottom line is that if US were "easy to do business with," they'd find more people would be willing to do business with them. The beverage policy is the "low hanging fruit" which is quickly and easily "fixable." If the rumor is true, kudos to US for making it ever-so-slightly "easier to do business with."

 

[LCC_#1]

There is a difference in being frugal and being cheap. WE are CHEAP! NOBODY likes a cheapskate! THAT'S why people are pissed and over US and their extreme decisions, which DOESN'T seem to be placing us in any better financial position than the other carriers! If it DOES, may we PLEASE see the numbers?

 

[LCC_#1]

The idea of a HHD is great. You may have a HHD that works ok but overall they DO NOT work properly and it certainly IS taking up peoples time before flight and after TRYING their hardest to get them to work. The rollout was a joke, the help was a joke. Like a Jedi waiving his hand in front of you, they'll tell you that "You like these HHD's and they work just fine". Yeah right. 🙄 I just watched a crew do the HHD's on a transcon and it was ABSOLUTELY a joke. Save it sista.

I guess I have been lucky. I have had no problems. Of course, I have the crew only use the HHD for charges. I inventory later. I have to do that anyway. Some f/a's make this too hard!

 

[NoMoreKoolAid]

I know for a fact speaking to people in the product specialist side they are tracking that. They are matching serial numbers to broken units and crew names. They also are watching the time stamps. So if your selling 50 sodas all at 15:23 they see it. I am still amazed your not having issues but maybe your just lucky. I think in the past week it worked 2 times out of 13 legs. The HDD helpers even tell you over 45% of the units are damaged or down.

 

[LCC_#1]

I know for a fact speaking to people in the product specialist side they are tracking that. They are matching serial numbers to broken units and crew names. They also are watching the time stamps. So if your selling 50 sodas all at 15:23 they see it. I am still amazed your not having issues but maybe your just lucky. I think in the past week it worked 2 times out of 13 legs. The HDD helpers even tell you over 45% of the units are damaged or down.

Just try and discipline me for putting the numbers in at the end. I am NOT going to put myself and fellow f/a's through the utter STUPIDITY of one person making all the drinks and the other standing there with the HDD scratching their head. NO WAY!!! NO OTHER AIRLINE DOES THIS!! Of course no other real airline charges all this crap to start with!

 

[Art at ISP]

We have also heard rumors that the beverage charge will be discontinued...so perhaps coming from many sources there is some truth to it.

The question in my mind has always been, is it worth it to alienate a customer who spends upwards of $10,000 per year with you just to pick up $2 for a bottle of water? I think the potential loss of revenue far exceeded the collections, and for whatever reason, I would like to think that someone in Tempe is smart enough to realize that.

That said, if it IS in fact the case, don't spin it by blaming the technology--be honest.....

While this is a good move for the customer, by itself it does little to restore any form of trust in management, especially if they choose to spin it with an unlikely explanation...

Tell the truth--admit you were wrong....that will go much further with your customers than blaming an issue with the hand held readers.