Originally Posted by
FriendlySkies
Can't we do without a bag of peanuts or a biscoff in Y? I'd prefer they spend the money on something worthwhile.
It's not so much the sympton itself, but rather the underlying disease. Five years ago, CO served ice cream sundaes as dessert in F on all flights over 3.5 hours. Salt and pepper shakers (little mini glass ones) were placed on the tray tables. The warm nuts served on transcons came in ramekins that were warmed. There were four entree choices on transcons. And while the free meals at mealtime in Y weren't great they were something.
Today, CO charges for those stupid stirring mixers for F passengers. Ice cream sundaes appear only on the transcons. Salt and pepper shakers have been replaced with packets; transcon nuts come in a bag; there are only three entree choices. Free Meals in Y first got incredibly crappy and then were discountinued altogether. There are no pillows in F on CO flights.
CO had, 5 years ago, the best domestic F service. So much of the rah rah spirit that channa so cleverly mocks dates from an era where CO's F soft product was actually nicer than its competitors. The latest iteration of product degradation on CO is troubling. CO is starting to look a lot more like US.
Can anyone reallly be that sad about a bag of preztel dust -- no of course not. But it's just so petty and reflects an underlying theme.
Originally Posted by
CALimey
That was then and this is now. I don't know when, but sure as night follows day, US airlines will start charging for all potential ancillary revenue items at some point.
Look at Ireland's Ryanair- an airline that started at the bottom and has since made it its mission to find new and innovative ways of going lower- including charging passengers a fee if they dare to check in at the airport and even considering charging to use the restroom!
A terrible experience like this must mean that everyone flies BA or Aer Lingus, right?
Nope- by squeezing out every last penny of ancillary revenue, Ryanair have the cheapest seats around, which is all most people care about
Sorry to be the bringer of bad news but this'll come here too- and as we've seen in every other regard, once one airline gets away with it, the others are guaranteed to follow suit.
Paul.
Agree. They are going to charge for soda very soon.