America West FlightFund (Discontinued Program) - HP launches 'In Flight Cafe', purchased meal options for all flights over 3 hours

From an e-mail I received tonight:

Introducing our New Buy-on-Board Program

Satisfy your hunger while en route to your next destination with America West Airlines' Buy on Board program. For more information on availability and menu visit americawest.com/menu .

By summer, the In-Flight Café will be available on all America West flights greater than three hours in length that depart between 6 a.m. and 7:30 p.m.

To see if the In-Flight Cafe is available on your flight, look for the "Meal: Buy-On-Board" link when you make your reservation at americawest.com.

The follow menu is provided as an example of the meal and snack options that might be available. Please note that the specific items on your flight might vary.

Breakfast:
Ham & Swiss Croissant $7
Coffee Crumb Cake $7
Snack Box $5

Lunch & Dinner:
Smoked Turkey Sandwich $7
Cheeseburger $7
Snack Box $5

A la Carte:
Pringles Original Potato Chips $2
Mrs. Field's Cookie $2
Russell Stover Low Carb Bar $2


In-Flight Café

In a hurry? Sit back, relax and enjoy delicious, restaurant-quality cuisine for purchase on select flights. Meals and snacks can be purchased between select America West cities for $2.00 to $7.00 beginning January 29, 2004. By summer, 2004, the In-Flight Café will be available on all America West flights greater than three hours in length, departing from 6 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. View our In-Flight Café service schedule.

At this time, meals and snacks may be purchased with cash only. Credit card or advance purchase options are not yet available.

http://www.americawest.com/services/foodbeverage/default.htm

First Class Meal Service
America West serves complementary meals to customers in First Class on domestic flights greater than three hours that depart between 6 a.m. and 7:30 p.m.

Link to map of flights with First Class meal service:

http://www.americawest.com/services/foodbeverage/fb_foodservice.htm



[This message has been edited by AZ Travels the World (edited Jan 26, 2004).]

The food actually looks pretty good.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by SanDiegoShaun:
The food actually looks pretty good.</font>

I agree. This seems like a great solution. I'm glad they're rolling it out system-wide on the 3-hour-plus flights.

I wonder what exactly will happen to the First Class fare. The website doesn't really say much about it. Presumably, worst case, you'd get the first opportunity to buy the coach food, if you wanted it. Hopefully the this will mean the end of the dreaded cold plates & hot pockets.

I noticed this morning if you click on the 'Special Meals' link (which is here: http://www.americawest.com/services/foodbeverage/fb_specialmeals.htm), there is an offering of special meals for First Class passengers only that includes actual hot meals. They must be ordered a minimum 12 hours in advance of the flight. That seems like a good sign related to the regular First meals.

I really hope that the present F cold plate will become history as well. To be honest, I will rather HP serves us the new in-flight cafe meals in F, rather than those cold Chicken salad plate...

The pictures look great...

I really like that HP has a warmed food selection. If my prediction is right, it will be the more popular one.

carfield

My friend works for americawest.com and he was telling me tonight they will hopefully sometime soon have the ability for pax when making a reservation to choose the meal they would like. Pretty cool!

I think it's a great idea and from what he's heard the food's pretty tasty!

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Carfield:
I really hope that the present F cold plate will become history as well. To be honest, I will rather HP serves us the new in-flight cafe meals in F, rather than those cold Chicken salad plate... </font>

I agree.

Interestingly, HP is charging $3 less than all other airlines, to my knowledge, that offer a buy on board program. Every other one of the majors charges $10 for lunch and dinner, while HP is only charging $7.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by olympicnut:
My friend works for americawest.com and he was telling me tonight they will hopefully sometime soon have the ability for pax when making a reservation to choose the meal they would like. Pretty cool!</font>

It certainly would be interesting if, when you make your reservation, you are given the option of adding a $7 meal to your ticket. I guess the selling points would be that you would essentially be guaranteed the meal you want (no risk of running out) and you wouldn't have to have the $7 in cash. Might be particularly helpful to biz travellers (it would be a pretty cruel employer who wouldn't spring for $7 to feed their employees).

I guess AWA will ultimately determine whether the complexity is worth it once they get the kinks out of the "cash" program. I suspect it will be.