JetBlue TrueBlue - LH comes clean: "B6 feeder partner at JFK"

FT.COM
Published: March 12 2008 19:16 | Last updated: March 12 2008 19:16

"Lufthansa plans to use JetBlue as its feeder partner in New York by linking booking systems and frequent flyer programmes.
The German airline said the link-up with the US carrier, in which Lufthansa took a 19 per cent stake at the end of last year, was aimed at creating a quasi-hub at JFK airport."

Full article: http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/5617e3a6-f066-11dc-ba7c-0000779fd2ac.html?nclick_check=1

Interesting read, and not that surprising that they want to go that route. But all the same issues/questions remain about the TrueBlue program and integrating it into Miles & More, as well as the class of service issues for premium cabin passengers crossing the pond.

Nice words, but the proof is in the pudding. I'm interested to see how they pull it off.

How long until the F cabin is introduced and TrueBlue is completely overhauled so that it matches up with Miles & More?

I wonder if LH Premium passengers will be guaranteed a seat towards the front of their B6 flight.. one with the extra legroom.

I wonder if LH Premium passengers will be guaranteed a seat towards the front of their B6 flight.. one with the extra legroom.

If you were flying from FRA to FLL would you book on LH/B6 where you got J/F on one segment and then Y (even with 36" pitch) on the next or on CO with J and domestic F (wider seats in the F section and a meal and free drinks) on a single carrier or via IAD where you have to connect to TED service?

I'm not sure what the answer is, and plenty of people book intra-Europe J even though it stinks, but I'd think that it is a pretty interesting approach if they didn't think they could make some changes to the B6 model. I'm guessing they think they can make those changes.

wow, but not entirely suprising. It would be intresting to see the spin B6 corpoarate puts on this. Also, does this mean i could book SEA-JFK-FRA on B6?

Well titled thread.

This has not been reported or announced by Jetblue yet and I doubt that they are even prepared to announce it. Just another case, as it has been from the start of Lufthansa trying to press the issue. They have been uber-hyping the possible synergy from the start while Jetblue has taken a more concilliatory position. I have no doubt that both airlines want the same thing here, at least in the short term. If a couple goes out to dance and one of them isn't at least a little reserved, well it doesen't remain an innocent dance for long. ;) Interesting then, that the usually stoic and reserved German company is the one in twitters over this link-up while the young, excitable American company is the one that eases on the brakes a touch whenever LH gets excited and tosses out one of these eyebrow raisers.

However, I'm not discounting the article which leaves no question about the intent of LH's investment in Jetblue and speaks to just how quickly LH would like to advance. Another interesting comment from the article lends a hint to the scope of a possible link-up. That Lh has no interest in investing in a possible tie-up of UA and CO speaks volumes on where they think the future of aviation in the US is heading. This, to me, is even more shocking than the announcement that they were prepared to merge FF programs and booking systems with B6. I thought a LH investment in that tie-up was already a done deal. This is the bombshell.

This, to me, is even more shocking than the announcement that they were prepared to merge FF programs and booking systems with B6. I thought a LH investment in that tie-up was already a done deal. This is the bombshell.

1) This was a logical step and planned all along -- LH does not have a financial interest in carriers -- all investments are of operational nature... even the 900 Million loan to United a few years ago was operational nature.

2) There won't be an integration of the FF -- it is either reciprocity or a full take over -- LH is already the FF for LH/LX/OS/LT and a whole bunch of regional carriers...

3) You will be able to book code shares - however the price differentials between LH and B6 will be equal to the LH / UA differentials meaning 0.

4) Yes European customers think that most US domestic F products are a joke - reliability, clean planes, and service are important - yes food and drinks is a plus... B6 can easily convert the front to a premium section.

I think it will benefit all -- B6 will get a good incoem stream from the LH feeder and they can suddenly offer B6 flights to Europe and Asia.

Lh receives a good partenre in the US

But all the same issues/questions remain about the TrueBlue program and integrating it into Miles & More, as well as the class of service issues for premium cabin passengers crossing the pond.

Miles & More is much more comprehensive than TrueBlue. It would be so easy to transfer TrueBlue member info to Miles & More and tout the improved benefits.

The class of service will be solved when B6 finally decides to implement First Class.

Miles & More is much more comprehensive than TrueBlue. It would be so easy to transfer TrueBlue member info to Miles & More and tout the improved benefits.
I agree that M&M is better than TrueBlue, even if I don't think it is the best program out there. Still, the conversion from TrueBlue to M&M will be difficult, if for no other reason than they need to figure out what the conversion rate is and not screw either the TrueBlue nor M&M folks. The "easy" approach is 250 miles/1 TB point, but there may be other issues. Are they also going to change the earning to straight miles/500 minimum? Lots to consider.
The class of service will be solved when B6 finally decides to implement First Class.
Agreed, but they have to admit that they are actually doing that, and deal with the impact on the capacity of the planes. There's some pretty good discussion of that in the thread on front cabin "enhancements." (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=784771&highlight=cabin+front)

Ultimately, it all can be done if the price is right, as management will not care so much about the impact if there is enough money involved. In this case, however, I think that the money isn't so much as to have the JetBlue management just toss aside their aspirations for having a solid and reliable stand-alone carrier, with some partners, as opposed to being a feeder for a bigger carrier. Remember, they only bout 19% and one seat on the board, so B6 management still has to approve the plans.

Wonder what the Star Alliance impact will be?

Also speaks volumes of what LH thinks of current partners UA/US.

Seems like alot of issues will have to be worked out with UA/US

This could work out pretty nicely for me when LH calls the BD options and DC becomes M&L. B6 would give me a third option to US and UA, and I would get a decent product when flying in Y.

Now the next big question: will B6 flights count for HON? I'll be the first to qualify for HON this way if they allow it:)

Wonder what the Star Alliance impact will be?

Also speaks volumes of what LH thinks of current partners UA/US.

Seems like alot of issues will have to be worked out with UA/US

I don't think it says too much about the UA and US partnerships, other than that they are somewhat limited as partners out of the important NYC gateway. UA has no NY hub to speak of, and US' NYC hub is out of LGA, which is not accessible to LH.

Domestics with JFK hubs are AA (oneWorld), DL (SkyTeam), and B6, so as the only one not yet tied to a global alliance, B6 probably made good sense. As for the lack of biz class, ever flown LH intra-Europe in biz? It ain't all that. Hot meal, yes, but seat and entertainment don't hold a candle to B6' offering. Also, B6 allusion (not yet specific) to a differentiated front-of-cabin experience may relate somehow to this.

Also, CO has numerous partners (FF and codeshare) that are not SkyTeam partners. I don't think this tie-up necessarily has any Star Alliance implications, unless they choose for it to. (And UA would surely try to block B6' accession.)

All in, sounds like a good deal for the both.

I think somebody was quoted as saying the frequent flyer programs would be intertwined some how to allow you to recieve and spend miles on both airlines. Looks like we might be on our way to being a regional partner for STAR.

I don't see UA or US getting to upset as a great many of our flights out of JFK don't overlap. Just JFK-SFO, JFK-LAX, JFK-LAS and JFK-PHX. LH seems to want to give their NYC bound customers access to our east coast cities with out the need to fly to ORD, IAD or DEN.

I think somebody was quoted as saying the frequent flyer programs would be intertwined some how to allow you to recieve and spend miles on both airlines. Looks like we might be on our way to being a regional partner for STAR.

I don't see UA or US getting to upset as a great many of our flights out of JFK don't overlap. Just JFK-SFO, JFK-LAX, JFK-LAS and JFK-PHX. LH seems to want to give their NYC bound customers access to our east coast cities with out the need to fly to ORD, IAD or DEN.


I've never been a fan of B6's FF program whereby miles/points expire after a year (yes I know that if I wanted yet another Amex Card I can prevent this), so LH's M&M for me would be a step up, and actually encourage me to fly B6 more.

Since UA dismantled their mini hub at JFK, LH hooking up with B6 sounds like a good idea-- especially in view of Open Skies.

I think somebody was quoted as saying the frequent flyer programs would be intertwined some how to allow you to recieve and spend miles on both airlines. Looks like we might be on our way to being a regional partner for STAR.

I don't see UA or US getting to upset as a great many of our flights out of JFK don't overlap. Just JFK-SFO, JFK-LAX, JFK-LAS and JFK-PHX. LH seems to want to give their NYC bound customers access to our east coast cities with out the need to fly to ORD, IAD or DEN.

As a consumer and a loyal flyer of *A, I would like to see B6 join *A as a regional partner. However, I think UA and/or US would object as much as they could. I realize B6's current routes really don't overlap with UA and US (for the most part), however, its presence and the possibility to earn *A EQMs and RDMs can take away significant connecting travel from UA and US. Many people that currently fly LH across the Atlantic connects in one of UA's and/or US's hubs, with B6 on board, it adds JFK to the mix as a connecting point and diverts traffic from UA and US.

I supposed the premium pax would probably stay with UA and/or US because they still have domestic F, but for those that travel in Y, both UA and US really lag behind B6 in every regard.

LAX

I'm going to guess that more will be announced later in the year. We just can't jump into a full blown codeshare right away. We need to sort out the logistics first and decide what is best for the companies and what is best for the customers. I'm sure there are discussions about Interlining, codesharing, frequent flyer programs and all that sort. Despite rising oil it seems as if 2008 might be a very interesting year for JetBlue, I'm hoping it will bring some welcomed changes and furthur strengthen our position. So far Dave and his leadership team have been doing a wonderful job getting us turned around and back heading in the right direction!

...I miss working for B6 (the bid didn't fit well with my school schedule)...I liked Dave. We met at a BOS pocket session.

Could I use my TrueBlue award flight on LH then?

Should we add "B6 feeder partner at MCO" as well?

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/orl-jetblue2008mar20,0,1654463.story

"JetBlue has discussed connecting possibilities with German airline Lufthansa and Ireland's Aer Lingus, each of which has business partnerships with JetBlue. Both overseas airlines also launched nonstop service to Orlando in the fall.JetBlue has discussed connecting possibilities with German airline Lufthansa and Ireland's Aer Lingus, each of which has business partnerships with JetBlue. Both overseas airlines also launched nonstop service to Orlando in the fall.

"There's been every bit the amount of dialogue on Orlando as there has been on New York," Barger said.

Should we add "B6 feeder partner at MCO" as well?

We could change the title of this thread to: LH comes clean: "B6 feeder partner"

Don't forget BOS...we have a B6 focus city, as well as 2 LH to FRA, 1 LH to MUC, and 2 EI flights per day (1 BOS-DUB, and 1 BOS-SNN-DUB).