What is up with JetBlue?
 

I just hung up the phone after being on hold for 52 minutes trying to list for a jumpseat. If I relay this story to the "ask" desk, I get very little cooperation, they tell me to call the phone number. How did this company go from JS friendly to the worst in the business so quickly? And no I don't believe it's caused by their (new) reservation system. They have always been great to us and we continue to be great to them, but I'm out of cell minutes after 3 weeks of this garbage.

Sorry for your troubles. Here is my best advice: If you find yourself at JFK (or any other JB location) with no luck in getting help, seek out a uniformed JetBlue Pilot and I can almost assure you we will go out of our way to make sure you get a ride with us. We are just as frustrated with the limitations of our new system, but like anything else new, we have experienced teething issues. Some of our gate agents are finding the Sabre learning curve way too steep, and unfortunately, non-revs and jumpseaters (even JB employees) continue to feel the sharpest pain. If the situation does not improve for you, please let your j/s coordinator know and he (or she) will make our j/s committee aware. As a fellow commuter, I am sorry to hear the experience has been less than ideal for you. Good luck!

If its ok with you I would like to copy this and pass it right on to the person in charge of jumpseating.

Critiqueing other airline's jumpseat/non-rev procedures is always a touchy subject, so I'll try and ease the blow by stating that up to now, I've had nothing but great things to say about commuting on JetBlue. From the ticket and gate agents to the pilots and F/A's, they've always been helpful and accomodating. I'll never forget the JFK agent who saw me running up to the last flight of the night and without a word from me, hustled me down the jetway and re-opened the door. Whatever competitive issues we might have as airlines, I've always been a vocal proponent of JetBlue's treament of OAL crewmembers and voiced that to any fellow pilots who would listen.

[Now I'll slip into whiny needy pilot mode]

I haven't needed to use JB for a ride in probably 9 months or so but this month's schedule made them a possibility and on day one of my last 4 day trip I tried calling Crew Support to list for a ride home. After 15 minutes on hold, I gave up. Over the next 4 days, I began the ritual of leaving the cell-phone on Speaker mode as I wandered around my hotel room packing my bag, shaving, watching HBO, etc. I listened to a lot of 'Elevator Music' on hold....in fact, I'm considering suing JetBlue for pain and suffering because for the last week I've been involuntarily humming Air Supply's "I'm all outta love, I'm so lost without you" over and over again. In the end I never did speak to anyone and totalled over 2 hours of hold time with the longest single session at 47 minutes. I was able to get home on my own airline, so no harm no foul I guess.

I certainly don't blame any JB pilots. However, commuting is such a pain that it was always a relief to use the Crew Support line because they made it so effortless. It would be a shame to lose that. I would advise any OAL pilot to not bother calling now and just take your chances listing at the airport. The agents won't be thrilled with you, but at least you'll be dealing with a human (hopefully one that doesn't sing Air Supply's greatest hits).

Heard that due to the log hold times, the gate agents will be allowed to list you again soon.

Thanks for the advice, a few of us have forwarded our experiences to our JS coordinator. We didn't do this as a form of head hunting so don't get me wrong. JB pilots, FA's and agents have been nothing short of excellent to me over the past 7 years. I don't mind if you copy my post for constructive purposes, just let WM (jump seat rep?) know that I am just trying to get to work, not trying to get anyone in trouble.

I haven't had an issue once listed. Yes it can take a good 45mins to an hour on hold. I usually putting on speaker and jam away to the music. I asked them why it takes soo long sabre, they told its because it doesn't save your info like Naviteer used to. So they have to start from scratch everytime.

I hate to say it, but I have had nothing but problems with JBU. Takes forever to list on the phone like most are saying here. The other day I did actually get through after 35 mins and then I got to the airport (JFK) and they told me I wasnt listed. I explained that I just listed and it took me 35 mins to do so... the agent then said to me "and how is that my problem?" I was like uhhhhhhh is this JetBlue or did I stumble into the Us Airways terminal by mistake... I so tried my luck at the gate and I was told pretty much the samething. I got back on the phone, missed the flight and listed for the next flight... went back to the service desk and was told I was not listed and they needed me to step aside. So I went to the gate and asked the Capt if there was anything he could do... He said nope.
I give up with JBU... and I have JBU guys J/S with me all the time... I totally understand its not the crews fault, but I have gone out of my way to get JBU guys on my plane... ballast, flying with the boards out etc etc
I will no longer go out of my way, because JBU never seems to for me.

I tried to ZED fare on Jetblue once. The agent at the ticket counter took my ticket even though it was a full flight. I told him I need that if I don't get on. He would not issue me a standby boarding card without keeping my ticket. I figured I would probably get on so I went to the gate. I figured no harm, no foul. Unfortunately, I didn't get on so I went back to the ticket counter to get my ticket. No one was there so I came back the next morning. I was told the ticket was already in the safe, and they gave me a number to call. I called for two weeks straight each time getting someone telling me to call back later. I finally gave up. My airline charged a $100 lost ticket fee and the ZED fare was only $70. I never did get my money back for a ticket I never used.

All of that being said, I still buy regular tickets on Jetblue if it's convenient and I really need to be somewhere. I will never Zed fare again on them though. I learned my lesson the first time.

I do not commute but I do carry a ton sooooo a pilot group letting something like this go on for more than a few days is not acceptable if they want to continue to ride on other peoples jets. We had a problem with agents closing the door 10 min early to push 5 early even though a non rev pilot was listed but not there yet, we raised a little stink-problem solved. During this time I would go up and make sure no one was trying to go I my jet (in the gate area) if there was and the agent didn't want to put he/she on I said fine you can fly this leg.

Almost the same exact thing happened to me. It wasn't my fault and the gate agent didn't even so much as apologize. In fact, she got irritated at me like it was my fault! She was refusing to let me on a flight with 40 open seats. Thank God the Captain came up the jetway to "rescue" me and take me down to the plane. I talked to another Delta pilot the other day who got left at the gate in FLL. I really hope this gets fixed ASAP. The attitude needs to change.

You are completely right. The JetBlue pilots really need to start pressuring the company to fix this situation. It's called a RECIPROCAL jumpseat agreement. If JetBlue's not holding up their part of the agreement, they stand the chance of losing it with other airlines. I hope this doesn't happen as JetBlue has been my saving grace for getting to work!

The thing that bugs me the most about this is... the crews are seeming to take the "well its not my problem" stance too. That is something I wont let go. If the agents want to be jerks thats one thing.

Sorry to hear it guys. I'm always trolling the gate area ten prior, and most of my Captains are too. I was under the impression things were getting better in JFK the last couple weeks.

I really am sorry you guys are still getting hassled by our peeps, and it's unacceptable if our crews are taking a whatever attitude. I need dates and flight numbers to follow up; you can pm me if you wish. Otherwise it's just griping on a message board. (hint)

I don't use JB often to commute but the agents at the "ask" desk in JFK are mostly helpful. Once I get off the plane from terminal 8, I get on the phone and make the mad dash to terminal 5. By the the time I get to the counter, 30 minutes have passed and I show the agent and I get listed with no problem.( this also requires some sucking up with the agents) the agents name is Belinda, always great even waiting behind a screaming pax.

Thanks to the crew like always, storing my bags in the front instead of having it go in the belly.

The thing is, we ARE pressuring the company. I just talked with one of our two J/S committee guys who said he thought a lot of this junk had been fixed within the past week. If you have recent examples (within the past week) please PM me; otherwise we're just blowing smoke here. To the PCL guy, our operating crews are being encouraged to help you out; send Flt number and date to your J/S coordinator because our J/S guy seemingly is pretty good about reminding our CAs not to be laissez-faire about this.

used jblue to travel bos-msy-bos the other weekend. called crew support to list a few days before and was only on hold for about 15 mins.

flight was very full coming back. gate agent was extremely busy but the captain was great and got myself and my wife (listed nonrev) on the flight.

this has pretty much always been my experience with jblue.

What's up with Jetblue?

We've devolved like every other major airline. Well, except we have no scope, work rules, retirement, democratic process, union, CBA, etc. Our J/S dudes are great guys, but at the end of the day how much leverage do you think they have?

I won't be changing my routine of sweeping the gate area for J/S-ers anytime soon. But honestly, during 7 years of commuting I had 1 Airtran dude come out to the gate to check to see if J/S-ers were being taken care of. ONE!! I did have a SWA CA get involved years ago when they only allowed 2 OAL J/S-ers but he ended up getting overruled by the flaming FLL gate agent.

Other airlines I've commuted on where I never personally saw the flightcrew looking our for J/S-ers (me): AA, CAL, DAL, Comair, Eagle, USAIR, Northwest.

Just because you don't see one of us physically trolling the gatehouse for JSers, doesn't mean we don't. I always make the agents pull up the JS template to check for people who are on the list or checked in when I get onboard, and then take a look again if there is time before departure for any late shows.

That's great! Us commuters REALLY appreciate the work you are doing! Hopefully, this stuff gets ironed out and if I have any issues, I'll make sure to forward the info to you guys.

Ditto,

Over here at CAL we are slowly but surely gaining a reputation for having one of the most unreliable jumpseat clearing procedure on earth. OAL Pilots are having a particularly hard time getting approved and it all boils down to our managements crappy software program.

I'll continue to troll the gates for jumpseaters and won't leave until they're put onboard.

That's good to hear. I was just relating my experiences over my 7 years of commuting (mostly offline). Some of the other posters had an expectant tone which is what I was responding to.

I am surprised to hear of JB pilots not taking care of JS-ers since most of us commute.

It was a couple of weeks ago JFK-PBI I dont remember the flight number... So I was its gonna have to be just a message board Bit** :)
It was not always this way for me at JBU in years past JBU has been very good to me.
Also whats up with putting pilots in the FA jumpseats before the cockpit???? They are always ****ed off that we are in the way and on a longer leg it seems to be more of an issue.
I think its great that we can use an FA jumpseat, but after the cockpit has filled up.
JBU is a nice company and most of the people are awesome, I dont want this to be a JBU bash.

Perhaps they don't want to hear your chest beating bull****. Refer to your post where you reiterated the fact that you won't be going out of your way for jb jumpseaters. The JB CA is the PIC not you!!!!

PCLCREW

Riding in the FA jumpseat before the cockpit is old news (at least six months). You can ride in the cockpit as long as the cabin is full, then if the cockpit is full you can ride in the FA jumpseat(s). The old rule was not imposed by Jetblue, it was from the FAA. They wanted the cockpit to be the last seats to be filled by offline guys. I don't know why, CASS is CASS. I'm glad that was changed and apologize if it was an inconvenience.

No it wasnt for me, seemed like it was for FA's
Thanks for the info

Oh, what the world needs another regional jet right seat Captain. Park your know all atitude buddy!!!!

Where did I make any "know it all" comments???? I just agreed with some people on here at JBU had some issues and over the past 2ish years they have stopped going out of the way for me, so I would stop going out of the way myself. I guess I should have said that it isnt the same jetblue of 2002/03. I never claimed to know it all about anything related to JB.
In 02 jetblue agents and crews would go way out of the way for JSers and its not the case anymore.
All kidding aside you jumped on me for saying I woulnt go out of my way anymore... I never said anything about not taking a JB JSer.
And the right seat comments are just stupid and childish. Im not even going any further with that.

Said the guy who seems full of attitude.



Pot meet kettle.

what is this a nursery? All you need to quit your whining.

Always have had a good experience jumpseating with jetblue. A couple of weeks ago I ran up to the counter in EWR 30min prior to a flight with resevations holding music playing in one ear as the agent figured out the new system to get me on the flight. Ended up getting a seat. The new system is a bit frustrating but its getting easier as people get more aquanted with the program. Thanks for the rides