AeroWesty From United States of America, joined Oct 2004, 18889 posts, RR: 64 Posted (8 years 2 months 2 weeks 1 day 14 hours ago) and read 1756 times:
It looks like Northwest is introducing a program for their buy-on-board product similar to the ideas that have been proposed in previous threads on a.net in regards to this topic. Reserve your meal online with your reservation, and pay for it at your seat. Sounds like a good compromise to running out of meals for those who know they want it, and I hope it works well for them.
Beginning March 1, 2005, Northwest Airlines will offer specially prepared smartsnacks snack boxes for your enjoyment onboard many of our flights. On March 15, we will also begin offering smartsnack sandwiches on applicable flights. The new smartsnacks will replace complimentary meals for domestic Coach Class customers. Northwest will continue to provide complimentary meals in First class and on international flights.
Passengers have the option to pre-order smartsnack sandwiches online for upcoming flights. Simply visit the View/Change Reservations section on nwa.com to select your preference. A flight attendant will deliver your sandwich in-flight and collect cash payment at that time.
KKMolokai From United States of America, joined Feb 2000, 760 posts, RR: 3 Reply 1, posted (8 years 2 months 2 weeks 1 day 13 hours ago) and read 1648 times:
So, now the flights attendants will have to worry about a list of pax who've pre-reserved their meals? What a lot of humbug!
We are the people of American Airlines. And we know why you fly.
Mrniji From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 3, posted (8 years 2 months 2 weeks 1 day 12 hours ago) and read 1546 times:
Quoting AeroWesty (Thread starter): Passengers have the option to pre-order smartsnack sandwiches online for upcoming flights.
Fantastic idea - so, now I need to know in advance whether I am hungry and whether to spend money on that.. no wonder American Airlines go bancrupt with these dumb ideas
It will probably cost them lot of money to make the online system, negotiate with suppliers etc etc etc.. then they discover it is not worth it, the Manager will be kicked out, will receive pension, then they see the balance of payments and say: "Oh, we are almost bancrupt, because we spent millions on 'new, innovative ideas', that were not received accordingly by the pax!"
Zone1 From United States of America, joined Jan 2005, 1033 posts, RR: 7 Reply 4, posted (8 years 2 months 2 weeks 1 day 12 hours ago) and read 1527 times:
Because you don't actually pay at the time you book your ticket, it almost makes me think that this is just used for figuring out about how many meals to put on board the plane, instead of actually tying a meal to a seat number. This is probably a good compromise between wasting lots of BOB meals and the infastructure and logistics of actually getting a specific meal on board the plane and delivered to a specific seat. I'm sure if this was more than just a tally of about how many meals need to be put on the plane they would make the charge on the website, because that would be much more efficient and probably cheaper in the long run than actually collecting the money on the plane. Although, the delivery system would have to work 100% of the time because getting a refund for a meal not delivered would be extremely difficult to handle, unless it would be a cash refund on board the plane, which in itself would be a hassle.
Quoting OttoPylit (Reply 2): This is what Delta needs to be doing!!!
Honestly, as I said in the Delta meal thread the other day, I would have thought DL would have been first to this idea since DL is the most technologically oriented US airline (not including their fleet and IFE . Just look at their quick adoption of the kiosk, the flight status monitors, and automated boarding at their larger airports.
Zone1 From United States of America, joined Jan 2005, 1033 posts, RR: 7 Reply 5, posted (8 years 2 months 2 weeks 1 day 12 hours ago) and read 1515 times:
Quoting Mrniji (Reply 3): Fantastic idea - so, now I need to know in advance whether I am hungry and whether to spend money on that.. no wonder American Airlines go bancrupt with these dumb ideas
I don't think it is that hard to know if you are going to be hungry. For example if I have a transcon that leaves at about 10:00am, I'm willing to bet that I will want a meal. If I have a tight connection that is around noon time I might opt for a preordered BOB meal. If I have a flight leaving at about 3pm and getting in at 5pm I probably will not opt for a BOB meal. etc. This is a smart idea.
AeroWesty From United States of America, joined Oct 2004, 18889 posts, RR: 64 Reply 6, posted (8 years 2 months 2 weeks 1 day 11 hours ago) and read 1514 times:
Quoting Mrniji (Reply 3): so, now I need to know in advance whether I am hungry and whether to spend money on that.
It says "passengers have the OPTION TO PRE-ORDER." It doesn't say it's required to pre-order, or that meals wouldn't be carried for those who still want to buy and haven't pre-ordered.
I really don't see what the problem is with an airline trying to do something creative, and customer service-oriented, as much as the lack of that's been balleyhooed on these boards.
Nwcoflyer From United States of America, joined Jun 2003, 641 posts, RR: 15 Reply 7, posted (8 years 2 months 2 weeks 1 day 11 hours ago) and read 1510 times:
This is great to see. I wrote them a letter about 1 week ago suggesting they do exactly that. Good to see that they are listening to the customers.
Indy From United States of America, joined Jan 2005, 4368 posts, RR: 9 Reply 8, posted (8 years 2 months 2 weeks 1 day 11 hours ago) and read 1464 times:
It is a good idea. This should also be offered for blankets and pillows as well. Just my opinion on it.
Meister808 From United States of America, joined Jan 2000, 972 posts, RR: 1 Reply 9, posted (8 years 2 months 2 weeks 1 day 10 hours ago) and read 1404 times:
I think this is a great idea. Way to go NWA.
-Meister
Twin Cessna 812 Victor, Minneapolis Center, we observe your operation in the immediate vicinity of extreme precipitation
Aviationwiz From United States of America, joined Apr 2004, 953 posts, RR: 4 Reply 10, posted (8 years 2 months 2 weeks 1 day 9 hours ago) and read 1353 times:
I could also really end up liking this new system. Sure, I wish the food was free, but it's not, so we can pre-order our meal.
NWAFA From United States of America, joined Dec 2003, 1893 posts, RR: 16 Reply 12, posted (8 years 2 months 2 weeks 1 day 1 hour ago) and read 1223 times:
NONONONONO-
This is going to be a NIGHTMARE! What happens now if catering screws up and does not board the snack for someone? What happens if the FA's don't get a list of people that have pre-paid them? We just can't go on the word of passenger, because there will be those that said I paid for one, yet didn't and them when it comes time to turn in money, and the FA is short, who is the one that will get in trouble and even fired for being short, the FA's.
THANK YOU FOR FLYING NORTHWEST AIRLINES, WE TRULY APPRECIATE YOUR BUSINESS!
ANCFlyer From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 13, posted (8 years 2 months 2 weeks 1 day 1 hour ago) and read 1207 times:
Quoting NWAFA (Reply 12): What happens if the FA's don't get a list of people that have pre-paid them?
They aren't pre-paid, no worries there, they are paid on board. . . but they are pre-ordered. Wonder if there will be an indicator on the boarding pass/reservation - or both - that will let the F/A know whether Tommy Tentpeg ordered or not? It would suck to run short because suddenly five or six idiots who didn't order, demand a snack wouldn't it . . .
Quoting NWAFA (Reply 12): What happens now if catering screws up and does not board the snack for someone?
Same thing that happened when catering missed the "Special Meal" in the past - passenger will bitch, F/A will get blamed, nasty letter will likely be mailed, NW will blow it off, end of situation.
Oh well, make the issue a non-issue - at least for the passenger - fly CO.
Amhilde From United States of America, joined Oct 2003, 643 posts, RR: 5 Reply 14, posted (8 years 2 months 2 weeks 1 day 1 hour ago) and read 1185 times:
You know, im sorry, but im rather loathe to purchase BOB meals because I dont want a pile of over processed crap in a box. I dont value that at $5. I suppose its for perishability reasons and all, but still, could they HONESTLY not offer something a little nicer? Or have a box with a healthier option like carrot sticks in a little bag ( someone offers this i thought), a nice wedge of cheese (babybel in the red case) and some decent crackers with the sandwich and perhaps a nice small cookie or tart? And before anyone says it, i DO bring these items on board for myself, but its a pain to remember to have to do it all the time, and I would be interested in BOB if they didnt have so much random overpriced junk food in a box.
Frankly I think offering these things on flights is worse than serving alcohol. Spiking someones blood sugar and then causing it to decline rapidly is gonna made pax a lot more grumpy and debative than some alcohol. And god forbid I have to sit next to a child who gets one of these- dear LORD.
Please note- i say most of this with a bit of a smile
Still, points to NW for being the first to do this- i thought a few weeks ago that it was foolish for the airlines not to have a preorder system online.
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From United States of America, joined Oct 2004, 18889 posts, 
From , joined Dec 1969, posts, 
- so, now I need to know in advance whether I am hungry and whether to spend money on that.. no wonder American Airlines go bancrupt with these dumb ideas
. Just look at their quick adoption of the kiosk, the flight status monitors, and automated boarding at their larger airports.
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