Posted on 11/17/2004 8:21:32 AM PST by APRPEH
Star-Telegram Staff Writer
As penny-pinching airlines cut every expense possible, passengers have learned to bring their own food and entertainment.
Now, passengers should be ready to pack their own pillows, at least on American Airlines.
This week, Fort Worth-based American quietly removed the pillows from its workhorse fleet of 334 MD-80 airplanes, typically used for shorter flights.
The move, which stemmed from a strategy session with employees this year, will save the airline money by enabling workers to clean cabins faster, spokesman Tim Wagner said.
"It will streamline our cabin service," he said.
Crews should be able to make cabins cleaner, because they won't spend time collecting pillows, Wagner said. And most passengers should be able to use the adjustable headrests if they want to lean back, he said.
American will move the pillows to its other planes, and it doesn't plan to remove pillows on other aircraft, Wagner said. American has 704 planes, and the MD-80s are assigned to its hubs at Dallas/Fort Worth Airport and O'Hare Airport in Chicago.
The pillow removal is the latest in a host of small moves that American hopes will add up to big cost savings. Savings from the pillows: "In the mid-six figures" annually, Wagner said.
American tosses pillows off MD-80s
Hopefully they land more softly than the ice that falls off the toilets.
thag
The MD-80 always impressed me as a schoolbus with wings anyhow.
Why have seats?
'Cause they're just soooooo comfortable
it'll save weight too! ;)
I strenuously object to referring to the hanky-sized, mushy, piece of cloth that they put on airplanes as a "pillow".
"please note that the no pillow light is on..."
Is this any way to run an airline?
Why not auction off the MD-80's??? That's why video phones were invented ...
Who wants to use a potentially lice or virus infected pillow? Who used it before you? How often are they cleaned?
I never use them anyway, except on first class to Europe.
Rats, no more pillow fights with stewardae.
...in related news, SouthWestern Airlines has announced that seats, oxygen and heat will be removed from their airplanes. Significant cost savings are expected to result.
How much money is being back by overpaid CEO'S?
Naw. I don't like pastrami.
I dread the damn things.
They takeoff straight up and then sharply level out before they can continue their climb because they lose so much forward speed.
You feel like you are falling backwards out of the sky.
The only time I've ever even considered using them has been on L.A. to Singapore or Australia flights....and even then they're not very conducive to "a good night's sleep"...
The adjustable headrests on American Airlines's MD-80 are effective. You can adjust their heights and tilt them. You can also bend their edges around your ears so you'll have support when you fall asleep. No more tilting over to the side when you doze off.
Whoever invented those headrests is a genius: A super genius!
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