the terrorists won.

No.

It's a game of "How debauched am I?". I once paid 13 dollars for a BLT in the airport. It was like 4 AM and I hadn't eaten in 24 hours. I think this is their target market: Hungry desperates.

They can have my cold dead sandwich when they pry it from my cold dead hands.

Sorry, haven't had my morning coffee yet.

Well a fresh sandwich etc.. would probably cost about the same amount in the airport, so yeah, I'd pay up if I were hungry and didn't pack my own snack.

"Are you going to pay $9 for a United Airlines sandwich?"

The better question might be:

"With all these fees, am I ever going to fly United again?"

@Front_Towards_Enemy: I used to fly to visit friends on a semi-monthly basis. Since rate hikes, hidden fees, and the general apathy airline employees have toward their customers have force me to avoid flying at all costs.

Now I drive or ride the rail. I forgot how relaxing a train ride can be compared to a flight.

Just means more people will be bringing their own...

They are probably aiming for: (1) the disparate hungry people and (2) business travelers who can expense it.

My company won't let me fly business class, but didn't object to my $4.50 bottle of water I bought off a street vendor on the Vegas strip.

I can't wait for the story in a few months of an enterprising young soul who brings a carryon full of snacks on board, sells them for 1/2 of the airline's price, and either makes enough cash to cover his ticket or is then removed and detained for "interfering with a flight crew" nonsense.

Or a story of some airport snack shops & restaurants that post the airline price right next to their own [inflated] prices to help convince consumers to purchase before boarding.

I have 3 phrases for them:

Five

Five Dollar

FIVE DOLLAR FOOT LOOOOONG!

Since my business-class flights typically cost from $6,000 TO $9,000, I'd better get a warm meal! Granted, it's not actually my money. What I find most awful about this is that they seem to be trying to make money on this deal vice just cutting costs.

Nope, I'd rather buy a $9 Chic-fil-a sandwich from the airport than a $9 "fresh" sandwich from the airline....

Reason #75894 that I <3 Southwest. Bring on the free peanuts and crew that doesn't care that you brought McDonalds with you!

What the summary doesn't mention- United is phasing out meal service on INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS from Washington-Dulles to Europe. Yes, this means that on a nine-hour flight, you get no food- unless you buy a nine dollar sandwich.

No thanks. I'll fly Continental, which still serves meals in coach- on domestic AND international flights. Not to mention their on-time rating is better than United!

@MyPetFly: Coffee is only $6!

I view this as a good thing. In coach I rarely eat the meal. The food isn't particularly good or good for you. If I'm going to eat on the plane I would rather bring the food myself. The food and drink service always seems to block the aisle when I have to go to the bathroom or get to my carry-on. If people have to pay for the food then I suspect fewer will opt-in and the food service will be quicker. Also, I hate having a tray full of garbage in front of me until they have time to come around and pick it up. Get rid of the food service all together as far as I'm concerned.

I'll gladly buy a sandwich from United for $9.

When they drop their airfares by $18 or more.

what's interesting is how the word "fresh" has been raped to the point where it now means "made within the last 72 hours nowhere near where you are now." fresh used to mean "we make it now".

as for flying to europe from washington, try Qatar, one of the best and cheapest airlines going. and nobody will question you for choosing the muslim meal, since they are all muslim meals.

I can't remember the last time I flew United. I certainly won't start flying with them now.

If you're going to raise fares do so. Next we'll have to pay for seat belts and oxygen masks.

It is my perception that at most airports the food is competitively priced. At least I don't feel like I am being gouged, like I do at the movie theater. I generally pick up what I *want* at the airport before getting on, but when I am starving and don't have other options...Verdict: I am with Gillo on this one (although not sure if that is the right use of "debauched")

a) no, I'm not paying $9 for airplane food of any kind.

b) to buy a $9 food item on a plane, you'd have to get me to buy a ticket for a plane trip, which you will not be able to do.

Hey, people pay 5 dollars for a beer on a plane, im sure they will pay 9 for a snack.

Would I buy it? Depends how hungry I am. I've been pretty desperate before.

I've actually found that when airlines are SELLING you the food, it's a bit tastier than if they're not. Frontier is the best for this - they had delicious food last time I flew with them.

Most of the time, though, I can just pick what I want out of the airport. *Most* airports have improved their food offerings recently.

No.
I'm not willing to pay 9 dollars for a supposed "fresh" sandwich.

I have always packed a few snacks such as granola & applesauce cups prior to flights. It tastes better, I can eat it when I want it & it doesn't cost me 9 dollars ...

Fill an empty water bottle after security and add flavor packs like crystal light and I have a drink too for a lot less than they want to charge ...

You can either pay $9 on the plane or $7 in the airport and bring it onto the plane. It just means there will be a potpourri of fast food fragrances next time you get on a plane, as everyone will be packing their own lunch.

No. But then again, I get airsick and would just puke it up anyway. Plus, I spend about $10 total on food a week anyway, so I'll be damned if I'm going to double my grocery budget on filler crap.

It wouldn't even be that bad if the service was at all reasonably good. It's not.

The best flight I ever took was premium economy from DC to London. Superb service, great food, complimentary drinks... the feeling of being taken care of goes a long way to negate expensive sandwiches in my eyes. United and the rest of the US hub-and-spoke carriers should take a lesson (or 10) from foreign carriers. If I wanted to be treated like chattal, I'd fly Southwest (SHUDDER!).

I really wish they would allow foreign carriers to set up shop in the US to fly domestically.

Yes, we'll pay. Depending on the length of flight and how hungry we are.

Think about it. If you're at a ball park, you pay $7 for a beer and $5 for a midrange hotdog. If at an amusement park, a bad burger, fries, and drink are 12 bucks. It's a closed economy. There are always some that pay.

Someone commented about the greatness of taking a train. All I can guess is that you live somewhere on the east coast. I pulled up Amtrak.com and plugged in the numbers. I'm here in Nebraska. Train leaves my area at 11 pm, and then takes awhile. My plane trips have been to visit my friend in Las Vegas. By train, it's about 24 hours to get to Salt Lake City, and then another 8 hours by bus. And it could cost more than it would to fly.

I already don't pay the $3 - $5 airlines are charging for snacks. I don't see my future self paying $9, either.

Nope.

Don't buy food at the ballpark either (bring in my own whenever possible) or the amusement park. Anywhere I can bring my own food in I do, and the airplane sure as hell fits the bill. Plus, the flights *THEORETICALLY* are about a six hour ordeal, plus a couple hours in waiting beforehand. For a cross country flight that is - and I've never had trouble bringing food into the waiting area.

Now, if you have a medical condition that's one thing, but other than that, who can't wait to eat for six hours?

I fly only on vacations any more, and for us, "vacation money" isn't like "real money." You spend more and don't be worrying too much about HOW MUCH more, because, well, worrying doesn't fit well when you're on vacation, y'know?

Anyway, if I was hungry I'd consider it.

I'm gonna have to go with no there, bub.

United, you can keep your crappy service, high prices, and smelly planes.

I have found that flying a non-US/Canadian airline when possible has been the best bet. Normally I get exceptional service, and food served that is very good without the additional cost.

@Necoras:

I have 3 phrases for them:

Five

Five Dollar

FIVE DOLLAR FOOT LOOOOONG!

Subway sandwiches are terrible now. Ultra-thing, almost not there meat, crappy bread, veggies are ok. Still you might as well stop at a Cousin's, Quiznos, or Jimmy John's for a decent sandwich (or just pack your own).

Now if we could only get the TSA to drop that ridiculous liquids ban, we'd not have to suffer high prices again.

@Burgandy: Are there airlines that will prevent you from bringing food onto a plane? I've never found one that cared, and I bring tons of food on the plane every the time. I've brought sandwiches, trail mix, burger king, even once a korean "bento box" type thing.

Who remembers the olden days, back when the airlines would have a meal included with the flight?

That was also the time when you could get on the plane with your own bottle of water without letting the terrorists win.

I'd rather buy the $9 sandwich in the airport. Depending on the airport, there can be some really good places to go for food (Minneapolis - I'm looking at you, French Meadow Organic Bakery). I'm annoyed because I'm flying United over christmas to Hawaii. I usually fly Northwest, even if they are a bit more - but they were $1000 more. That's a lot of $9 sandwiches.

nope. I always bring my own food on a flight, fill up my bag with Dollar menu items, buy drinks inside the gate.

A $9 sandwich? Bish plz.

I bring my own food-- sandwich purchased on the way to the airport (quiznos is better than subway, imho) is better and cheaper than one in the airport-- or just pretzels and snacks from home.

European airlines like Luftansa ought to try to break into the US market (I'm sure there's some legal reasons why they can't). Free yummy, hot meals, snacks, leg room, and unlimited free alcohol. I've never flown better in all my life! It was better than US first class!

I'm so hungry, I could eat a $9 sandwhich from an airline!

I don't understand why they don't just raise the price of their tickets to cover the in-flight meals. It seems like no one would notice, and it would look a lot better than charging $10 for a sammich.

I don't I would EVER pay $9 for a sandwich ANYWHERE.

And the version United is offering is probably one of those tiny, cafeteria style crappy ones anyway.

I simply don't get this airline. Ever since I vowed never to fly them again, their service, their policies, and their treatment of their livestoc... oops, I mean customers has been on a continual diarrheal downslide.

Can't they life their heads up just long enough to look around and say "holy crap - we suck!" I mean, recognition of that sort might be the first step to actually repairing their deplorable customer relations. And fixing their business somewhat. Jet fuel prices can't be helped, but ticket sales sure can if people feel any sense of loyalty towards this airline. Which United (Untied?) Airlines seems to be working dilligently to completely eliminate.

Sheesh.

I haven't flown United in about 5 years now. Although, the last time I did fly with them, they bumped me (and my family) up to First Class since we couldn't sit in the exit row. (SCORE!) But it was their fault that they booked a family in the exit row and they are more expensive now.

Although, I flew Delta this past week and they still give out free beverages and snacks like peanuts, crackers with cheese (not real cheese, like Ritz crackers with the fake stuff), and some really good cinnamon cookies. They still had sandwiches for 6 bucks (not good) and the salads (better), which is still cheaper than United's $9 snacks.

The service was excellent, the crew was very friendly, they had good entertainment (I love the new screens at every seat thing) and the flight (both going and coming back) were on time. We even arrived early coming back!

What? $9 is a great price for sm....
Wait, what?
Oh, SNACKS!
Yeah, that's too much.

I predicted the $7.00/blanket. What they gain is having to purchase and maintain fewer blankets, a cost/weight savings world wide. I don't see this as any different. They will be serving up much less food thereby saving purchasing and storage prices. In regards to blankets, I'm hoping they use the $7 to launder them once in awhile!