United Airlines plans another first: the first airline to start charging for food on international flights. In an internal memorandum, the airline says that it will expand its BOB (Buy on Board) program to international flights out of its main East Coast hub, Washington Dulles (except for Kuwait). in United Economy, offering fresh and nonperishable items. This change comes the same time that United will begin charging for food in its domestic business class, raising prices, ending some of the food service in its premium transcontinental product, p.s., while also cutting flight attendant staffing to FAA minimums. The changes start in September and continue in October.
The frequent-flyer forums are full of chatter, and our friend Henry Harteveldt of Forrester Research says, "There's just something schizophrenic about united management. You just don't alienate your premium customers this way, and I've already head from some of the corporate accounts, who are complaining."
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