JetBlue TrueBlue - RDU to various places

I'm noticing that it's possible to get TO several places from RDU but not FROM there. Is this a common thing (please pardon me if this is discussed somewhere else - I looked around and didn't see it)?

For example, I can get TO St. Maarten through JFK but not back to RDU from St Maarten.

Same thing with Bogota.

Any suggestions? Surely JetBlue wouldn't fly me down there and leave me!

Unfortunately, in the case of SXM-RDU, the SXM-JFK gets in at 8:20, and the last JFK-RDU flight leaves at 9:45. Since SXM doesn't pre-screen, the first leg arrives at T4, and so you would have to go through customs, transfer terminals, and re-check in (possibly with luggage) and then make it to the gate - something that would be impossible in the 1:25 between flights. You'd have to stay overnight and take the first flight out in the morning to make it work, and I don't think B6 sells tickets that have more than 4 hours of connection time.

In the case of BOG-RDU, I am coming up with a ticketable itinerary for random dates in March - connecting in JFK and stopping in MCO, in both directions.

Unfortunately, in the case of SXM-RDU, the SXM-JFK gets in at 8:20, and the last JFK-RDU flight leaves at 9:45. Since SXM doesn't pre-screen, the first leg arrives at T4, and so you would have to go through customs, transfer terminals, and re-check in (possibly with luggage) and then make it to the gate - something that would be impossible in the 1:25 between flights. You'd have to stay overnight and take the first flight out in the morning to make it work, and I don't think B6 sells tickets that have more than 4 hours of connection time.

Not at all impossible. Folks routinely travel SXM-JFK-RIC, for example, with a departure of 9:45, and SXM-JFK-CLT, departing at 9:40. Tickets just have to be purchased individually.

Any chance of the rumor/addition of RDU-MCO? There were rumblings (I thought I read) last year but nothing happened..

Any chance of the rumor/addition of RDU-MCO? There were rumblings (I thought I read) last year but nothing happened..


That would be good, because then we could get to SJO on JetBlue. It doesn't look like they'll let us go RDU/JFK/MCO/SJO.



Thanks for the info, ERJ.



As an aside, I'm thinking of using some FF miles to fly RDU to Bermuda, the Bahamas, maybe Aruba. I've never flown JetBlue. Are those flights decent?

As an aside, I'm thinking of using some FF miles to fly RDU to Bermuda, the Bahamas, maybe Aruba. I've never flown JetBlue. Are those flights decent?

Yeah, they're all just fine. Nothing special, but pretty good service and most are on A320s with 34" pitch which is hard to complain about.

What I like about JetBlue and Southwest are that their FF programs are simple: if they have the seats and they're below a certain price, generally you can use the miles, and all at the same price.

I understand that it's unreasonable for me to want to get an award ticket on the shortest Friday-Sunday flight two weeks out to the Bahamas. But I can get it on B6 for 25,000 MR points six weeks out, or on a Thursday-Monday two weeks out. I can get a Southwest direct flight to Las Vegas pretty much anytime I want for 25,000 MR points. And the calendar makes it easy for me to search.

Contrast that with American, where for the next couple of months to get the lowest level of miles (35,000, in this case) requires me to literally spend the night in the Miami airport, despite the fact that there's a morning flight the next day. Most Delta options to SJO are 18-to-24 hour travel times through Houston. I can't imagine a situation where spending the night in the Houston airport area would be my idea of fun.

They're using FF trips to fill seats on their least popular flights. Maybe that makes sense from a corporate perspective, but it devalues FF miles pretty severely.

I'm not telling you all anything you don't know, but I've been expanding my FF resources and am pretty disappointed in what's out there, at least through AA and DL/CO.

As an aside, I'm thinking of using some FF miles to fly RDU to Bermuda, the Bahamas, maybe Aruba. I've never flown JetBlue. Are those flights decent?You'll have to connect, though. The RDU-FLL flight is on an E190, I believe. (I'm a little more familiar with the ex-CLT flights, which is all E190s except for one A320.) Depending on where you live and if you can transfer points, as much as I hate them and hate to say it, US has direct flights ex-CLT to the Caribbean.

You can do RDU-JFK-MCO-SJO; you'll just have to do it on two separate tickets. Try booking one that's RDU-JFK and then another JFK-MCO-SJO. B6 doesn't allow connection times over four hours and I don't know if they allow double connections.

You can do RDU-JFK-MCO-SJO; you'll just have to do it on two separate tickets. Try booking one that's RDU-JFK and then another JFK-MCO-SJO. B6 doesn't allow connection times over four hours and I don't know if they allow double connections.

I don't think he could do that. Because it was not good situation for him due to too many multiple the flight banks to Caribbean flight. I think B6 will considers service from RDU-MCO-SJO is much better rather than JFK.

I think he can go through from RDU-ATL-SXM on DL is much easier to get there. He doesn't have go to JFK at all. I think this is better opportunity where he can go through ATL is much easier to catch next flight out instead of JFK. I have a good conversation where DL flight can be go through to Caribbean will leave around 10am from ATL.

Thanks for the responses, folks. What would be simplest is for JetBlue to add a flight from RDU to MCO. They already fly from Raleigh to several places in Floriday, it's just that those places don't go to SJO or SXM.

I looked at a bunch of Delta flights to SJO last month - the vast majority of their offerings are expensive in miles and/or take 19-24 hours to get to or from SJO. That seems ridiculous to me. I'm not nearly poor enough or bored enough to waste 30 extra horus to get out of paying for a $500 ticket, or even an $800 one. As to USAir, unfortunately I can't transfer MR points there, and I don't have quite enough points for a domestic flight, and not enough for any international ones.

The great thing about JetBlue is that it's 25,000 miles anywhere they fly, if the ticket is available. No garbage 20 hour flights through Houston, or overnight stays in Miami for no reason.

For now, I've booked trips to Bermuda and to the Bahamas on B6. Very exciting for me. I'll try Aruba later this year, maybe. And maybe by next year B6 can get me to SJO or back from SXM!

You can put your MR points into AC or NH to book on US if you really want to.

What would be simplest is for JetBlue to add a flight from RDU to MCO. They already fly from Raleigh to several places in Floriday, it's just that those places don't go to SJO or SXM.

RDU currently has non-stop service to BOS, JFK, and FLL. WN has a pretty strong footing in the RDU-MCO market at the moment with 3 daily non-stops. There are connecting options RDU-JFK-MCO-SJO, but you're right that there's currently no easier way to get there on an all-B6 itinerary.

B6 doesn't allow connection times over four hours and I don't know if they allow double connections.

They do indeed offer connection times over 4 hours. Just to prove, these times were taken off the B6 website, specifically for 16-March:

3:33 PM Depart Orlando, FL (MCO)

6:14 PM Arrive New York City (JFK)

**Connection time 4:26**

10:40 PM Depart New York City (JFK)

11:59 PM Arrive Syracuse, NY (SYR)

B6 also offers double connections on many itineraries, mostly to the west coast (MCO-JFK-LAS-BUR, among several others).

B6 also offers double connections on many itineraries, mostly to the west coast (MCO-JFK-LAS-BUR, among several others).

Technically, that's not a double connection. It consists of the MCO-JFK flight, and then the JFK-LAS-BUR flight operating under one flight number which is considered a 'direct' flight. If you look closely on the booking page, it says 'Depart MCO, Connect JFK, Through LAS, Arrive BUR' - only one connection.

B6 also offers double connections on many itineraries, mostly to the west coast (MCO-JFK-LAS-BUR, among several others).

I think you'll find that those are one connection, one through itineraries. MCO-JFK-LAS-BUR consists of one connection and one through flight. As far as I know, there aren't any multiple connection itineraries for sale as such, but I could be wrong.

They do indeed offer connection times over 4 hours.Hmm. Morgan in Corporate Communications told me that they don't. I guess I was misinformed. :)