JetBlue TrueBlue - All-you-can-Jet booking issues.

Well, I took the plunge and bought the pass. Of course, to make the most of this, my first booking was rather complex (but I am not done yet!).

I dutifully made the call (how old school) and gave all my booking details. I was put on hold for over twenty minutes and then the call dropped (am I the only one to suffer this fate?). Anyways, I called back and reservations couldn't find anything, so I started again. Friendly person, but not what I'd call on the ball. Got questions like, "so you'd like to fly from LAX to Long Beach...", not reassuring. However after much careful direction got the booking done.

Then, I got email confirmations for EVERYTHING I'd done. First booking and second. And I really wanted to make sure I got the second reservation as I'd paid for Extra Legroom. So, once again I called and explained the duplicative booking situation which seemed to flummox the res agent. After about 15 minutes the situation was resolved (I hope).

To be fair, the reservation agents have been nothing but helpful and friendly. And I know this is a new program. I just wonder why an online option wasn't built in. And if this was a last minute promotion, the lack of training with reservations folks is pretty obvious.

Still a fan jetBlue, just hope you get everyone up-to-speed soon.

I've found that booking just one or two flights at a time is easier. Apparently all bookings for the program are handled by a special group within the reservations center, so that makes things harder, too.

My bookings have actually all gone through OK so far, with only a couple minutes on hold each time.

I've booked and changed a bunch of flights, including a 8 flight megabook. Perfect everytime. JB is probably the most professional airline I've ever dealt with.

My company required everyone who travels jetblue cities to buy one of these passes and I was a little concerned about booking, but I just booked three separate RT's and it was very smooth whole thing took 5 minutes.

FWIW, the "special" group that we're booking with appears to be the crew pass rider desk. At least that's how they've answered the phone on my two calls today.

I'm putting in for my JFK-SAN-SLC-LGB-OAK//SFO-BOS-JFK now.

I had no issues with the bookings. Made 5 at once. They actually seemed kind of excited that I bought the pass. Almost as if they were proud that their marketing plan was drawing attention.

From a software perspective, the call-in versus online seems to make sense as to develop the software for what might be a one-time promotion might not be cost effective.

I am intrigued that there are companies who are opting for these passes.

Rasheed

Just made a couple more bookings without any trouble, except the part where the agent tried to change my flight date so I'd have more than 1:14 on the ground in PSE. :cool:

Where's the emoticon for "I'm crazy" when I need it?? :eek:

I am intrigued that there are companies who are opting for these passes.

It's a very, very cost-conscious strategy for business travelers.

I had no issues with the bookings. Made 5 at once. They actually seemed kind of excited that I bought the pass. Almost as if they were proud that their marketing plan was drawing attention.

I made 3 bookings at once and like JMG5575 I thought they seemed really happy about the passes.

It's a very, very cost-conscious strategy for business travelers.

Having been in the travel industry in various positions for the past 15 years I agree that this is a great strategy for business travelers who can do business in these cities. I just spoke to two former colleagues, one who is an employee on an expense account at Company "A" and claims the 3 day window is not going to work with him. Another person left that same position at that company and now competes against them in his own company. He was so happy Jetblue came out with this pass because it will save him a ton of money during the month and planning three days out is no issue at all.

Interesting how when it is your own company saving money is an incentive, but when someone else is paying a few inconveniences are not manageable! :)

I should add that the upper management at "Company A" DO micromanage and would not hesitate to change plans of their travelers at the last minute. So the inability to plan not necessarily the fault of the traveler.

I do know that the guy who left to form his own company has taken many clients away from his former employer...much like the "Michael Scott Paper Company" did! :) He is probably going to get a few more when he hits the road big time next month!

From a software perspective, the call-in versus online seems to make sense as to develop the software for what might be a one-time promotion might not be cost effective.

I am intrigued that there are companies who are opting for these passes.

Rasheed

I agree with the development vs. cost statement. This is a new promotion and they probably have very little viable data on how popular it would be, so why spend money if they could not forecast the volume of usage accurately?

In addition they probably have idle man-hours in reservations forecasted because of the low demand for the month, so they can utilize that resource.

Also, they are changing from to a Sabre based reservation system in a few months so any development on the current system would not be utilized in the future.

Interesting how when it is your own company saving money is an incentive, but when someone else is paying a few inconveniences are not manageable! :)

The penalty of 100$ just if you are late for your flight would not fly easily with leisure travelers who are frequent travelers with other airlines either. These people can usually avoid lines through fast lanes for elite members, red carpets, etc. For the sake of trying something new they would probably be unwilling to arrive at the airport 2 hours before the flight just not to be penalized if things do not go smoothly.

The penalty of 100$ just if you are late for your flight would not fly easily with leisure travelers who are frequent travelers with other airlines either. These people can usually avoid lines through fast lanes for elite members, red carpets, etc. For the sake of trying something new they would probably be unwilling to arrive at the airport 2 hours before the flight just not to be penalized if things do not go smoothly.

I don't think this plays into it at all. It certainly doesn't for me, and I've got some pretty tight connections stacked up through my flights. The lines really aren't all that much different at jetBlue stations versus the elite lines that you seem to think folks are so used to.