Problems with the Airline JetBlue

Waiting at the Terminal

While JetBlue promises a free ticket if your flight is delayed more than five hours, you should be aware of the fine print. In its Customer Bill of Rights, JetBlue defines a delay for departing flights as a plane that has been boarded and pushed back from the gate, but is not yet in the air. So you can board JetBlue and sit on the tarmac for five hours, but if the plane is still at the gate, it is not considered a delay and you are not eligible for a free ticket.

Bring Your Own Provisions

JetBlue doesn't perform its own maintenance. Instead, it outsources this role to a number of different companies. It's uncertain how JetBlue regulates quality control. Customers report the planes vary from brand-new to well-worn. Customers have also reported that when they check online and see a JetBlue flight is on time, they then arrive at the airport only to be informed of a delay. And although JetBlue once prided itself on offering amenities while other airlines cut back, the airline no longer offers complimentary meals or pillows and blankets, even on its red-eye flights.

How long will it take you to earn a free flight?

Their Frequent Flier Program, TrueBlue, presents its own problem. You have to make reservations through the airline, so you cannot use a discounting service like Orbirz or Hotwire. You then receive only two points for a round trip; by the time most customers receive 100 points for a free flight, their points have already expired.