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ASSOCIATED PRESS
After 15 years of cutbacks, U.S. airlines are starting to add back some small perks for everyday coach passengers.
NEW YORK » After 15 years of near austerity, U.S. airlines are restoring some small perks for passengers crammed into coach.
Don’t expect ample legroom or free checked bags. But fliers will find improved snacks, a larger selection of free movies and — on a few select routes — the return of free meals.
Today, American Airlines became the latest carrier to add something back. It announced the return of free snacks in the economy section and more free entertainment options on some aircraft.
American, which recently merged with US Airways, hasn’t offered free snacks since 2003. US Airways stripped passengers of snacks in 2008.
Following the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks and the subsequent recession, U.S. airlines removed almost every perk imaginable on domestic flights. Hot meals disappeared along with legroom, blankets and pillows.
“It was really about survival,” says Fernand Fernandez, vice president of global marketing at American.
When Continental Airlines stopped giving out free cookies and mini bags of pretzels in 2011 — after its merger with United Airlines — it said the move would save $2.5 million a year.
Since then, mergers have created four mega-carriers that control more than 80 percent of the domestic market. They started charging $25 for each checked suitcase. And more seats have been crammed into planes to maximize profits. Now the industry is making record profits.
“What has changed ,” Fernandez says, “is that the airlines have been able to fix our core business and be able to reinvest in our customers.”
That means new planes, larger overhead bins and for a long time, nicer first class cabins.
Now a bit of that wealth is trickling back to coach.
This month, American will start offering Biscoff cookies or pretzels to passengers flying between New York and San Francisco or Los Angeles. By April, those snacks will expand to all other domestic routes. In May, American will bring back full meal service for coach passengers between Dallas and Hawaii.
“We know that we have customers who select our airline based on price and we’re really excited to offer them a product that is superior to choosing an ultra-low cost carrier,” Fernandez says.
United recently announced the return of free snacks on its flights starting in February. Delta Air Lines — the other big legacy carrier — never removed snacks, even during bankruptcy.
American is also expanding its complimentary entertainment on domestic flights with in-seat TVs. Passengers will be able to choose from up to 40 movies, 60 TV shows and 300 music albums. Delta has taken a different path, focusing more on entertainment that passengers can stream to their own devices. It now offers about 67 movies and 138 TV shows for free.
“These are token investments in the passenger experience that will not cost airlines a lot of money but are small ways to make passengers a little bit happier,” says Henry Harteveldt, the founder of travel consultancy Atmosphere Research Group. “American and United realized: We don’t let other airlines have an advantage on price, why let them have one on pretzels.”
Just get the tsa out of the way and I’d be happy to bring my own snacks such as a nice bottle of wine, cheese, prosciutto, and crackers. Actually I prefer my own snacks so lighten up a little there homeland dept.
What about Hawaiian — Number 1 in limiting seat space and lack of amenities — what free snacks are they serving in coach? And I want my nuts back.
Last I flew with Hawaiian to the mainland they had a beverage service with a package of snack mix and a soft drink (you have to pay extra for alcohol). Then they served a hot lunch of spaghetti with meat sauce, a small tossed salad, and chocolate covered mac nut candy. Interisland they gave us juice or water.
Do you feel compelled to whine about something every day?
What’s next?
Tiny perks to go with the tiny seats.
And shrinking legroom.
Pretzels don’t attract customers. How about lower fares to go along with your lower fuel prices?
I think people are way past snacks. Just about everyone brings food on flight. Some guys bring full on bento. On one flight this tutu broke out a Tupperware container full of Spam musubi that she gave out to her family (everyone was jealous). My last flight to Portland I packed a canister of Pringles, a package of beef jerky, and some M&Ms. Waiting for a pack of nuts to keep you going on a 5+ hour flight is ….nuts! Will a free pack of nuts pacify passengers who have to go through TSA, then face crowded plans and insensitive service? What do you think?
Ooh! How thrilling after decades of manini amenities or none they are finally sharing their profits with a treat of tiny pretzels! Now the passengers can serenade themselves and sing Don Ho’s hit ‘ Tiny Bubble’! It will surely make them “feeling warm all over….”.
Better than nothing.
Just pick up a bento, no problem. Back when we flying in and out of Japan in the 80/90’s, always had bento with us.