Complain about a product or service

US Airways Cuts Out Pretzels In Coach

July 7, 2005
It’s come down to the pretzels. Hoping to save money, bankrupt US Airways has told employees to stop handing out complimentary bags of pretzels to passengers in coach. The airline says it hopes to save $1 million a year with the move.

US Airways • Consumer Complaints • Christmas Complaints • An Insider's View --- News • Bankruptcy Exit Plan Ready • No More Pretzels In Coach • US Airways, America West Merger On Course • US Airways' Loss Worse Than Reported • US Airways Misses Another Bankruptcy Filing • US Airways, America West Talking Merger • US Airways Gets a Little More Time From Creditors • Report Slams US Airways Christmas Performance • US Airways Wins Concessions from Machinists • US Airways Turns In Jets, Cancels Flights • Florida: Treatment of Quadriplegic Passenger "Callous" • Loan Extension Provides More Turnaround Time • Attendants Accept Cuts, Machinists Still Hold-Outs • Machinists May Walk • January Crucial for US Airways • A Christmas Nightmare • Breathing Room • Turnaround Plans • US Air Deathwatch

The pretzel announcement came in an internal company memo, which was instantly leaked to the news media. Fielding calls from business reporters, US Airways executives explained that focus group studies indicated passengers really didn’t care much for pretzels, anyway. However, they say they’ll still hand them out to coach passengers on trans-Atlantic flights.

For US Airways passengers, the food choices have dwindled away as the airline slid deeper into the financial abyss. Hot meals were the first to go. On trans-Atlantic flights, candy bars and other snacks are available, but passengers have to buy them at $3 a piece.

While some airlines have removed blankets and pillows from their planes in an economy move, US Airways continues to provide those creature comforts. And starting next month, hot meals will return for passengers in first class.

Meanwhile, the struggling airline may have to face the whole pretzel question again in the future, when it completes its merger with America West. Presumably, the two airlines would combine operations and adopt standard policies. At this point, at least, America West still provides pretzels to its passengers in coach.

Report Your Experience
If you've had a bad experience -- or a good one -- with a consumer product or service, we'd like to hear about it. All complaints are reviewed by class action attorneys and are considered for publication on our site. Knowledge is power! Help spread the word. File your consumer report now.

Back to the top |