US Airways to charge $2 for soda, juice, water

Mon Jun 16, 2008 12:41PM EDT

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Better get used to carrying lots of singles next time you fly. US Airways is now terminating free drink service. No, not free mini bottles of Jim Beam and cheap Chardonnay, we're talking about all drinks, including soda, fruit juice, coffee, and bottled water, which will soon cost $2 each. Presumably tap water, which may or may not be contaminated with fecal coliform bacteria, will still be free.

The move is the latest way airlines are attempting to fight rapidly rising fuel prices in a disastrous economic climate. In recent months, the extra fees have come fast and furious. First came extra charges for your second piece of luggage, then came a charge for your first bag. That's not to mention extra fees for choosing your own seat, curbside check-in, booking using frequent flier miles, and the cost of the Santa Fe chicken sandwich.

The beverage fee is even more annoying than most, since you can no longer bring liquids through security at airports. You are really at the mercy of buying them on the plane, or at least buying them once you're in the terminal (which is doubtlessly no cheaper than on the plane). Alcoholic drinks will also go from $5 to $7. That's a lot for a can of Budweiser.

The fee goes into effect August 18, leaving plenty of time for the airlines to come up with other fees to nickel and dime their way to profitability. Can pay toilets be far behind?

Comments on US Airways to charge $2 for soda, juice, water

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  • 1 Posted by uffpet on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:27PM EDT Report Abuse

    Uh - Chris, wish you hadn't mentioned the toilet fee. We dont' want to give them any additional ideas now, do we?! :-)

  • 2 Posted by devilsfan19952000 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:42PM EDT Report Abuse

    Chris, I don't think they need anymore ideas so you might wan to consider removing that last sentence. I think that airlines are just going to price themselves out of business. The New York State Thruway wasn't making enough money because lees people were using it because they thought the tolls were too high. The thruway authority raised the tolls to make up for what they were losing and now less people are using it. The airlines are doing the same thing. Eventually this backwards thinking will have to stop if businesses want to stay in business.

  • 3 Posted by davemck_1998 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:37PM EDT Report Abuse

    Southwest has a commercial out now lampooning this practice. On the commercial there is a flight attendant going through the list of charges, which include a $4.00 fee for using the toilet and a $1.00 fee for pushing the button to summon an attendant. It's hilarious and deserved.

  • 5 Posted by rapmetal47 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:29PM EDT Report Abuse

    I hate this economy, nickeling and quartering us to death. We're being done over with businesses for too long. I think that this country(The gas prices and society in general.) is getting ridiculous. I am immensely sorry for the rant, but I am getting fed up with this recession garbage. Thank you for the article, Mr. Null.

  • 6 Posted by frenchycp on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:03PM EDT Report Abuse

    $2 for a can of soda?!!! This is ridiculous! US airways probably bought it for 10 cents a can and they want to sell it at $2? First they want to charge for any checked bags and now for soft drinks? Well if they want to lose customers and go bankrupt again, they're in the right direction!

  • 7 Posted by magpagbst on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:03PM EDT Report Abuse

    i never understood these fees . . . all they do is tick-off the public . . . the airlines should simply absorb these fees into the overall ticket price . . . say . . . raise the ticket price ten or twenty bucks . . . this rational is easier to swallow than charging two bucks for a coke . . . i remember checking out of a hotel once . . . they added a two dollar telephone fee (i never used the phone) . . . i told them i would pay for everything BUT the phone fee and if they had an issue, there lawyer should contact me . . . they removed the fee and i haven't heard from their lawyer . . .

  • 8 Posted by ssusen@snet.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:39PM EDT Report Abuse

    Poor business practice. If the airlines had just added the baggage and drink fee into the cost of the flight, it would have caused a lot less animosity by passengers. When one is already paying hundreds for a ticket, $17 more added in would probably not be noticed.

  • 9 Posted by annielyzer on Thu Sep 3, 2009 2:55PM EDT Report Abuse

    maybe they just all need to be government owned like singapore airlines... if you haven't flown it, well, nothing else even comes close and free drinks & service is included in the price. airlines know that they have made it convenient for families to be further away from each other and bringing the business world together... they are finally seeing that their price war with each other isn't helping them. i forsee the impact from internet videoconferencing... expect to see an increase in sign-ups for webmessaging services.

  • 10 Posted by annielyzer on Thu Sep 3, 2009 2:55PM EDT Report Abuse

    Maybe the airlines just all need to be government owned like singapore airlines... if you haven't flown it, well, nothing else even comes close and free drinks & service is included in the price. Airlines know that they have made it convenient for families to be further away from each other and bringing the business world together... now forget seeing each other in person with this convenience. They are finally seeing that their price war with each other isn't helping them. I forsee the impact from internet videoconferencing... expect to see an increase in sign-ups for webmessaging services.

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