Paying For a Pillow

FORGET HOTELS. It’s the airline industry nickel-and-diming today’s travelers. Just purchasing a ticket over the phone or at a counter can cost an extra $10. American, Northwest and United airlines now charge $2 for curbside check-in, and another two bucks for pillow-and-blanket kits.

Dr. Dean Headley, associate professor at Wichita State University and coauthor of the annual “Airline Quality Report,” says consumers are peeved. “If the complaint letters I receive are any indication, they’re quite disappointed,” he says.

Carriers claim they’re only trying to stay airborne. The Bureau of Transportation Statistics reports the airline industry suffered a $37 billion net loss between January 2001 and September 2006. That same span saw four major airlines slip into bankruptcy.

The Airline Transport Association is the industry’s largest trade organization and plays a big role in government decisions on aviation. ATA vice president of communication David Castelveter says charges are becoming more common because cost control is so important.

“The fact that carriers have lost billions of dollars since the 9/11 tragedy tells you fares have never kept pace with cost,” says Castelveter. “Now carriers are finally starting to make money by balancing costs with the price passengers pay.” He also attributes the industry-wide service turbulence to rising jet fuel costs and the entry of competitive low-fare airlines.

The success of newer, no-frills operations has enticed many legacy carriers— the Deltas and Uniteds of the skies—to buy in to the same mentality. Nowadays, it’s hard to expect satisfying service unless you’re willing to spend more for it.

Cynthia Salas, a recent graduate of CETYS University in Mexicali, discovered this on a six-hour American Airlines flight from Mexico City to San Diego. The airline’s à la carte menu—overpriced, in her opinion—consisted of $3 snacks and $5 sandwiches, wraps and salads. She says they were second-rate compared to meals she’s gotten for free on Mexican carriers.

“Airlines have always been a bundle of services,” Headley says. “What they’re doing now is taking that bundle apart and charging for bits and pieces.”

Expect more of this trend. Already being tested: a $50 fee for overweight baggage, and a $1 charge for beverage service. “They’ve gotten pretty creative,” says Headley. “The idea of charging for a checked bag, which has always been complimentary, is under serious consideration by several airlines right now.”

Want a bright side? Eric Palmer—an attorney from New York who recently visited San Diego—won’t miss getting a free meal from an air carrier. He points out airline food was never “gourmet,” and he would gladly forgo it—in lieu of cheaper airfares, and as long as he can pack his own food.

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