JetBlue changed their policy today

[funhouse8]

So i noticed my Fares went down for our trip in sept. and when I called JetBlue they said starting today they will only credit you back if your savings is greater then $75.00. This stinks becasue most of the time the fares do not go down that much. so sad.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

http://help.jetblue.com/SRVS/CGI-BIN/webisapi.dll?New,Kb=askBlue,case=obj(383871)

 

[vicki_c]

That link isn't working. Takes me to a page with an error message.

 

[DebbieB]

Legacy airlines (United, American, Delta, USAirways), it's $200.

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

I was speaking with a Jetblue rep via phone earlier this week who said there was a policy change coming in regards to the credits in the event of a price decline. I figured they were eliminating it entirely.

I wonder if the $75 minimum is per family (or reservation), or if its a per traveler thing.

 

[kaytieeldr]

I'm sure it's per passenger.

 

[goofy4tink]

Jetblue had best be careful....there are a few reasons that people fly with JB...and the ability to get a credit, however small, if fares go down is a big draw!!! Otherwise, there isn't going to be a good reason to look at JB first when booking airfare.

 

[Missyrose]

Jetblue had best be careful....there are a few reasons that people fly with JB...and the ability to get a credit, however small, if fares go down is a big draw!!! Otherwise, there isn't going to be a good reason to look at JB first when booking airfare.

I totally agree. I just sent an email to customer service voicing my displeasure with this. I sucked it up when JetBlue moved all its Florida flights to a convenient airport and continued to fly with them because I valued being able to book a ticket with the confidence of being given a credit if I saw the ticket had dropped. If they want to act like a legacy carrier, then I will treat them like one when it comes to booking my flight.

 

[Lewisc]

I'll be the "devils advocate". $75 is less then $200. People book Jetblue because they like the fare, one checked bag for free and IFE. I don't think the change fee is going to have a big impact.

The purpose of a "sale" is to promote new bookings. What is the point, from the airline's point of view, of offering a "sale" if the result is existing passengers getting a credit but few new bookings.

This will never happen....What about a sliding scale? The fee is half the fare difference, with a minimum of $20 (maybe $10) and a maximum of $75.

 

[mischief32]

I also think I read that they might start charged for the first checked bag also. I have to agree as much as I dislike the way boarding is down at Southwest they might get my business with all the changes that JetBlue is making.

 

[MrsNick]

JB may find that folks will wait longer to buy their airfare because of this change.

I know if a fare was higher than I liked, I would book anyway knowing that if it dropped I could receive a credit. With this change, I am more likely to wait for a fare drop before purchasing airfare.

Essentially, JB may discover that it will take longer for them to fill up their planes.

The fare credit also provided an incentive for me to book my next flight on JB. Now, I will be considering other airlines when it comes time to shop airfares.

 

[goofy4tink]

JB may find that folks will wait longer to buy their airfare because of this change.

I know if a fare was higher than I liked, I would book anyway knowing that if it dropped I could receive a credit. With this change, I am more likely to wait for a fare drop before purchasing airfare.

Essentially, JB may discover that it will take longer for them to fill up their planes.

The fare credit also provided an incentive for me to book my next flight on JB. Now, I will be considering other airlines when it comes time to shop airfares.

Absolutely! I know what I want to pay to fly. When I see a flight that meets my needs, at a price I'm comfortable with, I book it. And it's usually with JB.....because I have always been able to get a few dollars here and there when flights decrease in price. Prices seldom drop more than $75. So, if that's going to be the case, I may be better off flying SW...no checked bag fees at all, and I can change my flights with no issue. If the price goes down, I can cancel the current one, get a credit to my account and then rebook at the lower fare...leaving some in my account for future flights.

I love JB...and I will continue to fly them. But, if they start nickle and diming me? Nope, I will take my business elsewhere.

 

[MrsNick]

Absolutely! I know what I want to pay to fly. When I see a flight that meets my needs, at a price I'm comfortable with, I book it. And it's usually with JB.....because I have always been able to get a few dollars here and there when flights decrease in price. Prices seldom drop more than $75. So, if that's going to be the case, I may be better off flying SW...no checked bag fees at all, and I can change my flights with no issue. If the price goes down, I can cancel the current one, get a credit to my account and then rebook at the lower fare...leaving some in my account for future flights.

I love JB...and I will continue to fly them. But, if they start nickle and diming me? Nope, I will take my business elsewhere.

I may begin checking Alaska Airlines when shopping fares...they have a policy quite similar to JB's former policy of issuing a credit when fares drop. I hope they fly routes that I need!

 

[PatMcDuck]

Makes Southwest look better and better.

 

[greenclan67]

I just recently starting using SW and love them for the free changes. I just booked xmas with them not knowing for sure if we will be able to go as my Dad is not well. But know we are going in March so if xmas doesnt work I can switch them to March. Makes me happy. Plus the price on the 20th & 27th was $112.30 each way non stop. Jetblue wasnt even close and I flew JB every chance I got. I am sad to hear this.

 

[bumbershoot]

I may begin checking Alaska Airlines when shopping fares...they have a policy quite similar to JB's former policy of issuing a credit when fares drop. I hope they fly routes that I need!

Similar, but theirs is actually stated on their website with a handy dandy web form to fill in to get that credit back immediately. JB's officially stated (when I looked) that you would not get a credit. But then they would do it.

Legacy airlines (United, American, Delta, USAirways), it's $200.

Of course. And if you book those, you know it. The big fun of JB, SW, and Alaska is that they have/had different policies.

Jetblue had best be careful....there are a few reasons that people fly with JB...and the ability to get a credit, however small, if fares go down is a big draw!!! Otherwise, there isn't going to be a good reason to look at JB first when booking airfare.

Agreed.

I mean I'm not a JB-liker at all, so I don't book them at all. But I have *checked* them, just in case their fares were significantly lower. (they've always been terrifyingly higher)

The purpose of a "sale" is to promote new bookings. What is the point, from the airline's point of view, of offering a "sale" if the result is existing passengers getting a credit but few new bookings.

They get money earlier. The use of that money, the interest on that money. And if there isn't a sale, they've had that money for a longer time.

 

[goofy4tink]

I'll be the "devils advocate". $75 is less then $200. People book Jetblue because they like the fare, one checked bag for free and IFE. I don't think the change fee is going to have a big impact.

The purpose of a "sale" is to promote new bookings. What is the point, from the airline's point of view, of offering a "sale" if the result is existing passengers getting a credit but few new bookings.

This will never happen....What about a sliding scale? The fee is half the fare difference, with a minimum of $20 (maybe $10) and a maximum of $75.

Here's my thought. It's not as if they're giving me a refund...they're giving me a credit. And having that credit will keep me coming back to JB. Even if it's just $20! Those little credits start to add up after awhile. But if I know that if/when the fare goes down, I won't get that credit any longer, I may start looking at other airlines. I do have some brand loyalty. But, if I'm going to save a fair amount of money, then that's who I'm booking with. I will always go with JB first. If/when they go to no free checked bags? All bets are off. That truly levels the playing field. I'll be looking at every available option when flying.

 

[Lewisc]

They get money earlier. The use of that money, the interest on that money. And if there isn't a sale, they've had that money for a longer time.

I'm sure the bean counters calculated how much "interest" they'd be losing before they made the decision. The applicable interest rate would be whatever rate the banks are charging JetBlue for their line of credit.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

Jetblue had best be careful....there are a few reasons that people fly with JB...and the ability to get a credit, however small, if fares go down is a big draw!!! Otherwise, there isn't going to be a good reason to look at JB first when booking airfare.

LOL
Americans tend to notice only one thing when it comes to booking airfare. The price.

Then later when they want to change they have a fit over change fees

 

[TJA]

I'm not thrilled with the $75, but I'd still book with them if they had the lowest fare. However, if they take away the free 1st luggage, then I'd most likely stop booking with them and go with Southwest almost exclusively....