Stop Whining and Make Your Coach Seat Feel Like First Class

Dear Sky Steward,

I am completely fed up with being charged for everything when I fly coach. I flew Spirit Airlines recently and they even charged for a cup of coffee! Now, US Airways annouced that they will be charging for pillows and blankets. I can't believe it.

Why don't the airlines understand that they are making their customers angry!

Signed, Nickled and Dimed

Dear N.D.,

The Sky Steward respectfully suggests that you 'get over it'. Since even the Sky Steward is seated in coach on occasion, he has chosen a new way to look at these charges. He sees the ability to purchase items as a way to make a coach seat feel more like first class (sans the extra-space of course). He enjoys purchasing a bottle of merlot or two, plus on American Airlines, they have a premium nut mix that is excellent for only $4.00.

So rather than the airline deciding which amenities you receive, the choice is left up to the passenger. When he travels in coach, he starts out by using a pillow and/or blanket to cushion his elbows in the seat, turns on his mp3 player, puts in his noise reducing earbuds, buys his wine and mixed nuts, and enjoys the flight! It varies from airline to airline. For instance, on Jetblue, you must also purchase your pillow and blanket 'comfort pack' for $7.00, but that all but guarantees that they will be available since not everyone puts comfort as high on their priority list as you and the Sky Steward do.

Since most airlines are now accepting credit and debit cards for these types of onboard purchases, be sure to keep it close to make all of this as easy as possible. Enjoy flying first class for only a little bit more than the price of a coach ticket!