US Air: The death of a shitty company

When I was growing up we always flew US Airways. My Mom has had her US Air rewards credit card since the seventies and we used it actively, racking up free flights. As a result we lined up again and again to climb aboard another US Air flight.

In addition to the airports in Baltimore and Philly, both about 2 hours away, there is a tiny commuter airport about 30 minutes from my house that only has US Air flights. The old habits and the allure of the short drive to the commuter airport kept us loyal for far too long. We forgave the crappy service, and the often canceled commuter flights out of Philadelphia. We barely flinched when they stopped offering meals and began selling poorly stocked snack boxes for 5 dollars. Then... one day it all came into focus. My Girlfriend turned my on to JetBlue, an airport where you got more... More drinks, more snacks, free headphones and TV! and the headphones aren't that idiotic 2 pronged design that only exist on airplanes? This was heaven.

Fast forward several years. I haven't flown US Air in a good long while. I've flown flight after flight in comfort, getting the whole can of coke instead a a chintzy ice riddled cupful. But an event has led me back home; and JetBlue, sadly, would be unable to bear me there upon their silver wings. I bit the bullet and booked a flight home aboard a US Air flight.

I expected that it would happen, I just thought it was too horrible to ever come true. US Air has begun charging for drinks. And not just cocktails, I'm talking Coke... juice... water! 2 dollars for Coke? The most insidious part of this is that it comes on the heels of the ban on carrying your own drinks through security. Conspiracy? probably... In any case, this poor attempt by a dying company to sqeeze a few pennies of extra revenue out of its passengers.

Tomorrow I will be flying and I will NOT be paying for a coke. No way. I will be taking an empty nalgene through security and filling it in the terminal. Furthermore I will will take all pains to never fly US Air again.

But I'm being dramatic... All airlines are going through tough times. Even JetBlue has begun charging for checking a second bag. JetBlue however, has always made an attempt to provide the best service possible, I can't say I've recieved the same on any of the many trips I've flow on US Air.

I've got news for you US Air, I'm not so keen on your regional airports with marginal service anymore. I'm willing to drive to/from Baltimore just to fly on an airline that is NOT US Air. Goodbye...