There really never was "free food" and there still is no "free food" even for those of us lucky enough to get a 1class upgrade. Also, there are no free softdrinks, no "free" Spinzels. Everything the airline "gives" you has a cost which needs to be covered by revenue. The only issue is whether to bury the cost in the ticket price or bill for it separately and have to do all sorts of extra bookkeeping. I know I sound like the "beancounter" I was a generation ago, but tht's the way it is.

Also, there's no "free gift wrap" at the dept store and there's no "free catsup, pickles, mustard & onions" on your burger.

Given a choice, on a coach flight, I'd rather pay for my meal with my ticket. Whats' confusing, however, is what would NWA do with my coach meal $ when I'm GoldUpgraded to 1class and then get my "non-free" "free meal"? Sounds like more bookkeeping than it's worth!

(edited by DaDOKin DC)

Actually, Jamoldo, if you look back over the decades, prices have gone WAY down (taking into account inflation). Air travel used to be restricted pretty much to the upper-middle and upper class. One of the reason air travel service has gone down is that fares HAVE gone down, resulting in a dramatic increase in the number of passengers.

Now, why the airlines feel it is good economics to keep fares low and lose money is a whole 'nother story.


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Da DOK

Jamaldo, what do you expect for $200? You get a trans-con ride on a $30million+ aircraft, some pretzels, and all you can drink Pepsi. Like the previous poster said... no free food on greyhound, amtrack, etc. Heck, had you been served a meal, you'd probably be complaining how bad it was.

Airfares are still high. Flying is still a major luxury. For people like us , it really is no big deal, for others it takes a lot of saving to make one lousy trip. In the end, 200 dollars is a lot of money for the average American.

As for me complaining about Airline food, I dont really do it. If it is bad, I simply eat a little and let the rest go, but I am usually hungry enough to scarf it down, no joke. It was a complimentary service for many years which is now costing customers extra money because some bigwigs decided to mismanage the company and squeeze the most profit possible from an unstable industry that has little long term profit potential. When you make a service complimentary and then take it away, people are not happy. Greyhound NEVER served food. Its slow, inconvenient, but CHEAP. Amtrak is another story. Who is their competition? No one! But forget them, thats off topic.

My main beef is that services continue to dwindle while prices stay the same or rise. And it's even sadder that many defend such practices. I'm not saying I won't fly; I need to, but I certainly will not be loyal to any one airliner.

Hey I just think walking around and taking cash from pax on board looks tacky. That's how this whole thread originated. why not take orders for food at the gate or when checking in, say at least 30 minutes before takeoff? I know the meals they serve. It's all premade stuff from a vendor...

didn't finish..

take orders at the gate or when checking in.. collect money or payment then. cash, check or charge, instead of just cash. inflight, you get the food. no money hassel, nothing...

finit

I would like to agree with you regarding the need for "free" food on board, but the comment you made about airline prices is simply not correct. The prices have gone down considerably over the years, particulary so over the last decade. I think even 3 years ago it would be unthinkable to fly from BWI to LAX for $300, and now tickets are frequently popping up with prices in the $200 range.

I don't know about you, but I would rather pay less for airfare, and then buy a meal on board. Or, as you suggested, simply pick up some stuff from McDs on my way to the plane.

I remember a flight I was on as a kid. For some reason, there were no non-smoking seats left, so I was put in the smoking section. Ugh, cough, choke. The man next to me felt guilty and went to put his cigarette out. The old woman next to him said - oh, she should get used to it, it's healthy (or something similar) - and he continued smoking.

I'd rather have a foodless smokefree flight like we get today than what was available in the 1970s. One memorable thing I recall also is milk with ice cubes in it. And yes, the prices today are marvelous for the most part.

You clearly haven't looked around the bus station, I mean airport lately.

IMHO this is completely backwards. From my perspective the prices have gone WAY down, and the service is somewhat improved overall, even though some small perks may have disapeared. I am much happier paying $400-$700 for a flight and add $10 for an edible meal, than pay the $600-$1000 I used to pay for the same flight, and eat TV dinners for no extra charge. I'll eat the spinzells & have a steak at my destination with the money I save. And this doesn't take into consideration how much more efficient the airlines have had to become. Lots more pax and flights(9/11 slump aside)without a big increase in delays or lost bags, They are obviously spending money in better ways than the "beef or chicken" we have come to expect.

Airlines are desperate for money, hence the lower prices. I have flown bwi-lax and bwi-sfo for less than 300 before 9/11. full fare prices on a major carrier are still the same, its just that we can priceline or orbitz the trip... things just aren't as cheap as we all think. Also remember that 3 years ago, our nation didn't have this level of unemployment, and that the economy was still pretty good. people were throwing money around.

i still stand by it, flying is a luxury. you have to look at it through an average person's eyes. (remember that an average person doesnt have the most education, doesnt make a ton of money, doesnt join frequent flier programs, doesn't use or the ability to use the internet 5 hours a day). sure its not as bad as it was back in the day, but flying is far from affordable for many. especially on a whim

It's really simple. People want low prices when they travel. Some people do a lot of traveling and will pay a bit more in return for a more comfortable seat.

The airlines response: low prices. Debundling what used to be included. Maintain a "first class" section with slightly more room for the people who pay a bit more overall in the customer-airline relationship.

Debundling food is a good idea. Everyone wins. You want it, you pay. You don't want it, you aren't paying for it. What could be simpler?

Sure, flying isn't affordable to many, but I wouldn't go so far as to call it a luxury.

There is nothing that is affordable to everyone, unless it's free.

What is the point of this thread? The topic title says "Northworst" but has hardly anything to do with NW. Then you complain that the airlines don't give out free food on board anymore. Now you are complaining that air fares remain out of reach for many Americans.



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"Where's my money?" -- Pizza the Hutt

We need more logic like this. This is so true.

If I have a 6,7,8,9,10,am flight I eat breakfast way before the flight.

If I have 11am, 12,1,2,3,pm flight I eat before I leave.

The same goes for evening flights and yes across the atlanic night flights.

I eat before. Makes sense. Make time to do it.

If I fly NW to FRA, will they serve NorthWurst?