US Airways to charge $7 for pillows and blankets

[Tab]

Source: Associated Press


TEMPE, Ariz. – If you want a pillow and blanket in coach on US Airways, it's going to cost you $7.

US Airways said Thursday it will begin charging for its "Power-Nap Sack" on Feb. 16. It's following the lead of JetBlue Airways, which announced a similar policy last summer.

Airlines are adding fees on checked luggage and now pillows and blankets to raise more money as they battle a downturn in travel caused by the recession. US Airways reported that January traffic fell 6.2 percent.

Kevin Jackson, a marketing official for Tempe-based US Airways, said selling the pillows and blankets "is a natural extension of our 'pay for what you choose and use' model we began rolling out last year."

Jackson said the sleep kit was an affordable way for passengers to increase their comfort while flying.

The kits include a 34-by-60-inch fleece blanket, a neck pillow, eye shades, foam ear plugs and a $10-off coupon for items in the SkyMall catalog. They come in a fleece drawstring bag embroidered with the airline's logo.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090205/ap_on_bi_ge/us_airways_pillow_fees

[GodlessBiker]

1. And they are going to lower the temperature of the cabin 10 degrees.

[fudge stripe cookays]

2. Pretty soon...

they're going to charge extra for you to be able to travel INSIDE the plane. :eyes:

[democrat in Tallahassee]

3. is it extra to ditch into a river? n/t

[sweettater]

4. do you get to keep them??????????????

:bounce:

[libnnc]

5. gotta post this classic again

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QCz8he36hsk

[Psephos]

14. thanks! great clip n/t

[Dem2theMax]

16. OMG. I could not stop laughing. Tears streaming down my face.

I needed a laugh like that. THANK YOU for posting the link! :rofl:

[dixiegrrrrl]

19. Oh jeez..I remember that......

:rofl: :rofl:


ty

[appleannie1]

6. Just something else to now put in my carry on alongside handpacked sandwich.

[HockeyMom]

7. I have a nice down coat with a hood

I zip off the hood and use it as a pillow. The coat makes a very nice comforter.

[Jkid]

8. You might as well take Amtrak.

At least they're not pulling this crap.

[MadMaddie]

9. Fuck em.. I take my own pillow and blanket anyway

They both fit in my backpack with a book, a snack and my headphones.

[Ian David]

10. If You Don't Care, Fly U.S. Air. n/t

[Ediacara]

11. Wow, that TOTALLY makes me want to fly the 100% late airline even more

:eyes:

[aquart]

12. Why would anyone fly anymore?

It wasn't that pleasant to begin with. Now....

[jmowreader]

13. Airline pillows are basically useless anyway

In the 1970s, MAD Magazine did an article on new ways to charge airline passengers...one of them was "by weight" Bigger people need more fuel to lift them, so they weighed you and charged you by the pound.

They also had "passenger dependent" equipment--if 400 people showed up to fly they'd use a 747, and if one showed up they'd bring out a biplane.

[Earth_First]

15. Next, they'll charge you for the crew to unlock the overhead oxygen mask "just in case" n/t

[Oldtimeralso]

18. No They Are Equipped With Slots That Only Accept $50 Bills n/t

[JI7]

17. are you allowed to bring your own ?

[riderinthestorm]

20. You know, as a small biz owner, this doesn't make me crazy.

I know the "nickel and dime" approach makes SOME people crazy, I believe that most consumers want to pay for the services THEY need. I would rather save $7 on my airfare, anywhere, than to ASSume that I'd get a blanket and pillow upon demand. Think about it. The airline has to pay some corp $$$ to provide the airline with enough pillows and blankets for every passenger. Yet most never use that.

But the rest of us pay for those unused blankets and pillows.

I know this seems petty but that's just the way it is in this economy. As a small biz owner, I know, first hand that it's about every little bit.

Personally, I prefer "my" food than airline food. I always buy a drink but the food? Never. I wear my "extra" clothes/coat to ensure I only have a carry-on so "no blanket without paying" shit doesn't impact me.

I'd rather see discount airlines like Jet Blue carry on with their excellent service, AND begin a la carte service, than fold. YMMV. JMHO. I HATE driving 14 hours from Chicago to Rochester, NY to visit my inlaws and my husband's family. I'll take a lot of deprivation to cut that transportation time to 2-3 hours instead without the stress of driving, for example.

[regnaD kciN]

21. And how much for wetsuits and snorkels...?

:evilgrin: