The airlines declined to comment on how much revenue they receive from the product pitches.
Since 2003, America West Airlines has sold advertising space on its tray tables. Companies such as Bank of America, Saab AB, Dillard's Inc. department stores and the History and A&E cable channels regularly purchase spots on America West's seat-back trays. Companies pay to have their products painted on the tables for 30 to 90 days.
Saab is also paying America West to promote its new sport-utility vehicle during flight announcements. The airline has the Saab logo emblazoned on napkins that flight attendants hand out to passengers. The airline also promotes Saab on its Web site.
Painting the products onto the tray tables is an "innovative way to give exposure to a company without being too intrusive," said America West spokesman Carlo Bertolini.
Wi-Fi on United: By next year, United Airlines could become the first U.S.-based carrier to allow its passengers to surf the Internet, check e-mails and send instant messages during flights.
United announced yesterday that the Federal Aviation Administration approved the airline's use of Verizon Communication Inc.'s Wi-Fi service.
United spokeswoman Robin Urbanski said the airline has not yet determined a price for the service. The Wi-Fi will be available to first-class and coach passengers on all of United's North America flights, as well as to passengers on United's low-cost subsidiary, Ted.
Several foreign airlines already offer Wi-Fi on their international flights. Lufthansa Airlines charges $30 to use it throughout a flight or $10 for a half-hour. Lufthansa passengers pay for the service with their credit card, but the airline is working on a new system that permits passengers to pay with frequent flier miles. That option should be available by the end of the year, said Lufthansa spokesman Tom Tripp.
Northwest Cuts Amenities: Beginning Thursday, Northwest will no longer offer passengers a free half-ounce bag of pretzels during flights. Instead, passengers who want a snack will have to pay $1 for a three-ounce bag of almonds, cashews and raisins. The move will save Northwest about $2 million a year, said spokesman Kurt Ebenhoch.
Free pretzels aren't the only amenity Northwest has eliminated. The airline said it was pulling its 30 free magazines from its planes. The airline isn't eliminating its own Northwest in-flight magazine, but its complimentary copies of Business Week, Glamour and Harvard Business Review are history.
Ebenhoch said the airline had no plans to eliminate other services, but added that it was reviewing other ways to trim costs.
