Prepare for the low-cost airline sales pitch

Get ready for a brand-new air travel hassle if you book one of Skybus’ $10 fares: relentless advertising. The “ultra-low-cost carrier” charges fees for everything from checked baggage to preferred boarding, and its planes are plastered with advertisements inside and out.

Advertising on Skybus doesn’t stop at print ads, though. Flight attendants work on commission, hawking not only beverages and snacks, but everything from nasal spray to tennis bracelets, reports Smart Money.

Recent ads have included onboard announcements proclaiming the joys of the small town of Canal Winchester, “the premier tourist destination in southeastern central Ohio.”

Skybus’ Rules of Flying instruct potential passengers to “bring cash” for food and drinks, and not to sneak food onboard. No word if flight attendants will confiscate a rogue water bottle. Passengers should also “bring a book” because the airline doesn’t provide in-flight entertainment. Or a customer-service phone number. Or check-in agents.

If you require the already bare-bones amenities offered by most low-fare and legacy airlines, or prefer peace and quiet when you fly, avoid Skybus. But if a rock-bottom fare is worth a constant stream of sales pitches, Skybus may be the airline for you.

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