FlyerTalk Forums - View Single Post - United Charging for Curbside Check-in at ORD
Old Jul 29, 2005 | 8:35 am
  #8  
UnitedSkies
FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: MileagePlus Premier Gold
Posts: 11,522
Originally Posted by Ocn Vw 1K
As United Skies says, paying $2/bag + tip may be better than waiting in lines [which will now undoubtedly grow]. In the same vein, I suppose spending $5 or $10 for food bought on board is better than starving on a coach transcon if you've made no other arrangements. But, once again, UA has to decide if it's going to distinguish itself from other carriers and be a "full service" airline or not. It has every right to adjust its fares accordingly. But so long as UA refuses to do so and instead plays copy the lowest, I fear we'll continue to see this continued degradation of service.
Fair points, Ocn Vw 1K. As expected, the opinions differ greatly. I still think, however, these problems associated with taking away a benefit started with airlines deciding to give things away for free in the first place. I think you have to look at it this way - UA does want to differentiate itself from its competitors, but will choose which things to keep free and which things to charge for. I suppose SkyCap isn't one of those things worth keeping free, but pillows and free alcohol to the Pacific is.
UnitedSkies is offline