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June 12, 2008

BREAKING: US Airways to Charge for ALL DRINKS and 1st Bag

Filed under: Airline Fees, US Airways — Rick Seaney @ 7:18 pm

Yes, you read that right: no more free cokes or other non-alcoholic drinks on US Airways. New charge: $2.

And if you do want alcohol, that jumps from $5 to $7 a drink.

Plus, US Airways is joining American and United in instituting a $15 one-way fee to check a first bag, beginning July 9.

It gets worse: later this year, the carrier plans to remove “up to 8 percent of domestic available seat miles”, and these capacity cuts will mean the loss of 1,700 jobs, including “300 pilots, 400 flight attendants, 800 airport employees and 200 staff and management.”

According to this report from MarketWatch, US Airways “estimates its fuel bill this year will be $1.9 billion higher than it was in 2007, about twice what some industry analysts had expected”.

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5 Comments »

Are we really surprised about the charge for drinks? In fact, I was surprised this didn’t happen a year ago or even before that.

Comment by Elliot Campbell — June 12, 2008 @ 7:43 pm
So I went to the linked article announcing these changes and I have to say that I LOVED the well placed ads for Acela Express service on Amtrak! I don’t know if it was intentionally done by the Amtrak Marketing Department, but if so, BRAVO!! THAT is some well-placed marketing. If the airlines want to have a race to see who can devalue their product the fastest, looks like Amtrak wants to be there to pick up those passengers that will undoubtedly reach the breaking point and seek other transportation options.

I love flying, but I gotta say GO AMTRAK! on this one!

Comment by Artie — June 12, 2008 @ 10:56 pm
I agree with post 2, and being a pilot myself am disappointed with the availability of high speed rail in this country even though we are several times bigger than any Asian or European country that has it you have to wonder how far oil has to go before it does $180, $220, $250 a barrel?

Comment by Jake — June 12, 2008 @ 11:53 pm
GGGRRR…am I the only that is bothered by this? Why do the airlines tend to nickel and dime us rather than just do a small increase of say $5 or $10 per ticket and do it quietly? I just don’t understand airline management…

Comment by OK Traveler — June 13, 2008 @ 4:01 pm
I’m tired of the airlines complaining about the high cost of jet fuel… here is my advice to them… www.grantsrant.com

Comment by Grant — June 16, 2008 @ 10:40 am