Passenger uses SkyMall to block air vent

by Mike Barish on

Airplanes are notoriously cold. That’s why everyone is eager to find the blankets and airlines are looking to make money off of them. But what do you do when the temperature in the plane is so low that you can’t possibly relax? If you’re on a plane that doesn’t allow you to close your the air vent above you, you’re typically out of luck. Recently, however, one passenger used some ingenuity, chutzpah and an airplane staple to remedy the situation on his own.

My friend Colin McCabe was flying to Austin earlier this month to attend the SXSW festival. His particular Delta flight was chilly. Or, as he put it, “meat locker cold.” The air vent was right over his head and could not be adjusted. He attempted to warm himself with a (free) blanket for 20 minutes to no avail. He notified the flight attendant of his discomfort and was told that there was nothing that she could do to adjust the temperature. Essentially, he was on his own.

That’s when the idea hit him. He grabbed the nearby SkyMall catalog, wedged it in the vent and completely blocked the flow of air raining down from above. He quickly became comfortable as the temperature by his seat increased. He had saved himself from the icy torment and cemented himself as a legend in the SkyMall Monday pantheon.

Sadly, the fix was temporary. The flight attendant told him that he had to remove the catalog as it was a “fire hazard.” Once again, he was besieged by gusts of frigid air as he flew south towards Texas.

Despite his thwarted attempt, we salute Colin for his quick-thinking (and for taking the photo above to share his experience).

Have you ever been so cold on a plane that you were at your wits’ end? What did you do to warm up? Share your tales of arctic airplanes in the comments.

Photo by Colin McCabe via Flickr.

Two billion reasons why you pay to check bags

by Tom Johansmeyer on

Or, you could call it “2 billion reasons why flight attendants shouldn’t get raises.” It works both ways.

The labor debacle at British Airways reminds us of the perpetual stupidity turmoil that has come to characterize the airline industry. Not to pick on BA, but the strike shows how disconnected the flight attendants are from the nuts and bolts of the business, and it translates across the pond. Yet, passengers are in a similar state of denial, feeling wronged by the airlines as they are nickled and dimed for “amenities” such as checking luggage. With the latest data from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, it’s pretty obvious that airlines need to bring in some more money, and it has to come from somewhere.

In the United States last year, 769.9 million travelers set foot on planes (departing from, arriving to or completely domestic), a decline of 5.3 percent from recession-stained 2008 and off 8.2 percent from 2007, when 832.2 million passengers flew the friendly skies. This was the first time the number of fliers fell below the 800 million mark since 2004, in which 763.7 million passengers boarded planes. Think about it: 2009 is basically 2004. The airline industry has lost five years of growth.Meanwhile, fewer people were paying less for tickets, with the average fare falling $30 from 2007 to 2009 – settling at around $315. The increase in demand led to the shedding of around 700,000 flights from 2008 to 2009.

In all, this dynamic cost the U.S. airline industry approximately $2 billion … and that doesn’t include financial losses elsewhere. Fewer customers spending less led to a profound decline in revenue, and the airlines need to find a way to get it back. They’ve been able to close the gap, in part, through the ancillary fees we’ve all grown to hate. Every time you pay to check a bag, eat an unsatisfying sandwich or grab a little more leg room, you’re helping to keep these guys in business.

Of course, this would be a lot easier if the airlines would do their part. Price increases are frustrating when you see striking employees looking for more in a market where their salaries are effectively unsustainable. And with some flight attendants willing to subject themselves to interviews with 18 airlines in order to land a job, it’s pretty clear that demand is sufficiently high to make pay raises not only unnecessary but irresponsible.

So, it’s time for both sides of this equation to accept reality.

Passengers: you’ll be paying for extras. The airlines need it right now, and the beauty of momentum is that they’ll keep charging us for everything imaginable even when the economy recovers, because they aren’t going to slash a revenue stream that’s paying off.

Flight attendants: raises? Look at the economics of the situation. If passengers are paying more for the same service and demand is high for a shrinking number of positions, there’s no reason to pay them. With revenue in the tank and an aggregate net loss of $4.6 billion for 11 U.S. airlines last year, there’s no money for raises … unless there’s a new way to extract blood from a stone, of course.

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US Airways launches Gogo Inflight Internet

by Scott Carmichael on

Nine months after their initial announcement, US Airways and Gogo Inflight Internet have started offering wireless Internet access on the first aircraft in the US Airways fleet.

The service is currently installed on five Airbus A321 planes – and by June 1st, it’ll be available on all 51 Airbus A321’s.

Passengers boarding a US Airways A321 can tell whether their plane is one of the lucky five by keeping an eye out for a W-Fi symbol by the boarding doors. In addition to this, information will be placed in the seat back pocket, and flight attendants will make announcements once the plane reaches 10,000 feet.

From today, through June 1st, first time Gogo users will get a free session when they create a profile and US Airways will be offering complimentary access to everyone on their Gogo equipped planes from June 1st through June 8th.

Access starts at just $4.95 for flights under 1 ½ hours. US Airways has a mini-site with information available at usairways.com/gogo which is where you’ll find a more comprehensive pricing chart.

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Get an empty seat next to you – Airplane tip

by Gadling Staff on

Here’s your best shot at getting that coveted empty seat.

  1. Book a seat close to the back of the plane. Most airlines and bookers fill the seats at the front of the plane first, leaving more empty space in the back.
  2. Don’t choose the last row, though, as often times these seats don’t recline.
  3. Don’t choose an exit row seat (these tend to fill up) or a row of three that’s completely empty (lots of people travel in pairs).
  4. Finally, make sure to re-checkin at the airport kiosk to see if any more desirable spaces have opened up.

Have fun spreading out!

Lose the luggage, get a ruck sack – Airplane tip

by Gadling Staff on

Now that most airlines charge to check your bags, more people are opting to carry their luggage onto planes. However, not much fits in your typical carry-on. To maximize your carry-on capacity and still fit your bag in the overhead compartment, take a tip from the U.S. Army. Trade your rolling luggage for an army surplus Ruck Sack.

A Ruck Sack offers plenty of pockets and lots of room for your belongings. They’re also durable and easy to sling across your shoulders. Look for a pack with an internal back frame to better support the load.