LAX Concessions: City Attorney Hands Major Victory To Host

• I have worked at the airport now for two years, and in those two years I have noticed that most customers want something fast and good to eat or drink. Unfortunately, most hate paying the prices. For example, in Starbucks, customers complain about paying $7 for a venti latte with a lot of extras, and expect to get free extras and don't realize that unlike a starbucks outside, the airport charges tax and don't have the same micro systems as outside. Also, I cannot tell you how many customers get into the line (which most of the time is super long) about 5-10 minutes before their flight is to board and expect that they can jump the line because of it. Considering that most of the Host resturants are what most would consider fast food or grab-n-go food, cutomers still want food quick, so I can imagine that most will not be like to wait 15-20 minutes at a dine in resturant.

• I'm not sure what about Host's history makes Watchdog think that not bringing in high-level, professional food and beverage providers will give us decent prices and good customer service. If I am forced to eat at the airport, which is the reality for many these days, I would rather spend $15 on something that is well crafted and delicious than on something that is simply a belly-filer. True the airport's main function is to get us from one destination to another in a timely fashion, but the reality is that going from airport-to-airport on a regular basis is a dining experience, a work experience, a regular-part-of-life experience and so why not make the process more enjoyable? Trutanich and John Ek should eat at LAX for one week straight and then think about what they are doing to their public.

• Don't you just love Host? This saga makes me think of another host. As in the symbiotic relationship between some hosts and the "freindly" parasites that feed off the excess of their spoils. If Host is the giant shark, any guess as to who the parasitic pilot fish are? Chalk one up for LA politics -- gotta hahn it to you, Mr. Truth Sandwich.

• Agree with Mr. Kambeitz. The airport's primary function is to get people to their destinations via an airplane. Designer food is expensive and timely. We want good fast food for a decent price with customer service that leaves us smiling instead of grumbling. Trutanich's decision is only the beginning of more to come. Now it goes to the Board of Referred Powers and then onward to City Council. That should be fun to watch !! Bring your own food to the airport for awhile. This is going to take some time to play out.

• The problem is the Director that made the selection of SSP does not reside in LA, and has a home in Northern Cal. She wants to be treated like a Diva with her $300,000 plus salary. Lets face it the airport will not nor never be a dining experience. Just get us in and out in a reasonable amount of time, with a decent bill of fare for food and beverage at a reasonable prices. Too much politics and not enough voices heard from the public who support the airport.

• I am sure we have not heard the last of this story, but it appears to be taking a good direction. With all this conflict, the process should start over for the food and retail contracts. When winners protest a decision in their favor, then something is wrong......What has happened to common sense and seeing there needs to be a do-over?

• Trutanich obviously has a conflict of interest here!! What is going on? He is a joke! Where are his priorities...?!!

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