Posted on: Monday, January 21, 2002

Skies getting a little friendlier

By Chris Woodyard
USA Today

From pillows to snack chips, airlines are bringing back some of the amenities they took away after Sept. 11.

Some of the cutbacks were security-related, but most were emergency cost-cutting steps aimed at trying to reduce losses as travelers stayed home after the terrorist attacks. Still, they are penny-ante compared with the hundreds of airline workers who have been furloughed and the billions of dollars that airlines have lost in the past few months.

Various carriers took steps such as banishing in-flight movies or magazines. Some closed less-popular airport clubs or city ticket offices. Now some airlines are slowly, and sometimes quietly, reversing a few of those early decisions.

What's coming back:

• Pillows and blankets. US Airways removed them at the end of November from most flights. They only remained on long-distance red-eye flights and trans-Atlantic routes. After a passenger outcry, US Airways brought them back.

• Airport clubs. United, Delta, US Airways and American all closed less-popular airport club lounges in a cost-saving move. Now, some are starting to reappear. US Airways reopened the Concourse A club Monday in its Pittsburgh hub. United has reopened several, too.

• Meals. Many airlines stopped serving meals on all but the longest flights. Little by little, the service is coming back, but usually on a selective basis.

While the return of a few service items is a sign that the airline industry is rebounding, it's still far from normal. Many industry analysts predict air traffic, which has been down about 20 percent since Sept. 11, won't rebound until next year.