How long will CO continue its free meals/snack program ?
 

In the current environment, how long will it be, before CO starts charging for meals/snacks. Almost all carriers charge for meals and many charge for snacks.

Considering the changes US and UA are making, I guess I am lucky to be an elite with CO (IAH) and also WN as a backup (HOU).

Unlike it rivals, CO owns its own catering kitchens. Makes a HUGE difference as to the costs of providing catering for its flights.

They won't stop doing this becuase in the end it is the service that keeps people coming back.
I have to say the last sandwidch I had was really tasty :D

Maybe it was because I'd been on planes for the last 3 hours and hitailed it to the other plane without getting a chance for any stop.

Serving sandwiches in coach on domestic flights likely helps to balance the Chelsea work day. Make them in the morning then move the employees over to BF services in the afternoon - when they need peak workers.

CO places a real dollar value on product differentiation and customer good will, both of which free meals create. Since we all know that CO is, ummm...frugal, the return on this expense must be more than the cost.

Chelsea is a major player in the catering world with kitchens in 5 hubs providing catering not only to CO but to many other airlines, intl and dom. In addition, they provide food for Starbucks in DEN. This is from Jan '06 but I assume it hasn't changed, "...creating specialty sandwiches and cheese-and-fruit trays for 128 Starbucks stores in the Denver area. With a monthly production estimated at 47,000 sandwiches, and with additional products currently under review".

>>>>>have to say the last sandwidch I had was really tasty>>>>>

Are you referring to that bite and a half circular roll with a piece of turkey that is so thin it only has one side, plus lettuce?

I don't eat bread much so I was quite pleased, it had 8 slices of turkey that were not the tiny deli slices as well, not bad more meat than bun and not much bun, just the way I like it :)

When we toured the Chelsea kitchens at last year's IAH DO you could see that the staff, prep area and amount of food that went into creating the coach snacks was miniscule compared to that for the F and international meals. Since CO owns the facilities it would probably save them very little to eliminate the domestic Y food. And in the coming months and years, when the experience on most US airlines will resemble Ryan Air (but with high fares), CO's product will be upscale in comparison. CO no doubt hopes that will translate into more pax and better fares.