There's a lot to unpack here so I am going to break this up.
Originally Posted by
jerry90210
Well if you buy a jetblue blue ticket, you are going to board second to last right? Thus behind jetblue basic? But it depends on which group you are on? How many groups are there? Usually I remember it's a few of them. So if your options are jetblue and jetblue extra because you have a checked bag, booking jetblue blue extra, it's pretty almost 100% you will have overhead bin space?
Blue is the JetBlue version of main cabin. They board
ahead of Blue Basic depending on seat assignment. Blue Basic is the final boarding group, I believe group 6 or F. Blue Extra gets early boarding, so you are correct in that people who purchase that fare will most likely have overhead bin space. There's a great table that answers all of this; I googled "JetBlue blue extra" and it was the very first result:
https://www.jetblue.com/flying-with-us/our-fares
Originally Posted by
jerry90210
I recall besides people who buy first class tickets, some other people board first as well such as those with needs and family members with children. So basically those people pretty much 100% has overhead bin space right?
That is correct. I think pre-boarding for people with disabilities is federally mandated under the Air Carrier Access Act, but I could be making that up. I often pre-board because I have a disability. At that point there is likely to be plenty of overhead space as well; they cannot legally verify a disability and it is the honor system that it does not get abused.
Originally Posted by
jerry90210
Where would you rank jetblue compared to delta and america in terms of overhead bin availability? I got to assume it has to be jetblue and then delta and then american? The reasoning since most people who have checked bag is going to be either blue or blue extra? But delta has main cabin and basic cabin and american has main economy and basic economy? So with jetblue, you never board last because the people who are jetblue basic board last? However, they have no checked bags to begin with so wouldn't it make sense that there would be a bit more overhead bin storage compared to delta and american?
I have only flown JetBlue three times this year; most recently was in July on a 100% full JFK-Puerto Rico flight. I was the last passenger to board (since I was running late) and they were able to accommodate my rollaboard in the overhead bin. Many AA planes (all of their 737s and A321s, for example) have larger overhead bins that can accommodate more bags, so they are usually pretty good; I have not flown Delta in over a year but I haven't had to gate check on them in over a decade.
Most JetBlue passengers get Blue or Blue Basic (outside of Mint). Very few people actually pay for Blue Extra.
Originally Posted by
jerry90210
The thing is what if you have a ton of electronics in your messenger bag and you can't gate check it? By that I mean laptop and other electronics where there is no way you allow it to be gate checked.
Your messenger bag should be able to fit under the seat. If not and they are truly out of space, they will ask someone else to check a bag, have you take out your electronics to go under the seat and your bag (with the rest of its contents) can be checked, or take another flight. This is not JetBlue specific and not a policy written anywhere; this is just what I have seen over the years. I can't imagine this will actually happen.
Originally Posted by
jerry90210
Has anyone encountered this situation on jetblue or delta or american? I can imagine jetblue is the least likely?
No. Over several years of being one of JetBlue's top 10 flyers, I have seen this happen once, and someone else was willing to check a bag in exchange for free drinks in the air. JetBlue crews are certainly creative.
-J.