we are taking the early morning flight out, and wanted to know how busy check-in was?
madthemouse, we were on the 6:45A flight out Friday and it was a shock to be
in an old fashioned line vs. those little ticket kiosks. We did not check bags or else we would have utilized curbside check-in so we had no choice but to get in line. Word to the wise,
read the signs above the gate agent station. They had a separate line for Orlando so initially many were standing in the wrong line. Our family arrived 90 minutes early as it states on the JetBlue site - yeah we didn't like the 5Am departure however it helped with the anxiety having never flown them. The line did move quickly. I think this will only improve once they add the kiosks. The gate agents were incredibly helpful. It was like the old days of flying when people really helped you - very strange.
Also, how are the lines at MCO, for check-in.
MCO also had curbside check-in but no kiosks. The weird thing to me was if you don't use curbside and you need to check your bags you go to the counter get your ticket etc and then they direct you to an area immediately to your left where you bring your checked bags over to this section that had what looks like a scanner machine? There isn't the conveyor belt where the agent takes your bag and put it behind him/her.
How did you find the lines for checkin and security over in Terminal E? I'm hoping it won't be too crazy, since it is school vacation week.
debster812, I hope that I answered some of your check-in questions above but terminal E is so completely different since I last time I had a flight from there that I honestly can't even compare. The security area needs work at E. It's a bit of a bottleneck set up. Once you check in at the counter or curbside they direct you to this elevator or escalator to the right of all of the counters to the security area and gate - I think it was 1A1 or A1A or something like that - you take the elevator or escalator down to the gate (those who have flown prop planes when you leave the main terminal - it's like that design/feeling only not that far away). You walk down a really short hall and right at the entry way is the security person and I recall one security (maybe 2) machines. Again similar to prop plane smaller terminal because as soon as you are through it you are at the gate. We were "fortunate" enough to be selected to be checked by security. Pain but they were nice. JetBlue also still has early boarding for people needing time and small children. I don't know whether they will have this during vacation weeks but we used it so I did not hear whether they used zone boarding or by row. Upon arrival at MCO and departure from MCO they did have a separate door that you could use in the back of the plane to enter/exit however it involved going down stairs or something. It was a very orderly process and all of the flight crew helped everyone with whatever they needed.
Oh, and DS wants to know, how was the TV?
Tell your DS our family really appreciated DirectTV. You do hear better using your own headphones however theirs are fine. the tv's tilt and have brightness control. They also have this cool map thing where you can monitor where the plane is in the route (including speed etc). Amusing note - they have a channel called Boomerang (?) which made me chuckle showing the Banana Splits and Fractured Fairytales also a classic video show which made me cringe to see the old "videos". The seats are leather and it does look like the jetblue picture on their website. If you check the site you can see what is playing around the time you fly.
Also what row were you in and was there good leg room? I ask because I had to call to get seat assignments (my ISP was giving me trouble) and the person from Jetblue I talked to on the phone said that rows 12 and on have more legroom than the front.
Lexxiefern, I'll have to check my ticket and get back to you. Coming home we were in row 7 going down we were further back. Is 12 an exit row - typically those have more space. I did not honestly feel as though I had more or less space than on any other airline - the seats are nicer (leather) and the space is cleaner. I have found their agents on the phone and in person besides being personable were pretty well informed.
Other observations - they give you the whole can of whatever you drink - how long has that been for you flyers? They also serve a snack (blue jetblue chips, oatmeal/choc chip cookie, animal crackers, or munchies were our choices). Those blue terra chips aren't bad.
Yes, you can gate check your stroller without incident.
Let me know if there are more questions or if I missed one.
p.s. Also important - forgot to note - we arrived early to MCO and our return home to Logan. I also returned a car this trip and it was interesting to note the mob outside of Southwest at curbside and not the case at Jetblue. I think that will change once people start using them but until then - hey we can enjoy those little benefits now.
