Airlines Scramble With New Fees

JetBlue is now going to charge its customers $7 for blankets and pillows. At a time when airlines are charging for even the first checked bag brought on board, the lengths to which airlines are going to find revenues is not going to end anytime soon because of soaring energy costs. The airline is bundling the $7 with a $5 coupon to Bed Bath and Beyond:

The carrier has done away with the recycled blankets and pillows used on its flights, and will begin offering an "eco-friendly" travel blanket and pillow that can be purchased for $7 on flights longer than two hours. The pair will come in a kit with a $5 coupon to home furnishings retailer Bed Bath & Beyond.

The carrier claims the pillow and blanket feature a fabric technology, developed by CleanBrands LLC, that blocks pesky critters like dust mites, mold spores, pollen and pet dander.

It is interesting watching the airlines engaging in these kinds of fees rather than actually raising the price of the ticket. They've found that it is often more difficult to raise the price of tickets rather than imposing fees and surcharges for what were previously free services.

Airlines are busy attempting to imposing charge for beverages, meals, checked luggage, and are even imposing fees for using your airline frequent flier miles to buy award tickets.

UPDATE:
Instapundit points out Rand Simberg's woes with American Airlines. He paid $15 for the privilege of them checking his bags on a nonstop flight, and proceeding to lose those bags.