$8 for a pillow and blanket
 

Coming soon to the coach section of American Airlines flights longer than 2 hours.

Will be boycotting AA as much as possible.

I have never used a pillow or blanket on a flight. Fairly confident my dad hasn't either, and he is a consultant who spent 4 of the last 6 years flying 40+ weeks per year. I don't have a problem with something like this if it helps to keep airfares low.

8 bucks for a pillow and a blanket is an insult. And it will do squat to keep airfares low. But it will help to bleed customers to other airlines that are not nickel and dimeing to this degree.

Hmmm they just announced today $75 each way houston to newark. That is a darned good price.

They removed them entirely for a while there because of H1N1. 300,000 airmiles in the last 10 years and I've never used one...

And this is why they have to charge $8 for a blanket. While I also find it insulting, things will be a lot worse if several airlines go out of business and there's less competition. I'd be perfectly happy to pay a little more for a ticket and not be nickel and dimed to death over little shh.....tuff.

For 8 bucks, I hope you're buying the pillow and blanket.
I hate that kind of shhh.. tuff ;)

I want flying to be comfortable, gimme one price all in.
Don't try and dazzle me with a 2 dollar ticket and then charge me for water or coffee.
Flying isn't what it used to be anymore.

you're right....it's cheaper.

And as comfortable as taking the bus, if not less.

You have economical and you have cheap.
Economical means you get your money's worth, cheap means you get nothing.


(but hey, not my fight, I don't mind paying a little extra for extra comfort.
And I try and stay away from low budget, cost me nothing but I'll still be paying, cheap azz flights.)

Do you geniuses actually think an airline can be profitable long-term charging what they do for base fares?

Airlines have enormous operating costs - aircraft, taxes, fuel, taxes, rental space at terminals for gates and equipment, taxes, skilled personnel like pilots and mechanics and attendants (who often are union), taxes, etc.

Couple the needs to cover such enormous operating costs with a public-at-large who is largely stupid and generally only sees the bottom line fare and there's an incentive to compete on the basis of that fare, then try to actually crawl into the black by tacking on extras (fees, convenience charges, etc.)

AA is not being "cheap", they're trying to survive. If the current fare wars don't end soon and the price of airline tickets rises to a sustainable level, the industry is going to self-destruct. We've already seen a number of carriers go BK and disappear. This game can't continue, yet they're trying to still appease a vapid public who think it's their right to board a "bus with wings" for a couple hundred bucks and be treated like prima donas the whole way. Sooner or later (probably sooner) this has got to end.

Look at what air travel costs in the rest of the world - it's considerably more expensive than in the U.S. There's a reason.

Blankets are for people with wheels on their suitcases.

Yeah it is.

If you have to have a blanket, just pick up one of those cheap, $6 rolled up fleece blankets that all the stores sell. they are way better than what the airline gives you. they are clean and you will have it forever. it easily fits in a small bag.
Bad enough that all the airlines now have that $25 checked bag fee.

Southwest does not.

I don't need or want the blankets and pillows. It was just more **** I had to move to get in the tiny seat. I would like them to 1) ditch the bag fees or 2) make everyone of these cheap mf'ers check their bag. I mostly fly for work, so I check my bag and bring my laptop bag aboard. I'm tired of people taking that big bag full of 3 oz gels and fluids aboard taking up the whole overhead. Wait in line at baggage claim like the rest of us!

Regarding bag fees... I figure that's a good way to patrol for Al Queda, if they could print it on the ticket or something. "No checked baggage, sir? Since you'll save time at the baggage claim, why don't you just step into this line...."

I recall that flying was a lot nicer back before airlines were deregulated.

Except for the smoke - filled cabins! :)

To be a contrarian, do you realize how much time you are wasting by checking your bag. It probably costs you an hour on a round trip flight standing in line waiting to check or pick up your bag (15 mins in line, 15 mins waiting x2 flights). That's an hour a week if you only go one place. Much more if you have more than one destination. If you fly a lot, it can add a whole week or more to your time spent working over the course of the year.

I've not flown extensively, but on a variety of trips from soccer tournaments to weeks spent in California, Hawaii, and Aruba I have never checked a bag. Everything I have needed has fit into a small duffel bag and a backpack. The duffel goes overhead and the backpack under my seat.

Whatever.

When people go to a web-site to buy a ticket - 99% of the time they buy the cheapest ticket.

At the point of purchase, things like quality of aircraft, luggage fees, food, blankets, training of aircrew counts for very, very little.

(Like the government or the laws of human dignity are going to insure you are treated well..)

Sorry Charlie - you get what you pay for in this life.

POP is right.

I travel all the time for work and have packing for 1 week and under trips down to a science so I don't have to deal with checked or lost bags. Buying a good quality carry-on approved bag was one of the best investments I've made if it'll get me a little extra time not having to wait for the world's slowest ground crew (SEATAC) to get everyone's luggage up to the carousel.