Carfield
May 23, 06, 2:08 pm
Just got back from the inaugural flight, which started with very low key in JFK, and no gate celebration at JFK, like other inaugural flights. However, the festivity mood quickly changed as the captain and first officer welcomed us on board. They are both from Maine, and then we have couple important guests on board -- the mayor of Portland, Maine, which greeted every one as they deplaned. It is a big deal for Portland Jetport and Maine. The flight was operated by N562JB "My name is Blue, Jetblue" in Bubble livery, which ironically arrived from Portland, Oregaon an hour prior to our departure time.
Gate was nine at JFK, but JFK was a bit chaotic, as the morning LAS and BUR flights were delayed significantly and many gate shuffling... The flight itself was really short -- 50 minutes from JFK to PMW, and 48 minutes from PMW to JFK. The service is express on the way to PMW, but full beverage and snacks on the way back. However, I foresee this route being all express because the flight times are very short.
The load was about 2/3 full upward, and 1/2 full on the way back with lots of non-rev. However, there are signs of the businessmen, who don't really care if it is inaugural or not.
On the way back from PMW, it is obvious that most of them are connecting passengers -- even the F/A warned about the long list of connecting flights she was reading out loud -- BUR, BUF, LGB, FLL, MCO, TPA, Bermuda, SYR, OAK...
We got a water salute at the PMW during arrival and departure... that was cool. When we landed, there were lines of Jetblue employees and officials waiting at the gate taking pictures, and a press conference took place a few minutes after we landed. Everyone was in a cheerful mode. No more destination posters, but a smaller version is available at the desk! I was tempted to ask for a sticker, but the gate was too chaotic. Dunkin Donuts sponsors the food -- blue covered donuts, blue vanilla cake, and Dunkin coffee . The nearby US Airways employees were also invited to take part. However, they ran away after their flights left (a RJ), but most of them actually stayed in the ramp, and watched us go. Most importantly, Jetblue uses gate 10, in between two US Airways gate. The Jetport was really small with about eleven gates, but looked good enough.
What else! On the return, the Maine Authority created this special chocolate bar with the map of the Northeast and JFK and PMW connecting together. A very cool Jetblue bar! Too bad, I can't keep it forever.
We arrived at JFK fifteen minutes early and within an hour and fifteen minutes, I was back in downtown Manhattan.
Sorry I did not take any pictures because my digital camera was lost during my last YX flight. I need to wait a week or so before buying a new one.
Anyway, it is a cool Jetblue inaugural flight!
The next inaugural is Air Tran's SEA-ATL Thursday, and then Jacksonville and Pittsburg for Jetblue.
Carfield
PS. Almost forgot -- the ground staff at PMW gave us a special goodbye by waving their "lobster claws"! They all wore the lobster claw gloves to wave as we pushed back and taxied out.
Gate was nine at JFK, but JFK was a bit chaotic, as the morning LAS and BUR flights were delayed significantly and many gate shuffling... The flight itself was really short -- 50 minutes from JFK to PMW, and 48 minutes from PMW to JFK. The service is express on the way to PMW, but full beverage and snacks on the way back. However, I foresee this route being all express because the flight times are very short.
The load was about 2/3 full upward, and 1/2 full on the way back with lots of non-rev. However, there are signs of the businessmen, who don't really care if it is inaugural or not.
On the way back from PMW, it is obvious that most of them are connecting passengers -- even the F/A warned about the long list of connecting flights she was reading out loud -- BUR, BUF, LGB, FLL, MCO, TPA, Bermuda, SYR, OAK...
We got a water salute at the PMW during arrival and departure... that was cool. When we landed, there were lines of Jetblue employees and officials waiting at the gate taking pictures, and a press conference took place a few minutes after we landed. Everyone was in a cheerful mode. No more destination posters, but a smaller version is available at the desk! I was tempted to ask for a sticker, but the gate was too chaotic. Dunkin Donuts sponsors the food -- blue covered donuts, blue vanilla cake, and Dunkin coffee . The nearby US Airways employees were also invited to take part. However, they ran away after their flights left (a RJ), but most of them actually stayed in the ramp, and watched us go. Most importantly, Jetblue uses gate 10, in between two US Airways gate. The Jetport was really small with about eleven gates, but looked good enough.
What else! On the return, the Maine Authority created this special chocolate bar with the map of the Northeast and JFK and PMW connecting together. A very cool Jetblue bar! Too bad, I can't keep it forever.
We arrived at JFK fifteen minutes early and within an hour and fifteen minutes, I was back in downtown Manhattan.
Sorry I did not take any pictures because my digital camera was lost during my last YX flight. I need to wait a week or so before buying a new one.
Anyway, it is a cool Jetblue inaugural flight!
The next inaugural is Air Tran's SEA-ATL Thursday, and then Jacksonville and Pittsburg for Jetblue.
Carfield
PS. Almost forgot -- the ground staff at PMW gave us a special goodbye by waving their "lobster claws"! They all wore the lobster claw gloves to wave as we pushed back and taxied out.