Over the past few days I’ve written about some pretty big changes at JetBlue. While JetBlue still has some more favorable policies then some of the other airlines, it looks like they are slowly moving away from what they have always been known for – inexpensive flexibility. So here are the three big changes that took place this week:
Only 5 Days for a Price Adjustment
A few years ago you actually could get a credit for the price difference up until the flight departed (similar to Southwest’s policy). Then they changed it to a 14 day period. Now, it is just changed to a 5 day grace period! While 5 days is significantly better then the 24 hours you receive with most other airlines, this is a huge change and isn’t even close to the full 2 weeks customers used to get.
The process to get a credit, however, is the same it has always been. If you do in fact see that your price has decreased in price within the 5 day period, you’ll have to call JetBlue to get it processed – it cannot be done online. After you book a flight, I suggest checking daily to see if your fare has in fact decreased! JetBlue will not do this for you, it is up to you. The voucher you receive is valid for an entire year from the date it is issued and is actually very flexible on how it can be used. It will sit in your travel bank (which you can see online in your JetBlue account) and can be used to book a flight for you or someone else.
The only caveat to this “perk” is if a flight goes down in price due to a coupon code you need to apply, it will not allow the voucher to go through. So let’s say you purchase a flight for $200 and two days later JetBlue comes out with a promo code offering 10% off all flights. The flight price is still $200, but with the promo it would come down to $180 (let’s not take taxes into the scenario). You unfortunately will not be able to get a $20 voucher for the difference. The actual flight must have gone down in price without a coupon code being applied.
No More Free Standby
In the past, if you showed up at the airport and you were looking to go standby for the flight immediately prior to or after your originally booked flight, there would be no charge. Unfortunately though, they are no longer offering this free option. If you decide to go standby for these flights, you are changed the same standby fee if you go standby on any other flight (with the same route) during the day or even if you do a confirmed same day change.
Standby Prices Have Increased
To fly standby it used to cost $50. Now, they have increased that fee to $75. This fee applies for both standby and same day confirmed changes. Starting at midnight the same calendar day as your originally scheduled flight, you can change your flight to another flight that same day with the exact same routing. You can do this over the phone or at the airport. As long as there is a seat available, they will put you on that flight and charge you the $75 fee. If there is no seat available you’ll have to go standby at the airport. If you do not get off the standby list they will reimburse you the $75 fee. Unfortunately, no same day flight changes are permitted with routes that only have one flight a day.
Overall…
I still like that JetBlue offers more flexibility then other airlines, but I really hope they slow down (or stop!) making any more negative changes! With these changes taking place, having Mosaic status is extremely helpful. If you have Mosaic status…
- You can always cancel your flight for no fee and then re-book at the lower fare.
- The same day change fee is waived.
- You can make a same day confirmed change 24 hours prior to your originally scheduled flight (you do not need to wait until midnight like all other customers).
With all that being said, JetBlue (along with Southwest) is still one of my favorite domestic airlines and I will absolutely fly with them. My husband has Mosaic status so that also helps to lessen the blow!
The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser. Responses have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the bank advertiser. It is not the bank advertiser's responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered.