• US AIRWAYS TO RESUME OFFERING COMPLIMENTARY BEVERAGES
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US AIRWAYS TO RESUME OFFERING COMPLIMENTARY BEVERAGES

In a letter to employees, US Airways CEO, Doug Parker, announced that effective March 1, 2009, the airline will return to the former practice of offering complimentary sodas, juices, tea, water and coffee to passengers traveling in the coach cabin.

On August 1, 2008 US Airways began charging coach passengers for the previously complimentary beverages as part of the airline's "pay for what you want" or a la carte model. Mr. Parker's letter contained the following paragraph:

Today, while we remain firmly committed to the a la carte strategy - we also know it is a work in progress. We know customers don't buy an airline ticket based on whether or not they will get a free soda onboard, but with US Airways being the only large network carrier to charge for drinks, we are at a disadvantage. More importantly, this difference in our service has become a focal point that detracts from all of the outstanding improvements in on-time performance and baggage handling that all of us have worked so hard to achieve over the past year.

Once the program was put in place it received mixed reviews from both passengers and Flight Attendants. The Company believed that other large network carriers would follow suit-they did not. While US Airways has moved to the head of the pack in on-time performance it lags far behind other carriers in customer complaints.

The fact is the airline business is not only the transportation business but it is also the customer service business. If the onboard sale of beverages was becoming a "focal point" for our passengers, this then means that they must have been dissatisfied.

US Airways still expects to generate $400 to $500 million in 2009 from other a la carte initiatives that other large network carriers offer. The simple fact is that after seven months it became apparent the onboard sale of beverages did not work-either competitively or from a customer satisfaction standpoint.

Thank you,

Mike Flores, President
The US Airways Master Executive Council
AFA-CWA

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AFA Local Numbers

Council 40 PIT 412-245-1214
Council 41 DCA 703-212-8090
Council 69 BOS 781-289-8454
Council 70 PHL 215-492-0840
Council 82 LGA 315-736-3483
Council 89 CLT 704-527-0325

New Hotline Number Toll Free: 866-USA-AFA2
US AIRWAYS Benefits Information 800-872-4780

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