The ill fated US soda charge and the UA BOB for International Y were ideas implemented when the airlines were losing billions. Through consolidation, rationalization and better capacity management the airlines are now making billions and should continue to do so save for something extraordinary such as soaring oil prices. Should airlines try to compete somewhat on amenities? If not, why not go the entire ultra lcc in Y and be done with it.

The fact is that more business flyers fly on AA, UA, DL and WN than Spirit, Allegiant or Frontier. Most of them are not EXP type flyers. For the exception of those that supplement their business travel with personal flying most are likely in the lower or mid tier levels and accordingly probably spending most of their time in Y. Why wouldn't AA try to do some little things to retain them. Hell, DL still gives out the little snack bags and from time to time a friendly FA will give you all three snacks.

Hunter Keay said this about the free sodas last September:

Makes his "blood boil?" Wow. He should get a grip.

Wonder what Pumper Keay thinks of elites who get "free" checked bags? Or elites who aren't charged for MCE/E+/EC? Or the airlines where all elites get UDU? Each of those represents tens of dollars of revenue not collected from each elite on each flight. Think of the lost revenue. Free food and booze in Business Class and First Class must really send him over the edge.

Truth be told, I wouldn't be offended if sodas cost a buck or two. PeoplExpress charged $0.50/can and that was 30+ years ago. Of course, for $2/can, the airline had better improve the selection so that my favorite is in stock. During AA's financial dark times more than a decade ago, I wrote that I'd gladly pay $20-$30 for a first class meal if it meant that AA would stop scrimping on the portions and improved the quality.

Thing is, free sodas (and free food and booze in F and J) are nickels and dimes compared to the dollars in revenue that can be attracted by improving the quality of the airline. And charging people for F and J meals and for all sodas throughout the plane isn't going to attract any high-revenue fliers.

One might look at the passenger share loss in Europe short-haul by legacy carriers to ULCC carriers and fairly conclude that is a likely outcome.

There are many vectors to competition, even within coach cabins & fares. I happened to think that US Airways' attempt with beverages for sale a decade ago was risible but I never thought U.S. carriers would charge a call center fee for direct ticketing, either.

As for making $billions today... it's always the firm's responsibility to test ways they can make even more.

Very bad comparison (Theatre vs Airlines)

Theatre - No TSA/Security - I can carry in can/bottle of soda, $1.00 boxes of candy, or other snacks in jacket pocket and avoid the $25 trip to the concessions.

Airline - I must pass through TSA; no liquids allowed so my 25-cent soda must be tossed; must buy at airport and at places like LAX a soda is $2.99 + 8.25% tax.

IF not considering the frequent flyer program, I would take DL every time I could. In many ways, they are best in class-- friendly staff, good IRROPS handling, small touches like Biscoff cookies-- these things add up to make you feel like a valued customer. Unfortunately unless you fly enough to make Diamond, Skymiles is useless.

By the way, Southwest gives out free peanuts AND pretzels, the whole can of the beverage, and they come by asking if you want anything else. Add that to no change fees and no bag fees, and there really is a full-service experience for coach travelers (it's only missing assigned seats ).

Yah, well, rumor has it that the free bag party on Southwest is ending. So....

Keay says that Fine, let them charge me for sodas as it costs them money and the only purpose of an airline is to make money for its owners and they should not pay for my soda. By the same token, my time is valuable and so if the flight is delayed due to the airline issues (non weather, or ATC issues), then let them pay the passengers compensation for the delay. If they bump me due to overbooking, then let them compensate me in way I want it, say cash not an airline coupon. If they lose my bags, let them not take cover under the protection they have. If you read the carriage of contract, it is written to protect the airline, for the airline, by the airline.

Airlines have the power and they are not bashful about using it. They want tax concessions that as I as a tax payer subsidize. They lobby the government to get the protection they would like. If there are maintenance issues and they are fined, let them pay the full fine, not some watered down amount. I could go on and on.

So if they want to be strictly business, then let it be strictly business across the board, not where it suits them.

On the few times I've flown Spirit (water/soda charge), I've brought (or tried to remember to bring!) an empty water bottle to fill after security. If this ever became standard, I might also throw some flavoring packets in my carry-on to add some variety. Or just pay the $2 when I got thirsty.

You could also freeze your favorite beverage and take it through security. Unless it's changed, the TSA does not consider frozen beverages to be liquids. That would be good for a long flight, I suppose. I have thrown frozen water bottles into a mini-cooler bag when I've also brought some perishable food with me for the family (another absurd problem with skimpy domestic service). I haven't been bothered by the TSA for this. They did bother me once with a gel-pak, so that's why I switched to the water bottle.

That may be all well and good for kettles, but the ability to RESERVE premium seats, upgrade opportunities for elites trump a bag of stale pretzels or peanuts EVERY TIME. Ability to standby for an earlier flight on the same day AT NO CHARGE trumps no change fees (WN requires purchase of FULL FARE tickets - even for A-listers), free bags can be had by simply applying for a credit card, maintain elite status.

You've got to be kidding me.

Why? The thread is about complimentary sodas and whether they are endangered at AA. My point was that even the original "low-cost" carrier is pretty generous in the snack and beverage department. That's a true statement... and it points out if AA does implement a soda charge in coach that would be a pretty sad state of affairs.

Exactly. Let's not forget DL and their biscoffs/nuts/pretzels in Y, too.

It may do AA a world of good if they actually took the opposite direction of their current cutting-back mentality and ADD free snacks in Y like DL does. May generate customer goodwill and help increase competition, too.

I meant the part about southwest being "full service".

Charging for coke does have a cheap nickel-and-dime feel to it which I don't like, but this is generally how I feel about all the legacy airlines. Southwest is cheap (quality, not price) and dumpy in a completely different way. It has not been low-cost in years.

Yet they'll be the first ones flaming AA if they do that!

Having been both an AA and a WN elite, I don't think free standby or even free SDC trumps no change fees. It's just different, and which one is better depends on your travel patterns and ability to be more speculative in your travel plans. Since I hate middle seats and (knock on wood) haven't been in one for going on 21 years and about 1500 flights now, free standby does me very little good, while free SDC is nice when I can confirm a MCE or exit row non-middle.

Conversely, when I was a WN elite, no change fees fundamentally changed how I purchased travel. I probably cancelled or changed 60% of the 250 or so flights I ticketed on WN from 2008 to 2014. About a third got cancelled outright (never took the trip), about a third got swapped to a different week as it was better logistically, and about a third got upfared to full-fare to shorten up a trip, usually coming back a day earlier.

As much as I like free SDC as an EXP, I'd trade it in an instant for no cancellation fees.