Fee-Fi-Fo-Fum IX

Hot off the presses: US Airways is rescinding its pay-for-non-alcoholic-beverages policy. Starting March 1, soft drinks, bottled water, and coffee and tea will be free once again. The airline instituted the beverage charges last year, but no other airline followed suit.

Fee-Fi-Fo-Fum VIII

A new year, a new fee. US Airways, the only airline that serves up a fee with its soft drinks, is now charging $7 for a blanket and a pillow. Yes, US Airways has managed to become the only U.S. carrier to charge for the two things that miff passengers the most--soft drinks and blankets. Now it should be noted that, among the country's major carriers, JetBlue is also charging for blankets and pillows. But at least JetBlue serves its soft drinks for free. Plus, that airline gives its passengers access to a free in-flight satellite television system.

I wonder if it's any coincidence that US Airways quietly announced the new fee just days before its heroic Flight 1549 crew was to make its victory lap around the media. After all, what grinch is going to say bad things about the airline that is providing us with the feel-good story of the year? Still, despite having a CEO who keeps insisting that passengers just love these fees, I can't help feeling that US Airways is sullying its reputation by constantly being at the forefront of the in-flight fee fiesta.

Laura Does The LA Times

With Valentine's Day coming up, LA Times reporter Hugo Martin called to get my thoughts on romantic places to propose. See the results at http://travel.latimes.com/articles/la-trw-propose5-2009feb05.

Ride 'Em, Cowboy

Virgin America and Southwest will be duking it out at John Wayne Orange County (CA) Airport this spring. Virgin America just announced it will start its new five-times-a-day service between Orange County and San Francisco on April 30. Southwest, which will also be offering five daily flights, starts flying the route on May 9.