In another example of airlines charging for items that used to be free, JetBlue announced Monday it will begin charging $7 for a blanket and pillow on its flights. Travelers can keep the blanket and pillow after the flight. The move again casts a spotlight on airline fees and new fees that customers think is "nickel-and-diming." ABC News says on their web site, "the fee is the latest in a long series as the airlines struggle to find ways to offset rising costs. Some airlines have already removed all the pillows and blankets from their flights to save weight. But JetBlue, known best for its free live satellite TV, will now actually charge for the once-free amenity."
"Great, so now I'm gonna starve AND not sleep," said Audrey Morris, 56, of Wantagh, Long Island. Kunal Kadakia, a 22-year-old financial consultant at IBM, says the fee is "ridiculous," noting it comes against the backdrop of other fees throughout the industry. "These airlines have dropped the bar so low, I can't imagine what would be another step lower." JetBlue says customers can bring their own pillows and blankets if they don't want to pay the $7. US Airways said Tuesday that they also have a pay-for-pillow plan on the horizon.
All of the new fees are bringing in hundreds of millions in revenue for the airlines. JetBlue said they expect to make $20 million from their $15 second checked bag fee and $40 million from a fee that passengers can pay for extra legroom. (New York Daily News)
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