Newsstand - At Least the Airsickness Bags Are Free

Perhaps, out of protest, air travellers should bring their own food, blankets or any other needs much as one would on a long bus ride or train trip. People could then break out the picnic lunch, complete with paper plates, cups and plastic-ware and I nice checkered cloth for the tray table! ;)

Excerpt from the New York Times article (http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/17/business/17fees.html?th&emc=th):

"At Least the Airsickness Bags Are Free"

By MICHELINE MAYNARD

As far as airlines are concerned, you are no longer just a passenger. You are an opportunity to raise “ancillary revenue.” And when it comes to charging for things that were once free, the sky’s the limit.

In just a few short months, the airlines have discovered to their glee that their customers are willing to pay for most everything from checked bags to soft drinks to pillows and blankets — and are doing so without much fuss. With that knowledge in hand, the airlines aren’t about to stop.

Yet the airlines seem to have turned a deaf ear to any grumbling that is heard in airport corridors and that resounds on industry Web sites. That’s not surprising, considering the money they’ve generated in a short time by charging for former freebies. JetBlue collected $40 million in the second quarter by charging extra for seats with more legroom. United, meanwhile, expects to yield $275 million this year from charges for baggage.

They’re also considering a new type of all-expenses-paid ticket that would include all the “services” for which they now charge extra. In other words, it would be an easy, one-stop way to pay for everything that was free just a few short months ago.

Although the airsick bags are still free, good luck finding one in your seatback pocket these days.

I was once on a Great Barrier Reef cruise where one of the staff asked if I would stop going through so many because they were going to run out. sorry but I am not going to reuse one of those bags. Even my own.

In the interests of ancilliary revenue, perhaps airlines could consider charging people who go beyond a certain quota? Though I have a feeling some airlines raise money from them already by charging for advertising space (film processing etc)

I am saying that air sickness bags have gone to the same heaven as go-go boots and hot pants. Some air carriers used to place them in every seat pocket on every flight, back in the days of Eddie Rickenbacker. Air travel now is nowhere near as bumpy and upsetting as then. :)

I am saying that air sickness bags have gone to the same heaven as go-go boots and hot pants. Some air carriers used to place them in every seat pocket on every flight, back in the days of Eddie Rickenbacker. Air travel now is nowhere near as bumpy and upsetting as then. :)
One of my children starts going through air sickness bags about two hours into every long haul flight and vomits just about continuously from then until he goes to sleep. It is a pitiful sight. At least I know to get the bags ready early... once I mention his recurrent problem to flight attendants, they appear out of nowhere. I'm sure it's easier to hand them out than deal with the consequences of people not having them.

I'll make sure that I mention that to my superiors. I haven't seen enough vomiting lately to make a report.

I am glad to hear you have enough bags.

I would rather the airlines parcel out the costs than tack them onto my ticket automatically. For college students (and people like myself, who still like a college existence where $ is concerned..), you really just want to get from point A to point B. And you would rather be able to check only one bag,, or not be served a meal you'll probably only pick at in mild disgust, or have to pay for a pillow (if there are any left - I've often asked for a blanket on a plane when freezing only to be told there are no more....if it's an item passengers have to buy, maybe airlines won't be so likely to run out.

Also, the pillow/blanket sold on Jet Blue includes a gift certificate for $5 to Bed Bath & Beyond - which most people will probably lose, but for the cheap and thirty--there are a lot of basic items there that you can buy - and lots of wedding registries..so if you Do use the gift certificate, suddenly the pillow/blanket is only $2. And it's clean.

Dr. Tantillo ('the marketing doctor') did a post a while back on his branding blog ( http://blog.marketingdoctor.tv) on how airline companies are losing site of their individual brand http://blog.marketingdoctor.tv/2008/06/23/airline-brand-troubles.aspx ). I think Continental and Southwest are smart in their approach to this - as is Jet Blue, even if the approach is different. The 'eco-friendly' aspect is definitely consistent with the image they're trying to promote.