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American Airlines to remove free blankets - wants $8 to keep you warm
Well, I hate to say that it is now "official", but American Airlines really has entered into the territory of the low cost carrier - by charging for their blankets. The new charge goes into effect on May 1st, and is just another fee facing passengers.
According to the airline, they are introducing the fee based on "customer surveys". Unless that survey asked passengers for ways they'd like to receive less service for the same amount of money, I'm not sure where they got the kind of input that would force them to remove free blankets.
Of course, removing free blankets wouldn't be so bad, if the airlines managed to keep the temperature on their planes at a comfortable level - alas - even though you are sitting inside a computer operated fly-by-wire jet plane, technology still has not evolved enough to keep the cabin comfy.
The new charge will apply to flights two hours and longer from the US to Canada, Mexico, Hawaii, the Caribbean and Central America. Shorter flights don't get blankets, and long haul flights are apparently safe (for the time being). I guess the time has come for us all to bring our own Snuggie?
As always, we love to hear from our readers, so what do you think?
| Doesn't bother me | |
|---|---|
| Very annoying - I'm always cold on the plane | |
| No opinion |
Filed under: North America, United States, Airlines
Reader Comments (Page 8 of 8)
Jose Feb 10th 2010 1:23PM
Good Thing I Always Take My Snuggie Everytime Im On The Plane.
Darla Feb 10th 2010 7:37PM
This is already being done on US Airways. I just flew out from Fort Lauderdale to Phoenix and there was a fee for blankets. They are now a barebones carrier and the flight was not a pleasant one. Charges for everything but water....if you wanted it in a cup. Snacks were very expensive and cocktails even worse. At $20 a checked bag this airline must be making money hand over fist! Please build it into the ticket...I want to know upfront what I am getting. Service was lousy!
Fred Feb 10th 2010 2:02PM
Bring back the days of Freddie Laker and his low-fare airlines. Thats when economy class fares made sense, but, attracted too many fliers from the larger domestic lines.
Eugene Marcus Feb 10th 2010 1:51PM
Is it just me or are there other people out there that would pay a little more (say $100 for a 3-4 hour flight or more), to not be nickled and dimed to death by the airlines. I'm sure there must be other people out there that would pay a little more for a little more. I can't afford 1st class, and wouldn't want to pay two to three times more than everyone else just so I can feel important. However, I would be willing to pay for more seat room, free meals, free luggage, etc. just to feel again that a flight is something to look forward to, not just like riding a bus!
Airlines have you looked into this? I don't mean business class, more money, for 2 more inches. Something like Braniff's Texas Air plan in the 80's, leather seats, comfortable leg room, free dinners, drinks, blankets, direct flight, etc. I would book a plane in a minute say for $100-$150 more just for the convenience. Are there more people like me out there?
Robert Feb 10th 2010 5:36PM
I think it is a great idea. Most airlines are bleeding money and on the verge of bankruptcy. Don't ridicule them for trying to keep their heads above the water without raising prices. My gosh, we are flying far cheaper than we were 25-30 years ago. While everything else has gone up about 4-5 hundred percent in that time.
This will keep all the blanker hoarders from scarfing the few blankets up even before they are seated.
steve Feb 10th 2010 1:56PM
Simple, Just bring your own..
dave Feb 10th 2010 2:04PM
THATS WHY THEY KEEP IT COLD ON THE PLANE,,,SO YOU RENT A BLANKET.
Fred H Feb 10th 2010 2:19PM
No big deal. Just do as I do. Bring your own blanket with you. The blankets they give (Rent) to you are more like oversized napkins anyway.
Rich Feb 10th 2010 2:53PM
They're charging for stewardesses as well:
American Airlines To Charge For Blankets, Stewardesses
http://www.finitetimes.com/american-airlines-to-charge-for-blankets-stewardesses/
Jim Feb 10th 2010 2:37PM
Cheapskates! Everyone should now bring a blanket or sleeping bag on board and let them find a place to store them. And let them flop in the aisles. If they REALLY want to save money charge travelers for their ticket based upon their weight--a base ticket charge for everyone then additional charge for each pound over a certain base weight. That would discourage the fat slobs from flying and make more room for "normal-sized" passengers
Brian Workman Feb 10th 2010 3:45PM
Above 10,000 feet; you'll have to pay extra, for Oxygen!
The Cabin heat has been turned off, to save on green house gasses!
There is only, one blanket available per adult!
You'll have to pay extra for each seatbelt on take off, and also on landing! Twice!!
Don't forget to bring your quarters, for the use of the on board toilet!
Air Sickness Bags are $5.00 each!
Welcome on the freindly airlines! PS- It cost extra to roam about the plane in flight!
SteveInChicago Feb 10th 2010 5:55PM
Can't say. I voted with my feet away from American Airlines years ago. I have to fly them a few times a year, but for now, I'm amazed that:
1) They are still in business when they resort to stupid nickel and dime pricing like this
and
2) They seemingly have managed to staff an entire airline with people who were beaten with model planes in childhood.
It's actually really simple. We haven't let airlines go out of business, and, as a result, there is no incentive for decent ones to take their place. In any other industry, competitors stake out positions. Some are high cost-high quality, some are low cost-low quality. Airlines are the only industry where everyone stakes out the low cost-low quality sector, despite the fact that they serve an affluent clientele and Southwest has nailed down both low cost and good quality.
Trust me, the next plan will be to reduce the cabin to nipple-hardening temperatures to force their customers to pay for those blankets, just like most airlines know that if you're going to go somewhere that is far enough to fly, you just might want to check a bag on the trip. We're to the point where I'm convinced that airlines lose money on their flights and make it up through predatory pricing when a customer has to make changes to their plans.
coni Feb 10th 2010 6:47PM
If the blankets were clean, I guess a small fee would be ok. (Not $8.00.) They never have enough blankets. Maybe now they will if they think they can make money.
Rebecca May 5th 2010 10:01PM
My son, an active duty Marine just flew to Hawaii today on AA, a 9 hour flight for change of duty station. He doesn't have a credit card and took cash. He didn't know about the "plastic required" rule. They refused to give him a blanket or pillow or any food. The kid in the seat behind him cried and kicked his seat the whole way! He arrived exhausted and starving in Honolulu. Disgusting that the airline would treat active duty military that way IN UNIFORM no less! He will not be flying them again if he can help it and they just lost all our families business too!