America West FlightFund (Discontinued Program) - $5 Per Checked Bag? Not Yet.....

"America West Airlines is selling ads on ticket jackets, napkins and tray tables and has even considered charging for checked bags and sodas....Officials nixed the idea of ads on the overhead bins, though. There were visions of a NASCAR entry."

"The airline began selling last- minute upgrades to first class a few years ago, and that option now brings in $25 million a year. That's about half of the increase in America West's fuel bill in the fourth quarter."

http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/news/articles/0227airlinescramble27.html

...this year sold the airline 300 Compaq computers for $15 each rather than throwing them out.

$15 for a useable computer is a great deal. I wonder how many HP bought.

Officials nixed the idea of ads on the overhead bins, though. There were visions of a NASCAR entry.

That would have been total trailer-trash. At that point, they might as well rip out the F seats, go all coach, and rename themselves "America Southwest".

Ads on ticket jackets are not a bad idea. United in LAX has those parking spot inserts already. The ads in tray tables are not really that much of a bother, they are only in coach and you only see them when you pull them down. I guess that may be because the ads so far have not been totally outlandish. However ads on the luggage bin just scream MTA bus. NASCAR may be the worse, nothing against our redneck flyers out there but this an aircraft I don't want no friggin no 3 or 8 or whatever the hell it is that you think is GOD on the side of the plane.

nevermind...

Ads on the luggage bin just scream MTA bus. NASCAR may be the worse, nothing against our redneck flyers out there but this an aircraft I don't want no friggin no 3 or 8 or whatever the hell it is that you think is GOD on the side of the plane.

Having ads on the luggage bins could potentially disorient a passenger in an emergency situation ... lawsuits, etc.

Good move on not implementing them.

Well if they posted ads over the entire portion of the plane EXCEPT the doors, that would help them stick out :) . Now when they start advertising rival airlines in their ad space, we'll know they have gone too far. :D

Lance