If outbound flight is cancelled, is the return flight still valid?
 

I'm asking on behalf of my mom, who is supposed to fly JFK-BOS tomorrow at 2PM -- during what may be a major snowstorm. She is considering taking Amtrak to Boston.

If B6 cancels her outbound flight due to weather, does the return flight stay valid?

It would seem that the answer would be "yes" because it would not be my mom who missed her outbound flight; rather, it would be B6 that cancels the flight. So it seems that it wouldn't be right for B6 cancel her return flight. But how would B6 credit her? When a flight is canceled, I believe you have the option for a full refund. But if you take the return flight, you couldn't possibly be eligible for a full refund -- nor should you have to still pay the full fare.

Also, if she takes Amtrak but her outbound flight is not canceled, can she still save her return flight some way?

Any ideas? Thanks.

Yes.

Your mother would have to call in and speak with a customer service representative to advise how she would like to be credited.

She would be eligible for a refund of the unused (outbound) segment.

The return segment is unaffected. If a refund is opted for, then the cost of the first segment is refunded.

Her return flight will be "saved" regardless, whether she cancels the flight, JetBlue cancels the flight, or she no-shows for an operating flight.

That's good info because most domestic airlines cancel your return flight if you no-show for your departing flight.

Thanks for the quick and thorough reply. ^

You're welcome. :)

Really?

So if I buy a round trip ticket and no-show for the outbound then the return is still valid? I know that you guys price based on one-way fares so there isn't really any good reason for me to do that, but I can think of situations where not paying a change fee would make sense should it really work that way.

It would also be a somewhat unique characteristic of jetBlue, however.

This is current policy, and has been since operations began (though no guarantees can be made for the future). The outbound and return are treated entirely individually, and no-showing for the outbound will not void your return.

Wow. I learned something new and cool today. Thanks!

It's just as cheap these days to book one-way flights on B6. That way you don't have to worry about it.

There are downsides to booking that way, too, particularly if you want to change your flights. Paying one change fee instead of two is not so bad if you move your trip, for example.

Does the rule apply for the full direction of the outbound trip or just any segments on it? I don't know that throw-away ticketing ever makes sense in the jetBlue fare structures but there is always the possibility that buying something like LGB-(JFK)-BOS//BOS-LGB would be cheaper than LGB-JFK/BOS-LGB and one might want to stop in JFK and find their own way in between.

To the best of my knowledge, you can end your hypothetical trip at JFK with no ill consequences on the return flight (provided you do not check a bag). I've personally seen this happen a few times in the past now that I think about it, but I can't say with any certainty that it still works or will work in the future.