Why do you guys call Jet Blue...
 

Hi there...

My first Flyer Talk post, but a long time lurker.

So why do you call Jet Blue "B6"?

Thanks!

Craig
Syosset, NY

First off, Craig, welcome to FT (flyerTalk).

Secondly, we reffer to JetBlue as B6 for shorthand reasons. B6 is actually JetBlue's IATA code. Each airline is assigned one (always a 2 letter/number combination as a unique identifier for it's owner) before the can start flying scheduled or chartered flights. You'll often see CO for Continental, UA for United, AA for American, US for USAirways, and DL for Delta as the more obvious ones. The less obvious one include B6 for JetBlue, TZ for ATA, FL for Airtran, WN for Southwest, and F9 for frontier. We're starting to see HP disappear due to the fact that AmericaWest was taken over by US.

If you want to know more about the IATA, you can check out http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interna...rt_Association.

For JetBlue's history, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/JetBlue_Airways

.... ahhh!:)

I never would have figured that one out!

Many thanks for the informative welcome to FT

Craig

No problem, Craig. You'll find that there are a lot of people that are well plugged in regarding the airlines whether they actually are employees of the airlines, business travelers, or those fallow what's happening as a hobby. Any other questions, don't hesitate to ask.

To add , you will also see JBLU being used at times. JBLU is JetBlues stock symbol on the Nasdaq. As F is for Ford, MRK for Merck

kraigster, Welcome to FT!

Seat13c pointed out the IATA code for jetBlue is B6. Many think it is JB...there is actually an airline overseas (forgot which one, but read it somewhere) with the code JB already in use.

I noticed your profile says Jef Blue....you might want to change that to jetBlue! :)

Again, welcome to FT and we look forward to having you in the discussions

JB is actually Helijet, a airline who flys helicopters from Vancouver to Victoria, BC.

Once I had a jetBlue flight leaving from A1 at RSW. The sign at A1 showed my flight number with B6 next to it. There was nobody at the gate, so I assumed it meant that my gate was changed to B6. I went back downstairs and asked a ticket agent if my gate was changed from A1 to B6. How she kept from laughing at me I'll never know. :)

Welcome to flyertalk.

Craigster--please allow me to add a warm welcome to FT!

The new stock symbol for jetBlue is now (based on all the flight screw-ups at
JFK during the storm), DIRT. ;) :p

JetBlue B6 IATA code assignment
 

To ask the inevitable question whose answer 2 minutes of Googling didn't yield, how did the IATA's process assign B6 to JetBlue? I know why it couldn't be JB, but why not B1 or B2 or JA (which is unassigned in IATA's current members list), etc.?

The 2 closest hits I found were

1. post #10 at Why is AirTran's nickname "FL"?
2. Airline 2 Letter Codes which was long but good

but neither had a credible answer.

good question. I'm actually an intern right now at IATA and happen to sit next to the people who deal with airline codes. If i get the chance i'll ask...not sure if they'll know why B6 was chosen for Jetblue. I heard that airlines can request certain codes as long as it's not taken....

If I could be so bold as to take a guess at this one B6 could be "B" for Blue and "6" since jetBlue originally operated out of terminal 6 at JFK. Could be totally off there but if I had to guess that would be my guess.

Also, in addition to IATA codes, there are ICAO codes and for jetBlue it is JBU.