JetBlue TrueBlue - JetBlue offers free trip to nowhere from JFK

United States - NEW YORK (Reuters) - Want all the hassle of air travel without going anywhere?

Step up for JetBlue Airways (nasdaq: JBLU - news - people ) Corp's trial of bag check and security systems at its new John F. Kennedy International Airport terminal, which is set to open in September.

New York-based JetBlue is looking for 1,000 of its frequent flyers to show up at JFK on Aug. 23 to check bags given to them by the airline, go through security and wait at the assigned gate for their imaginary "flight".

In return, the airline is promising unspecified "giveaways", free parking and lunch.

The U.S. No. 7 carrier is taking no chances with the systems at its new Terminal 5, following the chaotic opening of British Airways' Terminal 5 at London's Heathrow Airport in March, as baggage systems failed and staff didn't know their way around the new building.

Only last week, AMR Corp (nyse: AMR - news - people )'s American Airlines had to cancel flights from JFK after its baggage system software malfunctioned at a different terminal.

JetBlue, partly owned by Germany's Lufthansa, is no stranger to snafus at JFK, canceling hundreds of flights and stranding thousands of passengers last year after an ice-storm hit New York. (Reporting by Bill Rigby; editing by Carol Bishopric)

Copyright 2008 Reuters, Click for Restriction (http://www.forbes.com/reuters/feeds/reuters/2008/08/05/2008-08-05T194914Z_01_N05350095_RTRIDST_0_JETBLUE-TRIAL.html)

Argggghhhhhh. :mad:

I'm going to be out of town that weekend. I would have loved to see the terminal as it gets closer to finished and snag some more photos of it.

If I lived on Long Island, I would do this! Sounds like fun and the probability of winning a free ticket is great incentive. I'm sure some FTers will do it.

How do we get invited?

I'm a Trueblue account holder and I'm in town on the 23rd!


Pick me! Pick me!

Where do I sign up?

Well, put me down as a curious cat when it comes to know how to be gaurenteed a spot on that flight. Speaking about how its for trueblue memebers, will the be trueblue points accrued for the flight? :D:p

I just got the e-mail invitation. From the looks of it all TrueBlue member people in the NY area are likely to get it.

BTW, there won't actually be a flight involved from what I can see. You might make it as far as boarding a plane, but I think they really are looking to test the check-in, baggage and security facilities. I doubt they'd waste fuel getting a plane off the ground.

I just got the e-mail invitation. From the looks of it all TrueBlue member people in the NY area are likely to get it.Nothing for me yet.

Is the link personalized/targeted, or a generic one?

Wow, this was quick! This afternoon I was part of a group of crewmembers (I would estimate about 300 or so) that did this same exact trial run. They told us about the larger one for TB members on 8/23. The one today was to prepare for the upcoming larger-scale trial discussed here. It was very interesting, and certainly helps the company choose effective check-in procedures for both self service kiosk/bag drop and full counter service.

PS - T5 looks AMAZING! Only thing missing is the signage, which might even be up by 8/23!

The question I have is, will you have to pay for your second checked bag on your flight to nowhere? How about upgrades to EML seats?

:)

The U.S. No. 7 carrier is taking no chances with the systems at its new Terminal 5, following the chaotic opening of British Airways' Terminal 5 at London's Heathrow Airport in March, as baggage systems failed and staff didn't know their way around the new building.


If only it were so simple. If you search in the BA forum you'll find some of the FT'ers went on three(?) similar exercises at LHR T5, and we know the results - "taking no chances" is grossly optimistic unless they're able to fully stress the systems over an extended period.

I cold be there too...

Invite me!

--Russ

I think I could also be there. I'm in NYC this time.

I'm in the NY area, but I was not invited. Bummer. Any more info about this?

I'm in the NY area, but I was not invited. Bummer. Any more info about this?

It seems like they may be entertaining others who want to join. Barger in an interview mentioned they have 1500 who have responded affirmative and they hope to get as many as 2000 so there may be some room to sneak in. I don't know how to go about this.

Maybe a certain one or two on here who seems to have the ear of TrueBlue reps might have some info.

if anyone wants to forward me an invitation, please send it to: jerseyvics@msn.com


--Russ :p

Yeah, I'm also in the NYC area and would love to participate....too bad I didn't get the invite :(

yea, i'm not going away this summer and now i have a car up at school so i don't envision flying in the near future so i was looking forward to doing this. unfortunately, i never got an invite. i called 1-800-jetblue and they said they couldn't just give me an invite. i had to watch my inbox and if nothing came i was out of luck. with that said, if anyone has inside info as to how to get an invite, please pm me. thanks.

Thank you for your reply to our request for volunteers. We have
received an overwhelming response and have achieved our desired number
of test customers. We look forward to seeing you in October when our
new terminal opens.

D'oh!

D'oh!

Too bad us FTers don't get our own E190 to go nowhere. ;)

I must be at the bottom of the JetBlue marketing/promotions list because I just got an invite to this event... after I already got a response a few days ago that they're full.

Any way of getting my name moved up the list?


I probably have to fly more... I've noticed this before with all the discount/sale fare promos you guys have been getting before me. No love for me from JetBlue. heh

--Russ

Anyone know what they're giving away? Hear any rumors?

I was selected* but not sure if it's worth the expense of going.
Getting the airport costs money even if I take the subway, and airtran.

The confirmation says it will take 3 hours, they'll provide the fake luggage, and there's a bbq lunch after (probably catered by Blue Smoke I'm guessing). Maybe they're letting us take home the luggage? Can anyone who did the employees trial give some other clues what to expect?


*for those questioning the selection process, I got an email on Wednesday with the invite, that had a generic email to reply to, and an RSVP deadline, then I got my confirmation the night of the deadline.

Anyone know what they're giving away? Hear any rumors?


Welcome to FlyerTalk!!

I would expect that the giveaways will be something like what we got on the T5 tour, which was a pretty nice bag with a t-shirt and some other promo gear in it. I highly doubt that they are giving away the luggage. I wonder if they are still using the same test luggage from the baggage system vendor.

And I would imagine that you'll be given a fake reservation, asked to check in for the flight, check your luggage and clear security.

I just received my confirmation and I'm in group C, should be interesting. I received the invite on Wed, so they were looking for more volunteers pretty late in the process.

I was selected* but not sure if it's worth the expense of going.
Getting the airport costs money even if I take the subway, and airtran.

*for those questioning the selection process, I got an email on Wednesday with the invite, that had a generic email to reply to, and an RSVP deadline, then I got my confirmation the night of the deadline.

I just received my confirmation and I'm in group C, should be interesting. I received the invite on Wed, so they were looking for more volunteers pretty late in the process.

I'm glad I'm not the only one at the bottom of the JetBlue marketing list... lol

I've also decided to drive to the airport vs. taking a 2+ hour ride on bus/subway/airtrain, I think it'll be cheaper and much more convenient... so if anyone needs a ride from Bergen County, NJ let me know.


Feel free to PM me for my cell # if you guys want to meet up at T5 or hang out in the city after the event.

thanks,
--Russ

<-------------- This New Yorker did not get invited :(

Welcome to FlyerTalk!!

I would expect that the giveaways will be something like what we got on the T5 tour, which was a pretty nice bag with a t-shirt and some other promo gear in it. I highly doubt that they are giving away the luggage. I wonder if they are still using the same test luggage from the baggage system vendor.

And I would imagine that you'll be given a fake reservation, asked to check in for the flight, check your luggage and clear security.

Thanks so much. So it was just a gift bag with the Jetblue branded goodies? Did they do any kind of raffle or something for ticket giveaways? I would hope they'd give out some trueblue points at least. I mean, free lunch and a tshirt is okay, but probably not worth sitting on the A-Train for a couple hours.

I didn't even get invited at all. :-( Much less accepted.

Thanks so much. So it was just a gift bag with the Jetblue branded goodies? Did they do any kind of raffle or something for ticket giveaways? I would hope they'd give out some trueblue points at least. I mean, free lunch and a tshirt is okay, but probably not worth sitting on the A-Train for a couple hours.

Free lunch and the JetBlue gift bag were just the topping on the cake. You're leaving out an exclusive, behind-the-scenes tour of a fascinating terminal being built and the opportunity to speak with various leaders from Marketing. It was a great day.

Tomorrow's event (I would go, but already had prior commitments) will be awesome. Have fun to all those attending!

Uh, Well.... this isn't really sounding worthwhile.

I'll be taking a flight soon instead. I'd love the preview but not with a 3 hour commitment, and at my own expense to do so, without any compensation. I don't wear branded tshirts, and don't really have any reason to talk to their marketing team. Lunch sounds great but the details are way to vague.

If anyone hears more please do share though! I don't want to miss out on something cool.
Thanks again to all who answered so far.

(for those that didn't get the invites, they may have sent them to jetblue card members first)

(for those that didn't get the invites, they may have sent them to jetblue card members first)

As a True Blue member and AX B6 card holder, no invite for me. I would have gone if invited. But then again, I was on the B6 T5 tour.

I'm sure B6 will treat whoever goes very well.

For the poster that asked whether you could take the test luggage home, I wouldn't want the luggage. You decide. You can see some test luggage used here:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/globehopper/2580030905/