US Airways Admits Defeat.......But They Admit Nothing

Well it may come as somewhat of a surpirse to US Airways, but I purposely didn't choose them when I had to fly cross country recently, and it wasn't because their airfare was too high.  It also wasn't because I'd had a bad experience with them recently, or because they had the worst on-time performance and the most unreliable bag handling system world wide.  Quite simply.........it was because they charged for water, coffee, and soda.

It's bad enough that you have to put up with a bread stick for sustenance if you don't make arrangements ahead of time, but to charge for something wet to swallow down the humiliating food substitute is really insulting. 

I'd learned to put up with their worst on-time performance in the friendly skies, and even got over the fact that they had lost my luggage several times. The last time they lost my bags they travelled to Hawaii and beyond, and I didn't even get a post card.  They located my baggage 5 days after I got home, and after I had to shell out $200.00 to find suitable attire to wear to a business luncheon. I never got reimbursed for any of that, and chalked it up to the perils of travel today. However, when they announced that they would be charging for the only complimentary amenity left, I said au revoir pour de bon......good bye for good!

Today in USA Today, they announced that effective March 1st, their non-alcoholic beverage service will once again be complimentary. Of course they said it had nothing to do with the fact that they had lost business, only admitting that they felt lonely out there on that unique platform since none of their other brother and sister carriers decided to match their lead. 

They actually believed that since they had gone from last place to first place in on-time arrivals and had suddenly stopped loosing truck loads of luggage, that charging people $2.50 for a bottle of water would be overlooked and justified.  Well, apparently they were wrong, and today my friends they said so without actually admitting to a thing. 

So if you enjoy a cold bottle of water, or sipping on a can of Diet Coke with Lime, by all means book your next trip on US Airways.  It, like the guy reclined on your lap, the lady talking your ear off and the kid sleeping on your shoulder is all included and it's totally free. However, you might want to purchase a blanket and pillow. It will definitely help you adjust to all of the other freebies.