Need some comfy rest? It'll cost you on JetBlue

They're going to start charging for using the overhead bins or putting something under the seat. Then for using the gangway to get on the plane. There's going to be a charge for going through security and customs. And finally they'll charge you for breathing on their plane.

That fiasco with keeping people on their plane for 11 hours a couple of years ago convinced me that I'd never take Jetblue anywhere under any circumstances for any reason. If there was an invading army and JetBlue was the only way out I'd stay and buy an enemy flag.

This latest stab at nickle and diming their passengers to death just further validates my decision.

I fly, there for I am.

The question should be; Are we the consumer going to continue putting up with stupid advertising gimmicks for so called "low costs"?
Really, is a $100.00 ticket being offset by luggage, Water, food and now blankies & pillows charges what you look for. Just add the costs into the actual value of my flight so I know what I am really paying. These stupid advertising games should stop. How much are the gimmicks costing the business itself to invent? Probably more than the return.

Big Business has become Big Stupid Business!

To answer the question, no, I'm past being surprised by what airlines have decided is worth nickel and diming you for. Yes its a tough market, boo-hoo...adjust the darn ticket prices, then....these incremental charges will NEVER go away...its really disgusting. Makes it nearly impossible to determine the best deal in airfare. Here's a business idea I'm giving away...someone needs to create a "service-oriented" site (since the airlines have forgotten that concept) along the lines of seatguru.com that keeps an up-to-the-minute matrix of what charges each airline is tacking onto their fares.

Air travel stinks....now more than ever.

Maybe they should charge for using the toilet too.
The average male urine output per day is about 1.5 liters (based on input). Thats about .0625 liters per hour, the airlines could charge 5.00 per .0625 liters of output per male on any flight saving them gobs of money. Second trips per flight could fall under another schedule of payments.

P.S.
Women is about 1.0 liter per day (also based on input).

Forget Frequent Flyer Miles, gimme Frequent Potty Miles!

This is about how silly business is today.

I don't fly - a height thing. But what if everyone choose the same time & not flew for a couple of days. And keep it up til they stop nickle & diming you. It is the power of the people. But everyone has to be on the same page. If no one goes on the plane do you think they will fly it empty. That would be a waste of gas.

I thought it a great Idea you dont have to buy the pillow and blanket but if you do you get to keep it its yours take it home if you dont want it dont buy it GREat

It's a plane, not a hotel room. There's no need to have a pillow and blankie during a plane ride anyway.

Read a book or look out the window instead. Most flights are a few hours long at most so it's not like you're spending the entire night sitting on the plane.

Are pay toilets next?

As a business traveler, this is really getting annoying. The company pays for the plane ticket, but they are not going to pay for the pillow or blanket. With the limit on carry ons how are you going to bring your own pillow and blanket with everything else you have to carry. The companies are also not going to up the daily reimbursement for food to compensate for having to pay ridiculous prices for food and drink either in the airport or on the plane. With the security rules you are stuck, you can not bring your own with you any more.

I can also see Jet Blue reducing the temperature in the cabin of the plane to try and drive up blanket sales. Who has not been on a plane where it was freezing in the cabin at some point during the trip.

I had a thought while flying the other day. First class was getting reusable glass drinkware for thier water, while those of us back in coach were using 3-4 disposable plastic cups each. Then, one of the times the flight attendant came around with the water bottle and her stack of cups, the guy ahead of me held up his nalgene bottle and she filled it up.

Airport water is expenisve and inflight water is scarce. I bring an empty bottle through security and fill up at a drinking fountain. It saves money and resources.

What if the airlines used a similar system and did away with single-use plastic cups in favor of incouraging fliers to bring their own containers that will be filled with complimentary baverages? And for those fliers who choose not to do that, they can rent a glass for $2 (or whatever number the airline deems acceptable).

The end result is less waste by the airline, and a few bucks saved.

It sucks that once these addons are there, they'll probably never go away, and the shift to a new era of air travel is frustrating with things that used to be there but now aren't, but I say keep the nickel and diming coming. When people bring their own food and drinks (or at least the containers), waste is slightly decreased. When people pack lighter, less fuel is burned. Those are good things.

If it's CLEAN and unused, $7 is a bargain. You don't need one to fly, though.

I suspect the nickle-and-dime charges are because they're testing the waters to see if the other airlines follow suite, and a $100 ticket with extras sounds cheaper than $250. We've proved to advertisers we think that way - $99.99 sounds cheaper than $100.

What about all the extras your phone plan tacks on? A new car? A computer? Airlines are businesses and they only owe you a safe ride. You're buying transportation from one point to another. I wish it were different, but those times and prices have vanished, thanks to the shorts and flip-flop wearing cheapos.

I agree with the "pay toilets" gang. That would be the kicker. Except, of course, for the surcharge the airline would require because a passenger needs change for a buck. Ten cents on the dollar sounds just about right. Then there is the issue of converting currencies. If you wet the floor before the exchange can be made, the modest "per incident clean up" surcharge will take care of that.

Screw all the airlines and their nickle dime rip offs. I bought a used motor home and I am absolutely amazed at how much cheaper it is to travel. No hotel bills, food costs are minimal, and we see a lot more of this beautiful country without all the hassle. $1,500 total cost for 2 1/2 week round trip from northern Illinois to Arizona and surrounding areas.

The most annoying thing about all of the silly charges is that they are only being applied to the passengers who can least afford them. The rich/frequent flyer passengers do not have to pay any of the additional charges including additional baggage; no matter how many pieces they carry.

It's a brand-new blanket and pillow that you pay for -once-, and can take with you everywhere (and can become part of your travel packing). Not everyone needs these - and can bring their own (or, like me, just dress more warmly and bring a jacket/sweater you can wrap up and prop against the window if you feel like a 'pillow' - you know, rather than use the one six people sneezed or coughed on before you). This isn't like charging for food and water, which you can't necessarily bring through security, and is perishable. It's also a one-time fee, rather than each way. Also, JB's second-bag fee is cheaper than many other airlines', -and- they don't charge for snacks, or a first bag. There are plenty of other airlines who are doing far worse than imposing this one-time fee. This isn't something to get outraged over - it's probably the least, and most preventable, of fees.

I agree with the notion that airlines are providing transportation from point A to point B and that's what I want to pay for. I also feel that I'd rather wear something warm rather than need a blanket and have to pay for one, and I feel equally strong that airlines shouldn't just give blankets away because to do so jacks up the price for those of us smart enough to bring and wear a sweater if we're chilly.

I further subscribe to the belief that higher cost for that transportation is balanced out by the additional perks that are added, like the pillows and blankets, meals and drinks. It makes sense to me that a coach ticket would be less than first class and it further makes sense that first class, with it's much higher costs, affords the traveler with amenities that coach does not. Ergo the higher price tag. But don't charge me for amenities, I'll buy them if I so desire. And if all I want is the transportation, then charge me for that only and let others pay for the extras they want. To do otherwise is the same as charging everyone a little bit more to see a movie, because it comes with popcorn. Well, I don't like popcorn.

Food, drink, blankets, pillows, movies and such, are goods and services that are worth more than the stripped down, transportation only costs, however I don't want to pay for things I didn't ask for. For some of us, travel is so expensive that we can afford that and only that. If you make enough money to warrant spending extra for that stuff then fine, good for you, enjoy it but, don't force it on me and please don't mock me for not being able to afford higher priced tickets like you. I happen to like JetBlue's ideas and I appreciate them allowing me to decide what goods and services I want and not forcing me to pay for things I don't want.

If you don't like JetBlue, fly another airline. It seems to me it was created for folks like me, who aren't traveling for business (and by the way, your company might be the cheap ones, not wanting to pay for your airline food), and who just might be traveling to visit ill family far away, and who just might not want anything more than a ride from here to there.

I actually think that these type of fees are preferable to raising fares. I can choose to spend for these services, or not, it's up to me the consumer.

I admit the first bag fee is kind of wiggy. People already carry-on way too luggage as is.

Please, just charge by total weight. Weigh each passenger and his baggage, including carry-on, and charge by the pound. If a child is a babe in arms and won't need a seat the weight of the child would count, but not the "seat" charge. Have a base price per seat, like say $50.00, and then base the cost on weight and give full, reasonable service.
It's the weight that's important to flight. What could be more fair.

So, if I don't use the pillow and blanket, will they refund $7 of my ticket???

I think they should charge a fee just for breathing. And who travels without luggage? I'd like to meet that person. Charging for a friggen pillow??? Give me a break...how about charging for toilet paper...perhaps by the square right? Say 1 flush is $5.00 and 2 flushes is $9.99...there's a bargain. How about charging for Oxygen masks...just in case, and maybe even a tilting-the-chair back fee. The whole thing is just so stupid it makes me ill...and they can do it because they know we need to fly. I'd much rather drive and I won't charge my passengers stupid friggen fees. Oh boo-hoo the airline is going to take a loss...where is it written where businesses MUST make a profit! Screw em all!!

I will gladly pay more money for more leg room. I am tired of seeing short people get the seats with leg room when tall people are sitting in other seats with their knees in their mouth. And no, I can't afford first class!

The only time that I've ever used the blanket and pillow on any flight was from LAX to London, and I've flown to Europe, Asia, Australia, etc.

I've always found them worthless, the blanket isn't big enough and let's face it the pillow is nothing more then a Maxi Pad on Steroids.

I will gladly pay more for leg room. I am tired of seeing short people in the seat with leg room when all of the tall people have their knees in their mouth in seats that we designed for short people. And no, I can't afford first class.

Is it really possible that and airline would charge to use a pillow and blanket? apparently so. We know these blankets and pillows are used by many passengers before being discarded. I suppose if you gave me a brand new blanket and pillow and allowed me to keep it, what is being used might be worth about $7.00. I guess we won't be taking JET BLUE. This is really getting out of hand. Maybe we need to go back to the good old days and stay around home more.