Airlines wooing high-end passengers with freebies

Posted 12/09/2011

Free pajamas? Wireless internet? Live baseball broadcasts? Airlines are trying to lure high-paying business and first-class fliers with various new freebies, says the LA Times.

"That sort of stuff is an enticement to try to get people to swing over," said Tom Parsons, chief executive of the travel website Bestfares.com.  He terms it an airline customer “war.”

American Airlines announced it was offering pajamas, slippers, quilted bed toppers, duvets, pillows and travel kits to passengers in first-class cabins on Boeing 777 flights from the US to London. Business-class passengers on those and certain other flights to London will get some of the amenities.

These offerings will be extended after October 1, says the airline.

Not to be left out, Alaska Airlines is offering free wireless Internet service during August and September to passengers with smartphones and iPod Touches. The offer is also for those who rent the airline's in-flight entertainment system.

California-based Virgin America started offering free broadcasts of professional baseball, hockey and football games on the entertainment gadgets installed in seatbacks.

By David Wilkening

Originally published 12 Sep 2011 at: http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/398/f/5923/s/183558f4/l/0L0Stravelmole0N0Cstories0C11493270Bphp0Dmpnlog0F1/story01.htm