So, I hear that NW is now deciding whether it should remove ALL food in coach on flights within the US 48. Not to worry, they're still going to serve peanuts, pretzels and beverages. The idea is to lower food costs, catering service providers, garbage collection, conserve fuel (less weight on planes), and reduce flight attendants on flights. When you think about it, it's a great way to reduce a lot of costs. Hey, I'm not upset because I fly first class and don't eat on planes anyway.

This step would be contrary to the multi-million dollar investment that the carrier recently made to improve the meal services in Coach. If Dasburg was still at the helm, I'd say that anything is possible, but with Anderson, I just don't see something like this happening...

Who did you hear this from???

I don't mind -- I don't know that I'm entitled to a bagel and / or a bowl of cereal for the flight .. I'd rather just eat before I take off then eat airplane food all the time ..

Maybe eliminating meals is part of the plan, so that later when they introduce Dasburg's burgers it'll seem like an improvement...

I believe the number of flight attendants is based on the number of seats, nothing to do with food service. I was under the impression that this was an FAA requirement.

Correct. The deal is that if NWA is now staffing over FAA minimums, they can reduce staffing to minimums if there are no meals to serve.

I don't see why all of the airlines don't take a page from the baseball parks. Remember the T-Shirt cannon?

All they'd have to do is pre-load a sandwich (or maybe a hot dog would be better, shape-wise) cannon and then, when meal time came around, wheel that sucker out and say "Her it comes, babies!"

Ka-chunga, chunga, chunga, chunga, chunga!!!!

Meal service done with in 2.6 minutes.

But these can have tragic consequences, as Maude Flanders' experience showed us.

LOL! Ah, once again the Simpsons bringing everything into focus...

Like one of their FAs said to me years ago, "Northwest is becoming the Southwest of long-haul."

But without the Soutwest fares IMHO...

sounds like a very dumb rumor to me!

Wouldn't it be like them, though, to push their luck like that? Already no REAL in-flight entertainment on 48US flights, and I think they've become cheaper with the 1st class meal service, not more generous. Used to get a light meal plate with a wrap and a little mango-pepper concoction on MEM-TYS legs in F! No more.

Between the food, dearth of movies, and the change of million-mile qualification a few years ago (with no notice, of course), I'd contemplate switching my 75-100k flight miles/year to US if they can get (vastly) more int'l options for elite qualification.

I wouldn't say the rumor is "dumb." As I first mentioned, NW is contemplating this option. They haven't made the decision to do so, yet. Also, think about consumer purchase decision processes. I"m sure only a few consumers choose a flight due to the meal. So, no meals in coach is not a significant purchase decision driver.

why even have drinks...bring your own
why have seat assignments ....Fly Southwest
why have seats....Just kidding...

Seriously, if the corporate NW people are reading this...I don't want you to cut the meals out. The last thing that I have as a business traveller is time to grab a meal at the airport...I'm usually that one running down the hallway <pleasantly> asking for you to hold the door...

Granted I don't choose a flight because there is a meal, but when I get anything more than a bag of pretzels and peanuts...I'm modestly satisfied.

It's getting to the point where the two differences between NWA are the color of the planes and the lack of seat assignments on SW.

I'll begin flying an airline that provides me with more services for the same price .... ANYDAY.

[This message has been edited by DTownBrian (edited 06-29-2001).]