Airlines are charging for checked baggage and “premium” seats. They’re charging for food and for pillows and for movies. It’s getting increasingly annoying, but U.S. Airways has finally taken it over the top. With the headline of “Changing the way we do business”, they tout their “pay-for-what-you-use model for items like baggage and beverages.”
Beverages? What’s that again?
Yes, that’s right. They’ll be charging, now, for non-alcoholic drinks, including water:
’Pay-for-what-you-use’ In-flight Café
Beginning in August, we’ll charge $2 for all non-alcoholic beverages (including sodas, juices, bottled water and coffee) and $7 for alcoholic beverages (currently available for $5).
That move would perhaps be less galling if we had a choice, if we could bring our own stash of bottled water with us. But, no, the current Security Theatre doesn’t allow us to carry bottles of liquid in from outside. So we either buy the bottled water in the airport, within the secure area, or we buy it on the plane. Or we go thirsty.
Oh, yes, and I should mention the importance that’s put on staying hydrated during flights for general health and prevention of jet lag:
Dehydration: Air cabins tend to rely on recycled air via air conditioning units. This inevitably dries both the skin and can lead to dry nasal and throat membranes.So, hey, you’d better buy lots of that $2-a-bottle water.Solution: Drink plenty of water prior to flying and ensure that you carry a bottle of water with you the flight to regularly take small drinks from. An intensive moisturizer is also useful to prevent the skin from becoming too dehydrated and dry.
Headaches and a sore throat may become accentuated in such a dry atmosphere.
Solution: Again, it is essential to drink plenty of water before and during the flight to combat such conditions.
Or, better, how about this?: Let’s all stop flying on U.S. Airways, and let them know why. And let’s do it now, before the other carriers decide that charging for water is a good idea.
[Via Educated Guesswork]
2 comments:
It's a one-two punch. First they get us used to paying $2 for a bottle of water. Second, they put a lock on the lavatory that takes credit cards...
-andy
"Pay for what you use" would be accurate if they were going to reduce the fares by, say, five bucks.
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