Jetblue - I did a double take

[Mouseaholic!!!]

Hi All -

I have been trying to resolve an airfare choice for the Saturday of Thanksgiving. I have looked at everyone and everywhere including...

Baltimore
Reagan National (DC)
Dulles (DC)

Philadelphia

JFK
Laguardia
Islip


I decided to see what was up with Jetblue since I was checking everyone. I have a friend who is devoted to Jetblue - heck why not take a peek. (Now llet me say I'm used to Southwest's no-penalty - no change-fee policy --- very spoiled).

First thing noticed was the fare of obscenely high for that Saturday comparied to other carriers and airports I checked.


What truly SHOCKED me were there terms and conditions. NO CHANGES, no name changes, no schedle changes...no NOTHING changes. Any modification to the contract for the November 28th flight would result in forfeit of ALL $$$$ and this is for a $1,280 airfare!!!. Maybe it was a mistake for the day.

It didn't seem to be that way with ALL their flights -but that was a shocker.

Be sure to look at the terms and conditions before you click on the PAY button. The Terms and Conditions are opena and on the page to see as you are booking - no reason you would miss them.

Just a warning!

 

[kaytieeldr]

Did you check to see what the refundable fare is for the same date/flights? Could be close.

In fairness to JetBlue, they DO put the terms and conditions right on the purchase page - no need to go exploring terms in a sixty page Contract of Carriage and, despite what the terms & conditions state, changes are permitted for a fee.

Here are the fare rules associated with a non-refundable, $275 MCO-JFK flight on November 28:
Departing Flight
This fare is nonrefundable and name changes are not permitted.
Reservations made with this fare may be changed or canceled at jetblue.com or by calling 1-800-JETBLUE (538-2583) prior to scheduled departure for a fee of $100 per person plus any applicable difference in airfare. Any remaining balance will be placed in a JetBlue credit and may be applied toward a future reservation for one year. Customers with hearing or speech impairments can call our toll-free TTY/TDD telephone number, 1-800-336-5530.
If a reservation made with this fare is not changed or canceled prior to scheduled departure, all money associated with this fare is forfeited.
This fare is capacity controlled. Seats offered at this fare are limited and may not be available on all flights.
All fares are subject to change until purchased.

And here's http://www.jetblue.com/about/legal/general.asp the link to JetBlue's general travel restrictions and fees.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Also, for the record: JetBlue's change fee for a nonrefundable fare is lower than most other airlines; and even Southwest doesn't allow name changes.

 

[MAH4546]

I don't get what the issue is here. Those terms are in-line with everybody else. And only Allegiant allows name changes.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Agreed. I just checked JetBlue's refundable fares for the date in question (11/28) from MCO to: JFK, EWR, IAD, LGA. In each case, the fully-refundable fares are $439 and $509. The fare rules are:
This fare is refundable.
Reservations made with this fare may be changed or cancelled for a refund until the time of departure.
After departure, any unused funds will be converted to a JetBlue credit which is valid for future travel for up to one year from date of issuance.
Name changes are permitted.
All fares are subject to change until purchased.

To JFK, the lowest nonrefundable fare is $214; to LGA, it's $304.

 

[habg1]

Just my 2 cents... Love jet blue. They've gotten me to MCO safely & on time - each time.

Can't beat the radio & TV.

I understand when I book online what I'm getting into, even if I have to cross my fingers that nothing changes in my plans. I understand that I'm going to be on that flight no matter what Even if I have to turn around and fly home. I'm getting my moneys worth, one way or the other...

 

[Mouseaholic!!!]

Did you check to see what the refundable fare is for the same date/flights? Could be close.

In fairness to JetBlue, they DO put the terms and conditions right on the purchase page - no need to go exploring terms in a sixty page Contract of Carriage and, despite what the terms & conditions state, changes are permitted for a fee.

Here are the fare rules associated with a non-refundable, $275 MCO-JFK flight on November 28:
Departing Flight
This fare is nonrefundable and name changes are not permitted.
Reservations made with this fare may be changed or canceled at jetblue.com or by calling 1-800-JETBLUE (538-2583) prior to scheduled departure for a fee of $100 per person plus any applicable difference in airfare. Any remaining balance will be placed in a JetBlue credit and may be applied toward a future reservation for one year. Customers with hearing or speech impairments can call our toll-free TTY/TDD telephone number, 1-800-336-5530.
If a reservation made with this fare is not changed or canceled prior to scheduled departure, all money associated with this fare is forfeited.
This fare is capacity controlled. Seats offered at this fare are limited and may not be available on all flights.
All fares are subject to change until purchased.

And here's http://www.jetblue.com/about/legal/general.asp the link to JetBlue's general travel restrictions and fees.

I did check, thanks.....but not all that close. I also had other options which were up to 2/3 less $$$. Funny thing - the fare rules were different for the outbound and return flights....very odd.....WAY too restrictive when I'm blessed with many flights from BWI on Southwest.

I just wanted people to be sure to read the Terms and Conditions for JetBlue so there are no tears later if they have to make changes.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Appreciated - but a less necessary reminder regarding JetBlue than for most other airlines. You've seen for yourself that JetBlue does put the terms and conditions right there on the purchase page, and requires the passenger to acknowledge having read them before continuing to the purchase.

Most other airlines' websites don't make it that transparent.

 

[Lupin]

Jetblue has become more expensive over the years. I used to fly them regularly to Orlando and Fort Lauderdale from Boston, but other carriers such as Delta tend to be much, much cheaper these days.

Jetblue fares tend to fluctuate though, and they have a policy where if you see a cheaper fare on the same flight - after you've already booked - they will give you the difference back in Jetblue dollars. So if you book a ticket several months in advance and keep an eye on the fares, there's a good chance that you could end up recouping some of that money. I've done it several times and they have never given me a hard time about it.

The biggest bummer for me is that most of their flights now stop at JFK where as in the past they almost always went direct to Florida.

 

[BigTigger]

I used to like Delta/Song, then put my vote to SWA, but now favor JB on most flights. Your high airfare was probably due to a flight close to sellout. With SWA at about $200 R/T for flights to/from central Florida, very few Dings anymore, and A passes being harder to get, SWA is not worth $200 R/T when JB is usually at that price point for reserverd premium leg room seats, has inflight entertainment, first bag is free and I only have one, and is part of the check-in at Disney program. If SWA was back in the $160 or less R/T range, I'd consider them again.

 

[DVC Grammy]

Also, for the record: JetBlue's change fee for a nonrefundable fare is lower than most other airlines; and even Southwest doesn't allow name changes.

True, but with SWA, you can cancel, get credit, and re-book with a new passenger name. Only the credit card name has to stay the same.