My family just ended a wonderful vacation with Adventures by Disney; this was in the American Southwest in July in the summer, so naturally we were looking forward to a nice air conditioned flight home, complete with icy cold juice, water, or soda. Imagine our shock when the flight attendant told us that – as of August 1, 2008 – US Airways charges two dollars for that most basic of air travel amenities, a cup of water. That’s right, it now costs $2.00 to get something to drink on US Airways. To her credit, the flight attendant seemed to understand the absurdity of the situation, but of course this new money-generating venture was out of her hands.
Everyone knows these are tough times for the airline industry. The combination of the suffering US
economy and skyrocketing (no pun intended) fuel costs are leading airlines to recoup their losses wherever they can. This includes cutting flights to smaller markets, ceasing to offer hotel rooms credits to ticket holders of canceled flights, and charging for checked luggage.
Now, we frequent fliers – and even the family that flies once or twice a year – understand this. And to the airline industry, we customers say: Cry me a river. Because while the airline industry is boo-hooing about the price of fuel, it is really we, the passengers, who suffer. Two dollars for a cup of juice, Coke, or water on US Airways? After losing our dignity on the airport security line, cooling our heels during interminable flight delays, and finally haggling over trading seats with fellow passengers so that a family of four can even sit together, just give us a cup of cold water. It is – literally – the very least we deserve.
