Seven More Things Airlines Could Cut to Save Fuel

Travel Blog  •  Eva Holland  •  11.03.08 | 10:40 AM ET

Sure, some carriers have already cut in-flight movie systems, and even life vests, to save on fuel—but, as Christopher Elliott argues in this funny and provocative column, there’s plenty more fat to trim. In-flight magazines get the axe (“I know you’ll miss all those stories about Las Vegas”), along with federal air marshals, duty-free carts and even flight attendants. “Why not install a vending machine at the back of the plane [instead]?” Elliott asks. Ouch.

Tags: Airports, Airworld, Humor, Air Travel

Eva Holland is a contributor to the World Hum blog. She is also a contributing editor at the Matador Network and at Not Coming to a Theater Near You, and a regular contributor to the Ottawa Citizen. Based in Ottawa, Canada, she loves to write about travel, history, sports, and culture high or low.


2 Comments for Seven More Things Airlines Could Cut to Save Fuel

Ling 11.03.08 | 12:03 PM ET

If they offer to slash prices by 75%, I’ll even agree to a standing room only flight with no seats. :)

Joel Klebanoff 11.03.08 | 3:24 PM ET

The airlines lack creativity. Just for a start, here’s an obvious idea the airlines should consider: Give discounts to passengers and bonuses to flight crew if they agree to fly naked. You’d be surprised at the combined weight of all of those passengers’ and crew members’ clothes.

Traveling naked would also speed up the security lines as there would be no need to take off your shoes and there’d be only one or two places where anyone could hide a weapon. Of course, some people would enjoy having those places checked manually, which suggests another money-making idea for the airlines ... but that idea’s probably not appropriate here.

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