Heads up on JetBlue "money back"

[nemorocks]

Heads up!
We bought JetBlue tickets for the first time a few months back for our Disney trip in October. They were a great price (at that time) for our flight. The girl told us that if the price went down we would even get the difference back! How cool is that? I even made sure I understood her correctly that we would get our MONEY back. So we bought them thinking we had nothing to loose. Well our flight went down I called to get the difference back and it's not going back on our credit card, it goes on a TRAVEL credit that has to be used in one year.
We are not going anywhere in one year...especially after a big Disney trip. Worse, even if we wanted to plan a quick trip to the inlaws, they don't even fly to their town. So unless we fall into some money and can afford a trip to the east or west coast this year we just lost our supposed "money back credit."
I called about this and I could tell the lady wanted to help, but just appologized for the miscommunication. I know I heard the girl right about the money back, because I wouldn't have bought them otherwise.
So there...
Heads up warning.
I'm not happy right now, especially since we could have gotten tickets on SWA today for 80.00
Buying plane tickets is such a gamble. Who knows when the right time to buy is?
Good luck everyone!

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

You should have read the terms on JetBlue's website rather than relied on the word of a ticket agent. No airline gives you money back when the fare drops. In fact, you were lucky to get a credit, as their official policy (Contract of Carriage) is no credit if the fare drops:

http://www.jetblue.com/p/jetblue_coc.pdf

See 6. Fares - Paragraph A.

It appears that they do not stick to this policy, as I have read in many places that they do offer a credit if the price drops.

 

[DebbieB]

Heads up!
We bought JetBlue tickets for the first time a few months back for our Disney trip in October. They were a great price (at that time) for our flight. The girl told us that if the price went down we would even get the difference back! How cool is that? I even made sure I understood her correctly that we would get our MONEY back. So we bought them thinking we had nothing to loose. Well our flight went down I called to get the difference back and it's not going back on our credit card, it goes on a TRAVEL credit that has to be used in one year.
We are not going anywhere in one year...especially after a big Disney trip. Worse, even if we wanted to plan a quick trip to the inlaws, they don't even fly to their town. So unless we fall into some money and can afford a trip to the east or west coast this year we just lost our supposed "money back credit."
I called about this and I could tell the lady wanted to help, but just appologized for the miscommunication. I know I heard the girl right about the money back, because I wouldn't have bought them otherwise.
So there...
Heads up warning.
I'm not happy right now, especially since we could have gotten tickets on SWA today for 80.00
Buying plane tickets is such a gamble. Who knows when the right time to buy is?
Good luck everyone!

Was "the girl" a Jet Blue employee or a travel agent?

 

[Diegosmom]

southwest is the same...kind of annoying cause you have to travel within a year of original purchase...

Example I bought Sept flights on March 29 2011...yesterday prices went down and I called for my credit...now I have to fly by March 28th to actually use this credit...so it is only 8 months from the credit...and my son got some and I got some but only the person who received the credit can use the money,...they have loops all over the board...

 

[TDC Nala]

I understand that the OP interpreted "you get the difference back" as a cash refund...but if you purchased a nonrefundable fare it's always been a credit for a future flight, not a cash refund. That's one of the reasons why refundable fares are so much higher than the nonrefundable ones.

 

[Best Aunt]

OP -

I have been told, more than once, by JetBlue employees, that I do not have to be the one to use my credit. I can transfer it to someone else.

I have not attempted to transfer it.

If you can't use the credit, perhaps you have a family member or friend that you would want to give it to.

I realize that this is not what you wanted, but you might be able to make a loved one happy with the credit rather than having to waste it.

 

[jlewisinsyr]

Just like in another thread, JetBlue has one of the best policies when it comes to passengers, the credit you receive is good for one year from date of credit, does not have to be used by the original ticketed passenger and the credit only has to be used in one year, but travel can occur beyond (ie. June 22, 2011 receive credit, must be used by June 21, 2012, but could be used on June 1, 2012 to purchase a flight on October 1, 2012).

Even when compared to SWA, this is a generally more generous policy (SWA credits must be used by same passenger as originally ticketed and both purchase of new ticket and travel must occur within one year of original purchase date).

 

[nemorocks]

We havn't flown on JetBlue yet, but I'm sure that it's a good airline and we are totally looking forward to having the snacks and TV for the kids
I'm not annoyed anymore about what happened because we've decided to try and use our credit on a weekend trip for my husband and I.
We also figured it out that even if we had gotten the 80.00 deal on SWA, our out of pocket difference wouldn't have been but a 135.00 cheaper difference. So....as long as we can find somewhere cheap to go one weekend and use our credit we are going to make a good use out of it! So here's hoping to a good low fare for us to use with in the next year

 

[papamouse1]

Awesome attitude

Make the best of it!

 

[Minniekins]

southwest is the same...kind of annoying cause you have to travel within a year of original purchase...

Example I bought Sept flights on March 29 2011...yesterday prices went down and I called for my credit...now I have to fly by March 28th to actually use this credit...so it is only 8 months from the credit...and my son got some and I got some but only the person who received the credit can use the money,...they have loops all over the board...

Just like in another thread, JetBlue has one of the best policies when it comes to passengers, the credit you receive is good for one year from date of credit, does not have to be used by the original ticketed passenger and the credit only has to be used in one year, but travel can occur beyond (ie. June 22, 2011 receive credit, must be used by June 21, 2012, but could be used on June 1, 2012 to purchase a flight on October 1, 2012).

Even when compared to SWA, this is a generally more generous policy (SWA credits must be used by same passenger as originally ticketed and both purchase of new ticket and travel must occur within one year of original purchase date).

So, if I get a credit on SWA, I have to use it by one year from date of original purchase. Do I have to fly by that date also or can I just be sure to buy in that time by the one year but fly after that? And, I booked the tickets for my daughter and myself, down and back all on one booking and all on my credit card. So does all the credit go to me to use within that time since I paid it all or do I only get to use half and she uses half since my name was on one ticket and hers was on the other?

 

[goofy4tink]

People.....you all need to understand something here. You are booking non-refundable airfares here. That's why they are so cheap. If you want a full refund, on your credit card, then book the higher priced fully refundable fares. You can't have it both ways. Not to mention...the airlines that allow you to rebook if the fares go down are doing you a huge favor. They don't have to do that..most airlines don't do that. I mean, seriously, they don't charge your credit card if the fare goes up do they?

Before booking these fares, be sure you understand what you are booking.

 

[NYDisneyKid]

it the voucher is good for a year, would it work if you book a flight a year from now then as the date approaches call themn and say you have to cancel and rebook for another date? (heance get another year again)??

 

[TDC Nala]

it the voucher is good for a year, would it work if you book a flight a year from now then as the date approaches call themn and say you have to cancel and rebook for another date? (heance get another year again)??

Cancellation won't get the clock running again on any credit you used. The credit expires when it expires. If you haven't used it to fly before its expiration date, it's gone.

 

[Tikitoi]

southwest is the same...kind of annoying cause you have to travel within a year of original purchase...

That's what I was thinking, is that SWA does the same. They don't give you $$$ back, they want you to spend your credit there. And within a certain amount of time.

But will JB still charge you that same gigundo fee for changing?

 

[ToyStory]

Our trip in 2009 we got a $70.00 voucher and applied it to this trip. Our flight was in November 2009 and the voucher expired in November 2010. I booked our trip in November 2010 for June 2011.

You don't need to travel within a year but book a flight within a year. I don't recall if the vouchers are transferrable.

 

[NYDisneyKid]

Our trip in 2009 we got a $70.00 voucher and applied it to this trip. Our flight was in November 2009 and the voucher expired in November 2010. I booked our trip in November 2010 for June 2011.

You don't need to travel within a year but book a flight within a year. I don't recall if the vouchers are transferrable.

i think this is more what i meant by my previous post.

 

[lovesdumbo]

I have often received credit from JB when the price has dropped. When I've booked all the flights on one itinerary I have been able to get all the credit in my name/true blue account.

I did have a new somewhat frustrating thing happen this year though. Last year we were delayed due to a problem with the plane and each member of my family of 5 got a $50 credit for the delay. Those credits are in each person's true blue account so when it came to booking flights for our family this August I had to book each person on their own itinerary. I had actually used my credit for a flight in May. When the price of our flights dropped the first $50 per person of the credit was set to expire 7/19/11 because I had used the credits. I wasn't real happy with this but not many air lines offer credits without a change fee.

AND....with those credits I HAD to book a November trip.

 

[lovesdumbo]

OH...meant to say I used www.yapta.com to track my flight prices.

I had booked my August flights at $440RT way more than I wanted to pay but now with the credits I got that down to $272. The flights have since been back up to $440 but I think they are around $350 now. I don't think they will go under the $272 but I will still keep track of them.

 

[Minniekins]

Still wondering if anyone can answer one of my questions about SWA credits. If I paid for the 2 RT tickets on my credit card, and we get a credit, will the credit be all mine in my name? Or will there be half of the money in my name and half in my daughters name regardless of there being only my credit card? We only have the one SW acct, this is the first time I've used SWA.

 

[kaytieeldr]

It depends. If you bought a refundable fare with Southwest, your card has already been credited the full amount due. If this is the more likely scenario of a nonrefundable fare, there is an $X credit on SW's books in your name and an equal credit in your daughter's name.

You each have to complete travel using that credit by one year from the date you first purchased it.