Airlines Passengers Smaller Pay Flying Low Cost People Meal

Many American airlines are taking "cost-cutting measures" (ways to decrease costs), even if that means decreasing their level of "customer service" (the way that employees treat customers).

In the past, people who flew across the country could expect to receive a full meal. Over time, however, the meals have become smaller and smaller. Now many airlines simply give their passengers a small bag of peanuts or another "snack food" (something eaten between meals) and a drink. Passengers who want to eat more need to pay extra for a "boxed" (prepared and packaged) meal.

Airlines also used to give passengers "headphones" (long wires with one end that connects to a radio and another end that is put in a person's ears) to listen to music or watch TV shows or a movie while flying. Today, however, most airlines make passengers pay "extra" (an additional amount) to use their headphones.

The amount of "legroom" (the space in front of a seat, where one can put one's legs) gets smaller and smaller as the airline tries to "cram" (put many things in a small space) more seats onto each plane. Passengers are uncomfortable, but if they want more legroom they have to pay more to sit in "business class" or "first class" (parts of the plane that have better service and more comfort, but are more expensive).

Many airlines are also "restricting" (limiting) the amount of "luggage" (baggage) that people can bring with them. Passengers can have only one or two "carry-on items" (luggage brought into the plane where the passengers are), and some airlines are charging passengers extra if they want to bring one or more pieces of "checked luggage" (luggage stored underneath the plane).