US Airways flight attendants oppose drastic in-flight cutbacks

Flight attendants working for US Airways registered their opposition to the carrier’s plans to start charging passengers for absolutely all soft drinks and snacks served on domestic flights, including transcontinental ones. The new fees-which will see passengers pay $2 for soft drinks that have been free of charge up until now-will effectively turn US Airways into a European-style low-cost carrier, expect without the rock bottom airfares. US Airways cabin crew-who are members of the Association of Flight Attendants–expressed their displeasure at this new cutback, arguing that the airline should instead raise ticket prices accordingly, in order to still offer these very basic onboard services for no additional charge.

Nearly all passengers on US Airways domestic flights will find themselves paying for everything from bottled water, to juices, tea and coffee. The only exception will be children who are being transported unaccompanied by a parent or guardian and anyone with a medical condition, which may require them to consume fluids. To make matters more difficult and controversial, however, the airline is asking its flight attendants to exercise their own “good judgment” in order to determine who should or should not receive free beverages. According to some media reports, however, the airline is encouraging cabin crew to simply give passengers a free bottle of water, if it appears as though not doing so might lead to a conflict onboard the plane. The union argues that flight attendants should be seen and treated like trained professionals, and not as though they were cashiers.

www.usairways.com