By now you’ve probably heard the sad news that JetBlue has decided to abandon its unique position in the U.S. as the only airline to offer humane amounts of legroom. Not only that, it will also begin charging for checked bags.
Extra rows of sets will get crammed in by 2016 and checked bag charges will begin sometime in 2015.
What a bummer.
Until this, JetBlue was a rarity: a U.S. airline people didn’t hate.
In fact, a lot of us really liked them. I work in the brand-building business and let me tell you, in most cases, it’s hard to find valuable differences between competing brands. JetBlue had built itself as truly different: significantly more legroom throughout the plane; free checked bags; lower change fees; TVs in every seat-back; and great service.
That’s why this news is so disheartening. JetBlue is losing its spirit. This airline brand that many of us had genuine affection for will soon become a lot less likeable.
Who do we have to thank for this? Why, the mofo’s of Wall Street, of course.
Apparently Wall Street was pressuring JetBlue for bigger returns. And as well all know, when you’re a public company, what Wall Street wants, Wall Street gets.
In exchange for some more profitable quarters in the short-term, possibly boosting the stock price, Wall Street will have chipped away at the core spirit of a great brand.
To be fair, JetBlue’s legroom will still be an inch or so better than most U.S. airlines’ standard coach seating — but it used to be really, gloriously, lovably better. Now they’re going to take it down to “meh” level.
Sigh.
The JetBlue deets:
They will add 15 seats to their A320s (which is essentially their entire fleet), taking them from 150 to 165 seats, beginning in late 2016.
Seat pitch (the legroom and seat-back-in-your-face factor) will drop from 34.7in to 33.1in
- For comparison, other U.S. airlines offer 31in of seat pitch unless you pay extra for their “extra” or “comfort” offerings.
Checked bags fees will roll out in 2015 and will be based on some three-tier structure, whereby the cheapest fare will incur a checked bag fee. [Now here I can help you: see freelanceafarian Rule #4 DO NOT CHECK A BAG]
You can read the full story here at Fortune magazine online.
Note: Southwest Airlines, who have been doing their own thing for a long time, now look even more appealing, if you’re not playing the worldwide mileage game like I am:
- The only U.S. airline still offering a free checked bag
- NO CHANGE FEES!
I would be curious to hear what you all think of this news and if you think it will affect the way you buy your airline tickets.