ICantSpellDawg
08-01-2008, 16:41
U.S. Air has long been going down the roaqd of obsolesence, but this article pretty much sums up the final nail in the coffin. Having recently spent my time with this tremendous pile of an airline I have finally had it. They are rude, incompetant and literally have NO empathy for their passengers, even when they have been in a layover for 11 hours (in a distance between Philidelphia and Islip, Long Island, a 4 hour roadtrip). This layover on my incoming flight was after they had already cancelled my first outgoing flight going to Chicago, forcing my stay from 2 days to 1.
They offered nothing - not a water bottle, not a bag of peanuts - nothing. They literally told me that since the cause was "weather" they had no obligation to give me a meal voucher or any other accomodation. When I was finally ready to leave they told all of the forgotten passengers that their tickets were now "standby" and that we were not priority for the flight, even though we had had waited between 9 and 11 hours. The girl at the counter than became indignant because we were inquiring as to our fate and said to another worker "These people think that apparently it is my fault that the weather was bad" while we were all within earshot. No apology - just contempt.
I urge you to return the favor on my behalf and avoid buying tickets on this airline at all costs. I had spoken to over 30 people, all of whome were livid and hated the airline to a new level. Only a few were on my flight. For your own sake - their prices may seem reasonalbe but you will severly regret the decision to fly with them.
I have flown over 400 times in my life and this was the worst experience that I have ever had. I have also never recieved that many frowns from one company that I was a patron of in my life.
Detestable.
August 1, 2008, 8:50 am
Starting Today, No More Free Water on US Air
Posted by Nikki Waller
That’ll be $2. Buh-bye.
Journal reporter Stephanie Chen on changes coming to US Air’s domestic flights today.
Charging for checked luggage and legroom isn’t enough for some carriers — starting today, 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. f 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.
They offered nothing - not a water bottle, not a bag of peanuts - nothing. They literally told me that since the cause was "weather" they had no obligation to give me a meal voucher or any other accomodation. When I was finally ready to leave they told all of the forgotten passengers that their tickets were now "standby" and that we were not priority for the flight, even though we had had waited between 9 and 11 hours. The girl at the counter than became indignant because we were inquiring as to our fate and said to another worker "These people think that apparently it is my fault that the weather was bad" while we were all within earshot. No apology - just contempt.
I urge you to return the favor on my behalf and avoid buying tickets on this airline at all costs. I had spoken to over 30 people, all of whome were livid and hated the airline to a new level. Only a few were on my flight. For your own sake - their prices may seem reasonalbe but you will severly regret the decision to fly with them.
I have flown over 400 times in my life and this was the worst experience that I have ever had. I have also never recieved that many frowns from one company that I was a patron of in my life.
Detestable.
August 1, 2008, 8:50 am
Starting Today, No More Free Water on US Air
Posted by Nikki Waller
That’ll be $2. Buh-bye.
Journal reporter Stephanie Chen on changes coming to US Air’s domestic flights today.
Charging for checked luggage and legroom isn’t enough for some carriers — starting today, 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. f 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.