Oprah boycott

[snopes]

Comment: I've heard a rumor that Oprah Winfrey told guests on her show
that if they are flying on commercial airlines in the U.S. that they
should only bring $100 bills on board. This way when they try to buy a
cocktail, the flight attendant won't have correct change and will be
obliged to give it to them for free. I am an airline pilot and I've heard
this from several flight attendants that say they are boycotting anything
Oprah related as a result. I've searched the internet as well as your
site, and while I don't believe this to be completely accurate, I can't
refute it!

[snopes]

This way when they try to buy a cocktail, the flight attendant won't have correct change and will be obliged to give it to them for free.

Wow, I didn't know there was a law requiring businesses to give merchandise away for free if they can't make change.

I'm off to the bank ...

- snopes

[TurquoiseGirl]

Originally Posted by snopes

I am an airline pilot and I've heard
this from several flight attendants that say they are boycotting anything
Oprah related as a result. I've searched the internet as well as your
site, and while I don't believe this to be completely accurate, I can't
refute it!

Why would the flight attendents care if they were giving the drinks away for free unless the shortage came from their own pockets or if they were getting in trouble?

[diddy]

Originally Posted by snopes

Wow, I didn't know there was a law requiring businesses to give merchandise away for free if they can't make change.

I'm off to the bank ...

- snopes

Even better, if this would ever work, all flight attendants need to do is have the plane carry more money for change. It can get worse.. Now pickpocket's can be guaranteed better results from travelers in cramped planes!

You did beet me to the punch though. I had to come up with something...

[Rebochan]

How about I just boycott Oprah because she gives me nightmares? Is that good enough?

[Canuckistan]

Originally Posted by Rebochan

How about I just boycott Oprah because she gives me nightmares? Is that good enough?

I can live with that. At least it'd be a plausible reason.

I have had it a couple of ties when they couldn't change a $20 and I got the drink for free. IME they make and hand you the drink before asking for money, at this point they are not going to take the drink away from you because they can't change the bill. But I do think that telling to people to purposfully do this is wrong on many levels.. The worst thatcould happen is the airlines decide not to offer drinks anymore. God, I miss the old days of full meals, free drinks, and real silverware.

[snapdragonfly]

Regardless of one's personal preferences about Oprah, "how to screw people or businesses out of money" doesn't really sound like her usual advice, in fact it sounds diametrically opposed to everything I've ever heard her say. She's way over on the enlightened, give to the Universe and it gives back scale of thought, and she's famous for being open handed and generous. One could certainly point out her flaws but being mingey and exhorting theivery is really not one of them.

And anyway I'm not buying that an attendant wouldn't necessarily have the change. The cash kitty builds up quick with liquor.

[ULTRAGOTHA]

Originally Posted by snapdragonfly

And anyway I'm not buying that an attendant wouldn't necessarily have the change. The cash kitty builds up quick with liquor.

I dunno. The last three Southwest Airline flights I've been on have all announced through the cabin that they need change for a $20, and anyone who has it please ring their call bell.

[Enchanting_eyes]

The times that I have flown and someone had order a drink, if the flight attendant did not have change they called out and ask if anyone on the plane had change. But nothing over $20.00 Atleast that is my experience.

Darnit, I was spanked and only by a few minutes. Darn phone and having to do work.

[snapdragonfly]

Originally Posted by ULTRAGOTHA

I dunno. The last three Southwest Airline flights I've been on have all announced through the cabin that they need change for a $20, and anyone who has it please ring their call bell.

Whoa! Maybe it depends on which flight of the day it is. Do they turn in the money every time they land?

I can see, though, how you could not have change for a twenty but have plenty of money on hand - so they could have enough to make change for a hundred, but just not the first twenty of it.

[imjustasteph]

Originally Posted by Duckie Queen

I have had it a couple of ties when they couldn't change a $20 and I got the drink for free. IME they make and hand you the drink before asking for money, at this point they are not going to take the drink away from you because they can't change the bill. But I do think that telling to people to purposfully do this is wrong on many levels.. The worst thatcould happen is the airlines decide not to offer drinks anymore. God, I miss the old days of full meals, free drinks, and real silverware.

I don't know about planes, but my experience with businesses in general is, if they can't make change and it a small amount of loss (say you should be getting back $13 and they're out of ones) they'll take the loss (IE, give you back three fives). But, a lot of places don't take large bills, period. So, the airline would probably just put a sign on the drinks cart saying 'No bills larger than a $20 accepted' and the problem is solved.

[Skeptic]

Originally Posted by Duckie Queen

God, I miss the old days of full meals, free drinks, and real silverware.

do you miss the fares that were ten times what they are now.

[WildaBeast]

Originally Posted by snapdragonfly

And anyway I'm not buying that an attendant wouldn't necessarily have the change. The cash kitty builds up quick with liquor.

I'm a member of another board with a lot of airline employees as members. I started a thread there asking the flight attendants just what they would do if someone tried to pay with a $100 bill. A few points that came up over there:

-Many airlines (Hawaiian, Northwest, AirTran are some examples) are starting to accept credit cards for onboard purchases. On these airlines you'll probably be told you have to pay with a credit card. In fact some of those airlines have stopped accepting cash altogether and will only take credit cards.

-One flight attendant said he makes sure to carry enough change for $100, and if someone pays with $100 he'll give them change. If he needs to break something like a $20 later, he'll go back to that passenger and say "I need change, and I know you have it because I just gave it to you."

-Some will take the $100, and bring change later once they finish the beverage service. Some won't serve the drink until they have change.

-American Airlines gives their flight attendants a $20 "change fund." If they get anything bigger than that they ask coworkers and other passengers for change. One said if she has to ask for volunteers to make change she'll often reward the person who volunteers with a free drink.

[Gayle]

The problem is that when people fly, getting money is one of the last things they do. So lots of people are getting on planes fresh off the ATM line. Lots of folks with 20’s. When I tended bar, I used to take my tip money when I flew. Then I’d wait for the change needed announcement and trade in all my ones for larger bills. They needed the change every time.

[46liter]

I know when the wife & I go on vacation, we have some ones, fives & tens for just this occasion. Nothing tastes better than a $5.00 can of MGD, & people have to realize that resources on a plane are very limited, as it is 30,0000 feet away from a cash machine. A person who would attempt to pay for an airplane drink with a $100 dollar bill is a tool & a jerk & should be forced to ride in the front wearing a sign stating that they are a tool & a jerk. That is all. Thanks for your attention.

[Not_Done_Living]

Sometimes the airline will comp the drinks due to certain circumstances.
In this kind of situation, the Steward would complete everyone else's orders, then come back to the $100 bill and make change.
I have seen it happen.

As per the OP.. i don't for a second think that this "tip" would come from Oprah.. at all.. she is not the type to provide "screw bankrupt services" tips.

[Towknie]

Originally Posted by Duckie Queen

God, I miss the old days of full meals, free drinks, and real silverware.

Meals and silverware I remember. Free drinks, I've only ever seen on long haul international flights and business and first class. To the best of my knowledge, they are still that way.

As for Oprah, I suppose I've been boycotting her for the better part of 20 years, since I don't think I've ever seen her show. Take that Harpo Productions!!

Why don't we all just boycott Oprah anyway, regardless of what she says about drinks and change on airplanes? I think that is the best plan.

This is a pretty interesting thread. I'm just worried that if people only have $100 bills that the airlines will see that this is a sign that their passengers are super wealthy and raise the price of the drinks to $99 - therefore, making the change issue irrelevant...