US Airways Dividend Miles (Pre-FlightFund Merger) - USAirways to Launch In-Flight Meals

Here's the link to the news about in-flight cafe

US Airways Launches In-flight Cafe(SM) On Domestic Flights Over 700 Miles
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/030529/dcth015_1.html

I just noticed on my flight next week from CLT-LAX that next to the meal option is F which probably means Food for Sale. Also Expedia lists my flight as food for sale.

I'm assuming we will still be getting meals in F, right?

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by PHL INTL TERMINAL:
I'm assuming we will still be getting meals in F, right?</font>

Or does this mean free sky meals in F on every flight over 700 miles?

Depends on you destination

First Class passengers on In-flight Cafe-designated flights will continue to receive complimentary meals. First Class passengers on transcontinental flights to and from Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Orange County, Ca., Phoenix, San Francisco, San Diego and Seattle will also receive the breakfast, lunch and dinner options as currently scheduled. First Class passengers on redeye flights that do not have Coach Class meal service will receive a complimentary In-flight Cafe meal. Complimentary meals for transatlantic and Caribbean flights will continue to be offered as in the past

Does this now mean that you will have to pay for the rotten meals that were once gratis if you happen to be back in steerage class?

I had one of these meals on DEN-PIT yesterday. Prepared by Einstein Bagels. They were selling them for $10 a pop in coach. Free in F cabin. It was pretty tasty.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by ITRADE:
Does this now mean that you will have to pay for the rotten meals that were once gratis if you happen to be back in steerage class?</font>

No. It means you have a CHOICE between paying $10 for a good meal, paying nothing for no meal, or exercising your right to choose to patronize a food vendor in the terminal and carry on a meal.

I think it's such a good idea to offer the food. If they do it right and don't bumble it like most things they do, they'll have a real opportunity to make some money.

The breakfast box is pretty good. Although my daughter had a moldy bun.

We were in first so it was free, don't know that is was worth $7 in the back of the plane.

Thanks for the post. I saw the press release but I didn't know if it applied only to the semi-long routes (like DEN) or all the big West Coast cities, like LAX, SFO, SEA. Now I will bring a bag lunch for the CLT-SFO flights instead of just a single serving bag of chips. I'm sure most passengers won't know in advance and will have to choose between hunger and buying food.

Wonder if we will see Food Coupons in our preferred packets next year http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by rd7242:
Wonder if we will see Food Coupons in our preferred packets next year http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif</font>

Kewl! I knew I could use food stamps some day.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by safetymom:
Although my daughter had a moldy bun.</font>


For the record, please note the restraint I have demonstrated by not hitting this softball out of the park. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif

geo1005, I admire your restraint. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

Will they stop serving drinks unless you buy a meal?

Easyjet sells drinks, including water.

I've had the lunch a couple times and thought it was pretty good. I'm not quite sure of the perceived value for $10 though. Throwing in something else might help sell it. I think it's a good idea anyway, so much better quality than what they've been giving away in the past..

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by mbmbbost:
I've had the lunch a couple times and thought it was pretty good. I'm not quite sure of the perceived value for $10 though. Throwing in something else might help sell it. I think it's a good idea anyway, so much better quality than what they've been giving away in the past..</font>

I am glad I am not the only one who thinks that these prices are sky high. I can get a hot pizza and a drink at CPK in CLT for $8 and take it onboard with me, in other words a hot meal and plenty of food for less money.

what about special meals? How will that work for people (me!) that are vegetarian in 1st?

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by rd7242:
Wonder if we will see Food Coupons in our preferred packets next year http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif</font>

I think it would also be a good idea if, eventually, you could "pre-purchase" the meal...like when you are checking in at a kiosk. Heck, you can already purchase tickets and e-upgrades...why not meals? saves cash on the plane and also, the pax could be informed at check in whether or not food is for sale...instead of finding out at the gate and not having time to run and buy food before boarding.

just some "food" for thought (pun intended http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif)

I was in F and had the lunch box. I was relatively impressed. The sandwitch was better than most hot meals I've had in F.

What we got was:
a) one pretty big turkey sandwitch
b) a bag of chips
c) a small (8oz) bottle of water
d) a tomato and mozzarella salad
e) a big cookie

My rough guess to the pricing would be
a) sandwitch $4.00
b) bag of chips: $.75
c) water: $.75
d) salad: $1.50
e) cookie: $2.00

That's $9 so $10 doesn't seem that outrageous.

Of course, I'd probably just getting food at the terminal beforehand but if I were hungry and didn't get a chance to do that, I could definitely justify this as a work expense (though I'd have to be somewhat hungrier to pay out of my own pocket :)

I had the breakfast this morning and the yogurt was missing. I didn't want to complain but quality control doesn't seem real good. First a moldy bun, then missing yogurt. I do think you would get a better meal in the airport but when it's free it isn't bad.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by safetymom:
Although my daughter had a moldy bun.
</font>

I was thinking about how they figure out how many meals to load. If you load too many, you can waste meals, and if you load too few you risk missing sales and having unhappy customers.

From this, maybe they load too many and use the extras the next day.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by HereOrThere:
cookie: $2.00

</font>


and all this time I thought girl scout cookies were expensive