Jet Blue to charge for pillows and blankets - LAME...

[johnsonrod]

This has to be a joke - a "comfort kit." No? When will Jet Blue start charging for bathroom use? I guess you could always increase revenue by lowering the cabin temperature...


New JetBlue charge: $7 pillow, blanket

Airline company says comfort kit is latest item to boost revenue amidst high fuel costs, joining charges for leg room, checked bag, and ticket change.

Carrier says it expects to collect about $40 million from customers buying seats with extra leg room this year.

NEW YORK (AP) -- JetBlue Airways Corp. said Monday it will begin charging customers for pillows and blankets.

The carrier has done away with the recycled blankets and pillows used on its flights, and will begin offering an "eco-friendly" travel blanket and pillow that can be purchased for $7 on flights longer than two hours.
The pair will come in a kit with a $5 coupon to home furnishings retailer Bed Bath & Beyond.

Special fabric technology

The carrier claims the pillow and blanket feature a fabric technology, developed by CleanBrands LLC, that blocks pesky critters like dust mites, mold spores, pollen and pet dander. JetBlue (JBLU) already offers free "Snooze Kits" on overnight flights from the West that include an eyeshade and ear plugs.

But the blanket and pillow kit is the latest in a string of a la carte items the company says are providing a revenue boost to help offset the soaring price of jet fuel.

A JetBlue spokeswoman declined to predict how much the sale of these kits will bring in, saying that the company only provides revenue details for specific items in its quarterly earnings conference calls.

Fees add up

The carrier said last month it expects to collect about $40 million from customers buying seats with extra leg room this year. Its $15 fee for a second checked bag is expected to translate into about $20 million in additional revenue. A ticket change fee, which doubled to $100 in the second quarter, is part of a "basket of fee changes" expected to produce about $50 million in extra revenue in 2008.
Shares fell a penny to $5.25 in morning trading

 

[WateryGrave]

And what glorious company do you work for that doesn't charge extra fees and hands out free pillows and blankets?

 

[CA1900]

This has to be a joke - a "comfort kit." No? When will Jet Blue start charging for bathroom use? I guess you could always increase revenue by lowering the cabin temperature...

I wish they would! I'm about ready to slip a $20 bribe to the cockpit crew of every airliner I ride on just to fire up the f---ing APU for boarding. The sweatbox-until-engine-start routine is getting really old.

 

[johnsonrod]

And what glorious company do you work for that doesn't charge extra fees and hands out free pillows and blankets?

Dude, if you don't think it's lame you are out of touch. I bet SWA won't charge for the same. Sure, everyone's charging extra fees for bags and drinks/snacks (my regional is as well). Now JB charges for pillows and blankets in a "comfort kit." Nice marketing phrase. Some people will likely freeze and be uncomfortable rather than pay $7 but I guess they are SOL and shouldn't expect the basics anymore... Nice to see that JB is the trailblazer in these types of extraneous fees beyond baggage.

What's next, charging for the use of lights above your seats? Suggest that one to management and get a bonus.

 

[Bavarian Chef]

Dude, if you don't think it's lame you are out of touch. I bet SWA won't charge for the same. Sure, everyone's charging extra fees for bags and drinks/snacks (my regional is as well). Now JB charges for pillows and blankets in a "comfort kit." Nice marketing phrase. Some people will likely freeze and be uncomfortable rather than pay $7 but I guess they are SOL and shouldn't expect the basics anymore... Nice to see that JB is the trailblazer in these types of extraneous fees beyond baggage.

What's next, charging for the use of lights above your seats? Suggest that one to management and get a bonus.

WTF do you really care? Really? Go drink a little 5 dollar coke outta that thimble your airline calls a cup and chill.

Fees are fees, and they have been coming out like gangbusters lately. So what if you have to pay to bite a pillow. Easy Francis.

BTW, Airways now charging for coffee. The humanity. Can you believe those a-holes?

 

[chperplt]

As I said in the other thread on the topic, I think this is a great idea.

After 20/20 or Dateline did an episode on the disgusting crud on airline pillows and blankets, It's a nice option to be able to purchase something you know is clean.

 

[chperplt]

Dude, if you don't think it's lame you are out of touch. I bet SWA won't charge for the same. Sure, everyone's charging extra fees for bags and drinks/snacks (my regional is as well). Now JB charges for pillows and blankets in a "comfort kit." Nice marketing phrase. Some people will likely freeze and be uncomfortable rather than pay $7 but I guess they are SOL and shouldn't expect the basics anymore... Nice to see that JB is the trailblazer in these types of extraneous fees beyond baggage.

What's next, charging for the use of lights above your seats? Suggest that one to management and get a bonus.

You can always bring a blanket with you in your carry on, and pick up a blow up pillow in the airport.

When people start paying the required yield, the airlines will go back to giving things away. Until then, we're going to work in a piecemeal industry.

 

[elag777]

You can always bring a blanket with you in your carry on, and pick up a blow up pillow in the airport.

When people start paying the required yield, the airlines will go back to giving things away. Until then, we're going to work in a piecemeal industry.

Yes you can, and it won't cost you seven bucks either! It'll cost a whole lot more!

 

[johnsonrod]

WTF do you really care? Really? Go drink a little 5 dollar coke outta that thimble your airline calls a cup and chill.

Fees are fees, and they have been coming out like gangbusters lately. So what if you have to pay to bite a pillow. Easy Francis.

BTW, Airways now charging for coffee. The humanity. Can you believe those a-holes?

Francis? I am entitled to my opinion dumba$$. Let's find ways to pi$$ off passengers even more so they find alternative ways to travel. I mentioned this new fee to friend and her response was "how cheap." I guess JB doesn't care how it is perceived nowadays.

Sure, it's a fancy pillow - great. How about providing regular pillows and blankets to other passengers who don't require the fancy pillows/blankets but want to stay comfortable or warm? I guess that's asking too much these days as aviation becomes more of a commodity. Now I know why the fractionals continue to do well (and I wish one would give me a call).

 

[BEECH-SLAPPED]

I wish they would! I'm about ready to slip a $20 bribe to the cockpit crew of every airliner I ride on just to fire up the f---ing APU for boarding. The sweatbox-until-engine-start routine is getting really old.

My, how we forget our roots! :laugh: Just messing with ya man......

 

[Bavarian Chef]

Let's find ways to pi$$ off passengers even more so they find alternative ways to travel.

Yes, getting wedged into a EMB-145, Mr. Airline, in NO WAY pi$$es people off. That being said, thanks for the ride home!

Hey, really -- what's the beef? I could care less myself. Buy it or don't buy it. If you were such an astute follower of JB, you would have known that we stopped even carrying pillows and blankets last year (or was it earlier). There are a few rolling around for transcons, but they were few and far between. Now I guess they at least have a choice.

 

[Lebowski]

I mentioned this new fee to friend and her response was "how cheap." I guess JB doesn't care how it is perceived nowadays.

Fortunately, good companies don't make sales and marketing decisions based on what your friend has to say.

Does your friend also think these things are "cheap":

• Most legroom in coach of any domestic airline
• Free DirecTV
• Free XM radio
• Unlimited free snacks
• Unlimited free non-alcoholic beverages

I wouldn't call JB cheap. It's a good value.

If you and your friend don't want to buy a pillow and a blanket, don't. At least not everyone else has to subsidize your use of a dirty pillow and dirty blanket with higher ticket prices. If you use it, you pay for it. If you don't, you don't.

Maybe we should all take more pay cuts and benefit cuts to provide free everything, so that your friend won't think JB is being cheap.

Actually, there's always something to complain about, isn't there?

 

[johnsonrod]

It's not just me....

This was just mentioned on CNBC (5:35PM EST) and the guest commentator said, "Sounds like they stay up late at night thinking of ways to make air travel less tolerable." Another person sitting at the table said it, "sounded like one of those Atlantic City scams." So, I ain't alone... Perception is important and most people will perceive this as a cheap move regardless of the economic circumstances.

 

[regionalcap]

I think it is a good business move. Heck, a lot of airlines have done away with providing pillows at all. I think many will gladly pay this fee on a long flight. I am sure it is better than those free pillows anyway.

 

[Bavarian Chef]

Perception is important and most people will perceive this as a cheap move regardless of the economic circumstances.

And they will most certainly stop flying on JB or at the very least not pay for the pillow & blanket. They will "vote" with their pocketbook, or not.

 

[J32driver]

I'd rather pay $7 for a pillow and blanket and get a free coke.... than have to pay $2 for a coke and get a free snot covered blanket and pillow that has been onboard the airplane since Orville and Wilbur put it there!

 

[waterski]

Hey Johnson you’re not required to buy the DAM pillow if you don’t want to.

 

[kwick]

If they go out of business will their tickets be honored by other carriers?

 

[Hair-on-Fire]

Dude, if you don't think it's lame you are out of touch.

Since you're so "in touch" why don't you tell us what airlines currently offer free pillows and blankets?

AFAIK, it's only Continental and SWA. We stopped offering them (mostly) over a year ago. So now we're improving the product by at least offering the option of a nice pillow and blanket for people who want them. IT'S BETTER THAN MOST ALL THE OTHER AIRLINES ARE OFFERING. Understand?

 

[Heavy Set]

Since you're so "in touch" why don't you tell us what airlines currently offer free pillows and blankets?

AFAIK, it's only Continental and SWA. We stopped offering them (mostly) over a year ago. So now we're improving the product by at least offering the option of a nice pillow and blanket for people who want them. IT'S BETTER THAN MOST ALL THE OTHER AIRLINES ARE OFFERING. Understand?

Wow, you JB guys are pretty defensive. I agree that it's bad PR when airline prices are rising and service levels are rapidly declining. I saw Brian Williams on NBC mention it tonight and he started the segment by saying something like, "And if airline travel couldn't get any worse..." Doesn't sound like a strong endorsement. I even saw it mentioned on my local news.

Just curious, does Virgin America offer free pillow/blankets or do they charge for them?