American (Airlines) to charge $8 for blankets, pillows

[Frank Booth]

Source: AP

DALLAS - If you want a pillow and blanket in coach on American Airlines, it's going to cost you.

The airline will charge $8 for a pillow and blanket in coach class for domestic trips and some international flights longer than two hours, beginning May 1. The international flights are to and from Canada, Mexico, Hawaii, the Caribbean and Central America.

----

Huguely said blankets will remain complimentary in premium-class cabins and in all cabins for other international flights.

Read more: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/35302270/ns/travel-news/?gt1=43001

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Just when you thought flying couldn't get any more uncomfortable . . .

[kestrel91316]

1. I guarantee you they will turn the thermostat down, too.

[MercutioATC]

2. Time to start filling carryons with creature comforts.

Set up your own little spa-in-a-seat.

[JDPriestly]

11. Get inflatable pillows at your local drugstore and wear a coat (no matter what weather).

Pile on the outer clothing. Don't try to check baggage. They charge incredible amounts for that.

[kentauros]

34. This probably won't effect me as I wear a jacket indoors even in August.

Because no one seems to know how to properly regulate their a/c temps other than cold! ;)

[ThatsMyBarack]

52. "Spa in a seat"

Good luck getting bottles of stuff onto the plane.

[Divine Discontent]

3. I get to keep them............. right?

[napi21]

4. All the airlines are going to carry this BS far enough that

only the wealthy & business travelers will ever fly!

charging for blankets, pillows, Delta is charging $20.00 for your first checked bag, they charge now if you check your bags at curbside. I truely hope they stay in business because my son works for one of them, but this all sounds like some really bad sales & marketing ideas to me!

[dencol]

5. Flying is much more accessible today.

It does not take much of a stroll down the concourse before realizing it. Not only will this reduce carbon footprints, but it also saves a lot of water as it eliminates the (infrequent) laundering of these blankets and pillows. I would be screaming against fees with you, if these airlines weren't loosing billions every year.

[joeglow3]

42. The airlines should be praised and not condemned.

They are losing billions every year. This makes it clear that the prices should in fact be higher. Frankly, expect the prices to shoot up in the next 5-10 years. And, frankly, I cannot say I expect people to subsidize travel costs. I would be outraged if the companies were making billions and were doing these things simply to make more money. In fact, one could argue this is a better way to make money, as you can choose to not purchase it, thereby keeping the costs down for people without as much money. Thus, they are dealing with thier financial woes in a manner MUCH more equitable and should be praised for doing so.

[dencol]

48. I agree with your points, but I wouldn't praise them.

From my experience, most of the majors are inefficient, do not respect their employees, don't really care about their customers in economy classes, and are chock full of corruption, nepotism, and incompetent managers. Frankly, some of these airlines don't deserve to be in business.

[hyphenate]

57. It's a crock

We bailed the bastards out in 2001, and they've been nickel and diming us to death since. Airlines from other countries can't get away with all the shit that American air carriers do, and in fact we're making things worse here by what they are doing to us.

Pilots? Often paid close to minimum wage. Some pilots are actually on FOOD STAMPS.

Flight attendants? Until relatively recently, all flight attendants were under strict guidelines as to their weight, and even if they went a little higher, they could be fired for not maintaining their weight.

TSA employees? Underpaid!

Bring your OWN meals with you on flights--otherwise PAY for your GD meal.

Can't use your own earphones because nowadays they charge upwards of $5 for their piece of shit plastic phones.

Oh, and don't ask to use the Skyphone, or be prepared to pay dearly!

And we must not forget the "support" facilities--the airport gift store, where you are held hostage with even MORE outrageousness in that department! Or the "lobster packager" who can command triple the cost of what packing a lobster at an outside store can get.

Fuel? Do we REALLY have to go over this one? Our congress refused to set down an imperative to find alternative fuel resources, and the Saudis and other such countries are finding just another front for their terrorism.


I used to travel 4 or 5 times a year, and now, I haven't made a plane trip in 4 years because it's so damned costly. We've gotten used to bending over and asking for "more."

I call bullshit on ANYONE who spews propaganda that the airlines aren't making any kind of a profit, because they are. They just want more of it.

[qazplm]

7. I'd prefer they just raise the price of tickets

that way I'd know what I was paying from the start.

[Gormy Cuss]

39. They're charging fees for all these things to avoid paying taxes.

There are federal excise taxes assessed based on fare price. By unbundling the charge the airlines not only can charge whatever the market will bear but they don't need to pay the 7.5% tax on that revenue either. Win-win for them.

As long as passengers keep agreeing to these "cafeteria plan" service we will see more and more creative ways to charge us for more than the ticket price. Some airlines already charge for same day standby status and certain seats within coach (e.g. front of the section aisle seats, bulkhead and exit rows.)


eta: I can't find an active news source link on the tax issue but this blog describes it:
http://dontmesswithtaxes.typepad.com/dont_mess_with_taxes/2010/01/airline-bags-fly-taxfree.html

[msanthrope]

40. Thanks for the tax info--that's helpful to know! n/t

[MicaelS]

46. That is the way flying started out....

Only the wealthy and business travelers flew. It was to expensive for the common man. Problem is people still expect champagne service on a beer budget.

[defendandprotect]

6. Coin slot bathrooms on planes next? . . . .

[Abq_Sarah]

8. That wouldn't surprise me at all

I'm actually surprised they haven't done it yet.

[The_Casual_Observer]

9. It wouldn't be coins, it would be credit cards only. Even if it was .50

Jet blue has been selling these blankets & things for a long time now.

[harmonicon]

12. Ryan Air suggested it...

I don't know if they ever went through with it though.

[izquierdista]

55. Nah, just put one of these in the back

[JDPriestly]

10. Next time that I need to travel, I think I'll take a tent and rent a car.

It would be cheaper. I would have more leg-room -- and a lot more fun than flying in a plane. Hate flying anyway.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

13. That'll work...

As long as you don't want to go overseas...

:shrug:

[rpannier]

19. You can find non-US Commercial airlines to take you places where the carriers charge

I live in Korea and never fly U.S. commercial airlines.
Their service sucks -- Northwest, United and Delta.
The seats are cramped -- Tokyo to Minneapolis there is almost no room (side to side, or leg room)
Korean Air Chicago to Incheon/Seoul. Lots of leg room, good sized seat and video consul in the seat.
Food is much better on non-U.S. carriers.
The service is much better

Airlines that I have flown that are better than any US carrier:
Korean Air
Japan Air
Nippon Air
Vietnam Airlines
Air France
Lufthansa
MIAT (and that's going some, since it's not a highly regarded airline)
Air Canada (They're not great)
British Air (But, I hear their service has gone downhill in the last 8 years)
Air Lingus

I'm sure if you looked hard enough you could find an airline like Air Mexico (Mexican Air?) and others that fly to the Bahamas, Virgin Islands, etc that don't charge you for having a somewhat pleasant flight.

[drdtroit]

45. I would add Cathay Pacific and LAN. n/t

[rpannier]

49. Agreed

I left out Singapore Air and Qatar Air

[pamela]

18. We bought a camper van a few years ago.

It's really cool-has a bathroom, fridge, full bed, tv, stove, raised roof and fits in a standard parking spot. We're heading out in April for our 4th cross-country trip in 5 years. I hate to fly and am not terribly fond of motel rooms so this is perfect. Drive and sight see all day and then pull into a campground at night and plug the van in. I love it.

[dipsydoodle]

20. Word of warning

Do not attempt to cross the Atlantic in that way. :)

[TheMadMonk]

14. If idiot consumers didn't eat up $1 (+fees and charges) airfares...

...this sort of thing wouldn't be an issue.

It is just one more symptom of the race to the bottom that infects virtually every single aspect of the USA today.

[WriteDown]

37. Yes, its the consumers fault for wanting low airfare. nt.

[TheMadMonk]

58. No. It's the consumer's PARTIAL fault, for thinking that unsustainable...

...pricing is a good thing.

Outside of shifting end of run, obsolete, or about to expire stock, below cost pricing has only one purpose. Forcing the competing vendor with the shallowest pockets out of business. And having achieved this goal the standard practice is to then jack the price up to whatever level the market will bear.

A good example is greengrocers here in Aust. where the big chain supermarkets will often sell popular produce lines at a price below 'farm gate' (let alone warehouse) prices in complexes where a competing (small) buisness exists, but at exhorbitantly high prices a suburb or two over where there is no such competition.

[nilram]

15. Just call 1-800-USA-RAIL or visit amtrak.com. No change fees, no bag charges.

No security line (yet). (But no blankets, and no free food, either.)

[apnu]

33. Wait, you get free food on an airline? Really? who?

I haven't had free food on a flight in over a decade flying American and United mostly. Granted I fly maybe once every 3 years and prefer to drive or take the train before flying. Its too much of a hassle at the airport now and has been too expensive for what you get on a flight.

[kentauros]

35. Wow! Amtrak goes to Hawaii? Cool!

;)

[WriteDown]

38. I once saw an orca in the tunnel. nt

[joeglow3]

44. I have a hard time justifying a guaranteed right to fly to Hawaii cheaply.

[kentauros]

47. I've flown over water all of once: to visit my girlfriend in New Zealand.

Still, I couldn't have gotten there any other way than flying. By ship would have cost more and taken much longer.

The other thing to remember is not everyone goes to Hawaii strictly for pleasure. What about those living on the continent that have family or business in Hawaii? ;)

[TheWatcher]

16. Aspiring DU Member to Request Respectfully For American Airlines To Go FUCK THEMSELVES.

Film At 11.

[MadMaddie]

60. Ha..ha..that's funny!

:rofl:

[tomm2thumbs]

17. I hear when the air masks drop, they have a credit card swiper on the side before they'll work

and you DID buy a separate ticket to slide down this emergency exit slide, didn't you????

[Blandocyte]

26. that's an E ticket ride

subject to even higher charges

[tomm2thumbs]

31. gosh darnit - I used my e tickets already - I'm dunnn fer!

[WVRICK13]

21. OMG

Hawaii is another country.

[pipoman]

23. I believe it is a colony of Japan, no?

[Hubert Flottz]

22. I'll drive...

[ixion]

24. the airlines can take a flying f**k at the moon

I drive by default now, flying only in the case of emergency.

[Vidar]

25. Apparently, they're not going out of business fast enough.

[hatrack]

27. Yes, that $8 blanket will make 6 hrs. in a chair the width of a cafeteria tray MUCH more enjoyable!

:eyes:

[lib2DaBone]

28. Overbooked Flights..Nasty TSA Goons, Body Scans..Baggage Fees..

I wish we had Mag-Lev high speed rail

[customerserviceguy]

29. To paraphrase one of the characters in their ads

"Why airline hate me?"

[Romulox]

30. Domestic airlines are ALREADY protected from foreign competition

as well as massively subsidized by both the states and the Federal government. Not to mention the bailouts they received after 9/11.

And yet they still can't make a profit? Here's a novel thought: air travelers should pay their actual costs themselves, and quit playing the shell game of fobbing off air travel expenses on the rest of us. This game of the $8 pillows just proves the irrationality of it all...

[Javaman]

32. See it's part of a bigger plan to save the airlines!!!

first you strip naked to go through the scanner, then, as a result, you have to fly naked.

Then they turn off the heat.

while your naked ass sits shivering in that seat, you will pay anything to cover it up.

I think 8 bucks is a deal!!!

I really do!

(do I really need to add the sarcasm thing?)

[libnnc]

36. Time to post this blast from the past again

And back then it was SATIRE. Now, it's REALITY.

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

[Haole Girl]

41. LOL!

I never saw that. Thanks for the laugh.

:rofl:

[NJCher]

54. laughed my head off!

I haven't seen anything with Tim Conway for years. I forgot how funny he was.

They were all great, though.


Cher

[Psephos]

56. Pure genius :) n/t

[Rosa Luxemburg]

43. Thieves!

scandalous!

[KamaAina]

50. (facebludgeon) Hawai'i is not an international flight!!

The international flights are to and from Canada, Mexico, Hawaii, the Caribbean and Central America.

Or is American run by birthers now? :shrug:

[Gormy Cuss]

51. You think Hawaii isn't an international destination??????

Next you'll claim that I don't need a passport to visit New Mexico.:D

[pitohui]

62. sure it is, just as canada is a "domestic" destination (tee hee)

these international/domestic designations don't have anything to do w. customs, international borders, etc. they are just oddities of certain airlines

on the former northwest i got all kinds of free upgrades/flights to "domestic" destinations including ALL the canadian provinces but NOT including hawaii

delta has extended the program and i can get free upgrades to such "domestic" destinations as...wait for it...costa rica

why ask why? it's an airline policy, not geography class

[Gormy Cuss]

64. LOL

Costa Rica... is that the 51st state?
:P

[mn9driver]

53. That's OK. You're only paying an average of $3.00 each for your pilots. n/t

.

[MadMaddie]

59. I have a nice roll up blanket that fits in my backpack and

an inflateable pillow. Screw them. Nickel and diming customers. One day the economy will come back and we won't forget.

Meanwhile, Southwest Airlines just needs to put on a commercial about free blankets and pillows and they will get more business.

[pitohui]

63. southwest is not a competitor to american airlines so they can put out all the ads they like

american airlines is actually an airline that flies to places you can't go if you don't fly

southwest is a joke, with no first class cabin, and no service to destinations i can't get to just as well by driving

from my originating airport they also frequently quote me a HIGHER price for domestic tickets than i can get on the legacy airline, where i receive frequent first class upgrades as a thank you for my loyalty, something it's impossible for southwest to give because...wait for it...they don't have a first class cabin to begin with

it's like saying greyhound will pick up more business because of this policy, no, they won't, not from people who are serious repeat flyers in the first place

southwest is welcome to all the business they like from people flying once a year from houston hobby to las vegas...but they are not gonna be able to get me to j'burg, south africa, or narita, japan, or much of anywhere really that i couldn't just as well drive

southwest puts out a lot of ads, and even more manufactured contraversy/publicity...but it's all bullshit if you ask me... and i love the one about how they make persons of size buy two seats -- YET -- the last time i flew them -- they decided the POS could just sit on me instead of buying an appropriately sized seat -- since they don't have a first class cabin, they don't have ANY seats big enough for a fat person and apparently my lap will have to do

fooey on southwest and their bullshit

as for paying $8 for pillow/blankies nobody even wants to touch, much less use...be honest...we're all afraid to take those things out of the wrapper anyway, the sooner that crap is out of our face, the better -- if there is REALLY somebody out there who wants an airline blankie let 'em pay for it and keep the ticket price down for those of us who are can just wrap our own shawl around our shoulders...

a la carte pricing is good for smart travelers who can pack lightly...why should *i* pay more for my ticket because an idiot is too stupid to pack a simple carry-on bag? the guy who is bringing the kitchen sink needs to pay for all the cargo/weight he's shipping

you check two bags, i carry on one small bag, you SHOULD pay more, i have my own pashmina, you want to use the airline's pillow/blanket and laundering service, you SHOULD pay more, etc.

[justabob]

61. Is there anything left They *don't* charge for? nt