JetBlue implements Basic Economy and stealth fee increases

Today, I wrote about the new fare structure with JetBlue.

I'm actually okay with the "Basic Blue" offering, not that they've asked for my opinion on the matter. But I hate the fee changes, which essentially forces a fee increase. You can now get either free bags or free changes with their Extra fares, but can no longer get both. Unless you're Mosaic, you're going to be paying for something.

I've always had a soft spot for JetBlue. They run a customer-focused airline, they're innovative and I've always liked David Neeleman personally. But this increase comes as a stark reminder that the company is in business to, heaven forbid, earn a profit. I guess I can't blame them for that.

Fortunately, JetBlue's Mosaic (elite) status is easy to achieve and VERY valuable. The best way to do it is to spend $50,000 on their Plus credit card,* but you can also do it through flying, and they offer frequent promotions to fast-track you.

Mosaic status is a separate article for a different day, but it's well worth it.

Mike

*Note: While we do have commissioned links to several cards, JetBlue is not one of them. The above link should take you to the airline's credit card page. If the forum is acting wonky, though, you may have to navigate directly through Jetblue.com.

I expect, in the very near future, for JetBlue to implement the "outside fare," where passengers are strapped to the wings. Of course, they'll have to sell them in pairs--one left wing, one right, etc., due to weight and balance considerations. There will also be the "nailed into a crate" fare, where passengers are placed in the cargo hold.

Also, if you're talking about JetBlue, you need to mention that passengers need to keep their credit cards handy so that they can swipe them to activate their oxygen masks before they pass out, should cabin pressure be lost. $5 a minute, hopefully you won't max out before the plane lands.

The sad thing is that JetBlue is one of the "good" ones.

Mike