Wallet is fliers' key to meals, movies
By Gary Stoller
USA Today
Frequent fliers may need a scorecard to keep track of what's served and sold in-flight.
Some airlines have tried to cut costs by eliminating meals, while others have attempted to boost revenue by selling them. Most carriers sell headsets for watching movies, and some rent digital entertainment units, pay-per-view movies or televisions. But others give headsets for free or don't charge for TV or satellite radio.
"It is rather confusing," says Ines Lormand, a frequent business traveler from Houston who works in the publishing industry.
More changes are coming. Next month, ATA Airlines will stop serving free snacks and start selling, for $2.95, snack boxes filled with a granola bar, cookies, crackers and other items. The carrier is also considering selling individual items — bottled water, cookies, potato chips and candy — for $2.95, and a pillow/blanket set for $9.95, spokesman Rick Hightower says.
ATA's move means that half of 18 U.S. airlines surveyed by USA Today last week will be selling snacks or meals. Nine are selling headsets, and five are charging for in-flight television or movies.
Many of the meals sold or provided free today are far less substantial than they were years ago. Frequent-flier Dave Simonson, the president of a consulting company, says he doesn't buy them. "It just doesn't seem right," says the Sparks, Nev., resident. "For $5 to $8, they could be providing a meal and just adding it to the ticket price."
Kenneth Brewer, an engineer in Princeton, N.J., says the in-flight food he has bought has been "decent quality" and less expensive than at an airport.
First-class passengers are still not charged extra for food and entertainment, but upper-class fliers often receive a snack instead of a meal.
Among the notable in-flight food and entertainment changes since the start of 2005:
Some airlines have also introduced or are evaluating products for sale in-flight. In February, United Airlines completed a three-month test on its low-cost carrier, Ted. Ted flight attendants sold such items as playing cards, sunglasses, BlackBerry chargers and toothbrush sets.
"We were selling stuff that can entertain you during a flight or stuff you forgot," says United spokeswoman Robin Urbanski. She says the airline is reviewing the sales and deciding whether to renew them.
Foreign airlines also have new offerings. Singapore Airlines sells wireless, high-speed Internet service for $9.95 for one hour or $26.95 for a day. Cathay Pacific Airways allows passengers to preview their e-mail in-box for free but charges $9.95 for up to four hours, and $19.95 for an entire flight, for sending and receiving e-mails.
