by Clay Nichols
Member since:
January 12, 2007

jetBlue Compensation Adequate? Gatherers Decide

March 18, 2007 12:49 AM EDT
views: 35 | rating: 10/10 (5 votes) | comments: 15
I got a voucher from jetBlue this week, so I guess it’s time to move on. The Valentine’s Day JFK Debacle was weeks ago. The whole jetBlue deal is so completely over.  What am I whining about?   A little fourteen-hour stint in a semi-heated temporary terminal?  Big deal.  Canceled flight? Get over it.  Lost bags? Welcome to the club.  Alternate route home requiring 3am interstate train ride and one-way ticket on another airline?  Quit yer bellyachin’.

And yet I still feel aggrieved.

So here’s the deal, Gather readers, you decide if I got a fair deal, and I will act accordingly.

The facts:
-I showed up at JKF at 6:45 am on a Wednesday for a jetBlue flight to Austin
-The weather was really bad
-After many, many delays, my flight was cancelled at 11:30pm
-They offered to rebook me on a flight on a Sunday/Monday redeye
-It was Valentine’s Day, and I have a family
-They lost my bag even though we never took off
-I want to like jetBlue
-All flights on all airlines at all nearby airports were booked
-All hotel rooms nearby were booked
-I was faced with hundreds of dollars in hotel costs to stay in New York
-I wanted to go home
-I took a train ($80) to Baltimore at 3am
-Where I got on a flight on standby on another (ahem, SOUTHWEST) airline ($320)
-jetBlue refunded me for the unused portion of my ticket ($150)
-My bag showed up at my house on Saturday
-jetBlue canceled the flight they rebooked me on for Sunday
- jetBlue CEO Jeff Neeleman apologized his ass off on every network with a minute of available airtime (anybody catch his HSN gig?)
-jetBlue assured me that I would be called by March 15th regarding compensation, and to please not call the airline because a bunch more flights got canceled due to bad weather and they were up to their ears.

The jetBlue offer arrived via email on the 15th.  (I am sure they told me they were going to call, but that email has mysteriously disappeared from my account.)  Their offer:  “We would like to extend a round-trip JetBlue electronic voucher equivalent to the amount which was paid when booking your reservation.” Or about $250.  They again asked that I not call at the moment because they had canceled yet another round of flights due to weather.

By my calculations, this offer doesn’t even offset the additional expense that I incurred to get home, much less compensate me for the inconvenience.  I understand that the weather was beyond their control, but clearly they were unprepared and made decisions that made it more difficult for me to get home.

Maybe I should just take the vouchers and be grateful that they offered anything.

Maybe I should raise a stink and see if I can get a more favorable settlement from the company.

You decide.  I will submit to the will of the majority of commenters here.

link to this page
Bookmark this post:
Facebook
Twitter
Delicious
Buzz
More

Comments: 15

Never take the first offer. As recent TV experience has shown you don't wait till the final offer either.

It seems to me that there is policy regarding cancellations and reimbursement. It's a standard policy that extends across airline brands. I'm not sure of any specific details but my thinking is you may be entitled to more. The glitch is weather. I don't know how that impacts an airline's obligation.

I had a similar situation with Delta. You can read about it at my namespace under the title of Trip to Disneyland. Overall, I got a much better deal than what you received. Did you save receipts?
Clay Nichols Mar 18, 2007, 9:47am EDT
Excellent. One for renegotiate. I do think I got the standard deal. I've got all the receipts and itineraries.

By the way, jetBlue canceled another raft of flights over the weekend. Good luck, folks.

Here's an article that ran in the NY Times on the subject of apologizing airlines.
Laurun M. Mar 18, 2007, 10:42am EDT
Yeah, Well when does it expire? They refunded me in the amount of a flight because the airline stewart pasted a kotex above my head to block a leak and the whole plane laughed at me throughout the trip.
The cost of the flight has since doubled and the refund expired in a year. What good is it?
Nana to Seven Cutiepies Mar 18, 2007, 10:56am EDT
I feel your pain. This past week Phila. airport had similar scenarios due to weather. People sitting on planes going no where for six hours or more, lost luggage even though the plane never left the terminal, no hotel rooms available, and so many other sad stories. What the compensation should be? I haven't a clue but there should be a standard policy. I would think by now airports would have come up with some sort of "emergency" plan. In lieu of monetary compensation for storm related delays, maybe they should build a "hotel" type facility to accommodate stranded travelers which would consist of a free room with bathroom, a small kitchenette so you could make coffee or tea and store some food in a small refrigerator, and a TV and radio. They should not make you sit on a tarmac for any longer than one hour, and when the weather is obviously going to be bad for most of the day, don't take you out to the runways at all.
All the hotels near airports are extremely over priced and fill up quickly leaving you stranded.
Of course, this is an average person's view and I'm sure a millionaire businessman could come up with a million reasons why this couldn't work because these things don't affect them.
I haven't answered your question. Sorry but I feel our hands are tied in these situations but they shouldn't be.
Donald H. Mar 18, 2007, 11:18am EDT
It is hazard of travel...!
Clay Nichols Mar 18, 2007, 11:35am EDT
Laurun -- That is hands-down the best airline travel vignette I have ever heard. My vouchers expire in a year, also. And I bought the tix in response to a sale promo -- so the value basis is very low.

Nana-- Love the idea. I was actually contacted by the airline's PR firm after they saw the YouTube video linked in the piece above. If we ever get in touch, I'll forward your suggestion.

I hear you, Donald.
Lydia O. Mar 18, 2007, 2:48pm EDT
This is the reason trip insurance exists...I think a lot depends on whether you'll be able to willingly get on a jetblue flight within the next year, clay. If you can't, what good is it going to do you? I would hold out for money, at the very least. Ideally including what it took you to get home.
Destiny W. Mar 18, 2007, 3:42pm EDT
DB 10
Clay Nichols Mar 18, 2007, 4:46pm EDT
Lydia in favor of renegotiation for cash compensation. So noted and tallied. Thanks.
Katrina Hall Mar 18, 2007, 4:55pm EDT
Hummmm. I would itemize and send the bill to them. I'd charge whatever you think is fair for ten hours waiting (3 or 4 hours I can understand waiting, but 6am-11:30pm?)
The charge for the train.
The charge for the Southwest flight.
Any food and drink charges you incurred.
I think that would be fair.
Clay Nichols Mar 18, 2007, 11:35pm EDT
Katrina--

I like how you think. JetBlue, not so much.

Thanks.
Katrina Hall Mar 19, 2007, 2:34pm EDT
thanks! So, are you gonna bill them?
Selene N. Mar 23, 2007, 12:11am EDT
Of course it's not fair! But I doubt they will give you a better deal if you pursue this... Maybe, but I doubt it. I am glad at least you got something.
elizabeth e. Mar 24, 2007, 5:17pm EDT
I go with Katrina's suggestion...sounds fair to me!
Ms. Meacham: Money Maven Mar 25, 2007, 4:08pm EDT
I would try to at least get full compensation for the Southwest Air ticket ($320). It certainly doesn't hurt to ask. I'd assume that most people would take the JetBlue offer, so those that follow up may have a chance at negotiating a higher amount. I feel for the executives at JetBlue though. This whole storm game them a huge hit to their bottom line!

Join the Conversation
Chime in! Become a Gather member to comment.
Already a member? Sign in
top
 
Gather | Friends | Groups | Share
About Gather | Engagement Marketing | Make New Friends | Gather Points | Advertise on Gather | Gather Press | Privacy | Terms of Service | Community Guidelines
Books | Celebs | Entertainment | Family | Food | Health | Moms | Money | News | Politics | Spirituality | Sports | Travel | Writing
Version 16865, "Oz"; Copyright © 2009 Gather Inc. All rights reserved.