Snuggies on a Plane

Yes, this is my third air travel post of the month. So what? The ideas choose me, and when I fly I think of planes.

Ever used the blanket that airlines provide? The disposable ones stuck in shrink-wrap. They’re uselessly small. Forget adults, I’ve seen fourth graders struggle to cover themselves. And if a passenger does somehow contort his body to fit beneath its warmth, he’s stuck that way. Can’t read a book or listen to music. The slightest movement would muck it up, and there’s no finding that position twice. As usual, I’ve got the solution.

Replace vacuum-sealed blankettes with Snuggies. Not actual Snuggies. Steal the pattern and making Snuggie knock-offs out of the same cheap fabric airlines use now. No one can own the idea to put sleeves on a blanket. Right?

Passengers are the obvious winners. Flying coach is among the most uncomfortable things a person can do. Any step toward coziness is a welcome one, and a blanket designed for sitting upright as opposed to the fetal position is a clear upgrade.

Airlines don't really care about passenger comfort, though. They care about filling the seats. That's why the real benefit to the airline lies in all the free press. You can bet Big Snuggie is going to be out for blood. I’d expect a court case and, with it, the media circus this type of benign controversy always creates. Through it all, whichever airline summoned the courage to put sleeves on its blankets will become The Snuggie Airline. In a parity industry where consumers define airlines by fees and tarmac horror stories, having a reputation for Snuggies will be a nice boost. Customers have certainly made choices based on far less.

So put sleeves on your blankets, airlines. If you won’t do it for your passengers, do it for the money.

Until next week,
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Jonathan Rozen