JetBlue--OUCH

[Alexander]

Whoa! Checked JetBlue for our April trip (after Easter--so no holiday travelers) and the R/T flights for us were $1,008---EACH Okay for my family that is $4,032--Holy Cow! Honestly, I think we could fly across the pond or to Hawaii for that!

It is actually really funny, because I just don't see many people from our area booking that for their spring break vacations! I know it will come down, but that was the rate when they opened up April.

I just checked again and it is down! Only $3596 now for my family of 4!

 

[laughinplace199]

Not sure which week you're looking at, but many schools in New England and other parts of the northeast have the third week in April off. JB's fares are always incredibly high during that time, and they seldom go down. I don't know how they get people to pay $800+ per person, but they do.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Honestly? Likely because those people are aware of the actual cost, to both them and the airlines, to provide air transportation. In addition, those people want to go where they're going and are willing to pay a reasonable price to get there.

 

[bavaria]

I agree with the wise poster above me. Sometimes one has to get where one needs to go, and cost is not the primary factor.

Many people work in such situations; when this argument comes up the most simple example is someone like Anderson Cooper - do you really think that CNN tells him to wait for the $79 fare special before he flies to a crisis?

I have never in five years planned my work or personal travel more than 14 days in advance. It just doesn't happen.

And even for personal reasons people need to get somewhere at certain times. A ticket in business class, long haul TATL, for travel less than 48 hours away, costs more than an entire WDW vacation can cost. But sometimes it has to be done.

Edited to add: JetBlue may be influenced by their partner/part owner, as well. Perhaps they are one of the first American carriers to start reasonable pricing and not throwing away bargain basement fares long in advance. They may well be considering facets of the models used by airlines in the rest of the world outside America. If that is the case, that is a very smart thing to be doing, and hopefully the other carriers will follow suit, to avoid more bankruptcies.

 

[MFLetou]

Oh please...

Simple economics will dictate the price. JetBlue's optimistically pricing a future high-demand time period at a massive premium. If the market responds by not booking it, they'll be cutting those fares just like everyone else. It has nothing to do with "people being aware of the actual cost."

A lot of what's been said about paying high fares is true, but not in a leisure market like Orlando. Last minute travel is the name of the game in the business world, and frankly it subsidizes leisure travel for everyone else. I possibly had to fly DCA-Columbus the other day--$1333 r/t. I ended up not having to go, but the point is those kinds of fares are what allows an airline to offer $179 roundtrip to MCO. And rest assured, btw, if the actual cost for US Airways to fly me to Columbus was actually $1333, then their cost structure is even more screwed up than its rumored to be.

As far as a business strategy--actually, they might be hurting themselves, because if, say, Delta's pricing that route 30% less, they might be getting the bookings. At the end of the day, B6 might have to discount more than that to fill the seats.

In terms of who is booking right now--likely its mostly people using miles and points.

 

[sgschurman]

It was the same from the Maritime provinces. The family we are travelling with looked for March Break and it would have been over $4000 for their family of 4. Luckily, we all ended up booking with airmiles.

 

[snowbunny]

A lot of what's been said about paying high fares is true, but not in a leisure market like Orlando.

Exactly. JetBlue has never aimed at the business traveler; if that's the strategy, they'd better tell Marketing.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Last minute travel is the name of the game in the business world, and frankly it subsidizes leisure travel for everyone else

Uh, respectfully - no. Business travel subsidizes ultra-low-priced leisure fares.

 

[kaytieeldr]

I possibly had to fly DCA-Columbus the other day--$1333 r/t. I ended up not having to go, but the point is those kinds of fares are what allows an airline to offer $179 roundtrip to MCO. And rest assured, btw, if the actual cost for US Airways to fly me to Columbus was actually $1333, then their cost structure is even more screwed up than its rumored to be.

Okay, just for fun... JetBlue doesn't fly this route, so I tried Buffalo (relatively similar distance, and yes, I'm aware not the same market). Round trip leaving this afternoon and returning tomorrow afternoon, non-refundable fare $380.40 round trip. To Chicago (further distance, again I realize different market) is $540.40 for the same last-minute itinerary.

Even the fully refundable fares are $800 and $1000 respectively.

 

[bavaria]

I am quite certain that JetBlue has a business plan and a strategy in place, even if the DIS doesn't happen to agree with it. They may not be releasing those lowest fares right at the start, they may be waiting to release specials and discounts.

That may not be the norm, or it may not have been their strategy in past, but doing things the way they have always been done won't get any airline ahead right now in America.

 

[kaytieeldr]

As far as a business strategy--actually, they might be hurting themselves, because if, say, Delta's pricing that route 30% less, they might be getting the bookings. At the end of the day, B6 might have to discount more than that to fill the seats.

Well, money's important to me - but if JetBlue is 30% higher than Delta, I'll still go with JetBlue. I guess I want the best value for my money.

 

[toniosmom]

When JetBlue released their March and April schedule, I was quick to book our flights from Newark to MCO at $268/pp. The next afternoon, the price had increased by about $30/pp. I don't quite understand that. How can you open a flight and less than 18 hours later, increase the price?

Our JetBlue flight last year (end of March) was $248/pp w/the extra $20/pp for the extra legroom. This year, our EARLY-March flight is $268 withOUT the extra $20/pp for the extra legroom. Gas was a lot more expensive last March and we are outside of Spring Break season -- not sure what the difference is all about. Perhaps they are having trouble filling the seats. However, charging more isn't likely to fill the seats.

 

[DebbieB]

When JetBlue released their March and April schedule, I was quick to book our flights from Newark to MCO at $268/pp. The next afternoon, the price had increased by about $30/pp. I don't quite understand that. How can you open a flight and less than 18 hours later, increase the price?

They probably only programmed a set number of seats for the lower price. When they were gone, the price moved up. All airlines control inventory that way.

 

[snowbunny]

They probably only programmed a set number of seats for the lower price. When they were gone, the price moved up. All airlines control inventory that way.

And then they run sales to fill the empty seats, like today for example (http://www.jetblue.com/deals/sample-sale/):

From New York, NY (JFK)

$79 Aguadilla, PR (BQN)
$99 Aruba (AUA)
$89 Barbados (BGI) (U.S. origin only)
$79 Bermuda (BDA)
$39 Buffalo, NY (BUF)
$39 Burlington, VT (BTV)
$69 Cancun, MX (CUN) (U.S. origin only)
$59 Chicago, IL (ORD)
$39 Charlotte, NC (CLT)
$89 Denver, CO (DEN)
$59 Fort Lauderdale, FL (FLL)
$99 Houston, TX (HOU)
$69 Kingston, Jamaica (KIN)
$99 Las Vegas, NV (LAS)
$99 Montego Bay, Jamaica (MBJ)
$69 Nassau, Bahamas (NAS)
$79 Oakland, CA (OAK)
$59 Orlando, FL (MCO)
$39 Pittsburgh, PA (PIT)
$79 Ponce, PR (PSE)
$39 Portland, ME (PWM)
$89 Puerto Plata, DR (POP) (U.S. origin only)
$39 Raleigh, NC (RDU)
$39 Richmond, VA (RIC)
$39 Rochester, NY (ROC)
$79 San Francisco, CA (SFO)
$79 San Jose, CA (SJC)
$69 Santo Domingo, DR (SDQ) (U.S. origin only)
$89 Seattle, WA (SEA)
$89 Salt Lake City, UT (SLC)
$69 Santiago, DR (STI) (U.S. origin only)
$59 Sarasota, FL (SRQ)
$99 St. Maarten, AN (SXM)
$39 Syracuse, NY (SYR)
$59 Tampa, FL (TPA)
$39 Washington, Dulles (IAD)
$59 West Palm Beach, FL (PBI)

And regarding the following exchange, I believe you are both saying exactly the same thing:

Originally Posted by MFLetou
Last minute travel is the name of the game in the business world, and frankly it subsidizes leisure travel for everyone else
Uh, respectfully - no. Business travel subsidizes ultra-low-priced leisure fares.

- Where's that head scratch smiley....

 

[toniosmom]

I know! I checked out one of those $59 flights from Newark to Orlando and the flight was mostly empty! It just amazes me. If I had vacation time left, I think I would have booked quickie trip.

 

[kaytieeldr]

- Where's that head scratch smiley....

Yeah, so, okay - you're right. Does that replace the head scratch smiley? I misread what I quoted - thank you for the correction!

 

[toniosmom]

Well, money's important to me - but if JetBlue is 30% higher than Delta, I'll still go with JetBlue. I guess I want the best value for my money.

I completely agree. To be honest, if JetBlue charged $100 more than Continental, I'd still fly JetBlue. It's a MUCH more pleasant experience and that is priceless to me.