The added cost of comfort in airline travel

American Airlines decided earlier this week that it will charge its passengers $8 on domestic flights for a “blanket-and-pillow pack.”

Do I really care? Well to be honest, no, I don’t.

The airline JetBlue was already charging its passengers for its own “blanket-and-pillow package” back in 2008. US Airways has been charging its frequent flyers for shades and earplugs during flights for a few years now too.

This just seems to be a blip on the radar for me. It doesn’t really bother me and I don’t know why I would need shades or earplugs on a flight. Besides, I listen to music or watch episodes from “The Simpsons” on my iPod anyway.

You might be thinking, “This guy never flies,” but in reality I do. A lot actually. I have family on the East Coast. As I have grown a little bit older, I have flown more and more. I try to visit those relatives at least twice a year.

When I look for airfares online, by the grace of the airline gods, American Airlines always seems to have the cheapest prices and I try to take advantage of those.
But it comes to flying commercially in the United States, the more affordable the ticket is, the more unpleasant the flight becomes.

For me personally, it doesn’t seem like a chore to deal with airlines nickel and diming me for products and services that used to be free. This is coming from a guy who grew up with an ill-stricken father who had difficulty traveling, let alone going through airport security here at the Albuquerque International Sunport or Newark Liberty International Airport with medical devices and supplies.

So, I guess if airlines like American Airlines are going to charge for bags and now blankets and pillows, why not turn a two-hour flight into a two-hour party? If you’re going to charge us for little things, why not at least keep us entertained?
The airlines should have flight attendants dressed more along the lines of Hooters girls and offer alcoholic beverages for free.

What about offering flights with cheesy elevator music during the boarding process?
Or re-energizing the flying process for all of us by playing some Andrew W.K.? (He likes to “Party Hard.”) OK well, maybe not Andrew W.K., he isn’t really that cool or popular. But maybe play something along the lines of Earth, Wind and Fire or some Hall and Oates.

I guess the point that I am trying to make is that there are certain things people love to complain about in this country. Airline travel has become more obnoxious over the last decade and it doesn’t seem like the airline companies are going to stop there. So, why sit there and complain about the prices? Just bring your own pillow and blanket and enjoy the flight. I know I won’t buy the pillow and the blanket on a flight and I don’t think I know anyone who will. To me, the whole thing just seems stupid.

I never have had a problem flying commercially. I still don’t have a problem flying commercially and probably never will.

I have always felt that way and I still do by not sweating the small stuff. So, my bags aren’t happy because I’m not flying with Southwest Airlines that charges no fee for baggage.
Big deal.