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As airlines try wringing every last nickel from passengers, word comes out now that JetBlue (NASDAQ:JBLU) will begin charging for blankets and pillows.

The airline that prided itself on comfy seats, television for each passenger and a glib, flippant employee style of service announced that the move would allow passengers to take home a blanket and pillow set plus receive a $5 coupon at Bed, Bath and Beyond, an online retailer our reviewer panned for being “amateurish” with shipping costs starting at $5.95 and a limited selection.

Oops.

We don’t have the answers on how airlines can stay solvent given current economic pressures, but we’re willing to bet that if passengers are turning up their nose at a $7 sandwich that a $7 pillow is not an effective way to cut costs.  Doing away with the blankets seems a sound idea.  Maybe JetBlue, which flies relatively short legs — all under 6 hours — can ignore settling consumers in for a long nap.

Posted under Travel

Northwest Airlines, just days after purchasing an operating certificate to perhaps launch a subsidiary airline, has announced that it will begin charging passengers who want to sit in “premium” coach seats.

The company said that it would charge passengers an additional $15 to sit in exit rows or other seats that traditionally have more leg room. Northwest did say that passengers in its most elite frequent flier statuses would continue to have the opportunity to upgrade their seat at no additional charge.

Posted under Customer Service, Uncategorized

Officials at Independence Air scrambled over the holiday weekend and into the New Year, fielding calls from concerned travelers who were startled to find that the struggling carrier’s long rumored bankruptcy was imminent.

“While we’ve been clear in reminding everyone that this was a possibility, we remained optimistic that there would be a way to avoid reaching this juncture. To date there has not been a firm offer put forward that meets the financial criteria necessary to continue operations as is. Therefore, we are voluntarily discontinuing scheduled service as of Thursday evening,” said Indpendence Air Chairman Kerry Skeen.

The company is frantically trying to rebook travelers, either to come home earlier or on other carriers. According to a 2002 “guidance” statement issued by the Department of Transpation, “passengers holding valid paper or electronic tickets from insolvent or bankrupt carriers for a particular route are entitled at minimum to transportation on a space-available basis on any airline currently serving that route. Airlines may recover costs of providing the transportation such as the direct cost of rewriting a ticket and meal costs.”

Independence, which was formed from what was once known as Atlantic Coast Airways, had been a United regional partner in its former incarnation. In past years (and event past weeks), the airline has spurned offers from United and Mesa Airlines among others to be acquired. Industry experts anticipate that most of the airline will be liquidated although some portion of the airline may exist in bankruptcy protection with minimal assets and eventually become a minor regional carrier again?

The bad news for consumers: Areas heavily served by Independence, especially at its home hub of Washington Dulles (IAD) , will likely suffer price increases due to the reduced competition.

Posted under Travel

Airline pilots continue to stay in the news as beleaguered and bankrupt Delta Airlines attempts to wring concessions from its unionized pilots. The Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) had initially offered a concession package approaching $100 million, but stating that it needed much more, Delta filed a motion this week to have the Bankruptcy Court void its agreement with the pilots. If granted, Delta’s pilots will lose the collective bargaining agreement they had and the airline will be able to force wage concessions.

Even more troubling was the recent testimony on Capitol Hill from ALPA President Captain Duane E. Woerth, a Northwest Airlines pilot. Captain Woerth testified before a Senate committee that ““Bone-crushing pilot fatigue, and the mental errors it leads to, is still one of the largest threats to aviation safety. Sixteen-hour domestic duty days–even longer with more transpacific international operations–are facts of life for airline pilots. Irregular shifts, all-night operations, and significant circadian rhythm challenges all contribute to pilot fatigue.

“With all the contractual work rule concessions that have occurred since 9/11, a higher percentage of pilots are flying more hours and working more days with longer duty periods than at any other time in recent history. No matter what this committee or the Senate may decide to do with the Age 60 Rule, the current flight and duty time rules affecting pilot fatigue need to be enhanced, not weakened.”

Add disgruntled over pay to the “bone-crushing fatigue” cited by the union and one wonders how friendly the skies will be.

Posted under Travel