American Airlines Takes Pillows From Jets
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James Joyner | Wednesday, November 17, 2004 |
American Airlines Takes Pillows From Jets (AP)
Say goodbye to pillows on American Airlines MD-80 jets. The Fort Worth-based airline this week removed pillows from its 334 MD-80s in a move expected to save time and money by enabling workers to clean the cabins faster, said spokesman Tim Wagner. “It will streamline our cabin service,” he said. Since crews won’t be spending time picking up pillows, they should be able to make cabins cleaner, Wagner told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram for a story in Wednesday’s editions.
Wagner estimated the airline would be saving “in the mid-six figures” because of the move. The pillows will be relocated to its other planes, Wagner said. The airline doesn’t plan to remove pillows on other aircraft. MD-80 passengers should be able to use the adjustable headrests in place of the pillows, he said. American has 704 planes. The MD-80s are used for shorter flights and are assigned to its hubs at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport and O’Hare Airport in Chicago.
This is a brilliant move. American Airlines is bankrupt and facing a strike by its flight attendants. This will solve both problems: The flight attendants will suddenly be happy, since they will no longer have to hand out or pick up pillows, and the mid-six figure savings will end the financial woes of the company.
Or maybe not.
About the Author: James Joyner is the publisher of Outside the Beltway and the managing editor of the Atlantic Council. He's a former Army officer, Desert Storm vet, and college professor with a PhD in political science from The University of Alabama. He lives just outside the Beltway in Alexandria, Virginia.
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I 'spose I'll jes' continue to try to grow my own wings.
Judging from the MD-80s I've been on, doing away with pillows should actually meet with sighs of relief from passengers. With the legroom [snicker] and narrow seats, getting off an MD-80 practically calls for the use of WD-40.
Ya just don't need more stuff taking up space.
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