Originally Posted by
danielonn
I propose that airlines offer water bottle filling stations and ice dispensers like they do at airports. Even better why not offer soda machines in the galley's along with self-serve coffee or even self-serve cans setup in a galley like area. You could put snacks there too.
On international flights when I'm hungry I go over there and find it much better than waiting for a flight attendant. I take a few of the orange juice filled cups and it works well. They could have cookies, nuts and other snacks available on flights of 2 hours and more.
If I were designing an airplane there would be self-service stations throughout the Y cabin with an area that allow passengers to stretch their legs.
On short flights if I'm not given water so be it I always have my trusty water bottle filled up at the airport before I fly and sip on the cold ice water.
But then if you were running the airline, you would decide to replace the self-service stations and leg-stretching areas with more seats to generate more revenue....
Self-service stations need to be located where the current leg-stretching areas are: in the gate area, where they will not impact revenue potential.
I don't remember which airline, it may have been America West, used to have a large cooler bin at the end of the gateway/near the boarding door where you picked up your 'meal bag' as you boarded. They only catered and served beverages on the flight. IIRC, they didn't even have beverage carts (saves weight), they took orders and served a couple rows at a time off trays. (Doesn't WN also have this kind of beverage service?)