Originally Posted by
KenJohn
It not commerical suicide if
1) the expect other airlines to follow (ie leader of the pack)
2) they can keep their prices below non-US airlines
3) customers are really that price sensitive to marginal fare differences and many are
4) customers do is complain about how lousy the free hot meals anyway (judging by some of the postings we have seen from time to time) where special meals have not been loaded
Remember US airlines do not charge the levels of fuel surcharge that most European airlines do so their all-in fares are already lower.
You will notice
- UA is doing this on transatlantic route where european airlines are more likely to follow UA's lead and the complaints of food is higher.
- UA is not doing this on trans-pacific route where asian airlines are less likely to follow UA's lead and the compliments about food is higher. Conveniently, flight times are longer.
Yes, you are right.
However:
- How many airlines have followed AA's charging for checked baggage? I wonder how long before that goes, too.
- How many European airlines charge for alcoholic drinks on TATL flights? None (that I know of). No European airline will scrap free food without scrapping free drinks as well (as you're likely to get much more drunk on an empty stomach) and I don't see them scrapping drinks anytime soon.