It’s been a while since we’ve updated you on new routes. Life gets in the way. We’re trying to get back into the swing of things. Bear in mind, we don’t exactly do this for the money. The advertisements only pay for the web hosting.
JetBlue is one of our favorite airlines. Despite their meltdown a few years ago, we have faith in them to provide a consistent travel experience. To compare them to a recent trip we took on United…dirty plane, no snack, delays, overworked airport staff at O’Hare…it is safe to say we can live with any cost-compromises they have to make. They may be heading in the same direction, but its a much longer trip.
Effective today, August 4th, JetBlue, together with CleanBrands, announced the launch of the “World’s Cleaning travel pillow and blanket kit.” The kit includes a ten inch by twelve inch plush pillow, a thirty-nine inch by fifty-one inch fleece blanket and a $5 gift certificate to Bed, Bath, and Beyond. Since the kit is $7, you essentially, if you patronize Bed Bath and Beyond, get it for only $2. And it comes with a carrying case so you can bring it along next time. Most airlines, Continental and Southwest excepted, no longer offer pillows and blankets. JetBlue has been contemplating this option for several years now.
We don’t want to hawk JetBlue or other airline products, but if this thing is as nice as it sounds, we’re buying one for our next flight and using it until it wears out. On the downside, it means JetBlue is discontinuing free blankets and pillows…but half the time we couldn’t find one on the plane anyway. It goes with our philosophy. If you must discontinue a free service, make sure the replacement offering is reasonable.
Since we last updated you on service, JetBlue has announced or inaugurated the following routes:
- Portland, Oregon to Long Beach, CA – Service to Begin October 9th, with a second flight added on November 2nd using the Embraer 190 fleet, which is seeing a greater presence on the West Coast.
- Washington-Dulles to Ft. Myers and Washington-Dulles to West Palm Beach, – Effective December 18th to April 30th once daily using an A320
- Washington-Dulles to San Juan, Puerto Rico – Effective December 20th on Saturdays only.
- White Plains(Westchester County) to Tampa – Daily effective November 2nd using their A320s. This makes JetBlue the largest presence at White Plains, with three daily flights to Ft. Lauderdale, one to Ft. Myers, four to Orlando, and two to West Palm, and with this new flight, a total of 11 daily departures.
- Richmond to Orlando – Effective November 2nd using the E190 regional jets.
- Puerto Rico – Aer Lingus will add additional frequency this season to its Puerto Rico Service to Boston(seasonal service to begin two months early in September), New York(Seven Daily Flights this winter to San Juan), and Orlando(Four Daily flights to San Juan). For details, click here.
That’s all for now. As usual, more to come. We look forward to your comments. It is a real motivation for us to know people are reading.