If you are a frequent air traveler, this story is more than fluff. Indeed, it could hurt.
In an apparent budget-cutting move, American Airlines is removing pillows from its 334 MD-80 jets. You heard right. Pillows. I can't make this fluff...err, stuff up.
It seems that without them, American believes it can cut time and costs. How much? An airline spokesman says savings will likely reach "the mid-six figures." Wow, that is almost as much as the salary of some CEO's. Not counting stock options of course.
How is that possible, you ask? How can pillows save that much money? It's probably a trade secret, but the spokesman adds that the removal of the pillows will enable cleaning crews to "streamline" their service too.
That did it. After hearing that, I immediately called home. "Honey, ditch all the pillows in the house. The ones on our bed, the kids beds, the sofa, couches....heck, chuck the dog pillow too."
"Are you crazy?"
"Well, yes, but that has nothing to do with it. You see, it's all about streamlining. American Airlines says we should be able to save money by eliminating pillows from our lives. Think of the time and cost savings? We won't have to fluff and plump, we won't have to move them to clean around them. I'm telling you. The savings are going to pile up. We'll be laughing away on a ski vacation paid for with our previously plump pillows. It'll be great."
"But won't we get sore necks and backs? We'll be walking around all hunched over, sleep-deprived and weary, spending the savings on pain relievers?"
Hmmm. She had me there. And the more I thought about the pillow plan, the more I realized it sounded like a pipe dream.
And as I thought a little more, I wasn't so sure about the airlines plan either. I mean, if it was fool proof, wouldn't they remove the pillows from ALL their planes? They're not. Hundreds of larger planes will keep them.
And as I thought even more (yes, a truly scary thought for those who know me well) I became convinced this was further proof that the airlines, all of them, are in the midst of a very dramatic, fitful and at times painful period of transition that has forced them to re-examine everything about themselves....down to the pillows.
Many of the big airlines are based on business models that are decades old. They no longer work. Most haven't adopted new practices, but rather, have pieced together parts of other working plans from other airlines in hopes of surviving. Some will not.
Hopefully for Pittsburgh, US Airways will not be one of those airlines that doesn't make it. But we're fooling ourselves, like we did when Big Steel died if we think it can't happen. The odds are beginning to shake out and point to a smaller role for US Airways here, with room for more, smaller airlines alongside. With the right mix, it may be a little tougher to get a direct flight, but a lot easier to get a cheaper flight.
And with the right marketing and nurturing and support from our local business leaders and their companies, the masses may come out OK. Our leaders need to be sharp. We need them on their game now. And not just so we can get decent, cheap flights. But so those highly paid pilots, mechanics and stewardesses who are being displaced have other high-paying jobs available when the storm clouds come.
That will help cushion the blow for us all.
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