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

[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?