Saigonhouston From United States of America, joined Apr 2004, 390 posts, RR: 0 Posted (9 years 1 month 4 days ago) and read 2138 times:
Just curious...I always have heard that US carrier does not provide free wine/beer for economy class and good in-flight amenities on their int'l route. Is that true?
I always noted that economy class on international carriers are always have red/white wine and beer on their cart which provide free to economy passengers. Yet, amenities are also great for economy class on foreign carrier than US carrier. I traveled both (50/50) economy and business class and always prefer foreign carrier for my international route. I only travel 1 time with US carrier (TWA) and never again. That is why TWA going under the water.
Being in IAH home airport, I'd like AF, Lufthansa, BA, KLM equally for European routes. And Eva, Cathay, Japan, Singapore are great for Asia routes with connection in LAX. I'm still very reluctant to try US carrier for my international trip. However, CO is always my #1 choice for US domestic flight.
As I remembered, most of the Asian airline does provide hot towel to Y class before take off LAX. The slipper for your feet if you want to take off your shoes. Free headset. Ceramic plate with silverware (I guest that US carriers will be plastic all the way). A small package (tooth Brush, lotion, mouth wash, towel).
If US carriers so cheap and cut cost then why are they post net loss on their income statement?
Fly_emirates From United Arab Emirates, joined Oct 2000, 1046 posts, RR: 10 Reply 1, posted (9 years 1 month 4 days ago) and read 2104 times:
the international carriers you are talking about are government subsidized for most of them if not all, and they will get the support they need being the presenting face of that country. when you are talking about US carriers, they are private companies (correct me if i was wrong), so whatever thing they want to introduce, will incurr costs such as overhead costs and inventories, and with them already losing money, that would be a bad idea.
S12PPL From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 2, posted (9 years 1 month 4 days ago) and read 2055 times:
QX (Horizon) offers free Northwest beers and wines on every flight. They feature beers and wines made in the pacific northwest of the United States. It's an awesome feature since QX is an all economy airline.
744 From United States of America, joined Aug 2001, 443 posts, RR: 0 Reply 3, posted (9 years 1 month 3 days 23 hours ago) and read 2009 times:
If US carriers provide better service and amenities like European/Asian airlines, people would start flying them, that's why they make loss on international routes. Which leads them to sell cheap tickets and make a doble loss. I would DEFINATELY prefer foreign carriers than any US ones.
Saigonhouston From United States of America, joined Apr 2004, 390 posts, RR: 0 Reply 8, posted (9 years 1 month 3 days 22 hours ago) and read 1810 times:
Hi BMIFlyer.....did you fly economy class / business / or 1st class? I'm only curious on "economy class". Did they provide wine/beer to Y class?
I'm not a wine/beer drinker so I either brought my own miniature (Tanqueray gin or gray goose vodka). If happened that I travel on business class then the airline will have it for me.
Except, one time I flew with Eva on business class LAX-TPE and they don't have hard liquors in-flight. I ended up open my tanqueray 1L bottle that I brought from LAX duty free. Thanks gods that they have tonic water and lime.
Jmy007 From United States of America, joined Feb 2004, 591 posts, RR: 2 Reply 9, posted (9 years 1 month 3 days 22 hours ago) and read 1791 times:
"I only travel 1 time with US carrier (TWA) and never again. That is why TWA going under the water."
Only once, and on this one flight, you had a bad time, and you group all US airlines together as having bad international service.
That's not fair comparison, is it?
Cookies are the Gateway pastry. They lead to Éclairs and Bear Claws.
FLYSSC From France, joined Aug 2003, 7313 posts, RR: 60 Reply 10, posted (9 years 1 month 3 days 22 hours ago) and read 1785 times:
the international carriers you a re talking about are are government subsidized...
Well, Fly_Emirates, according to your Username, you should know what you are talking about...what mentioning (improperly) "cariers subsidized by their governement"...
WGW2707 From United States of America, joined Aug 2003, 1197 posts, RR: 38 Reply 11, posted (9 years 1 month 3 days 21 hours ago) and read 1735 times:
US Carriers may charge you for alcohol, but one thing you'll never have to pay for is soft drinks. Unlike on some European airlines, all US airlines provide free beverages on every flight. All flights at least have complimentary bottled water and juice and the vast majority of them feature a selection of carbonated beverages. I for one approve of the policy of charging for alcoholic beverage on some flights as it helps to discourage intoxication, which can be a serious nuissance to the safety and comfort of everyone else in flight.
The US network carriers have had a long history of selling alcohol. One exception was United, which held out from selling it for a long time. Finally Pat Patterson, the CEO of United from the 1930s to the 1960s, relented and decided that two drinks would be provided free of charge to the passengers as a courtesy, but no more than two would be offered, to prevent drunkeness. Pat Patterson refused to sell the booze as he did not want his stewardesses reduced to the status of barmaids in the highly moralistic 1950s.
Saigonhouston From United States of America, joined Apr 2004, 390 posts, RR: 0 Reply 12, posted (9 years 1 month 3 days 21 hours ago) and read 1687 times:
Hi WGW2707.........I don't think any airline would ever charge you for soft drink. Can you name which European airlines are not provide drink unless they have to pay.
Navairjax From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 13, posted (9 years 1 month 3 days 21 hours ago) and read 1652 times:
Two US based carriers which I have flown internationally on (DL and UA) had different policies on drinks. DL charged for alcohol but did give coupons for two free drinks when I checked in at NRT. UA offerered all drinks for free which surprised me considering this was shortly after they declared bankruptcy. UA also was using hot towels at the time although a better description would be a warm wet nap.
Soaringadi From United States of America, joined Apr 2004, 472 posts, RR: 1 Reply 16, posted (9 years 1 month 3 days 15 hours ago) and read 1525 times:
Mikkel777 From Norway, joined Oct 2002, 370 posts, RR: 1 Reply 17, posted (9 years 1 month 3 days 15 hours ago) and read 1500 times:
I had free wine with UA on their IAD-ORD route. It was a 744 and I was sitting in eco plus. A surprising, but welcome, drink. It was in march 2004.
SAS is pretty generous on drinks on transatlantic flights, in all classes. Champagne is free in biz, but costs 5USD in eco extra and coach. I usually have white and red, champagne, GT and cognac when I fly across the pond, regardless of class.
Fly_emirates From United Arab Emirates, joined Oct 2000, 1046 posts, RR: 10 Reply 18, posted (9 years 1 month 3 days 12 hours ago) and read 1445 times:
flySSC, before you start bashing me, i was trying to explain things in General between us carriers and other airlines of other countries, and not focusing on certain airlines
BA747400 From United States of America, joined Feb 2004, 427 posts, RR: 3 Reply 19, posted (9 years 1 month 3 days 12 hours ago) and read 1424 times:
Hi, just thought I would throw something else into the mix:
I was just on a LGA-BOS AA Eagle flight, and beer/wine was free. I though this was rather odd since I have been on several other AA Eagle flights before and this was never offered. (It may have been, but I just didn't know about it.)
As for the travel amenities, I agree....European all the way. I have been on AA, DL, BA, USair, (and a couple others I cant remember because I was so young) across the pond and BA still rules my world! Just look at my user name! Unlike many airlines, BA gave every pax, no matter the class, a travel kit with socks, toothbrush, toothpaste, and headphones. However, when I flew DL, they gave all pax hot towels after breakfast before we landed...Very nice touch.
I have heard Virgin Atlantic gives a rather nice kit to all business pax, but I don't know about coach.
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