Faced with the cost of rising jet fuel, American Airlines says it will start charging coach passengers an extra fee for breathing the conditioned air aboard its planes. The new policy takes effect July 1.

american by smenzel” This is revolutionary, once again American is in the vanguard of squeezing more and more money out of its passengers,” said Sherman Pinkberry, the airline’s publicist.

U.S. airlines have already started charging extra fees for checking luggage or having a seat with more leg room, but American’s concept goes so much further, according to Bear Stearn’s airline analyst Hymen Ugotablome

“This is daring and not for everyone. But I think this should help shareholders see to what extent the airline is willing to go to generate revenue for them,” Ugotablome said.

Although not all the details have been worked out, American says that, basically, the coach cabin will be totally cut off from the plane’s circulating air once the plane reaches cruising altitude, around 35 thousand feet or so.

“If a passenger wants to breathe, it’s real simple, ” says Pinkberry. ” They just have to swipe their credit card on the unit attached to the seat-back in front of them and a special oxygen mask will drop down for them to use.”

Pinkberry points out that these special oxygen masks, which will cost $25 with a $5 additional fee for nighttime use, differ from the ones used for emergencies.  “These actually work, ” Pinkberry contends.

Amercan is already a pioneer in killing its passengers. Recently, flight attendants on one plane reportedly refused to give oxygen to a passenger in the throes of a heart attack, allowing the passenger to die before landing in Miami, which the airline says  “might have been for the best.”

For those passengers who do not want to pay to breathe, American will offer a do-it-yourself oxygen tank kit for just $5, though no cash will be accepted.

Some of the expected extra revenue will be used by American to buy a better grade of beef for first class passengers who , along with business class, will still be allowed to breathe freely on American planes.

” Other airlines will probably follow, but the public will always know American was first on this one, ” said Ugotablome.