Passenger Power Rules as United Repeals New Charge

I'm not going to pinch you, it's true - United Airlines had announced that they were no longer going to provide free meals in coach on select routes to Europe (likely with an eye to go system-wide). Pressure from their passengers actually worked, and United has had a change of heart, so your meal to Europe will remain free.

It's one thing to charge for meals on domestic flights, but when no major legacy carriers - both based in the US and internationally - are charging, it just seemed like some cost-cutter at United wasn't thinking clearly. Not only would it have enraged hungry, internationally-bound passengers, but would have created a headache of monstrous proportions for flight attendants who would have had to deal with the complaints and collection of funds up front.

I haven't been surprised by many of the fees that have been instituted such as those for checked luggage, but when United Airlines announced no free meals to Europe on several flights, it kind of took me aback. I suppose a barrage of criticism from their customers woke United Airlines up and realized that perhaps charging for meals on Europe-bound flights was a really, really bad idea as they repealed the decision to charge for meals to Europe.

It's nice to be able to report, albeit rarely, that the power of the passenger can rule. Bon Appetit.

image courtesy of Arlene Fleming