More Airlines to Charge for Blankets & Pillows

Posted by Tracy Stewart on Monday, August 11, 2008

Now that checked bag fees have quickly become the norm among cash-poor carriers, are pay-to-lay blankets and pillows bound to be the next big thing? It was only last week that JetBlue announced plans for $7 blankets and pillows aboard flights exceeding 2 hours, and now comes word that US Airways will soon follow. The price of their kit has yet to be determined, but - unless we're talking a 4 zillion thread count fancy-pants cotton - it's probably somewhere in the same $7 ballpark as JetBlue.

Personally, after a flight home last week where I encountered what was probably the saddest looking, hardest working, airplane blanket in the history of all airplane blanketry (no, really, it was bad), shelling out a few bucks for a fresh one doesn't sound so bad to me. Heck, I would have paid $7 just for a pair of salad tongs to remove this blanket from my floor space without having to use my actual human hands!

What about you? Would you be willing to part with $7 for a clean new blanket and pillow? Or do you prefer to cart along your own sleepytime stuff from home? Feel free to discuss below!

plain and simple, wear a sweater.and pack very, very lite.and eat before you get on the plane.

by michael a matarazzo on Monday, August 18, 2008

Count me as another person who will be bringing his own airplane comfort-riding "kit." I bought an eye shield and a pillow from Brookstone two weeks ago, and I will be buying a blanket very soon.

I fly every week. It used to Newark-San Francisco and now Detroit-San Francisco. Continental's blankets are a lot cleaner than Northwest's. Almost every time I put a Northwest blanket over me I needed to make sure it was at least 6 inches below my chin or else my chin would itch. Yuck! The charging for blankets and pillows will generate more revenue, no doubt, but NOT FOR THE AIRLINES!

by Leon on Friday, August 15, 2008

WE are bringing the oil companies down by not using as much gas and many have found out it was not as much of a hardship as they thought. In fact many have now found permanent ways to have fun wothout driving so they lost people permanently. Hey Airlines... keep getting greedy and we will fix you too. Fight back people. We ahve been too soft and see what is happening in this country?

by paul on Friday, August 15, 2008

For $7 it should be a brand new blanket and I should get to keep it. Then maybe in a pinch I would, although I usually bring my own blankie.
I miss hot meals though--bad as the food usually was. I'd pay extra for that.

by Anne on Thursday, August 14, 2008

I am currently in China. I have flown often on their airlines. They are clean, on time, and provide real service with a smile. Blankets AND Pillows, a real airline meal, and drinks are all part of the ticket price. And they have real service... did I mention that before? The US airlines - with the exception of Southwest - SUCK! The sooner they go out of business and let a professional crew of management take over the better. Oh, and I say this as a professional pilot with many years and thousands of hours experience. Air China, anytime - US Air, No Way!

by jack on Thursday, August 14, 2008

I've made myself pretty unpleasant on some flights where the flights are freezing. I've also found that, like buildings, planes have hot spots and cold spots. Invariably, I seem to end up in a cold spot. My technique is just to keep complaining -- and wear lots of clothes.

by Diane Taylor on Wednesday, August 13, 2008

Never will I pay for a USED blanket or pillow... no, thanks. I will pack my own in my carryon and be much healthier and more comfortable.

by Claudia on Wednesday, August 13, 2008

IF they charged $1.00 to watch tv as they do for the head sets nobody would care and they would be way ahead

by mike on Wednesday, August 13, 2008

AirTrans from Phoenix to Hawaii charges $10 for a package that includes a blow-up pillow, blanket, and eye shades.

REDICULOUS ! ! !

by Linda on Wednesday, August 13, 2008

I say bring your own blanket, pillow, drinks and snacks-why would anyone fork out that much money for that for pillow and blanket and probrably wants you to return them after your when you reach your destination-I remember flying (1st time) on a 12 hours flight on TWA to Hawaii, they were showing a movie, which you needed the headset to listen to it, they were charging $2 for them and when we landed in Hawaii they wanted them back! That was last time I did that.

by Robbin on Wednesday, August 13, 2008