jetBlue finally unveils their ff program call TrueBlue.
Credits are earned for flight distances. As I read it, you only need 5 round trips when booked online for a free ticket anywherethey fly! including the carribean! Seems reasoable when it takes 35K to carriebean on the majors - and to earn 35k is a lot more than 5 rts.
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[This message has been edited by jtmnyc00 (edited 06-13-2002).]
[This message has been edited by jtmnyc00 (edited 06-13-2002).]
duxfan
Jun 13, 02, 1:04 pm
Only 5 round trips? Hardly... Point values are assinged for each flight, you'll earn 2, 4, or 6 points each way, and it appears that connections are only counted as one "flight".
Booking online earns double points, you need a total of 100, so someone who flies between JFK and BUF frequently will need to fly 13 round trips to earn one free, if they book online.
In all honesty, I think we all expected better on this one, especially with the connection penalty. Southwest's program, with a credit is a credit, no matter the flight length, still works better.
here's a helpful link to more info...
http://www.jetblue.com/trueblue/
[This message has been edited by duxfan (edited 06-13-2002).]
[This message has been edited by doc (edited 06-18-2002).]
tfjim
Jun 13, 02, 5:06 pm
If I had a very successful airline startup and could design a frequent flyer program from scratch it would not resemble what jetBlue has put together here. They seemed to have plucked certain attributes from Southwest, some from the majors, some from the air and some from right out of their bunghole. A few interesting ones:
- points expire after one year
- no stopovers
- non transferrable
- restricted availability
- credit vs. miles system
- paperless
I'm just commenting here because I haven't been anywhere near jetBlue. But it seems they had a grand opportunity here, most likely squandered.
Non-NonRev
Jun 13, 02, 6:34 pm
I guess Alamo didn't trademark the name when they used it for their short-lived frequent renter program (or mabe JetBlue bought it from them) ??
JS
Jun 13, 02, 8:08 pm
Those of you who don't like the JetBlue FF program, I would like to know your ideas of a good program for JetBlue. Personally, I think it sounds great.
No bonus for connections? WN does the same thing, and I've never heard anyone complain about WN "penalizing" you for connections. You pay the same base fare whether or not you connect, so providing the same FF award makes sense to me.
Expires in 12 months? Same with WN. I think that's good, because it prevents this huge buildup of miles that we have on the majors.
Shoot, you even get retroactive credit, something WN does not do (must swipe card before boarding, or no WN credit).
Kidz
Jun 14, 02, 1:32 am
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by JS:
Those of you who don't like the JetBlue FF program, I would like to know your ideas of a good program for JetBlue. Personally, I think it sounds great.</font>
Here's my idea:
I't always bothered me that FF rewards are based on segments or distance tavelled instead of amount of revenue that you created for the airline. Airlines recently started to give extra miles for flying first class, but that still does not justify thoes flying Y (full fare). I think I know why airlines don't give rewards based on how much was spent to buy the ticket and that is bec. Airlines need bussiness travellers for them to survive and if they start rewarding them based on how much their companies payed for their tickets they'd be in trouble. (BTW I recently noticed that AA has started some sort of program for companies to collect points for the tickets they buy for their emploeeys without taking away the regular miles the passenger receives for flying, I wonder how that program is doing)
So here goes my idea: considering the fact that JetBlue is a lowfare airline, their bussiness plan does not involve getting more money out of bussiness travelers than out of leisure travellers, and the difference between highest payed fare to lowest on any one of their flights is not all that much then I would set up a FF program that rewards travellers based on the amount of revenue the traveller produced for JetBlue and that would be the money they payed for their fare (before taxes of course bec. that dosen't go to the airline)
I think all travellers would appreciate such a program give the airline revenue get free tickets.
rd7242
Jun 14, 02, 5:59 am
Just waiting for the jetblue credit card and to see what other partners they pick
JS
Jun 14, 02, 8:06 am
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Kidz:
Here's my idea:
I't always bothered me that FF rewards are based on segments or distance tavelled instead of amount of revenue that you created for the airline. Airlines recently started to give extra miles for flying first class, but that still does not justify thoes flying Y (full fare). I think I know why airlines don't give rewards based on how much was spent to buy the ticket and that is bec. Airlines need bussiness travellers for them to survive and if they start rewarding them based on how much their companies payed for their tickets they'd be in trouble. (BTW I recently noticed that AA has started some sort of program for companies to collect points for the tickets they buy for their emploeeys without taking away the regular miles the passenger receives for flying, I wonder how that program is doing)
So here goes my idea: considering the fact that JetBlue is a lowfare airline, their bussiness plan does not involve getting more money out of bussiness travelers than out of leisure travellers, and the difference between highest payed fare to lowest on any one of their flights is not all that much then I would set up a FF program that rewards travellers based on the amount of revenue the traveller produced for JetBlue and that would be the money they payed for their fare (before taxes of course bec. that dosen't go to the airline)
I think all travellers would appreciate such a program give the airline revenue get free tickets.</font>
That is exactly what the JetBlue FF program does. Longer flight ==> higher fare, and more points for longer distances.
duxfan
Jun 14, 02, 11:34 am
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by JS:
No bonus for connections? WN does the same thing, and I've never heard anyone complain about WN "penalizing" you for connections. You pay the same base fare whether or not you connect, so providing the same FF award makes sense to me.</font>
That is incorrect. Connections are credits on WN. CLE-BWI connecting to BWI-RDU means your card would be swiped twice, 2 credits. A CLE-RDU flight with a stop, no change in BWI, 1 credit.
Lets look at the programs in a nearly equal light. I can book 4 roundtrips CLE-BWI online and have an award ticket after the 4th trip. I would need 13 roundtrips JFK-BUF to receive an award ticket.
BTW, WN does allow a "once a year" ability to get a retroactive credit if you forget your card.
I don't have a problem with the one year to earn, another to use policy, either. It limits the liability of the airline, and is smart business. Got a free ticket? Use it. I'm just as guilty about hoarding my miles.
However, had JetBlue wanted to attract higher yield business passenger, they would have figured out a way to better reflect fare paid in the program...
swag
Jun 14, 02, 1:03 pm
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Kidz:
So here goes my idea: considering the fact that JetBlue is a lowfare airline, their bussiness plan does not involve getting more money out of bussiness travelers than out of leisure travellers, and the difference between highest payed fare to lowest on any one of their flights is not all that much then I would set up a FF program that rewards travellers based on the amount of revenue the traveller produced for JetBlue and that would be the money they payed for their fare (before taxes of course bec. that dosen't go to the airline)
I think all travellers would appreciate such a program give the airline revenue get free tickets.</font>
That's the way National runs their program.
Doppy
Jun 14, 02, 1:27 pm
I'm not an expert in either program, but it sounds like Southwest's program is at least as good as JetBlues, probably better.
Where's this fantastically new and innovative program all of the "experts" like Boyd were predicting?
d
JS
Jun 14, 02, 4:10 pm
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by duxfan:
That is incorrect. Connections are credits on WN. CLE-BWI connecting to BWI-RDU means your card would be swiped twice, 2 credits. A CLE-RDU flight with a stop, no change in BWI, 1 credit.</font>
From the Southwest web site (http://www.southwest.com/rapid_rewards/rules_and_regs.html)
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">3. One credit will be given for each flight flown. A flight is a one-way trip on Southwest Airlines from an origin city to a destination city, including any intermediate stops and/or connections.
4. Credits are issued when you present your plastic membership card to the Southwest Airlines Customer Service Agent upon check-in, before travel begins. A credit may be given only by a Southwest Airlines Customer Service Agent. It is your responsibility to present your membership card to obtain credit for each flight. Credit cannot be given after the flight has taken place.
...
8. The following are ineligible for credit in Rapid Rewards: nonrevenue (free) and service-charged tickets, unless specifically designated as eligible; charter flights; tradeout tickets; stops at intermediate cities on connecting or through flights; Rapid Rewards Award Tickets; Rapid Rewards Companion Pass Tickets.</font>
Kidz
Jun 14, 02, 5:13 pm
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by JS:
That is exactly what the JetBlue FF program does. Longer flight ==> higher fare, and more points for longer distances.</font>
Well maybe generally but there's always specials and intoductury fares. Plus I didn't take a look at their fares but are the ratios right?
jsmeeker
Jun 14, 02, 5:28 pm
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by JS:
Expires in 12 months? Same with WN. I think that's good, because it prevents this huge buildup of miles that we have on the majors.
</font>
Only if you can accumulate enough points in one year to claim an award. If it would take you more, you would never get an award. At least with programs like AA, people who tow or three times a year can eventually get enough mile to claim an award.
duxfan
Jun 14, 02, 9:28 pm
JS -
I stand corrected about the connection credits....
However, if you go to the FAQ section of the link you posted above, you'll see the following:
Receiving Credits
Q: What if I forget my card at the time of travel?
A: The Customer Service Agent is not able to issue credit without the membership card, even if your membership number is provided in any other fashion (i.e., written on paper, memorized, etc.). Although Rapid Rewards does not normally offer credit after the flight has taken place, we do allow for a one-time, retro-active flight credit per year. In order to facilitate this request, please submit a photocopy of your ticket receipt or Ticketless Travel itinerary, along with your membership number to Rapid Rewards, P.O. Box 36657, Dallas, TX 75235.
Looks like the score is 1-1... http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif
Doppy
Jun 14, 02, 10:28 pm
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by JS:
That is exactly what the JetBlue FF program does. Longer flight ==> higher fare, and more points for longer distances.</font>
Well, this makes logical sense, but in practice it's not really the case with any of the airlines. Prices are almost always determined by market, versus flight length, which is why it sometimes costs as much to fly JetBlue from JFK-ROC as it does to fly B6 JFK-OAK. The distances aren't even comparible.
d
jwalkabout
Jun 15, 02, 11:14 am
Whether JEtblue's FF program is a good value or not is probably irrelevant to those people who are jetblue customers.
The airline has been very successful without a program and I am sure that the current customers view a FF program as a bonus. Price and service I think are the main criteria for Jetblue flyers.
amanuensis
Jun 15, 02, 5:45 pm
Shouldn't this thread be moved to the JetBlue forum?
TrojanHorse
Jun 17, 02, 1:03 pm
All of you make good points, however the JetBlue FF program does not give me any incentive whatsoever to go try them.
I was hoping for something much better...
Oh well they still keep prices down
777 global mile hound
Jun 17, 02, 8:10 pm
According to one reviewer he quotes Jet Blues new program as having
"missed the runway" so far I would have to agree.
I also found it strange that a birthdate is mandatory or they will not let you join.
As a 1 k flyer with United they still don't have a clue to my birthday after all these years.
Seems a little weird to me.
Was told its for our security when claiming awards.Anyone can get my bithdate so how secure is that?
Not enough yet to rank me from the big programs.The program needs to have some interesting partnerships and get more versatile/guest friendly like the airline itself.
They seem to have a long way to go
Who knows maybe in time...............
ranles
Jun 18, 02, 1:30 pm
See also todays WSJ article
amanuensis
Jun 18, 02, 2:09 pm
The text of the WSJ article is available for free here:
http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,405012427,00.html?