JetBlue offers free trip to nowhere from JFK
Aug 5, 2008, 3:02 pm
#1
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JetBlue offers free trip to nowhere from JFK
United States - NEW YORK (Reuters) - Want all the hassle of air travel without going anywhere?
Step up for JetBlue Airways (nasdaq: JBLU - news - people ) Corp's trial of bag check and security systems at its new John F. Kennedy International Airport terminal, which is set to open in September.
New York-based JetBlue is looking for 1,000 of its frequent flyers to show up at JFK on Aug. 23 to check bags given to them by the airline, go through security and wait at the assigned gate for their imaginary "flight".
In return, the airline is promising unspecified "giveaways", free parking and lunch.
The U.S. No. 7 carrier is taking no chances with the systems at its new Terminal 5, following the chaotic opening of British Airways' Terminal 5 at London's Heathrow Airport in March, as baggage systems failed and staff didn't know their way around the new building.
Only last week, AMR Corp (nyse: AMR - news - people )'s American Airlines had to cancel flights from JFK after its baggage system software malfunctioned at a different terminal.
JetBlue, partly owned by Germany's Lufthansa, is no stranger to snafus at JFK, canceling hundreds of flights and stranding thousands of passengers last year after an ice-storm hit New York. (Reporting by Bill Rigby; editing by Carol Bishopric)
Copyright 2008 Reuters, Click for Restriction
Step up for JetBlue Airways (nasdaq: JBLU - news - people ) Corp's trial of bag check and security systems at its new John F. Kennedy International Airport terminal, which is set to open in September.
New York-based JetBlue is looking for 1,000 of its frequent flyers to show up at JFK on Aug. 23 to check bags given to them by the airline, go through security and wait at the assigned gate for their imaginary "flight".
In return, the airline is promising unspecified "giveaways", free parking and lunch.
The U.S. No. 7 carrier is taking no chances with the systems at its new Terminal 5, following the chaotic opening of British Airways' Terminal 5 at London's Heathrow Airport in March, as baggage systems failed and staff didn't know their way around the new building.
Only last week, AMR Corp (nyse: AMR - news - people )'s American Airlines had to cancel flights from JFK after its baggage system software malfunctioned at a different terminal.
JetBlue, partly owned by Germany's Lufthansa, is no stranger to snafus at JFK, canceling hundreds of flights and stranding thousands of passengers last year after an ice-storm hit New York. (Reporting by Bill Rigby; editing by Carol Bishopric)
Copyright 2008 Reuters, Click for Restriction
Aug 5, 2008, 4:43 pm
#6
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Well, put me down as a curious cat when it comes to know how to be gaurenteed a spot on that flight. Speaking about how its for trueblue memebers, will the be trueblue points accrued for the flight? 
Aug 5, 2008, 6:25 pm
#8
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BTW, there won't actually be a flight involved from what I can see. You might make it as far as boarding a plane, but I think they really are looking to test the check-in, baggage and security facilities. I doubt they'd waste fuel getting a plane off the ground.
Aug 5, 2008, 6:27 pm
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Aug 5, 2008, 9:36 pm
#10
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Wow, this was quick! This afternoon I was part of a group of crewmembers (I would estimate about 300 or so) that did this same exact trial run. They told us about the larger one for TB members on 8/23. The one today was to prepare for the upcoming larger-scale trial discussed here. It was very interesting, and certainly helps the company choose effective check-in procedures for both self service kiosk/bag drop and full counter service.
PS - T5 looks AMAZING! Only thing missing is the signage, which might even be up by 8/23!
PS - T5 looks AMAZING! Only thing missing is the signage, which might even be up by 8/23!
Aug 6, 2008, 7:28 am
#12
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If only it were so simple. If you search in the BA forum you'll find some of the FT'ers went on three(?) similar exercises at LHR T5, and we know the results - "taking no chances" is grossly optimistic unless they're able to fully stress the systems over an extended period.