JetBlue slashing MCO flights

[kylenne]

The whole configuration of hubs and airlines having slots is so confusing to me. I can't remember if it was to promote competition and discourage monopolistic behavior, but I feel like it ends up limiting a good mix of choices. Definitely at EWR - I think I've flown Delta back home maybe once, ever?

It's very confusing! Going to have to stop myself from going on another rant about airline deregulation lol. The reality is, even in NYC where we theoretically have 3 airports to choose from, we can run into issues like this. We are very fortunate in our plethora of direct flights, but sometimes even then your choice of airline may be limited on certain routes. I know JB is cutting back but it's insane to me that they're doing it even on what has too be one of their most profitable and popular routes, between two focus cities. It just sucks that, like the United situation, mismanagement on the part of the airline results in fewer options and higher prices for customers.

 

[kristenabelle]

It's very confusing! Going to have to stop myself from going on another rant about airline deregulation lol. The reality is, even in NYC where we theoretically have 3 airports to choose from, we can run into issues like this. We are very fortunate in our plethora of direct flights, but sometimes even then your choice of airline may be limited on certain routes. I know JB is cutting back but it's insane to me that they're doing it even on what has too be one of their most profitable and popular routes, between two focus cities. It just sucks that, like the United situation, mismanagement on the part of the airline results in fewer options and higher prices for customers.

one thousand percent in agreement!

 

[gottalovepluto]

At least for Sept (but likely all Fall) JetBlue will reportedly be paying some pilots not fly ( OMAAT link).

This does not bode well for future schedule stability.

 

[Lewisc]

know JB is cutting back but it's insane to me that they're doing it even on what has too be one of their most profitable and popular routes, between two focus cities.

JB wouldn't be cutting back NYC - MCO if it was one of their more profitable routes.

Flights to Orlando skew toward price sensitive leisure flyers.

 

[kylenne]

JB wouldn't be cutting back NYC - MCO if it was one of their more profitable routes.

Flights to Orlando skew toward price sensitive leisure flyers.

I don't understand how it's not though. I can definitely see why they reduced the TAs to London to seasonal service, because it was imo foolish to run them year round. But JFK-MCO flights are always full no matter what time of year, trust. If they are losing money on that route, it has to be within the last year or so. Their prices have crept up on that route compared to their competitors. Our Delta flights in Sept. are half the price of what we originally paid for the JB flights we canceled (granted, both were award flights, but it was about 6k fewer Skymiles total than what I had spent in TB points). It's a chicken and egg situation of their own making. Maybe they squeezed a bit too hard trying to make up losses elsewhere and drove people to other, cheaper options and then had to cut flights.

 

[frannn]

Jetblue just added back a new non-stop flight for MCO-JFK for the fall. Was able to switch over to it from the early afternoon return flight we booked months ago. Plane is an A220- hope it is as good as the 320's we've been on in the past.

 

[Anthony1971]

Things like this have been going on for as long as I can remember -at least 30 years- Years ago I would mostly fly out of JFK and LGA as I was closer but always looked at EWR as the prices were lower. Moved closer to EWR and had a choice of all 3 for a number of years with relatives still close to JFK and LGA. EWR for a while was cheaper and more flights than JFK and LGA.... Today they are all similar. The airlines that service them keep changing. As far as Delays that is all and the luck of the draw. Night flights have always been a disaster at of all.
I know recently and this year especially the FAA limited the time slots out of all 3 NY airports with that likely made them more expensive. SW also flew out of EWR for a while. What I can say is JB and SW were always EWR terminal C and always the same gates this no longer. The remaining gates on the opposite side of C were always the legacy airlines. Last year JB had flights out of the new terminal A which is extremely well done far easier to get and leave for cars and planes. JB gave up a lot of slots and I would say yes it has to do with the slot pricing as well not just the ticket price making it less profitable to fly out of NY airports.
EWR and JFK need the legacy airlines to remain for the international and Business travelers they bring a lot of $$$. Corporate will spend on food etc., leisure will not. JB is mostly leisure as the legacy airlines partner with large corporations with reduced pricing even same day travel. LGA is not international but still suffers the same fate with slots but still has SW. SW does a decent amount of Business as well as there is some who have no other option but they just cannot compete against the legacy in the NYC area. Heard it a million times... The anxiety of a seat from those who have to fly for Business. That may soon change with the new seating policy which will be all at a fee. But this will also again increase the choices out of NYC with hopefully more MCO routes.
Terminal C at EWR for the many times My wife and I have flown in out for business mainly... The issues is there is one narrow way in and out for the planes so even if you plane lands early you can sit and wait.... as the day goes on (later flights) this issue can compound causing long delays. In other words if the planes are not arriving and leaving within a specific time frame there is a traffic jam....

 

[Tomaso12]

Our late Nov 6pm flight out of BDL was just cancelled; JB moved us to the 9:24pm...ended up cancelling and booking with SW and saving a few bucks in the process

 

[tony67]

JB wouldn't be cutting back NYC - MCO if it was one of their more profitable routes.

Flights to Orlando skew toward price sensitive leisure flyers.

Yeah - most of their cuts have been unprofitable routes - which makes sense even though its not great for the consumer.

I have a lot less choice than I did a year ago, but I'm paying $69 each way - so how can they make any money with that?
The upgraded seat (free with my credit card) cost $110 more. Would not pay that out of pocket - especially since they usually give that middle seat to standby folks - which can be interesting to say the least. I would never pay for that seat upgrade OOP.

 

[kylenne]

The upgraded seat (free with my credit card) cost $110 more. Would not pay that out of pocket - especially since they usually give that middle seat to standby folks - which can be interesting to say the least. I would never pay for that seat upgrade OOP.

Are you Mosaic from card spend? Because that’s the only way I’m aware of getting EMS for free with the card. I sure don’t with my JBP. I’ve also not paid that much though, it might be $110 put together for me and my partner.

Personally I always pay for it because I’m tall and need the extra leg room, but even more than that, for the priority boarding as a non-Mosaic. Overhead space is insanely competitive on those flights because of all the families of infrequent fliers with all their kid paraphernalia and GAs not enforcing bag limits. If I don’t buy EMS more likely than not my carryon is going to end up 10 rows behind me because the bin over my seat is either full of crap that doesn’t belong up there, or somebody in row 52 felt entitled to my bin in row 11. Another reason I’m starting to prefer Delta, in F and C+ those bins are reserved and they’re been pretty good at enforcing that.

I remain highly skeptical that JFK-MCO isn’t profitable though, as someone who regularly flies that route. Price sensitive or not, I have never been on one of those planes that wasn’t completely full, regardless of what time it was leaving or on what day. If they can’t figure out how to turn a profit on such a heavily trafficked route then maybe they deserve to go under tbh. Everyone else manages to.

 

[tony67]

Are you Mosaic from card spend? Because that’s the only way I’m aware of getting EMS for free with the card. I sure don’t with my JBP. I’ve also not paid that much though, it might be $110 put together for me and my partner.

It's usually 89 to upgrade, but when you book the cheapest fare its $110 to upgrade.
Several Amex cards credit you back for Airline extras up to $200 a year.
Also a recent deal where you spent 200 and they gave you back $50 on top of that.

Personally I always pay for it because I’m tall and need the extra leg room, but even more than that, for the priority boarding as a non-Mosaic. Overhead space is insanely competitive on those flights because of all the families of infrequent fliers with all their kid paraphernalia and GAs not enforcing bag limits.

Yeah, no doubt. I always seem to get to my seat, and even with the early boarding some Mosaic has already taken all the space - or the crew. More than once I have gotten to my seat and the crews bags are in my overhead. My carry on is usually just a backpack so it goes under the seat then, but still makes me annoyed.

row 52 felt entitled to my bin in row 11.

Yeah this is pretty common on budget airlines - so I always pay for early boarding at a minimum when available.

I remain highly skeptical that JFK-MCO isn’t profitable though, as someone who regularly flies that route.

True, but I assume its more profitable with less flights. That is what I am seeing, less flights.

 

[NYCgrrl]

True, but I assume its more profitable with less flights. That is what I am seeing, less flights.

I think they changed where the flights are leaving and arriving from. Didn’t do a count but JB added a new airport (McCarthy?) in Long Island. Don’t know if the airport is in Suffolk or Nassau county but conceivably they’ll be able to service more LI customers.

 

[NYCgrrl]

I’m new to adding a cc for JB but think it’ll make sense. I anticipate making a few domestic flights and they just opened a new route to the UK. Willing to switch from British Airway points if it’s worth my while. Can anyone tell me which card to start with and best ways to add points with JetBlue?
TIA!

 

[tony67]

I’m new to adding a cc for JB but think it’ll make sense. I anticipate making a few domestic flights and they just opened a new route to the UK. Willing to switch from British Airway points if it’s worth my while. Can anyone tell me which card to start with and best ways to add points with JetBlue?
TIA!

When you are on a flight you can usually get the best offer - I think I got 70000 points after spending 1000.
The current offer without a code is 50000 points and probably 60000 with code.

Annual fee is $100 - but you get 5000 point every renewal year.
You also get a free bag (for you and up to three companions) and 50% off purchases on the plane (drinks snack boxes etc..).
I get my $100 worth IMO

If someone is on a flight soon they can probably share a code with you.

 

[NYCgrrl]

When you are on a flight you can usually get the best offer - I think I got 70000 points after spending 1000.
The current offer without a code is 50000 points and probably 60000 with code.

Annual fee is $100 - but you get 5000 point every renewal year.
You also get a free bag (for you and up to three companions) and 50% off purchases on the plane (drinks snack boxes etc..).
I get my $100 worth IMO

If someone is on a flight soon they can probably share a code with you.

Do you know how many points needed for NYC to MCO? I generally fly out of LGA.

 

[tony67]

Do you know how many points needed for NYC to MCO? I generally fly out of LGA.

Unlike many airlines - the points are based on the cost of the flight.
So for example a "Basic Blue" flight is $59. The Blue fair is $89. You can Book the Blue fair for 5500 points or Blue extra for 7300.

You can see the costs on the jet blue site - there is a checkbox to search for flights based on points. You can toggle that on and off to see the difference.
You also get 10% of the points back after the flight.

Overall this works out very well for me.
Other airlines I fly its not as simple. They have off season and a peak season rate + fees for award flights. Sometimes its actually cheaper to just book a flight than to use points. So you have to be strategic with booking.


EDIT: Also you can book each leg of the trip separate - that way if the price goes down you can cancel and rebook for less points and not cancel both flights

 

[EACarlson]

Unlike many airlines - the points are based on the cost of the flight.
So for example a "Basic Blue" flight is $59. The Blue fair is $89. You can Book the Blue fair for 5500 points or Blue extra for 7300.

You can see the costs on the jet blue site - there is a checkbox to search for flights based on points. You can toggle that on and off to see the difference.
You also get 10% of the points back after the flight.

Overall this works out very well for me.
Other airlines I fly its not as simple. They have off season and a peak season rate + fees for award flights. Sometimes its actually cheaper to just book a flight than to use points. So you have to be strategic with booking.


EDIT: Also you can book each leg of the trip separate - that way if the price goes down you can cancel and rebook for less points and not cancel both flights

All 4 of the major US airlines use a system where the points cost is at least loosely based on the cash price of the flight. No major US airline charges anything besides the $5.60 security charge for an award ticket.

 

[Lewisc]

I think they changed where the flights are leaving and arriving from. Didn’t do a count but JB added a new airport (McCarthy?) in Long Island. Don’t know if the airport is in Suffolk or Nassau county but conceivably they’ll be able to service more LI customers.

It's MacArthur Airport. It's in Suffolk County.

SW and Frontier are currently offering flights to MCO.

 

[NYCgrrl]

The current offer without a code is 50000 points and probably 60000 with code.

Annual fee is $100 - but you get 5000 point every renewal year.
You also get a free bag (for you and up to three companions) and 50% off purchases on the plane (drinks snack boxes etc..).
I get my $100 worth IMO

Just found the application they gave me on the plane! Current offer is 50,000 with code, free membership for a year, 99 bucks thereafter. Need to read more for other perks. I don’t normally pay c/c annual fees but, yes, it could be worthwhile.

 

[tony67]

All 4 of the major US airlines use a system where the points cost is at least loosely based on the cash price of the flight. No major US airline charges anything besides the $5.60 security charge for an award ticket.

Good to know - I only fly Jet Blue in the states.