WSJ: Latest Inflight Fee: $2 for a Pillow

[question everything]

The Wall Street Journal

THE MIDDLE SEAT
By SCOTT MCCARTNEY

Latest Inflight Fee: $2 for a Pillow

Fuel Costs, Competition Spur Airlines to Yank More Perks And Add Even More Fees
November 22, 2005; Page D5

The fee frenzy at many big U.S. airlines is increasing: as of this month, a pillow on most Air Canada flights costs you $2. And a seat in the exit row (with more leg room) on most United flights now has a price tag of between $24 and $99, unless you're an elite-level frequent flier.

That isn't all. It costs $2 (plus tip) to use the services of a skycap to check a bag at some airports on American Airlines, UAL Corp.'s United Airlines, Northwest Airlines, US Airways and Alaska Airlines, a division of Alaska Air Group Inc. Northwest is charging $1 for some trail mix to go with your beverage. Both American and Northwest have stopped serving pretzels to coach passengers on many domestic flights. And keep your wallet handy when you head to the airport this Thanksgiving -- several carriers recently started charging $25 to confirm a seat on a different flight if you want to get home early.

(snip)

As a result, the legacy airlines have become no-frill airlines while the discounters such as Southwest Airlines and jetBlue Airways now offer more perks and free services. For example, most domestic flights on American, Northwest and Delta Air Lines don't have pillows anymore. But Southwest does.

(snip)

So far, carriers have been able to keep adding fees without alienating customers. Most customers just shrug, especially since elite-level frequent fliers are often immune to fees and are plied with added perks like first-class upgrades and preferred seating... Airlines know they risk irritating customers. Continental Airlines, for one, is trying to stand apart by continuing to serve meals and supply pillows and free curbside baggage checking.

(snip)


• Write to Scott McCartney at [e-mail]

URL for this article:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB113261739141903569.html (subscription)

[Matariki]

1. I just flew round trip from Seattle to Philadelphia for under $200

I could care less about being served airplane food. i ate in the airport before my flight. If you think about it, it's a bit of a miracle anyway to be able to go 3000 miles in a few hours, and for a couple hundred dollars.

[Jim__]

2. If I'm traveling less than 1000 miles - I drive.

Fuck the airlines.

[BloodyWilliam]

3. Continental might still serve food, but they still bite.

I don't need a meal. I love JetBlue. I carry on my own food (or eat elsewhere if the flight isn't too long), I have satellite TV in my own seat, it's comfortable, reliable, it's great. I just wish they had more hubs/airports.

[MADem]

And they didn't give passenger personal info to DHS...n/t

[MADem]

4. Dupe, sorry