Education Freestyle

Source: Associated Press

Continental Airlines has announced it is joining the ranks of other airlines and will now charge passengers for food, putting an end to the free hamburgers, barbecue and sandwich rolls.

A spokesman has announced that the airline, based in Houston, expects a $35 million annual benefit, from cost savings and added revenue.

Delta Air Lines, American Airlines, US Airways and United Airlines are among carriers that already charge for food on flights.

Continental passengers on some international routes, on domestic flights over six hours and those who sit in first or business class on routes worldwide will continue to get free food. Snacks like pretzels and nonalcoholic drinks will continue to be offered for free.

The changes take effect in the fall. Menu choices and prices will be disclosed later.

Air travelers have seen a steady erosion of amenities included in the price of their ticket over the last two years or so, from checked bags to pillows and blankets on board. Airlines call it unbundling the product, allowing them to offer lower base fares and only charge extra for people who want more. But with so many add-on fees these days, a traveler could end up paying more when everything is added together than what they previously paid for an all-inclusive ticket.

Some travelers have been packing lighter or carrying more on board flights to avoid checked bag fees. Likewise, some bring their own food on flights to avoid paying for meals.

Continental, which has about 900 daily mainline flights, said its food-for-sale program is about offering passengers more choices.

Currently, Continental flights lasting less than two hours usually have a free beverage service with a small snack like pretzels. Flights of two to three hours offer a small sandwich roll, or a muffin in the morning. Flights over three hours currently offer a free hot sandwich or other hot meal, or cereal in the morning.

“While free food was a nice point of distinction for Continental, we could not provide the same caliber of food on that basis that we can under a food-for-sale program,” spokesman Dave Messing said.

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My Take: I don’t know about you, but the food on airlines has never really been all that appealing to me. I think I’d rather spend my extra money buying access to the internet where I can catch up on work, surf the net for birthday websites so I can create cards for my friends and family; watch Netflix or even scan YouTube videos. I’d rather see my money go for more valuable things than food and if it means that my ticket would be little cheaper, all the better.

Speaking of Web sites, if you have a special occasion coming up, you can memorialize it online through one of the many e-memorial sites or memorial website pages. These let you create really unique tribute sites for friends, family and love ones where you can honor a birth, a graduation, a birthday, a wedding anniversary or a passing. I recently attended a memorial service and, next to the choir risers was a large screen which looped an online tribute to the person who had passed away, complete with music and videos of friends and family members talking about hat person’s life and accomplishments. Between the great presentation, the comfortable theater risers we had for seating arrangements, and the food, it was one of the most tasteful and enjoyable memorial services I’ve ever attended.

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