Is Jet Blue "all that?"

[snowbunny]

I've never flown Jet Blue before, but it seems to have many devoted acolytes. And, I've been seeing complaints about SWA's cattle-call/Walmart approach to flying.
Is Jet Blue that much more pleasant/hassle free/etc. etc. than everything else out there? I can drive to BOS for Jet Blue or MHT for Southwest, they're about the same distance from here...and the fares seem pretty comparable.

 

[ennisb]

We have done them both and if the fares are close take Jet Blue.

You get reserved seats so that boarding pass garbage is not an issue, nobdoy is waiting in line 1hr + even with a boarding pass.

While jet Blue, you have youf seat, they call your row, you get live TV, and great service.

 

[jodifla]

JetBlue is definitely "All that"!

 

[Jeanne B]

We've always flown SW partly because we prefer MHT over Logan but we flew Jet Blue last January and thought they were great...the assigned seating was nice and the tv's made the flight go by more quickly. We also found it real convenient to take C&J Trailways out of Portsmouth, NH to Logan which makes flying out Logan more attractive for us. Kids ride free, free parking at the bus terminal and r/t bus tickets are $39 which is much cheaper than parking at Logan for a week or more.

 

[PrincessAurora]

It's all that and a bucket of chicken! I take Southwest to Orlando because I fly free on my FF miles. If I didn't have the voucher, I would take Jet Blue without a blink. I fly them non-stop from Oakland to DC. LOVE the blue chip snacks and the TV for the long flight. THEY ROCK!

 

[salmoneous]

Can't really comment on Jet Blue, but do want to defend Southwest. Great fares. Great staff. I've never quite understood the bias against unassigned seats. I actually prefer unassigned as it gives me the best choice of where to sit. You check-in online 24-hours ahead of time, get your "A" pass, and never have a problem.

PS - Do take into consideration the difference between Manchester and Logan. You never know when there is going to be a problem in a tunnel, or some crazy traffic problem just getting to BOS. Then there is the extra time involved getting around the larger airport. Give me BDL PVD or MHT any day over Boston.

 

[Cinderella2004]

Jet Blue is hands down our first choice. That being said, with the $34. ding I got, we are flying Southwest in January.

Logan is tons easier to get in and out of now that they opened the new tunnel. We've flown out of their several times in the past 2 years and have had no troubles with traffic whatsoever.

 

[goofy4tink]

I have been a huge fan of Song for awhile now. I flew SW in August and it was okay. Got a terrific fare, but standing in line to get the desired seats for an hour was a pain. I flew Song to MCO from Logan on Nov 28 then flew JetBlue home on Dec 5. I loved JetBlue. I love having the little tv's right there in front of me. While I think that Song's tv set-up is a bit better, I'll take JetBlue's set-up over the alternative...nothing. I enjoyed everything about JetBlue. I'm so glad I gave them a try since Song is being absorbed back into Delta. No way we can be sure how that is going to shake out. I'll be flying JetBlue again in a heartbeat. Sure, it's a pain that I can't book my flights as early as I would like to with them. But, at least I know that they aren't going to change my flights umpteen times before I fly...the way Song/Delta does now.

 

[athenna]

Glad to hear good reviews of JetBlue. I have never flown w/them before. I get a little nervous trying out new things like this, especially bringing 66 year old dad with me. But it sounds like we'll be just fine.

 

[snowbunny]

Can't really comment on Jet Blue, but do want to defend Southwest. Great fares. Great staff. I've never quite understood the bias against unassigned seats.

If I were traveling alone, I wouldn't care at all about not having an assigned seat. However, it's going to be stressful for my kids to have to line up an hour early to be assured of a better chance to sit together.

I too would rather deal with MHT (heard great things about it although I've not yet flown out of there) than Logan, but either way we'll probably go down the night before and stay at an airport hotel.

"All that and a bucket of chicken...." I love it -- I am thinking we have to try Jet Blue at least to see what we've been missing

 

[salmoneous]

Not trying to pick a fight or anything, but why are people standing in line for an hour to get to sit together? As long as you have "A" passes, it's not going to be a problem, and getting "A" passes it easy if you log in 24-hours in advance.

 

[owtrbnks]

Not trying to pick a fight or anything, but why are people standing in line for an hour to get to sit together? As long as you have "A" passes, it's not going to be a problem, and getting "A" passes it easy if you log in 24-hours in advance.

That's what I was thinkin'. Even with "Bs" chances are you'll sit together.
Once I got a C and ended up with a terrible seat all the way in the back. Ended up getting to Orlando 2-3 seconds after the people with the good seats!

The more people on JetBlue, the more seats for me to choose from on SWA.

 

[HappyLawyer]

i will fly whoever is reliable with a good fare, i only flew southwest once in my life, and they had the best air staff i ever encountered hands down. I have flown, ATA, American, United and Southhwest, and SW crew was awesome, i don't remember anything about the seat assignment sorry

 

[goofy4tink]

Not trying to pick a fight or anything, but why are people standing in line for an hour to get to sit together? As long as you have "A" passes, it's not going to be a problem, and getting "A" passes it easy if you log in 24-hours in advance.

I'm just posting based on my own experience. I flew SW from TF Green in early August. I had my 'A' boarding pass. When I got to the airport, by the time I got through security, I was 8th in line, with my dd. We had about 80 minutes before our flight. But, there were a ton of people arriving, so we got in the A line. Now, there had to be about 40 people in the 'preboard' line...several families with the requisite child under 5, but total of about 12 people flying with that child.
By the time my dd and I boarded, we had to move about 3-4 rows behind the wing before we could find a window seat and a middle seat together. There were a ton of people in the front of the plane who were sitting in just the window and aisle seats. Sure, at some point they had to move to that middle seat if they wanted to sit together, but my dd and I fly sitting next to each other, so our only option was way to the back of the plane. Almost the exact same scenario coming home from Orlando.
So, obviously I had to be in that line for over an hour. Sure, I guess I could have ended up way to the rear...it doesn't really matter. But, as this was my first flight with SW I just wasn't sure how things would shake out once we boarded. Better safe than sorry I figured.
Now, I'll pay a bit extra and board the old fashioned way...by sections. At least I know where I'm sitting. When I flew JetBlue in early Dec, I think I paid about $50 more than I did for my SW flight in Aug. It was worth it to me. Maybe for others it's not worth the extra cost. Up to each person to make that choice. But based on that one experience, I don't think I'll do that again, unless I'm traveling alone.

 

[Poohbear123]

I fly alone, don't care WHERE in the plane I sit, as long as I get a window. I am usually in row 5-20 when getting in line with my "A" pass, I refuse to stand in line for over an HOUR!

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Not trying to pick a fight or anything, but why are people standing in line for an hour to get to sit together? As long as you have "A" passes, it's not going to be a problem, and getting "A" passes it easy if you log in 24-hours in advance.

Actually that is not guaranteed. We flew in January 2 Adults and 2 Kids under 5. I was very concerned about not getting A. I spoke with SWA--loggin in 24 hours in advance is not a guarantee of getting "A". They only have so many "A's" available via on-line checkin leaving some allocated for those who check in at the airport. So it is "possible" that you can end up with a "B" pass. Travelling with 4 we could not take that risk. We did end up with A--but for us it didn't matter as we were able to pre-board with our small fries ahead of the A corral.

We like SWA---a portable DVD player suffices for us for in flight entertainment. If JetBlue were convenient for us, we would try it--but it is not available for the routes we need.

We have a much more pleasant experience on SWA than on Delta--and their cattle call boarding style has been an affective business plan for them thus far.

 

[momrek06]

I've never flown Jet Blue before, but it seems to have many devoted acolytes. And, I've been seeing complaints about SWA's cattle-call/Walmart approach to flying.
Is Jet Blue that much more pleasant/hassle free/etc. etc. than everything else out there? I can drive to BOS for Jet Blue or MHT for Southwest, they're about the same distance from here...and the fares seem pretty comparable.

HEY SNOWBUNNY: What I generally do is if I have an INKLING that I may be traveling within the remote future, I just go online at random times and search the internet for airfares on all airlines. DH & I knew we wanted to head to FL to see M&D in Tampa in JAN and then drive up to WDW. I started searching in OCT and during my random searching lo and behold I found JET BLUE, Boston to Tampa for $39.00pp each way...wow $78.00pp rt WE GRABBED IT!!! It was just from looking and searching that paid off. AND yes, JET BLUE is awesome. I love that as well as SONG. Also while booking online you can PICK YOUR OWN SEATS RIGHT THEN AND THERE. HAPPY TRAVELING!!

 

[dvcnewgirl]

Jet Blue is sooo much better. IMHO I would never pick southwest over jet blue unless the cost difference was huge. Just my opinion...

 

[snowbunny]

Ok sooo...when can we expect JetBlue will open up flights past first week in September?