Basic Economy Fares Coming Next Year
Sep 28, 2018, 9:08 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: New York
Programs: Delta Platinum, JetBlue Mosaic, Hilton Gold, Hertz PC
Posts: 68
Basic Economy Fares Coming Next Year
Where can we Inspire Humanity next? ? Out of the Blue
"Later next year, we’ll evolve our current fare options (Blue, Blue Plus, Blue Flex) to give Customers the choices they want. This will attract ultra-low-fare seekers to JetBlue, where we can take better care of them than other airlines do. We’ll have options for the many Customers who shop on experience and loyalty too.
We are being careful to limit operational impact and keep our mission of humanity front and center. It’s too early to share brand names and specific features, and the IT work is just starting, but here’s a preview:
Our new lower fare will be anything but basic, designed to help Customers save while still offering the full JetBlue experience – the most legroom in coach*, free inflight entertainment, free Fly-Fi internet, free snacks and soft drinks, no overselling of flights, carry-on bag and personal item included, and great service. Customers who opt for this fare will agree to some limits, which might include things like boarding order, seating and change/cancelation flexibility, but we will not make them feel like second-class citizens.
We will also broaden the appeal of our other fare tiers. For example, very few Customers today select Blue Flex. We can boost interest in that fare if we lower the price and focus on Customers who value speed in the airport and change/cancel flexibility (see Blue More below)."
"Later next year, we’ll evolve our current fare options (Blue, Blue Plus, Blue Flex) to give Customers the choices they want. This will attract ultra-low-fare seekers to JetBlue, where we can take better care of them than other airlines do. We’ll have options for the many Customers who shop on experience and loyalty too.
We are being careful to limit operational impact and keep our mission of humanity front and center. It’s too early to share brand names and specific features, and the IT work is just starting, but here’s a preview:
Our new lower fare will be anything but basic, designed to help Customers save while still offering the full JetBlue experience – the most legroom in coach*, free inflight entertainment, free Fly-Fi internet, free snacks and soft drinks, no overselling of flights, carry-on bag and personal item included, and great service. Customers who opt for this fare will agree to some limits, which might include things like boarding order, seating and change/cancelation flexibility, but we will not make them feel like second-class citizens.
We will also broaden the appeal of our other fare tiers. For example, very few Customers today select Blue Flex. We can boost interest in that fare if we lower the price and focus on Customers who value speed in the airport and change/cancel flexibility (see Blue More below)."
Sep 28, 2018, 10:53 am
#6
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Cape Cod
Programs: Free agent
Posts: 1,535
As long as they aren't assigning BE fares into EMS, I'm fine with it. Looks like BE includes overhead access so I'd probably buy it. I don't check bags and I have fast security already via GE. It would be hilarious if the cost difference was the price of upgrading to EMS on certain sectors (Thinking JFK->BOS). Just buy the fare and pay for EMS, boarding problem solved, money saved.
Sep 28, 2018, 12:53 pm
#7
Join Date: Jun 1999
Location: NYC/LA
Programs: DL Plat, AA Plat Pro, Marriott Titanium, IHG Diamond Amb
Posts: 7,486
Not sure about the other legacies, but Delta specifically disallows basic economy tickets from upselling to Comfort+, so I could see EMS not being an option for basic economy.
Sep 28, 2018, 1:29 pm
#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2001
Programs: DL 1 million, AA 1 mil, HH lapsed Diamond, Marriott Plat
Posts: 28,190
Sep 28, 2018, 1:34 pm
#9
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Detroit, MI
Programs: Delta, JetBlue, Marriott
Posts: 152
I don't understand all of the fuss. They need to compete with G4, NK, F9, etc., all of which market low base fares and charge for everything. If you don't want BE, pay for regular economy. I would rather see B6 create a BE fare rather than lower the standards for all of economy.
Actually, I look at BE as a positive. I fly DL and B6. Ever since DL introduced BE, I have not had any trouble getting overhead bin space on a regular economy ticket, no matter which zone I am in. Also, I've noticed getting seats is easier since BE people can't select seats.
Actually, I look at BE as a positive. I fly DL and B6. Ever since DL introduced BE, I have not had any trouble getting overhead bin space on a regular economy ticket, no matter which zone I am in. Also, I've noticed getting seats is easier since BE people can't select seats.
Sep 28, 2018, 2:53 pm
#11
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
Major corporate contracts purchasing full Y tickets (albeit at a discount) at the last minute, complained bitterly when their people wound up stuffed into lousy middle seats.
While it's unlikely that the exit aisles are available at T-24, there is at least a better seating option for last minute (high fare) customers than before.
Sep 28, 2018, 5:50 pm
#12
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: NYC
Posts: 280
I -really- hate this with legacy BE especially on Delta. At least Spirit lets you choose what you want- you can skip all baggage and have a nice, comfy front seat (which is often a smashing value too.)
Sep 29, 2018, 7:29 am
#14
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 42
In practice, DL's BE tickets often end up getting assigned C+, exit rows, or the aisle/windows marked "preferred" since those are usually the seats left unoccupied. 4 of 6 of my DL BE flights last year,
Sep 29, 2018, 12:14 pm
#15
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Boston
Programs: Hotels: Golden Airlines: B6 Mosiac
Posts: 313
I fly b6 pretty exclusively. But I'm trying to book BOS-MCO.
There are 3 Airlines on this route. B6, NK, DL.
Spirit is almost always $30 less, and $70 less if you book at airport. Each way...
Of course if you book those spirit fares and don't know what your doing your going to pay 2x as much. But I can see how they are trying to segment.
How will this effect Mosiac...
There are 3 Airlines on this route. B6, NK, DL.
Spirit is almost always $30 less, and $70 less if you book at airport. Each way...
Of course if you book those spirit fares and don't know what your doing your going to pay 2x as much. But I can see how they are trying to segment.
How will this effect Mosiac...