This morning on the news I heard a story that made me mad: how some airlines are now charging for blankets.
At first, I thought maybe I was dreaming. After all, I wasn’t quite awake. My husband had turned on the TV to see if he could get a weather update. I was in that just-waking-up haze.
But, nope. I Googled it and right off I found a story from the Dallas Morning News: American Airlines to charge $8 for blanket, pillow.
But wait, it gets better. I went on to read that they won’t even provide blankets on North American flights come May 1. However, on flights over two-hours they’ll have some on hand –for $8.
But $8 buys you more than just a blanket on American Airlines. The blue fleece blanket will come in a plastic pouch along with an inflatable neck pillow and a coupon for $10 off a $30 purchase at Bed, Bath & Beyond. (Which to me stinks of a company more concerned with marketing partnerships than customer service.)
I don’t travel by air very much anymore. When we do it’s usually via Southwest, which nixed offering blankets entirely last year due to fears of spreading H1N1.
That I can understand, but charging $8? (JetBlue and US Airways offer similar pillow and blankie “kits” for $7.)
Really? In a recession? Like charging for luggage, sounds more like a ploy to nickel and dime the consumer to me.
Don’t get me wrong. It’s not that every time I’ve flown the first thing I was excited to do was cover myself in a blanket formerly used by who knew who with who knew what cooties. But I can remember a few times I was more than grateful to have something to wrap around me –like times when we were stuck on the tarmac for hours , or at the gate, and the cabin was freezing cold.
However, now a blanket is one more thing to remember to pack in a carry-on. If you’re even allowed to access your carry-on in-flight, that is. Let’s not forget the chaos the retard who tried to blow up the plane Christmas Day caused travelers after that. Some were denied getting into their carry-ons at all.
That’s why I prefer Haunt Jaunting by car. I’d rather take my chances with the loonies on the road!
Courtney Mroch is a globe-trotting restless spirit who’s both possessed by wanderlust and the spirit of adventure, and obsessed with true crime, horror, the paranormal, and weird days. Perhaps it has something to do with her genes? She is related to occult royalty, after all. Marie Laveau, the famous Voodoo practitioner of New Orleans, is one of her ancestors. (Yes, really! As explained here.) That could also explain her infatuation with skeletons.
Speaking of mystical, to learn how Courtney channeled her battle with cancer to conjure up this site, check out HJ’s Origin Story.
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I’m with you sister! I will not fly unless it’s an absolutely necessity. I drive. But, I admit that I dream of the day we have high speed trains. I would take those in a second, even if they nickle and dime you like planes. I just feel better crashing on land than in the sky.
It is very cheap that they are charging for blankets and pillows, but I’ll always fly if it’s any distance. If the drive is more than 6 hours ,I fly. I was always a little afraid of used pillows in any case. I always imagined someone drooling on the pillow before me. I can wander any cemetery at night but a used pillow will give me nightmares.
Autumnforest: Well, that puts things in perspective! I try not to think about the crashing part, tho (either in the sky or on land). But high speed trains? Oh yeah! That’s be a hoot! Besides, there’s just something romantic about trains. Love ’em!
Jessica: HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! The drooling on the pillow was something I had not thought of. I’m always freaked about lice!
Naaaa, I love driving. I think I told you about the trip Jackie and I took for 24 days straight in 21 states and Canada. You can’t see everything any other way then driving. We visited every notable place on the east coast, which couldn’t have been done any other way and I enjoyed driving.
I hate flying. It takes me maybe two Xanax and three stiff drinks of something at the bar before I get on an airplane. lol Horrible fear of flying.
I’m a ship person anyway. On a ship I get anything I want and especially my favorite surprise animal on my bed before I go nigh, night. Huh Courtney? 🙂
I swear I’m going to set it up so I can die on a ship if I can pull that off. I’m in awe of total freedom, which you only get on the water after land is no where in sight, which is why I love them so much.
$$ for blankies only means that they’re trying to dig up new ideas for revenue. Can we blame them for that with so many out of work and not spending what money they do have for frills like airplanes.
OOOOO! ATrue you’re a traveler after my own heart. And you HAVE been following me! Only a TRUE (your name is so perfect right now!) follower would know how much I adore cruising too. (SO with you on that! Cruising for me is THE ultimate way to travel. Love, love, love, love, LOVE it!)
And I was brought up on road trips, but we also flew. I used to love it, before it got to be such a hassle and people got so grumpy. (It’s the other travelers who annoy me more than the airlines really. So many peep with bad ‘tudes! ACK! Just be happy already!)
But nothing compares to driving. Because there’s so many mini-adventures along the way. THANKS for your comment. Very envious of your 21 States plus Canada adventure!
I’m with all that would rather drive. There is so many cool places in the country to see and you miss it all when you fly. I will fly if I have to and bring my own pillow.