Thursday, February 5, 2009

A Marketing Blunder

Once again corporate America fails to understand what the consumer want and need. The fatcats that run the majority of corporations in the United States have once more proven that they don't know what the heck their clients and customers want. This is a recession folks! We aren't looking for frills we're looking for bargains. And the best bargains come with that "added upon" bonus that the competition isn't giving.

Case in point. Read this news release from US Airways:

US Airways to charge $7 for pillows and blankets
source

TEMPE, Ariz. – If you want a pillow and blanket in coach on US Airways, it's going to cost you $7.
US Airways said Thursday it will begin charging for its "Power-Nap Sack" on Feb. 16. It's following the lead of JetBlue Airways, which announced a similar policy last summer.
Airlines are adding fees on checked luggage and now pillows and blankets to raise more money as they battle a downturn in travel caused by the recession. US Airways reported that January traffic fell 6.2 percent.
Kevin Jackson, a marketing official for Tempe-based US Airways, said selling the pillows and blankets "is a natural extension of our 'pay for what you choose and use' model we began rolling out last year."
Jackson said the sleep kit was an affordable way for passengers to increase their comfort while flying.
The kits include a 34-by-60-inch fleece blanket, a neck pillow, eye shades, foam ear plugs and a $10-off coupon for items in the SkyMall catalog. They come in a fleece drawstring bag embroidered with the airline's logo.
The airline said it will stop handing out free pillows and blankets in coach on domestic flights. Customers in first class and in Envoy and Economy class on trans-Atlantic flights will continue getting complimentary pillows and blankets.
The kits won't be available on US Airways Express.
For customers who can't wait until Feb. 16 for their own US Airways-embroidered nap kit, the company said they went on sale Thursday at the airline's Web site.

Okay, so will you be wanting to fly on US Airways after February 19th? of course not. Not if there is an airline available in the same price bracket that isn't charging for these "extras" on your flight. My suggestion? LOWER YOUR DANG PRICES! We consumers are looking to save money. If you want to increase ridership then bring back some low everyday fares and fill the plane! And throw in the pillow and blanket for free! Oh and get rid of the stupid fees for checked luggage! The airline that does that will be seeing every flight filled.. I promise!

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Great post, I am almost 100% in agreement with you

Anonymous said...

Hello. And Bye.