Originally Posted by
3Cforme
http://blogs.rollcall.com/the-contai...ravelers/?dcz=
“Airlines have really struggled with managing down a sense of entitlement from the consumer, which is still a problem and that’s really going to take decades to go away,” Keay told an aviation conference in Washington.
People who flew in the 1970s “think about that with fond memories. I’m sorry, but those people have to basically die” in a “multi-decade-long washing out of entitlement” until passengers expect to pay for what they get.
It's harsh, but there is some truth to Keay's comments.
When you go to a movie theatre, you don't expect to get a drink and snack for free. If you want them, you have to pay for them -- at an inflated price, no less.
But we're all accustomed to getting at least a beverage for free when we fly. If we never received these before, we wouldn't be surprised to pay for them.
This said, there's no question that implanting a soda charge now would bother many travelers -- myself included. Given how many other awful changes have occurred in domestic USA airline travel, I'd be a little surprised if the industry wanted to make such travel even less desirable -- especially given how flush with profits these airlines currently are. I don't see this as a priority item for Parker. Frankly, I think he'd rather just raise fares a bit higher (or if fuel prices are going to stay this low, he'll be happy just keeping fares where they are).