Comet wrote:Yes, but on some flights it can be tricky taking food, how would you prove it was to eat on the flight and you were not intending to import it into your destination country? And of course there's the ban on liquids more than 100ml unless they are bought in duty free and in sealed bags.
Of course you have to finiosh your lunch before arrival especially in the US!!!
Last year, I flew low-cost airline Jetstar from Sydney to Osaka. The on-line booking tool allows you to pre-order your meal, comfort pack, digeplayer etc. It worked fine for me.
Waouw. When I see how furious passengers can be on a 1h50 flight because all the sandwiches are sold out, I don't want to imagine what would happen on a 8h-flight where there is nothing left to buy for eat...
Hope indeed it is possible to pre-order your meal online.
United is one of the airlines that are in the worst shape.
They are desperate.
I always use US Airways, simply because it's the cheapest and I have had an excellent experience with them.
I will probably be able to post a report, later into the winter.
I'm flying them this week and again next week to/from CLE-BRU-CLE via PHL.
I always buy a Subway or a sandwich on my way to the airport and eat it in flight as the airline meals never get me filled. The drink services are abundant on US Airways flights, I never got to call or ask an F/A for a drink. Also, the seat pitch on US Airways 757's is excellent, should be pretty similar to the SN Avros' and therefore when the person in front of you recline their seats, it doesn't bother you too much.
United has changed its mind. Here's an excerpt from an e-mail I just received from UA:
".... We heard you and have decided not to move forward with the test of offering customers buy-on-board options in United Economy on certain trans-Atlantic flights. We will continue to offer complimentary hot meals on those flights."
DC3 Fan wrote:United has changed its mind. Here's an excerpt from an e-mail I just received from UA:
".... We heard you and have decided not to move forward with the test of offering customers buy-on-board options in United Economy on certain trans-Atlantic flights. We will continue to offer complimentary hot meals on those flights."
Probably they saw the bookings going down, way down, to the bottom of the Atlantic...
Do not believe a company that says that it changes its policies because of some reactions on blogs .
It is quite possible that a recent calculation showed them that it costs more to bring food on board and sell only - let's say 20% - while they have to carry for the 100% passengers.
It would involve also a lot of extra burden on the FA's.
Food on demand is different on short haul.
I do not believe that business class passengers would massively leave UA because of charging for food. Many of them are business people and they do calculate. If they decide that they want to sleep the 6 hours and save their company 30-50 $, it is their decision. And if they feel hungry, they can buy with the business card whatever they want.
The main complainers are economy travellers who have saved miles ( on the expense of their employer...) and want to enjoy once a year the luxury of business class.
Warme maaltijden op lange United-vluchten blijven gratis
03-09-2008
CHICAGO - United Airlines blijft toch gratis maaltijden verstrekken op alle transatlantische vluchten van Europa naar Washington. Het plan om passagiers vanaf 1 oktober negen dollar te laten betalen voor een salade of een sandwich is daarmee van de baan. Dat heeft de Amerikaanse luchtvaartmaatschappij woensdag (3 september) bekend gemaakt.
"Onze klanten hebben ons nadrukkelijk gemeld veel waarde te hechten aan een warme maaltijd tijdens de vlucht", aldus Robin Urbanski, woordvoerster van United. De plannen om de gratis warme maaltijd te vervangen voor een broodje van negen dollar viel bij de vaste klanten van de maatschappij niet in goede aarde.
Wel is United Airlines nog steeds van plan op 1 oktober te starten met een test waarbij klanten in de business class tijdens binnenlandse vluchten - afhankelijk van de duur van de vlucht en vertrektijd - verse broodjes, salades of een snackbox aan te bieden in plaats van een warme maaltijd. "De resultaten van deze test zullen aan het eind van het jaar worden geëvalueerd. Naar aanleiding van de resultaten zullen nieuwe plannen verder worden ontwikkeld", aldus de maatschappij.
The fee for a second suitcase on certain routes will increase from 25 to 50 USD for travel as from 10th Nov 2008. The surcharge is only applicable for Y-class passengers, and not for intercontinental (transit)-passengers. UA-Frequent flyers apparently will also not have to pay the surcharge. Fee is applicable on domestic flights in the U.S., and flights to/from Canada, Puerto Rico and the American Virgin Islands.
Luchtvaartnieuws.nl: "...Het totaalpakket aan toeslagen - waar de bagagetoeslagen deel van uitmaken - moet United in 2009 een bedrag van ongeveer 700 miljoen dollar opleveren..."
The total surcharges, including this luggage surcharge, will make UA earn some 700mio USD in 2009.
Whether or not I am prepared to pay for a meal on long haul flights really depends on how much I had to pay and which service level was promised when booking the tickets.
Finally it is the customer who decides.
If there would not have been enough paying customers for the Ryanair product, or the ALDI cheap stuff, it would not exist any longer.
Those are succes stories.
If you want a disaster story: Alitalia.
