JetBlue or SW during covid?

[cruisin5]

Hi All:

Any opinions which is doing a better job with precautions? Both are non stop and within minutes of each other. I like seeing the seat availability map on JB, no idea how packed the SW plane would be; usually I spring for EBCI but probably wouldn't this trip - I rather board later and pick a seat rather than have a couple of people plop down next to me!.

Signed,
A nervous flyer and covid cautious person who needs a long weekend away!

 

[easyas123]

I haven't been on JetBlue, so I can't speak to them. I have flown with Southwest 4 times in last year. In all cases found the flight to be stress free, clean and no big deal. One of those flights, just in last 2 weeks actually, was a 100% completely full flight - not one single seat left open, however on our return flight there was a total of 40 people on the flight...so don't count on there being a lot of full seats, although there could be!

My observance of air travel over the last year has been it seems to be 35% people who don't care, wouldn't wear a mask if not mandated to - 35% people who appear to be somewhat unsure of the choice they made to fly, outfitted in all types of protective gear (seriously, we've seen some serious get-ups!) and hesitant to get on the plane because they are coming into close proximity to other folks, and 30% people who are just trying to take precautions and live life, safely...but live it. Our experience is from MCO, BWI, RSW, LAS airports*.

Have a good trip, no matter what airline you go with!

*yep, I know- it's just one persons experience and I'm just offering it anecdotally and not as fact in terms of the current traveling attitudes of everyone in general

 

[FCDub]

I believe neither is blocking middle seats now.

If you are a nervous flier and COVID cautious, a road trip weekend away might be a better option.

 

[cruisin5]

I believe neither is blocking middle seats now.

If you are a nervous flier and COVID cautious, a road trip weekend away might be a better option.

Correct, neither is blocking middle seats now. A weekend road trip won't get me out of the snow and cold. I'm cautious, but not crazy or paranoid enough to not get on a plane, I was wondering if anyone has traveled both and felt one handled things better than the other. I know it's subjective.

 

[Jimsig]

I just booked a flight on JB for April and it says somewhere on their site that they are currently boarding the plane back to front to enhance social distancing. But I'm sure that does not mean you could have a seat at the back of the plane and just wait to board until last, you would just run the risk of running out of overhead bin space if that's important to you. When this all started they were saying the window seat was the best as you only have people on one side of you, where if you are in an aisle seat you would have all around you. I also don't know if that means that anybody who buys Even More still boards first, but I have a feeling they still do as everybody would be walking by them rather quickly as they move back anyway.

 

[Lumpy1106]

I haven't flown since August, but we found our JB flight from LAX-MCO was great, very safe. The flight back? SECOND TO NONE! We lucked out and got to fly on one of their new Airbus A321 planes and let me tell you, it was fantastic. Sanitation was "Disney Standard". They handed us a sealed bag with water, hand sanitizer and disinfectant wipes on our way onto the plane. The plane had been cleaned before we got on, but they instructed us to wipe down all touch surfaces when we sat down. They came through the plane at regular intervals and collected all trash. We were told not to put anything in the seat backs. This was for COVID, sure, but also because they wanted to keep the plane nice and clean since it was new. The new entertainment system - WOW! Here's the comparison. It's better than you would imagine. Each seat has full power plugs for both usb and a regular power plug.
https://www.jetblue.com/flying-with-us/inflight-experience/tv-movies-and-more

 

[MouseyMin]

Delta is blocking middle seats until end of April.

 

[cruisin5]

Thanks, I saw that but I'd have to change planes in ATL. Still, I'm considering it!

 

[goofy4tink]

I flew JB from Providence to MCO, SW back to Providence in early Jan. Both were fine. Neither flight was full, seating was fine. With SW, I booked EBCI so that I could grab the seat I needed. There weren't very many middle seats taken....pretty much if a middle seat was taken it was part of a group of three. Now, who knows what the situation is going to be going forward, especially a few months from now.

 

[DVC-Don]

Last week my wife flew from Orlando to Albany, NY. There was only 35 passengers on the Southwest plane, plenty of room to spread out.

 

[rigs32]

You'll never know how many passengers will be on your flight until that day. That said, I usually ask the SW agent checking in my bag how full my flights are and they've always told me. I find it helpful for my mindset when it comes to boarding. I have a SW credit card that allows me to upgrade boarding free 4x/year and if I have a moderate boarding position on a full flight, I am more likely to upgrade boarding.

 

[easyas123]

You'll never know how many passengers will be on your flight until that day. That said, I usually ask the SW agent checking in my bag how full my flights are and they've always told me. I find it helpful for my mindset when it comes to boarding. I have a SW credit card that allows me to upgrade boarding free 4x/year and if I have a moderate boarding position on a full flight, I am more likely to upgrade boarding.

My husband and I each have that card, having those 4 upgrades each per year is really nice -

 

[cruisin5]

Last week my wife flew from Orlando to Albany, NY. There was only 35 passengers on the Southwest plane, plenty of room to spread out.

That's my home airport, I hope the plane is that empty. I couldn't pass up the $84 each way.