US Airways to charge US$7 for pillows and blankets

[Bulldog]

TEMPE, Ariz. - If you want a pillow and blanket in coach on US Airways, it's going to cost you US$7.

US Airways said Thursday it will begin charging for its "Power-Nap Sack" on Feb. 16. It's following the lead of JetBlue Airways, which announced a similar policy last summer.

Airlines are adding fees on checked luggage and now pillows and blankets to raise more money as they battle a downturn in travel caused by the recession. US Airways reported that January traffic fell 6.2 per cent.
 

Kevin Jackson, a marketing official for Tempe-based US Airways, said selling the pillows and blankets "is a natural extension of our 'pay for what you choose and use' model we began rolling out last year."

Jackson said the sleep kit was an affordable way for passengers to increase their comfort while flying.

The kits include a 34-by-60-inch fleece blanket, a neck pillow, eye shades, foam ear plugs and a $10-off coupon for items in the SkyMall catalog. They come in a fleece drawstring bag embroidered with the airline's logo.

The airline said it will stop handing out free pillows and blankets in coach on domestic flights. Customers in first class and in Envoy and Economy class on transatlantic flights will continue getting complimentary pillows and blankets.

The kits won't be available on US Airways Express.

For customers who can't wait until Feb. 16 for their own US Airways-embroidered nap kit, the company said they went on sale Thursday at the airline's website.

http://travel.canoe.ca/Travel/News/2009/02/05/8281851-ap.html

[bmnichol]

WestJet sells theirs for $7 also. Not sure about Air Canada.

[Milli]

 That sleep kit is pretty reasonably priced IMO.  I have no problem at all paying for extras like this and meals as long as it keeps the basic ticket price down.

[Bulldog]

Do you think they get to keep them ?

[bmnichol]

Yes, you buy it. I comes in a sealed plastic bag and you take it away with you. The pillow is pretty flat and the blanket is maybe a little nicer than those thin ones they used to have on Westjet. (But not much heavier).

[Bulldog]

Well if you get to keep the that ok, thanks bmnichol

[flopnfly]

I might consider buying it for a transatlantic flight, but I wouldn't bother for a 3 or 4 hour flight.

I used to have one of the vibrating neck pillows that I would take on the plane.  It wasn't that comfy though.

[Gambitt]

Now, if you could buy one for the "Dreamliner" who's seats fold out into beds, then I'd definately take one.

But overall, I do like the idea of charging for "extras" to keep the fares lower for the rest of us. 

[Bulldog]

Unless it's sciba gear right ?

[That Woman]

I whis they had those on Sunwing.  It would have been great for Logan who slept all the way home