US Air, Parched for Cash, Charges for Drinks

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Passenger Mike Stollenwerk thinks US Airways'(LCC Quote) $2 charge for water or soda is all wet.

Stollenwerk discovered the charge, part of a trial run started on Friday, while returning home to Alexandria, Va. on US Airways flight Aug. 4, after a visit to Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. "US Airways demanded $2 for a drink, even water," he says. "I was outraged and refused to order my usual beer. I specifically asked if I could get tap water for free and the steward said 'No.'

"I am going to try not to fly US Airways if I can help it," Stollenwerk continues. "Everybody knows that you should hydrate on an airplane."

Mike Flores, president of the US Airways chapter of the Association of Flight Attendants says responses like Stollenwerk's are typical.

"The usual customer reaction is basically a look of disgust," he says. "Then they roll their eyes and say 'I'm not buying anything.'"

The charge, $2 for soda or bottled water and $1 for coffee or tea, was implemented as part of a trial run that began Aug. 1. While other carriers have began charging for other amenities -- like Jet Blue's(JBLU Quote) announcement earlier this week that it would charge passengers for pillows and blankets -- so far, no other major carrier has matched the drink charge.

That raises questions about whether the charge will continue, since US Airways cannot continue indefinitely as the only major carrier that charges for drinks. Certainly, others are watching the experiment closely to determine whether customers begin to book away from US Airways, or whether they come to accept the charge.