Continental Airlines is about to start charging for those “free meals at mealtime.”
Continental — which had advertised its complimentary meal service as its competitors abandoned the free lunches in recent years — announced Monday that it will discontinue free meals for coach passengers on most domestic flights in the fall.
Instead, the carrier will begin selling meals to coach passengers on domestic flights shorter than six hours and some flights to Canada and Mexico.
Nixing sandwiches, burgers, salads and other foods will save $35 million a year, airline officials said.
Based on that figure, the airline could bring in at least $17 million if half the coach passengers who get free meals now start buying them, said Helane Becker, a transportation analyst with Jesup & Lamont in New York City.
Becker was not surprised by the change since Continental is a member of Star Alliance and other members of that airline network now charge for meals.
“It is consistent with what others in the space are doing. I think there’s a lot of pressure on the airlines to be profitable,” she said. “Most people expect no food. I think most people have come to expect very limited service from the airlines. It’s just kind of the way it is.”
Continental will continue to serve free meals in first-class and business-class, and to all passengers on most international flights. And it will provide complimentary non-alcoholic drinks and snacks such as pretzels to all passengers.
Airline officials gave no indication that the change would affect employment at its Chelsea Food Services division, which operates flight kitchens in its hub cities including Houston.
“Our traditional free-food model has served us well for many years, but we need to change to reflect today’s market and customer preferences,” Jim Compton, executive vice president and chief marketing officer said in a written statement.
“Our traditional free-food model has served us well for many years, but we need to change to reflect today’s market and customer preferences,” Jim Compton, executive vice president and chief marketing officer said in a written statement.
Available for a price
Continental is one of the last major airlines that still offers free meals in coach, advertising that distinction until recently.
The carrier will announce menu choices and pricing before the free meals end in the fall.
Its competitors offer everything from snacks to healthier meals for $2 to $10.
Delta Air Lines charges $2 for peanut M&Ms. US Airways charges $7 for a fruit and cheese platter. United Airlines charges from $3 for a Ghirardelli chocolate bar.
American Airlines customers can pay $10 for a Boston Market beef brisket sandwich with chips.
Financial reports for American, United and many other airlines don’t show how much they make from food sales, since it’s included in the broader category of “other revenues.”
Real estate executive Stacy Hunt, who frequently travels for work, wasn’t much disappointed by Continental’s announcement.
“It won’t prevent me from flying Continental,” he said. “I probably would not buy the meals. I probably would take some crackers from Presidents Club” — Continental’s airport lounges for members and certain classes of passengers.
More than the free meals, banker Nikki Palacio said she misses the blankets flight attendants once doled out to passengers.
“I don’t like airplane food,” said Palacio, who travels often to New York for pleasure. “I don’t think anybody will miss it anyway.”
Via: Chron.com
