Buy on board
Encyclopedia
In commercial flight, buy on board (BoB) is a system where food or beverages are paid for on board; often food or beverages are not included in the ticket price for certain fare classes.
Starting in 2003, many United States air carriers began eliminating free meal services in economy classes on North American flights and replacing them with buy on board services. By 2009, many US carriers had established buy on board as part of an à la carte
pricing movement. Around that year, US carriers began using celebrity-named and brand name products to make their buy on board products generate more revenue. Continental Airlines
, the last large United States carrier to offer free meals on all domestic flights, announced in March 2010 that it would begin a buy on board program in fall 2010 and end many of its free meal programs on domestic flights. Jeff Green of Businessweek
described the end of Continental's program as an "end of an era."
As the airline market in the United States became deregulated
, airlines began to compete by price. Airline ticket prices began to decrease, and airlines began to charge extra for services that were once included in the airfare.
In the United States
, passengers increasingly began to bring their own foods on board to avoid paying for buy on board. In the 2000s US Airways
briefly charged for soft drinks, but then reversed course. According to Joe Brancantelli of Portfolio.com, the competitors of US Airways admitted that charging for food and snack boxes does not increase profits; Brancatelli explains that airlines say that because they now charge for food and snacks, they no longer "lose" money by providing meals at no additional cost to economy class passengers.
Starting in 2003, many United States air carriers began eliminating free meal services in economy classes on North American flights and replacing them with buy on board services. By 2009, many US carriers had established buy on board as part of an à la carte
À la carte
À la carte is a French language loan phrase meaning "according to the menu", and used in* A reference to a menu of items priced and ordered separately, i.e. the usual operation of restaurants * To order an item from the menu on its own, e.g...
pricing movement. Around that year, US carriers began using celebrity-named and brand name products to make their buy on board products generate more revenue. Continental Airlines
Continental Airlines
Continental Airlines was a major American airline now merged with United Airlines. On May 3, 2010, Continental Airlines, Inc. and UAL, Inc. announced a merger via a stock swap, and on October 1, 2010, the merger closed and UAL changed its name to United Continental Holdings, Inc...
, the last large United States carrier to offer free meals on all domestic flights, announced in March 2010 that it would begin a buy on board program in fall 2010 and end many of its free meal programs on domestic flights. Jeff Green of Businessweek
BusinessWeek
Bloomberg Businessweek, commonly and formerly known as BusinessWeek, is a weekly business magazine published by Bloomberg L.P. It is currently headquartered in New York City.- History :...
described the end of Continental's program as an "end of an era."
As the airline market in the United States became deregulated
Airline Deregulation Act
The Airline Deregulation Act is a United States federal law signed into law on October 24, 1978. The main purpose of the act was to remove government control over fares, routes and market entry from commercial aviation...
, airlines began to compete by price. Airline ticket prices began to decrease, and airlines began to charge extra for services that were once included in the airfare.
In the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, passengers increasingly began to bring their own foods on board to avoid paying for buy on board. In the 2000s US Airways
US Airways
US Airways, Inc. is a major airline based in the U.S. city of Tempe, Arizona. The airline is an operating unit of US Airways Group and is the sixth largest airline by traffic and eighth largest by market value in the country....
briefly charged for soft drinks, but then reversed course. According to Joe Brancantelli of Portfolio.com, the competitors of US Airways admitted that charging for food and snack boxes does not increase profits; Brancatelli explains that airlines say that because they now charge for food and snacks, they no longer "lose" money by providing meals at no additional cost to economy class passengers.
External links
- "Buy-on-Board Meals" - LSG Sky ChefsLSG Sky ChefsLSG Sky Chefs is the brand name of LSG Lufthansa Service Holding AG, which is the world's largest provider of airline catering and in-flight services. It is a subsidiary of Deutsche Lufthansa AG. A part of the company was formerly owned by AMR Corporation, parent company of American Airlines...