Jet Blue Fare Reduction Policy....is it just me?

[thebigman65]

I booked a flight for all four of us on Sept 30, 2014 at a cost of $1540. I have been checking every other day to see if the flight costs have come down, so that I can call and get the lower rate. Today I notice that the overall cost was down to $1,413.00....so I call and I was informed of the following:

Jet blue has changed there policy as of a few months back....if you find the lower fare within 14 days of the original booking they will give it to you with no charge....if its after 14 days.....they charge to $75 per person!....so if I wanted to save the $127....I would have to now pay $300 in fees....Of course I said no, but this seems a little ridiculous to me....she said to keep looking and if the flight cost comes down more that $75 per person to call back as it would be worth it.....uhmm tell me how it's worth it?.....

 

[sam_gordon]

I booked a flight for all four of us on Sept 30, 2014 at a cost of $1540. I have been checking every other day to see if the flight costs have come down, so that I can call and get the lower rate. Today I notice that the overall cost was down to $1,413.00....so I call and I was informed of the following:

Jet blue has changed there policy as of a few months back....if you find the lower fare within 14 days of the original booking they will give it to you with no charge....if its after 14 days.....they charge to $75 per person!....so if I wanted to save the $127....I would have to now pay $300 in fees....Of course I said no, but this seems a little ridiculous to me....she said to keep looking and if the flight cost comes down more that $75 per person to call back as it would be worth it.....uhmm tell me how it's worth it?.....

If a flight drops $80pp, you pay the $75 dollar fee, and end up saving $5. That's how it's "worth it". Obviously if the price drops more, you save more.

That being said, most airlines charge a change fee, and their change fee is $150-$200pp. I believe SW and Alaska are the only airlines that don't charge a fee. But you also don't get a "refund". You get a credit that has to be used within a year from the original booking.

 

[Hopefully]

I agree with Sam. This is the way the majority of airlines function. And many charge change fees of $150 - $200 per person. It is wise to understand the change rules of an airline you are booking before you book.

 

[bookgirl]

That's too bad. Maybe there will be a bigger discount later that will make it worth the change.

Fare changes is one of the reasons I tend to stick to SW. I don't get my money back but I do get credit and since I fly 2-3 times a year I always end up using it with in the time limit on credit.

The problem is that most people think the year starts from the time you get the credit. It starts on the day you BOOKED the original fare. And if you use the credit on a new flight it also has an expiration of the original fares booking date. (found this out the hard way when I had to cancel the second flight but was not going to use the credit until after the booking date of the original credit and so was going to lose the whole thing, but SW was actually super sweet and refunded me the entire amount and let me start over as a one time 'favor' I went back and in the fine print it does say that any credits used will be the starting point of the year's grace period for credits on any subsequent flight).

Moral of the story always read the fine print.

 

[goofy4tink]

Airlines need to bring money in in order to stay in business. JB is merely doing what other airlines do. Does it make us happy? Nope. I used to love getting those credits. But, stopping that' practice is better than raising fares or charging for all checked baggage.

 

[kaytieeldr]

When a customer requests a credit for a fare drip on a nonrefundable ticket, the actual procedure requires the customer service representative to cancel the original ticket and rebooking it at the lower fare. JetBlue has been great with this for many years, despite the added cost (they never charged for going through a CSR to process the credit despite charging to book tickets on the phone) and reduced projected and actual revenue.

 

[n2mm]

I will miss the fare reduction credit. I did know of the change on August 14. I guess I read it on their website. As for the new rule of a credit within 14 days of purchasing, this is a one time credit. So if it changes again you can't get the additional credit. I was on the phone with them this morning and verified the info. I purchased in July so am grandfathered and was still able to get a credit. I did like that I have 1 year to use it from the time I actually get the credit, plus they put everyone's credit into my bank. Sorry OP you couldn't get the credit.

 

[Allison]

Because if you save more than the $75 fee you are paying less and coming out better than before.

 

[rdsx28]

Sorry to hear this news as I was unaware of the change. We received over 140.00 worth of credits last year for our flights because of price reductions. I understand that it's just business but why should I pay 140.00 more for a flight than someone else just doesn't seem right but what can you do? That will certainly be a factor for my booking in the future. I like JB much better than SW but I would go with the one who offers the best credit policy.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Well, first, you're referring to flight and flights. If you have $140 in credits from flights, then you're not payin $140 more for a flight.

What other goods/services do you expect to pay much less or after you purchased it? As to why you're paying more, you chose to buy the fare when you did at the price you paid. Others likely paid more. Why should you pay $X less than someone else?

Airlines aren't charities. Ideally they're profitable businesses. JetBlue still charges less than legacy and most budget airlines for passengers to
Book online
Cancel nonrefundable reservations (normally +-$100)
Involve a live CSR to purchase the new lower fare (normally ~$25)

 

[sam_gordon]

Well, first, you're referring to flight and flights. If you have $140 in credits from flights, then you're not payin $140 more for a flight.

What other goods/services do you expect to pay much less or after you purchased it? As to why you're paying more, you chose to buy the fare when you did at the price you paid. Others likely paid more. Why should you pay $X less than someone else?

Airlines aren't charities. Ideally they're profitable businesses. JetBlue still charges less than legacy and most budget airlines for passengers to
Book online
Cancel nonrefundable reservations (normally +-$100)
Involve a live CSR to purchase the new lower fare (normally ~$25)

Regarding the bolded, there's a lot of stuff you can get refunded on after you've purchased it. Not everything though.

 

[goofy4tink]

Sorry to hear this news as I was unaware of the change. We received over 140.00 worth of credits last year for our flights because of price reductions. I understand that it's just business but why should I pay 140.00 more for a flight than someone else just doesn't seem right but what can you do? That will certainly be a factor for my booking in the future. I like JB much better than SW but I would go with the one who offers the best credit policy.

There are always going to be people that paid more, or less, than you in any given flight. The alternative to that is to make all seats the same and not fluctuate at all. Of course, those fares will be higher than you want because it will have to be at least an average.
I doubt that $140 in credits came from just one flight, for just you. Most fare change credits were in the are of $5-30 or so, seldom more than that. I did have one credit if $75 but the original fare was crazy high and it was cross country. Not a cheap fare at all.
Yes, I loved getting those credits. But I can see why they have done away with them. SW is now the only airline that allows credits for lower fares. At least to the best of my knowledge. The playing field is being leveled. Few leisure travelers have brand loyalty anymore. They go with the lowest fare almost all the time.

 

[Gracie09]

Sorry to hear this news as I was unaware of the change. We received over 140.00 worth of credits last year for our flights because of price reductions. I understand that it's just business but why should I pay 140.00 more for a flight than someone else just doesn't seem right but what can you do? That will certainly be a factor for my booking in the future. I like JB much better than SW but I would go with the one who offers the best credit policy.

what if the fare went up $140? Would you cut Jetblue a check? If you purchase a nonrefundable fare, its nonrefundable.

 

[rdsx28]

Sorry should have made it clear we received 140.00 in credits for each of 3 flights we booked. Started at 210 ended up at 70.00. I do book early as we travel in June when school gets out and it is a very busy time. I am not familiar with Legacy airline or their policies as we do not have that airline here. It was just my own personal observation on how much things have changed over the years. It used to be so easy to get credits with no problem as I had done it numerous times .I was unaware of the policy change that's all. And of course we all like to get a good deal.

 

[sam_gordon]

Sorry should have made it clear we received 140.00 in credits for each of 3 flights we booked. Started at 210 ended up at 70.00. I do book early as we travel in June when school gets out and it is a very busy time. I am not familiar with Legacy airline or their policies as we do not have that airline here. It was just my own personal observation on how much things have changed over the years. It used to be so easy to get credits with no problem as I had done it numerous times .I was unaware of the policy change that's all. And of course we all like to get a good deal.

FYI, it's "legacy airlines" referring to the "old style" airlines (Delta, United, AA, US Air). It's not "Legacy Airlines".

HTH

 

[kaytieeldr]

Legacy airlines isn't a company. It's American, United, Delta... jetBlue has only been in New England since about 2005, so if you flew before that, you flew on a legacy carrier.

The policy change went into effect in August. You still have your credits, but in the future if the price drop occurs more than 14 days after your purchase you'll be charged $75 per nonrefundable fare to get e credit. In your example, cancelling/rereserving would still have de good financial sense.

eta: I know what airlines we have here; I've been flying from and to Massachusetts for almost forty years

 

[rdsx28]

Lol. Thanks so much for letting me know. I wasn't trying to be difficult just wanted to share my thoughts that's all. Sorry if I offended anyone .

 

[MLinDisney]

I received jet blue travel credits in my bank for the difference between the price of the flight I booked in April and the flight price when I checked. I received 5 credits since I booked my December trip. Three of those 5 credits were given to me after August 14th. I just checked all my travel bank emails, and one Credit was August 17th, One was September 19th and one was September 20th. I'm wondering if those three jet blue agents didn't know about the change yet.

OP maybe you can try calling again or even a few times to see if you can get the credit with another agent.

 

[Missyrose]

I received jet blue travel credits in my bank for the difference between the price of the flight I booked in April and the flight price when I checked. I received 5 credits since I booked my December trip. Three of those 5 credits were given to me after August 14th. I just checked all my travel bank emails, and one Credit was August 17th, One was September 19th and one was September 20th. I'm wondering if those three jet blue agents didn't know about the change yet. OP maybe you can try calling again or even a few times to see if you can get the credit with another agent.

Any flights booked before the August 14 change are grandfathered in.

 

[goofy4tink]

Any flights booked before the August 14 change are grandfathered in.

True. The thing I love about JB though? They make exceptions. Of course, it has to be their idea, not ours. Some examples. I booked my dh's flight to wdw, with me, for Nov. did that last spring. Then JB reversed our times...morning flight to MCO became a late afternoon flight, and late afternoon flight home became an early morning one. I was able to change my flights to closer to the first flights, but had to change airports. No change fee....which I kind of figured. Then, I had to cancel my dh's flight since he had business travel at the same time. Got the entire fare back, no cancellation fee was charged. Nice surprise. Or the time I had to change my flight home to the day after so I could accompany my step-mother home....her eyesight wasn't great at the time. Fully expected to pay a change fee, but nope. The rep said that I was being so wonderful and changing my plans to help my step-mom, they weren't charging me.....and they gave us seats right up front! Really surprising.