JetBlue TrueBlue - OT: JetBlue - Is it safe to travel like this?

JetBlue - the good, the bad, the very very dodgy.

The Good

- Preassigned seats that stuck
- OLCI and PYOBP worked well
- Ability to book an extra (empty) seat
- Cheap. Very cheap.

The Bad

- JFK Terminal 6 is crowded as hell. Felt like being in an anthill
- Long queues for bag drop
- Long queues for security
- Airside area packed with people, hardly room to move
- Inadequate and understaffed catering outlets, impossible to buy any food before the flights (which serve no food)
- No food on board, not even to buy. Only blue crisps and dorito snacks of extremetly questionable nutritional value
- Everyone watched TV the whole flight using poorly fitting headsets that refused to cover both ears, resulting in horrendous noise in the cabin for anyone that didn't want to use the audio.

The Very Very Dodgy

- One uber-stressed gate agent did the whole boarding process, barely noticing who was boarding and who wasn't. I realised she had let 5 of us pass, after checking only 3 of our BPs.
- Same gate agent acted as despatcher, and brought paperwork to the plane, looking even more stressed as she ran back and forth from the plane.
- In flight TV worked from boarding the plane, and everyone sat there with headsets on the whole time. No-one paid any attention to the safety briefing (which was done while the TV system was still on, and everyone still listening to the TV with headsets on).
- TV continued for take-off. Everyone was glued to TV screens with headsets on for take-off (and landing).
- Lifevests were randomly to be found scattered on the floor area around the seats. Where they had come from was anyone's guess, and how many were still under the seats in case of an emergency was another matter.
- Pre-flight checks were non-existant. No-one checked we had seatbelts fastened. No-one even asked Miss S. to sit up (she was lying across 2 seats, with the armrests lifted up), and it was only I that made her sit up for take off.
- Many seats were in reclined positions for take-off and landing, as no-one asked people to sit upright.
- 3 crew members were generally disinterested the whole flight, did a couple of drinks rounds, and then sat at the front chatting for 4 hours.

Is this normal? Is this safe?

It probably will be normal until there's an accident and things have to change.......

Its good for you to rough it now and again Smirnoff.

It'll make you appreciate the BA service all the more on your next Moscow run.;)

The obvious question is

WHY?

Why did you put yourself through this? Clearly, as a Gold, you were travelling beneath your station and should have been denied boarding. :) Lucky the agent wasn't checking properly.

Last time I took a domestic flight in the US I paid to go in F on United. Booking a month or so in advance it was remarkably cheap (compared with say a CE fare for the same distance).

I am genuinely rather shocked by your report, though. It's the sort of thing I would expect on Air Zimbabwe, although I admit I have never flown on them. Taking internal flights in Brazil for example, which hardly have a great reputation right now, is a lot better than this in my experience.

Is this normal? Is this safe?

My immediate reaction would be if they are cutting corners on things that are very visible to the pax, like check-in, despatch and safety briefings. What more serious is going on behind the scenes on maintenance, spares control, etc. ?

No one wants this sort of stuff to be fixed following a large and expensive bending of metal. Maybe someone like Spottie could suggest where in the FAA an appropriately worded letter should be sent ?

No-one even asked Miss S. to sit up (she was lying across 2 seats, with the armrests lifted up), and it was only I that made her sit up for take off.

I doubt that sitting up is required. I am often lying down sleeping at take-off on WN. As long as my seat belt is on, it's allowed. The extra sleep is worth the miniscule extra risk, IMHO.

I am genuinely rather shocked by your report, though. It's the sort of thing I would expect on Air Zimbabwe, although I admit I have never flown on them.

Funnily enough, I remember flying on their predecessor, Air Rhodesia, and our family being asked - once onboard - to split up across the aircraft for "balance" purposes...

Gotta miss them old Vickers Viscounts.

I doubt that sitting up is required. I am often lying down sleeping at take-off on WN. As long as my seat belt is on, it's allowed. The extra sleep is worth the miniscule extra risk, IMHO.

Is this really allowed by the FAA? The CAA certainly don't and the FAA, I believe, are as stringent, if not more so, than their UK counterpart. You say the extra sleep is worth the miniscule extra risk. Well, if you start thinking like that it sort of becomes a slippery slope. What's the point, then, of carrying life vests, emergency drop down oxygen masks, minimum two pilots etc. etc.? There is a very good reason why air transport has a miniscule fatality rate. Are you aware that BA, for example, carry shark repellent in their survival packs in the event of ditching in shark infested waters? Seriously. Airlines should NEVER compromise on mandated safety requiremenst simply for expediency. It can lead to a rather worrying culture of indifference which may result in oversights on even more fundamental safety issues.

- One uber-stressed gate agent did the whole boarding process, barely noticing who was boarding and who wasn't. I realised she had let 5 of us pass, after checking only 3 of our BPs.

This is definitely normal out of B6's JFK terminal; it is a zoo there.

I am just curious.....how did you manage to have everything go that can possibly go wrong on one flight??

yes the terminal sucks, yes with no food on board it causes the line to be abnormally long, but I find it a little hard to believe (not impossible obviously) that all went wrong on the flight itself.

I have flown B6 at least 15 times this year alone, and not once have they ever left the screens on during the safety briefing. in fact, I was at the gate once where we were running a little late and decided to do the safety demo at the gate. When they were finished they turned on the TV's only to turn it back off 5 minutes later because another passenger boarded and they had to do the demo all over again.

As for the reclining....I am sure one or two were down, but half the plane???

JetBlue - the good, the bad, the very very dodgy.
The Very Very Dodgy

- In flight TV worked from boarding the plane, and everyone sat there with headsets on the whole time. No-one paid any attention to the safety briefing (which was done while the TV system was still on, and everyone still listening to the TV with headsets on).
- Lifevests were randomly to be found scattered on the floor area around the seats. Where they had come from was anyone's guess, and how many were still under the seats in case of an emergency was another matter.
- Pre-flight checks were non-existant. No-one checked we had seatbelts fastened. No-one even asked Miss S. to sit up (she was lying across 2 seats, with the armrests lifted up), and it was only I that made her sit up for take off.
- Many seats were in reclined positions for take-off and landing, as no-one asked people to sit upright.

Is this normal? Is this safe?

If all of the items listed above happened, have the courage to tell us what flight number you flew and on what date.

The items about people watching TV during take-off and landing, and the crew sitting up front for 4 hours are not really issues and allowed. Watching TV is probably no less distracting than reading a book or a newspaper. One could argue its less distracting, because at least your eyes are at the same level as the windows.

This has never been my experience on any of the 40+ B6 flights I have taken. In fact, most crews are very type-A about the seat recline issue, but in a nice way, because they understand that the leather seats don't necessarily spring back as easily as one would think.

The only part of the safety briefing I always wondered about: Why don't they actively point to the exits like on other airlines?

Be very careful about the rules in an airplane. Neither the FAA not the CAA (UK or Canadian for the pedantics here :) ) require that the passenger be upright for takeoff/landing. It is a common misconception that the following are regulatory requirements:

1. Passenger must be upright for landing/takeoff
2. Armrest must be down for takeoff/landing
3. Window shades must be open for landing/takeoff
4. All electronics must be turned off during takeoff/landing

NONE of the above are regulations issued by the regulatory body. HOWEVER, each item is covered in the airline's operations manual that has been approved by the regulatory body. Thus:

1. If passenger is not upright, then they must be asleep, thus missing the landing briefing. It is the crew's responsibility to ensure that each passenger has been properly briefed.
2. Never have understood this one. But it is in the airline's manual if they say so :) Some airlines care, some don't. Some FA's care, some don't.
3. This one is also kinda strange, but could be considered a hinderence to the FA's situational awareness.
4. Each airline decides what can be on or off. If they permit something to be on, they are implicitly stating that they have sufficiently tested that equipement and the results have confirmed that it will not cause a problem to navigation or the safety of the aircraft during takeoff/landing.

In the end. Any airline who doesn't follow either the regulatory requirements and their own manuals can be fined and/or have their license suspended. For the passenger, if it is an airline rule or a regulatory requirement, the result is the same.

If all of the items listed above happened, have the courage to tell us what flight number you flew and on what date.

Not a problem at all. B6 177 JFK-PHX on 10 Aug.

Not a problem at all. B6 177 JFK-PHX on 10 Aug.

You should also provide a description of the weather in NYC that day..... it will better help the B6 pundits to explain away the issues you encountered. :D

I very highly doubt that much of what's listed under "The Very Very Dodgy" in the OP is true. For some reason, I'm pretty sure that jetBlue follows strict FAA mandates, as with any airline. Of all the flights I have taken with any airline (and I fly about 65,000 miles per year), not once have I seen "lifevests all over the floor"

I very highly doubt that much of what's listed under "The Very Very Dodgy" in the OP is true.

And the giveaway that the OP isn't being entirely truthful:

When the intercom is in use by either the cabin crew or the flightdeck, the sound to the TV/Radio completely shuts out, and the announcements are heard through the headsets. So, even assuming that the entertainment system wasn't shutdown, nobody could have been "listening to the TV".

And the giveaway that the OP isn't being entirely truthful:

When the intercom is in use by either the cabin crew or the flightdeck, the sound to the TV/Radio completely shuts out, and the announcements are heard through the headsets. So, even assuming that the entertainment system wasn't shutdown, nobody could have been "listening to the TV".

Exactly. The good and bad are his opinions, and I agree with them for the most part. But, that third list...it just doesn't add up to the truth for me.

When the intercom is in use by either the cabin crew or the flightdeck, the sound to the TV/Radio completely shuts out, and the announcements are heard through the headsets. So, even assuming that the entertainment system wasn't shutdown, nobody could have been "listening to the TV".

I was on a v.recent flight (not B6) where the cabin crew pa did not mute the IFE.

Could it be there was a tech fault, or is it easier for you to question the integrity of the OP ?

I've decided to break this down one by one.

One uber-stressed gate agent did the whole boarding process, barely noticing who was boarding and who wasn't. I realised she had let 5 of us pass, after checking only 3 of our BPs.
One gate agent boarding, possible. 5 people passing with only 3 BPs being checked? Impossible. Once on the aircraft, before departure, a count is conducted AND compared with the BP stubs collected at the gate. If there are any issues, an announcement is made asking that part to push the FA call button.

Same gate agent acted as despatcher, and brought paperwork to the plane, looking even more stressed as she ran back and forth from the plane.
If true, I don't see how this would affect the pax OR more importantly, the overall safety.

In flight TV worked from boarding the plane, and everyone sat there with headsets on the whole time. No-one paid any attention to the safety briefing (which was done while the TV system was still on, and everyone still listening to the TV with headsets on).
Not true. As discussed earlier, the TV system is turned off during the safety demo. Even if it was not, the audio is cut and the PA audio takes over. Additionally, I have not been on too many flights (on any airline) where the majority of people are paying attention to this briefing. People are reading magazines/newspapers, talking to their neighbors, sleeping, etc. This is not unique to this one flight. Either way, jetBlue follows FAA policy and cuts the tv during it.

TV continued for take-off. Everyone was glued to TV screens with headsets on for take-off (and landing).
So? Am I missing some kind of law that says pax can't watch TV during takeoff and landing?

Lifevests were randomly to be found scattered on the floor area around the seats. Where they had come from was anyone's guess, and how many were still under the seats in case of an emergency was another matter.
Extremely doubtful, as stated in my first post of this thread.

Pre-flight checks were non-existant. No-one checked we had seatbelts fastened. No-one even asked Miss S. to sit up (she was lying across 2 seats, with the armrests lifted up), and it was only I that made her sit up for take off.
Find this one very hard to believe. "Inflight crew, prepare for departure" means that safety checks will be conducted any minute.

Many seats were in reclined positions for take-off and landing, as no-one asked people to sit upright.
Maybe one or two, but I would not say many. Announcements are made, in addition to compliance checks being performed.

3 crew members were generally disinterested the whole flight, did a couple of drinks rounds, and then sat at the front chatting for 4 hours.
What are they supposed to do, dance in the aisles for you? I'm confused by the term "disinterested" in its context here. The full beverage service, snack choice service, wheat thins service and water service about 60-90 minutes before arrival is standard on a jetBlue transcon. Additionally, a full snack bar is set up in the rear galley for pax to take what they wish during the flight. Are the FA's supposed to sit there and not talk to eachother? JetBlue offers more service than most other domestic flights on other airlines.

Is this normal? Is this safe?
Let's see. 7.5 years in existance. Tens of thousands of flights safely completed. Yes, it's safe.

I doubt that sitting up is required. I am often lying down sleeping at take-off on WN. As long as my seat belt is on, it's allowed. The extra sleep is worth the miniscule extra risk, IMHO.

The problem with this is that the extra risk isn't yours. When you recline you limit the ability of the person behind you to quickly get up and out of their seat.

The problem with this is that the extra risk isn't yours. When you recline you limit the ability of the person behind you to quickly get up and out of their seat.

Not when I'm lying down across 3 non-reclined seats. Armrests up, of course.

I was on a v.recent flight (not B6) where the cabin crew pa did not mute the IFE.

Could it be there was a tech fault, or is it easier for you to question the integrity of the OP ?

In this case, its just a lot more believable that the OP has an integrity problem.

In this case, its just a lot more believable that the OP has an integrity problem.

He/She has been around for awhile and mostly flies on BA. What does he/she gain by being disingenuous?

OR: Why is it hard for some here to accept that someone had a bad experience on B6?

He/She has been around for awhile and mostly flies on BA. What does he/she gain by being disingenuous?

OR: Why is it hard for some here to accept that someone had a bad experience on B6?



True, this person has nothing to gain. But rather than seeing people who have been "around for a while" as being more credible, sometimes they are the ones who have lost all perspective when things are different than they expect them to be. If all I mostly flew was BA, I am sure my perception of B6would probably be more negative and critical, in the same way that I am just starting to fly WN this year and my perception of that airline is more negative and critical due to my ongoing comfort level with B6.

As for your second question: Nobody said this person didn't have a bad experience. For example, I can validate the issue the OP has with noise coming from the headsets and is a reason that even when I don't want to watch TV on B6, I resort to wearing my noice cancelling earphones.

Nevertheless, a bad experience or less-than-idea cabin environment isn't the gist of the OPs complaints, but seem mostly secondary to the questions he raises about serious safety issues....some of which seems so difficult to believe (people watching televisions during safety announcements, scattered lifevests). The bizzare complaints, with no context for how the crew might have responded to these issues (had the OP actually addressed them while on board) lowers his credibility in the eyes of those who have flown enough on B6 to know that something in his laundry list of complaints doesn't add up.


Tip: If bad things like this DO honestly happen on a flight and you want to share them with people on the internet: : 1. Tell the flight crew of your concern, 2. Get their names, and 3. Report on their response. It also helps to immediately post the flight number , route and day you traveled. Otherwise, you just sound like any of the generic whining, moaning, groaning people who complain about everything they can on flyertalk.

True, this person has nothing to gain. But rather than seeing people who have been "around for a while" as being more credible, sometimes they are the ones who have lost all perspective when things are different than they expect them to be. If all I mostly flew was BA, I am sure my perception of B6would probably be more negative and critical, in the same way that I am just starting to fly WN this year and my perception of that airline is more negative and critical due to my ongoing comfort level with B6.

As for your second question: Nobody said this person didn't have a bad experience. For example, I can validate the issue the OP has with noise coming from the headsets and is a reason that even when I don't want to watch TV on B6, I resort to wearing my noice cancelling earphones.

Nevertheless, a bad experience or less-than-idea cabin environment isn't the gist of the OPs complaints, but seem mostly secondary to the questions he raises about serious safety issues....some of which seems so difficult to believe (people watching televisions during safety announcements, scattered lifevests). The bizzare complaints, with no context for how the crew might have responded to these issues (had the OP actually addressed them while on board) lowers his credibility in the eyes of those who have flown enough on B6 to know that something in his laundry list of complaints doesn't add up.


Tip: If bad things like this DO honestly happen on a flight and you want to share them with people on the internet: : 1. Tell the flight crew of your concern, 2. Get their names, and 3. Report on their response. It also helps to immediately post the flight number , route and day you traveled. Otherwise, you just sound like any of the generic whining, moaning, groaning people who complain about everything they can on flyertalk.

Question: do you apply the same standard to the B6 lovefest posts as well? After all, the on-time statistics would suggest that the cheerleaders aren't having on-time great flights all the time, yet we never hear about the bad experiences, just the good ones. I do hope you're applying a set standard.

I very highly doubt that much of what's listed under "The Very Very Dodgy" in the OP is true. For some reason, I'm pretty sure that jetBlue follows strict FAA mandates, as with any airline.

Well, evidently not all flights do follow the FAA mandates.


Of all the flights I have taken with any airline (and I fly about 65,000 miles per year), not once have I seen "lifevests all over the floor"

I think what I said was they were randomly scattered. One under 3ABC and another under 4ABC. Can't say whether there was one on the floor in every row, or only two on the whole plane. But the fact that the plane was allowed to board with at least 2 life jackets on the floor and not under their designated seat is symbolic, in my opinion, of pretty poor pre-flight checks and procedures.

Perhaps FAA rules allow domestic flights to take off with TV running, headphones on, seats reclined, passengers lying across pairs of seats, I cannot comment. But on the airline I usually fly, the crew are pretty anal about checking that none of this happens.

Question: do you apply the same standard to the B6 lovefest posts as well? After all, the on-time statistics would suggest that the cheerleaders aren't having on-time great flights all the time, yet we never hear about the bad experiences, just the good ones. I do hope you're applying a set standard.

Same exact standard. If a cheerleader is being irrationally happy and delusional about someone who clearly had a bad experience, I would point that out.

I completely recognize that in my decision to fly B6 , the tradeoff usually is on-time peformance, but since JFK is the easiest airport for me to get to from home, and B6 has non-stops to a lot of places I like/need to go, I pick them quite often. Things like a good inflight experience, along with a typically competetive fare, and a (usually)well functioning website usually make up for the on-time issue. At the end of the day, its usually better for me than connecting flights in a less than enjoyable Y-class legacy cabin. Since I usually book well in advance, you can usually find me in the exit row, which also makes me happy.

(Although my latest complaint ...showing how I am fair and balanced....is that the E190 exit row is now totally blocked out prior to even the first seat being sold. Boo.)

If you are going to need to connect to get where you want to go, I would be the first to say that you probably don't want to take B6. But if you are a New Yorker with a little patience about being "on-time", it actually might be OK for you.

The point here: If you think someone is a "cheerleader", it doesn't mean they are immune to understanding your criticism (of something like on-time performance) but maybe they just don't care about it as much as you want them to.

And no, I don't consider myself to be a cheerleader. I think I have written in the past that my decision to fly B6 a lot is always subject to change, based on my needs, and the overall benefits (i.e. is TrueBlue working for me?).

Same exact standard. If a cheerleader is being irrationally happy and delusional about someone who clearly had a bad experience, I would point that out.

I completely recognize that in my decision to fly B6 , the tradeoff usually is on-time peformance, but since JFK is the easiest airport for me to get to from home, and B6 has non-stops to a lot of places I like/need to go, I pick them quite often. Things like a good inflight experience, along with a typically competetive fare, and a (usually)well functioning website usually make up for the on-time issue. At the end of the day, its usually better for me than connecting flights in a less than enjoyable Y-class legacy cabin. Since I usually book well in advance, you can usually find me in the exit row, which also makes me happy.

(Although my latest complaint ...showing how I am fair and balanced....is that the E190 exit row is now totally blocked out prior to even the first seat being sold. Boo.)

If you are going to need to connect to get where you want to go, I would be the first to say that you probably don't want to take B6. But if you are a New Yorker with a little patience about being "on-time", it actually might be OK for you.

The point here: If you think someone is a "cheerleader", it doesn't mean they are immune to understanding your criticism (of something like on-time performance) but maybe they just don't care about it as much as you want them to.

And no, I don't consider myself to be a cheerleader. I think I have written in the past that my decision to fly B6 a lot is always subject to change, based on my needs, and the overall benefits (i.e. is TrueBlue working for me?).

I'm just unclear as to why we're assuming the OP is being disingenuous in one breath and then saying that cheerleaders (who never post bad experiences) aren't being disingenuous, they just happen to have more "patience" for late departures/arrivals.

I'm missing something here.

I'm just unclear as to why we're assuming the OP is being disingenuous in one breath and then saying that cheerleaders (who never post bad experiences) aren't being disingenuous, they just happen to have more "patience" for late departures/arrivals.

I'm missing something here.

Never said a true cheerleader isn't being disingenuous. But your example was on-time performance. As a self-professed non-cheerleader, I wanted to explain to you that its not something that I would generally complain about because I have internalized the issue as something I see as a trade-off. So if I internalize it in my decision to fly B6. its not like an actual cheerleader is going to complain about it either.

I respect your point however about truly disingenuous cheerleaders...and as such...I am starting a new thread which, perhaps might be enlightening....(or maybe not).

What are they supposed to do, dance in the aisles for you?

What a rude response and silly statement to make. :td:

I admit this thread really has nothing to do with me, however I know the OP well and he travels EXTENSIVELY on one of the Worlds top airlines logging tens (if not hundreds) of thousands of miles annually. I work for that airline and can confirm this is fact, not fiction.

Perhaps he's used to our higher standards of in flight service than that he experienced on his particular flight with Jet Blue.

As a former US travel agent and somebody who lived in the US for a number of years - travelling often on US carriers - I have to say my experience is there certainly appears a far more lax attitude to safety by flight attendants, but I guess that's just the way it is.

To respond in the way you have is really rather uncalled for. :(

What a rude response and silly statement to make. :td:

I admit this thread really has nothing to do with me, however I know the OP well and he travels EXTENSIVELY on one of the Worlds top airlines logging tens (if not hundreds) of thousands of miles annually. I work for that airline and can confirm this is fact, not fiction.

Perhaps he's used to our higher standards of in flight service than that he experienced on his particular flight with Jet Blue.

As a former US travel agent and somebody who lived in the US for a number of years - travelling often on US carriers - I have to say my experience is there certainly appears a far more lax attitude to safety by flight attendants, but I guess that's just the way it is.

To respond in the way you have is really rather uncalled for. :(

No, it's really not uncalled for. I'm sorry you were personally offended by the response...but what does you knowing him and him flying on one of the world's top airlines (I assume BA) have to do with the inflight service at jetBlue? There are enough resources out there (including FT and the B6 web site) to get a vague understanding of what the service cosists of, so that there will be no surprise once on the flight. If he would have flown JFK-PHX with ANY other airline (DL, AA, US), he would have experienced the same OR less inflight service - not more. Domestic USA economy service is not what it used to be and I'm sorry you missed that point. The primary job of inflight crewmembers is first and foremost SAFETY. They are not there to sing and act out movie scits for the pax. Beverage, snack service and clean up is their duties...and of course, SAFETY.

No, it's really not uncalled for.

Yes it is. You didn't like the fact that the OP said that the flight attendants spent the 4 hour flight chatting amongst themselves, so you made a sarcastic comment.

The flight attendants shouldn't be dancing in the aisles, but they also shouldn't just be chatting to each other the entire flight either. I personally believe the OP's story. I have no reason not to.

Yes it is. You didn't like the fact that the OP said that the flight attendants spent the 4 hour flight chatting amongst themselves, so you made a sarcastic comment.

The flight attendants shouldn't be dancing in the aisles, but they also shouldn't just be chatting to each other the entire flight either. I personally believe the OP's story. I have no reason not to.

No, it is NOT. It's not that I didn't "like" the fact about the OP mentioning the FA's chatting for the 4-hour flight. The fact is, they were NOT chatting at times when they should not have been. This includes safety demo, snack services, beverage services, attending to those who push the call button, clean up, and being there for safety. Every flight with every airline I have taken, the FA's chat for the majority of the flight...ESPECIALLY on long hauls. If you can't take a little sarcasm, such as "dancing in the aisles"...I can't understand how you have been on FT so long. FT (and all forums) is FULL of sarcasm...but the funny thing is that this is REALISTIC sarcasm. There's a difference. Lighten up, it's a non-offensive piece of light humor. The fact is, though, that chatting between FA's when "down/quiet time" occurs, is simply fine.

I have a great reason not to...I have never experienced any of what he said under the 'very dodgy' part. I fly enough with jetBlue to have experienced at least ONE! His first two parts...ok, that is his opinion. And I 100% agree with the loud headphones and JFK's T5 being a mess. See, I have my complaints too.

Can we all have a group hug now? Shesh...

Based on the experience that the OP had, he should definitely utilize the speak-up feature and send a note to jetBlue not only was the service unacceptable, I wouldn't be comfortable flying with safety vests not properly stowed either. Let's see what the airline has to say if the OP speaks up.

I very highly doubt that much of what's listed under "The Very Very Dodgy" in the OP is true. For some reason, I'm pretty sure that jetBlue follows strict FAA mandates, as with any airline. Of all the flights I have taken with any airline (and I fly about 65,000 miles per year), not once have I seen "lifevests all over the floor"

I have to agree. In my B6 experience, the video quits at the safetly briefing, and if you are foolish enough to keep your headset on, then you hear the breifing far louder than you would have over the overhead PA system. Safety checks were done as with any other airline, and I have never seen a lifevest other than in its proper place.

It is most defintitely a suspect story based on my prior experiences.

It's always been my understanding that with any IFE that provides audio on any aircraft that I have ever been on, when the mic goes on in the plane, the audio cuts out.

T6 is a huge mess though. Really uncomfortable.

It's always been my understanding that with any IFE that provides audio on any aircraft that I have ever been on, when the mic goes on in the plane, the audio cuts out.


Not always.. I've been on UA flights where the audio continues even when the pilot is talking.

Originally when I first read this thread I really didn't feel like giving this thread the dignity of a response because I thought it was so far out in left field. Some Brit who is very full of himself has decided that jetBlue is no BA Club World (not worthy of his business) and has decided to trash it like the old inter-city Greyhound bus.

Then we have a particular individual who jumps on anything negative anybody says about jetBlue faster than a fly on dog poop.

I've never experienced anything but extremely safe and professional flights with jetBlue. Any and all on-time issues are ATC related. jetBlue is an all First Class travel experience. What is wrong with the terminal at JFK? Its busy? Its New York City people, we're not in Kansas (thank goodness). Should we talk about Heathrow?

The only part of the safety briefing I always wondered about: Why don't they actively point to the exits like on other airlines?

Cause if we point them out most people don't even bother taking the time to find their nearest exit. By not pointing to them, we hoping you will look for them yourself.

Just a fun fact. Sometimes after the demo, I'll joke with a row of passengers and ask them if their smarter than a 5th grader.(it's usually pretty easy to tell who to joke with) If they want to play, I'll give them 3 seconds to point out their nearest exit. I get about a 25% correct answer. Had a guy in the emergency exit row who couldn't answer it. Grace under pressure, we had a good laugh.

Best regards

- In flight TV worked from boarding the plane, and everyone sat there with headsets on the whole time. No-one paid any attention to the safety briefing (which was done while the TV system was still on, and everyone still listening to the TV with headsets on).


I initially didn't believe the comment, but noticed on my usual flight 1057 last Thursday, that the TVs in row 18 or 19 seats C/D didn't seem to cut out during the safety schpiel. They had been flashing (vertical hold issue) when I initially boarded, so something may have happened when they were reset.

Otherwise, I've only seen a lifevest on the floor once (72 segments in the past year), but the other stuff seems to be more of the exception from what I've encountered, and quite frankly, given ground delays, I'd be pretty unhappy if they disabled the TV when on the ground and during take-off (aside from during the safety part).

Originally when I first read this thread I really didn't feel like giving this thread the dignity of a response because I thought it was so far out in left field. Some Brit who is very full of himself has decided that jetBlue is no BA Club World (not worthy of his business) and has decided to trash it like the old inter-city Greyhound bus.

Then we have a particular individual who jumps on anything negative anybody says about jetBlue faster than a fly on dog poop.

I've never experienced anything but extremely safe and professional flights with jetBlue. Any and all on-time issues are ATC related. jetBlue is an all First Class travel experience. What is wrong with the terminal at JFK? Its busy? Its New York City people, we're not in Kansas (thank goodness). Should we talk about Heathrow?

Well alrighty then, end of discussion children :rolleyes:. And you think the OP is full of himself? Amazing.

I think what I said was they were randomly scattered. One under 3ABC and another under 4ABC. Can't say whether there was one on the floor in every row, or only two on the whole plane. But the fact that the plane was allowed to board with at least 2 life jackets on the floor and not under their designated seat is symbolic, in my opinion, of pretty poor pre-flight checks and procedures.

Perhaps FAA rules allow domestic flights to take off with TV running, headphones on, seats reclined, passengers lying across pairs of seats, I cannot comment. But on the airline I usually fly, the crew are pretty anal about checking that none of this happens.

At least they have lifevests ;) On many of my US domestic flights, the common announcement is, "your seat cushion may be used as a portable flotation device"

For over-water / intl flights, there are always life vests on board and it is included with the safety demo.

At any rate, the airlines I fly, both US domestic and International, are quite strict to make sure none of what you experienced happens.

1) TV Running w/headphones on during t/o and landing: I'm not sure there are any rules against this. It's of my belief pax should be able to hear what is going on in the cabin.

2) Seats Reclined: In the event of an emergency evacuation, this limits the space of the passenger behind you. This is also the same reason the row before the emergency exit does not recline - and on planes like the MD-88 where you have two over-wing exit doors (row 20, row 21), the window seat in row 20 will not recline as that limits the space at the second emergency exit.

3) Lying across seat pairs during t/o or landing: passenger is not properly restrained. Seat belt is to go low and tight across the waist. During flight it doesn't need to be low and tight at the waist, but just have some restraint for turbulence.

4) Seat belt checks: Should always be done as a pre-departure and prior to landing measure. If the aircraft must stop fast or there is an impact, a number of scenarios can happen depending on if or even where you have your seatbelt. Flying projectile anyone? Force of seatbelt in an improper location (i.e. laying down, belt over chest or other body area) - risk for injury, etc.

5) Window Shades Up: This allows both passengers and the flight crew to be oriented with their surroundings. If there is an emergency, you need to know where the fire, smoke, any blockage, or where any impact is, and use a safe emergency exit.

5) Window Shades Up: This allows both passengers and the flight crew to be oriented with their surroundings. If there is an emergency, you need to know where the fire, smoke, any blockage, or where any impact is, and use a safe emergency exit.[/QUOTE]

I don't know if this is a federal regulation. I flew on ASA (Delta Connection) on a turboprop aircraft and the pilot told all of the passengers to close the shades the cabin. To this day, I still have no idea for the basis of this request.

5) Window Shades Up: This allows both passengers and the flight crew to be oriented with their surroundings. If there is an emergency, you need to know where the fire, smoke, any blockage, or where any impact is, and use a safe emergency exit.

I don't know if this is a federal regulation. I flew on ASA (Delta Connection) on a turboprop aircraft and the pilot told all of the passengers to close the shades the cabin. To this day, I still have no idea for the basis of this request.[/QUOTE]



On the smaller regional planes, they usually ask you to do this to keep the sun out so the cabin does not heat up as fast,.