TravelTalkOnline
JetBlue's new tiers
Posted By: RonDon
JetBlue's new tiers - 09/02/2015 01:23 PM
Just got off phone with JetBlue rep. telling her some of us are not happy with the changes and wanted it known to the "bean counters" that we're looking for other fits to SXM and it's rumored SW may be the answer.
When I said one concern was people overstuffing carry-on now that there's a charge for ck'd bag, she said they WILL be measuring at the airport.
She also tried to pass off that they don't charge for ck'd bag, that the middle tier is what the pricing always was---that they added another tier for those who bring no luggage. Semantics, the difference is not a savings but a fee!
And yes there is now a $75 charge to get a credit should fares fall so you have to weigh if it's worth it.
Posted By: Carol_Hill
Re: JetBlue's new tiers - 09/02/2015 01:36 PM
RonDon said:
She also tried to pass off that they don't charge for ck'd bag, that the middle tier is what the pricing always was---that they added another tier for those who bring no luggage. Semantics, the difference is not a savings but a fee!
Sounds just like Spirit to me!!!
I'm booked on Jet Blue to SXM in March, so I will see what they are doing by then. I just went ahead and paid to check a bag when I booked, as it is cheaper to do it when you book than later.
Oh, and not for nothin', but have they ever gotten their *!(#@%!! website fixed?? I haven't tried to get on it lately, decided to save myself some aggravation for a while, until maybe they get it fixed... <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Mad.gif" alt="" />
Posted By: RonDon
Re: JetBlue's new tiers - 09/02/2015 05:00 PM
Carol, the difference between "no bag tier" & 1 bag tier is $15. if you take the 1st tier then decide on a bag and enter it when getting boarding pass the charge is $5 more or $20. If it's done at the airport it's more.
We used to travel with carry-on but after discovering JB started checking one bag. But when at their web site I saw no way to choose 1 with no bag and another with 1 bag. Rep said to do that you'd have to make a separate booking for each person.
I chose 2 bookings no bag, knowing if I decide on a bag I'll pay $20 more---since difference in cost would have been $15 per booking ($30) I feel I'll save $10 if I take a bag.
Not sure if will check bag or not since my flight arrives after 4pm. May be easier to grab carry-on meet Leslie and take off. Can't remember wait time for luggage in the past.
Posted By: Carol_Hill
Re: JetBlue's new tiers - 09/02/2015 05:33 PM
OK, sounds like yet another thing on their website that is screwed up!! I have to say that I have never personally seen an airline's website that is as screwed up as Jet Blue's, for such a long period of time. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Mad.gif" alt="" />
Posted By: RonDon
Re: JetBlue's new tiers - 09/02/2015 06:01 PM
I didn't even consider using their website because it seems to have been messed up ever since they made changes to it. That's why I called a rep.
We too will be going to SXM in March for 2 weeks. We've booked Divi for one week and are considering Grand Case Beach Club for the 2nd week but it's so expensive. I'll probably check out other places before deciding.
Posted By: Carol_Hill
Re: JetBlue's new tiers - 09/02/2015 06:07 PM
Guess you did it the smart way--don't even TRY to use the website!! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Laugh.gif" alt="" /> GCBC is pretty expensive in the winter, for sure.
Posted By: Durathror
Re: JetBlue's new tiers - 09/02/2015 06:08 PM
Ordered a ticket on JetBlue last week. No problems.
Tried to get a receipt this week to send in on an expense report. Not happening.
Hmmm...
Posted By: ChiTownHarry
Re: JetBlue's new tiers - 09/02/2015 08:50 PM
Carol_Hill said:
OK, sounds like yet another thing on their website that is screwed up!!
Sometimes a screwed up website, works in one's favor. I posted this when I booked our flights:
ChiTownHarry on July 8th said:
We just booked our flights from Chicago to SXM on JetBlue. We're going to spend 3 weeks on the island, the latter part of February, beginning of March. Its the first time we've used JetBlue.
I went on the JB site, put in our dates, and looked at prices. I was disappointed as the fares were high: $494 to fly to the island; $290 to return, $1565 for both of us.
I've seen TTOLers talk about ITA Software, so I thought I would try it out to see what the competition was. Lo and behold, the JB flights were listed for $524 per person. But you cannot book from the ITA Matrix, one needs to go onto the JB site to book.
So, I browsed to google.com/flights as I know ITA was bought by Google. Entered my dates and presto, the lower fares were displayed along with a link to the JB site. Followed the link and purchased the air tickets for both of us for $1048 total.
Its weird. If I go to JB's site, they still say the fare is $784 per person. And google.com/flights still list the same trip as $524 per person.
Posted By: Carol_Hill
Re: JetBlue's new tiers - 09/02/2015 10:17 PM
Hey, Harry, you lucked out! The rest of us have been really p*ssed off with dealing with their website!! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Laugh.gif" alt="" />
Posted By: silverfox82
Re: JetBlue's new tiers - 09/02/2015 10:56 PM
I have a long weekend in San Juan in October, booked a few days ago and the price went down (14 days to bank the difference with no charge)twice. The second time I called with another reduction I was put on hold because they (JB) were having issues with their own computers. While on hold a storm rolled in, lightning hit really close and fried my cable modem. No phone, no internet, tv ok, all Comcast triple play. Replaced it the next day and low and behold the JB site was working and both deposits were in the bank. Strange!
Posted By: lcote
Re: JetBlue's new tiers - 09/02/2015 11:07 PM
RonDon said:
Just got off phone with JetBlue rep. telling her some of us are not happy with the changes and wanted it known to the "bean counters" that we're looking for other fits to SXM and it's rumored SW may be the answer.
When I said one concern was people overstuffing carry-on now that there's a charge for ck'd bag, she said they WILL be measuring at the airport.
She also tried to pass off that they don't charge for ck'd bag, that the middle tier is what the pricing always was---that they added another tier for those who bring no luggage. Semantics, the difference is not a savings but a fee!
And yes there is now a $75 charge to get a credit should fares fall so you have to weigh if it's worth it.
We are in Seattle right now traveled with Jet Blue to get here. They were, in fact, checking that carry on bags would fit in the over head bins when we left on Monday. It is about time!
Posted By: RonDon
Re: JetBlue's new tiers - 09/03/2015 11:52 AM
We are in Seattle right now traveled with Jet Blue to get here. They were, in fact, checking that carry on bags would fit in the over head bins when we left on Monday. It is about time! [/quote]
Great to hear. In past on JB we travelled with only laptop or camera as carry on until last flight brought a cooler bag that was correct size for carry-on and had difficulty finding space in overhead for it----lots of large overstuffed duffle bags.
Only airline in past I ever saw checking c-o size was Spirit. Hope JB keeps up the good work.
Posted By: Carol_Hill
Re: JetBlue's new tiers - 09/03/2015 12:10 PM
The thing with a duffle bag is that they are squishy. If people put additional stuff in the bag afterward, a sizer beforehand is useless. In many cases, though, it's not that the bag itself is an illegal size, but that everyone has at least one bag that size, and many people have two. To me, that's a big part of the issue--enforcing the ONE bag, and only ONE personal item (that HAS to fit under the seat).
Posted By: BeachKitten
Re: JetBlue's new tiers - 09/03/2015 12:55 PM
Lately we've been seeing people with huge overloaded backpacks AND a rolling carry on. Those backpacks are bigger than my carry on! They look as if its quite heavy, and that they may topple over at any moment... <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/jester.gif" alt="" />
Posted By: Carol_Hill
Re: JetBlue's new tiers - 09/03/2015 12:58 PM
Still, if they enforced the one legit sized bag, and one personal item ONLY, things would be much better..
Posted By: weeks5051
Re: JetBlue's new tiers - 09/03/2015 12:59 PM
I think the name of the thread should be changed to...JetBlue's new tears.
Posted By: pat
Re: JetBlue's new tiers - 09/03/2015 01:00 PM
Carol etal,
My issue with all this baggage nonsense is that there are rules in place with ALL the airlines, and as far as I'm concerned, if they'd simply enforce their own rules, the carry-on question would be a NON-issue.
Every time I fly a new carrier, before I book any tickets, I go to their web-sites and check their policies regarding luggage sizing and weight restrictions and then I comply with them or pay the respective fees not to. Simple and my choice either way.
Re JBs new tiered pricing, they're basically following the lead of many of the other carriers and those of us who thought they would be any different need a reality check. It's all about their BOTTOM LINE! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />
Posted By: RoryS
Re: JetBlue's new tiers - 09/03/2015 05:43 PM
Last year I saw United tell one lady she had to check a bag at the gate. She had a huge purse, a smaller carryon and a pretty big rolling suitcase! I was secretly clapping my hands!! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Clapping.gif" alt="" /> I always check one bag for hubby and myself, and our carryons always fit under the seat. It's so annoying to have someone standing over me trying to shove their bag in the overhead waiting for them to fall into my lap at any second. Then, we do the same go-round when exiting when they try to get the bag out that's now stuck!
Posted By: RonDon
Re: JetBlue's new tiers - 09/03/2015 06:10 PM
Overheard a person tell someone that commented on the size of his carry-on (Guy actually said that if it was the right size he wouldn'tt have to shove at it and dislodge other bags) that it was for him, wife and child so 1/3 each and that it didn't take up any more than 3 carry-ons.
And as Carol mentioned about the 2nd carry-on, they had a bag that barely fit under the seat, a pocketbook, a satchel the kid carried and a laptop.
Posted By: Carol_Hill
Re: JetBlue's new tiers - 09/03/2015 06:16 PM
Actually, on that occasion, the fellow was somewhat correct--3 people equals three legal rollaboards, plus one personal item per person. But that still doesn't entitle a person to carry on an oversize bag.
Posted By: RonDon
Re: JetBlue's new tiers - 09/03/2015 09:13 PM
That's what I thought until I saw the oversized pocketbook---which stewardess told them to place above because it wouldn't go under the seat. And whatever was in that satchel kept the kid quiet the entire trip.
Posted By: pat
Re: JetBlue's new tiers - 09/03/2015 09:46 PM
Carol and all,
Not sure if I'm reading this correctly, but IF the bag in question fit inside the sizer then it shouldn't have been a problem. If it didn't - it's a whole different story and the fact that one over-sized bag was possibly for three people doesn't make it a legitimate bag.
If it was within the size and scope of the airlines legal carry-on guide lines, that's the issue. We purchased new bags this year to be in compliance with the weight and size rules and now I've read somewhere there's talk of down-sizing them. Oh, well, for now anyway my roll-aboard wheelies are legit and those who look at them and shake their heads can have the last laugh when they actually change the rules, but for now we're good to go! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />
Posted By: 320sycamore
Re: JetBlue's new tiers - 09/04/2015 01:38 AM
To us, checking bags is more convenient. Yes, maybe we wait an additional ten minutes to take our bags off the conveyor but hey, the total travel time between leaving the house and toes in sand-drink in hand time is like ten hours anyway. We love going to St Maarten and regard the travel time as a necessary evil.
All told, if JetBlue's policy translates to fewer people jamming bags into overhead compartments then it is a good thing IMHO.
Posted By: Carol_Hill
Re: JetBlue's new tiers - 09/04/2015 12:17 PM
Actually charging for checked bags normally results in MORE stuff in the overheads. That's just logical.
Posted By: islandgem
Re: JetBlue's new tiers - 09/04/2015 03:16 PM
They should charge for carry on bags and one checked bag should be free. That would solve the problem. Medication could be carried in a purse size bag and stored under the seat. Some airlines were talking about doing this, but it has not come into effect yet.
Posted By: Carol_Hill
Re: JetBlue's new tiers - 09/04/2015 03:25 PM
Everyone hates Spirit, since they charge for everything, including carry on bags, but they do one thing right--they charge LESS for checked bags, versus carry on bags...
Posted By: boucharda
Re: JetBlue's new tiers - 09/04/2015 07:42 PM
-they charge LESS for checked bags, versus carry on bags...
Interesting...