TrueBlueGal - TrueBlue Insider
Nov 6, 2008, 5:54 am
#61
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: PSM
Posts: 69,232
I'm glad that the program works for you. A couple thoughts...
The point accruals you've noted only work if flights are booked at jetblue.com. Many companies require employees to book through a corporate travel portal so the numbers would be halved. Just worth noting, though it certainly doesn't affect everyone.
The notion that the fare is always cheaper on JetBlue is a false one. And you've clearly made a choice that non-stop is more important to you than cost or FF program. That is fine, but it should not be used as a justification for the FF program being better than it really it.
On a legacy airline the points start accruing at a 1.5x rate after the first 5 transcons and at a 2x rate after 10 in a year. If one is really flying that much the accrual isn't the problem.
I'm sure I could hit the 100 points too if I tried, but I've found that other programs have a better return on the investment of my time/money based on the rewards I want to redeem. The one year expiration and forced issuance of the rewards precludes someone with your travel pattern from saving up enough for two flights and still having a reasonable window to use them in. That's pretty rough for anyone who doesn't want to travel alone, much less with kids.
Please see my note above. Assuming 24 points and 5K miles for a transcon r/t (rounded for the sake of easy math), after 5 trips you have 120 points and 25K miles. After 10 trips you have 240 points and 62.5K miles. After 15 trips you have 360 points and 110.5K miles. The former is only three reward seats; the latter is four reward seats.
Paying $200 in annual fees for the luxury of eventually redeeming points is not a smart investment. Of course, it is reasonable to assume that someone with the AmEx is using it for their spending, too, so they will earn faster.
Do you really have only one? I have lots of trips that I really want to go on. That is the main reason I need a more flexible program.
This is one of my major annoyances with the program as well. Some years I don't necessarily want to redeem my points for a trip. Being forced to use them or lose them in that way isn't customer-friendly, IMO.
EVEN WITHOUT MY CARD. If I flew SEA to JFK 3 times a year I'd get 72 pts. And if I flew SEA to LGB 2 times a year I'd get 32 pts. That gives me 104 pts while only flying 5 roundtrips. If I only flew SEA to JFK I would only need to fly roughly 4 times a year and if I only flew SEA to LGB I would fly 6.25 times. And if you're flying short legs, don't complain.
On my Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan to get to 25,000 miles I would need to fly from SEA to JFK 5 times a year based on miles accrued, however any other major domestic carrier charges a lot more for the fare. And even though on Southwest they give it to you after any 8 roundtrips, I don't like flying on a bus making stops to drop people off and spending an extra 2+ hours on a plane.
I think my travel falls under "common experience" and is very reasonable to be considered a frequent flier. I don't understand why you make the comparison for a family of four to fly as unreasonable. If I were to fly 4 people with any other mileage plan it would take me 100,000 miles, so tell me how long that would take to accrue.
Again about your hypothetical: If your monthly frequent flier flew another airline it would take him just as long or longer to acquire 4 roundtrip tickets and so I must assume your problem is that you cannot acquire them in the 12 month timespan? I don't know any other airline you can earn 4 RT tickets annually any easier.
On another note too: I do think however that I should be allowed to choose when I want to change my trueBlue points into awards. I should just be allowed to retrieve them in 50 or 100 point increments if I have a JetBlue AMEX. I can see how this can be a problem with just mileage holders because of the expiration. And I only wish this because of the expiration of the reward tickets. I like to save it for a spontaneous trip or that really expensive one, usually ends up being both. But I always manage to use it within that year anyways.
Nov 6, 2008, 7:15 am
#62
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Salt Lake City, UT
Programs: TrueBlue
Posts: 21
This is great stuff- you guys ROCK!
Reading the dialogue between you all is making me even more anxious and excited for the new TrueBlue program! Although I am unable to disclose specifics just yet, I believe our new loyalty program is going to be just what both business and leisure travelers have been waiting for! While some aspects will be similar to other carriers, there are going to be some major differentiators. The things you dislike (like points auto-rolling into Awards
) are also things we dislike. We feel frustrated by our current system limitations because we live to make you happy and are painfully aware that some aspects of our current program make some of you unhappy
! Keep sending the feedback! I love learning all your points of view as well as your traveling styles and look forward to sharing your thoughts with the program developers!
) are also things we dislike. We feel frustrated by our current system limitations because we live to make you happy and are painfully aware that some aspects of our current program make some of you unhappy! Keep sending the feedback! I love learning all your points of view as well as your traveling styles and look forward to sharing your thoughts with the program developers!
Nov 6, 2008, 10:39 pm
#63
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Seattle, WA USA
Programs: Alaska Airlines MP, JetBlue TrueBlue, Virgin America eleVate, Starwood Preferred Guest Gold
Posts: 18
Reading the dialogue between you all is making me even more anxious and excited for the new TrueBlue program! Although I am unable to disclose specifics just yet, I believe our new loyalty program is going to be just what both business and leisure travelers have been waiting for! While some aspects will be similar to other carriers, there are going to be some major differentiators. The things you dislike (like points auto-rolling into Awards) are also things we dislike. We feel frustrated by our current system limitations because we live to make you happy and are painfully aware that some aspects of our current program make some of you unhappy! Keep sending the feedback! I love learning all your points of view as well as your traveling styles and look forward to sharing your thoughts with the program developers!
) are also things we dislike. We feel frustrated by our current system limitations because we live to make you happy and are painfully aware that some aspects of our current program make some of you unhappy! Keep sending the feedback! I love learning all your points of view as well as your traveling styles and look forward to sharing your thoughts with the program developers!
Nov 8, 2008, 9:19 am
#64
Join Date: Jan 2008
Programs: Marriott Titanium, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 405
Hey TrueBlueGal,
Question -
I have reservations to fly from JFK to Vegas in February. I just noticed they added a new flight later in the morning. This is a much better time for me to fly out. As the flight was not available when I made the reservation would JetBlue allow me to switch flights without paying the $100 fee?
Thanks!
Question -
I have reservations to fly from JFK to Vegas in February. I just noticed they added a new flight later in the morning. This is a much better time for me to fly out. As the flight was not available when I made the reservation would JetBlue allow me to switch flights without paying the $100 fee?
Thanks!
Nov 8, 2008, 3:50 pm
#65
Moderator: Southwest Airlines, Capital One
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: California
Programs: WN Companion Pass, A-list preferred, Hyatt Globalist; United Club Lietime (sic) Member
Posts: 21,613
Reading the dialogue between you all is making me even more anxious and excited for the new TrueBlue program! Although I am unable to disclose specifics just yet, I believe our new loyalty program is going to be just what both business and leisure travelers have been waiting for!
Nov 10, 2008, 12:33 pm
#66
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Salt Lake City, UT
Programs: TrueBlue
Posts: 21
Nov 10, 2008, 12:42 pm
#67
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Salt Lake City, UT
Programs: TrueBlue
Posts: 21
Hey TrueBlueGal,
Question -
I have reservations to fly from JFK to Vegas in February. I just noticed they added a new flight later in the morning. This is a much better time for me to fly out. As the flight was not available when I made the reservation would JetBlue allow me to switch flights without paying the $100 fee?
Thanks!
Question -
I have reservations to fly from JFK to Vegas in February. I just noticed they added a new flight later in the morning. This is a much better time for me to fly out. As the flight was not available when I made the reservation would JetBlue allow me to switch flights without paying the $100 fee?
Thanks!
I do believe the change fee would be waived but any increase in airfare would still apply.
Have a great day!
Nov 10, 2008, 12:45 pm
#68
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Salt Lake City, UT
Programs: TrueBlue
Posts: 21
Nov 11, 2008, 2:31 pm
#69
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: OR
Posts: 1,534
fare change refund credit and promotion/discount
Hello TrueBlueGal,
Question:
Can I get a credit if the fares drop when I purchased my flight using the AMEX $15 off round trip promotion?
Or once I used any discount code/promotion, my reservation is not eligible for any fare change refund credit?
Thank you!
Question:
Can I get a credit if the fares drop when I purchased my flight using the AMEX $15 off round trip promotion?
Or once I used any discount code/promotion, my reservation is not eligible for any fare change refund credit?
Thank you!
Nov 12, 2008, 8:20 am
#71
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Salt Lake City, UT
Programs: TrueBlue
Posts: 21
Unfortunately you'll lose the $15 off since the offers cannot be combined. However, if it is enough of a fare decrease, it may be worth it!
Mar 14, 2009, 7:08 am
#73
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: PSM
Posts: 69,232
I wouldn't expect her to announce any details of the new program until the PR machine is ready for them to come out. That sort of thing can get one in a lot of trouble and we don't want to lose her here.
Mar 14, 2009, 9:35 am
#74
Join Date: Oct 2007
Programs: trueblue
Posts: 100
I would say she has already disappeared. She last posted here in November of 2008. Let me know when they reschedule her reappearance?
Mar 16, 2009, 7:04 am
#75
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Salt Lake City, UT
Programs: TrueBlue
Posts: 21
Well, Hello!
Wow there is so much I could tell you about the new TrueBlue program! But unfortunatley I do have to wait! I can say that it truly will be the product that you have been asking for. You can only imagine how excited we are to roll it out! As soon as I get any info that I can release- you'll be the first to hear it!
