What's New with JetBlue - April 23

This Week in JetBlue

A spring sale to celebrate the end of winter! Finally some good weather in the Northeast and a reason to cheer. Also this week, a revolutionary twist on the coat check, more inspiring stories of donating all from JetBlue this week.

What's New with JetBlue Feb. 12

This week in JetBlue News...

• JetBlue turns 14 years old! Happy Birthday

Fly-Fi Still Looking Great

12 Mbps (Mega-bytes per seat) 

It wasn't too long ago that JetBlue's Fly-Fi got it's first real test with decent, but not great, reviews. Not too long later they decided to up the ante for a stress test: a flight full of blogging, streaming, Instagramming journalists on a flight that started and ended at JFK for the sole purpose of putting the wireless internet to the test. Not bad for a budget airline.

So what did Engadget have to say? "...the connection was much faster on the plane than it was in the JFK terminal..." which to me is a fairly impressive statement to make about in-flight wifi. Zach, from Engadget, was able to load 720p YouTube videos with only a moment or two of buffering and if it truly was faster than on the ground at JFK, color me impressed.

In addition to the A320s that currently have Fly-Fi, 737s have also begun to be equipped with the service thanks to JetBlue's subsidiary LiveTV. For the time being, Big Blue is still the only airline, let alone the only cheap airline, that is offering these types of speeds for a fair $9 per hour - but that's only if you want to use high definition streaming. Until June 2014, using Fly-Fi for plain old browsing the Internet will be free, as in beer. 

So if you're waiting to board your always affordable flight purchased through JetBlue and see the logo above by the boarding door entrance, you're in for a treat! Relax and enjoy cutting edge Wi-Fi speeds for free courtesy of JetBlue. For more information and FAQ, visit the JetBlue Fly-Fi page.

I'm hoping I get to try it out on my next flight out of JFK, but if have tried it let me know what you think!

Update: Check out BlueTales to find out what flights in the next 24 hours will have Fly-Fi onboard!

 - John

Blue's News Dec 10

What's new with JetBlue

• Thanksgiving may be over and done, but that just means we're in the official holiday season! If you're flying through T5 to get to your family and loved ones, there are a couple seasonal changes to the airport that can make your travel less crazy: roaming carolers, a photo booth, the new Airspace Lounge, and of course a free adult beverage with the JetBlue American Express card on your flight. Check out this and more tips for safe budget holiday flight info at BlueTales.

• Also at T5, until December 20th, Kate Spade is setting up a special pop-up installation to brighten up the decor and will be giving away free prizes!

Post by JetBlue Airways.

• Don't forget you can donate your TrueBlue points that you aren't using on airfare and have double the impact this holiday season thanks to JetBlue matching donations!

• That's all for this week! Stay tuned for an upcoming detailed post on the JetBlue Amex, which I have been waiting to post points to my TrueBlue account for quite some time.

- John

Blue's News - November 6

What's new with JetBlue

• A friendly reminder why JetBlue is so awesome - they're a low cost airline, but are the complete opposite of Spirit Air, who people love to hate.
  
  
• Yes, the FAA and JetBlue have allowed your iPod and MacBook on the plane for use during the whole flight - but that doesn't mean you can talk on the phone!
  
  
• An article that claims we're the ones ripping off the airline industry...can't say I agree, but an interesting perspective on our state of affairs using historical context.
  
  
• Terminal 5 at JFK now services two new locations through JetBlue: Trinidad and Tobago and Savannah/Hilton Head. Can you say awesome new vacation destinations?!

Blue's News - Oct 23

What's new with JetBlue

• J. Crew Factory and JetBlue's promotion is still going on through October! Enter up to once per day to win any JetBlue Getaway destination including:
• Roundtrip airfare on a JetBlue getaway
• Hotel Accommodations 
• and a $2,5000 J.Crew Factory shopping spree
  
  
• Terminal 5 at JFK in NYC turns five! A lot has happened with Jet Blue and other airlines at the youngest terminal over the last few years, including the new Airspace Lounge, WhereTraveler Books + More store, and a Taylor Swift concert.
  
  
  





• Big Blue made LifeHacker's Top Ten Best Airline Coach Seats list - the only truly domestic airline in the list (Virgin has so few flights it doesn't count). It had some tough competition like British Air, but came in at a respectable #7.
  
  
• Tomorrow morning JetBlue debuts their FDNY Foundation tribute plane, "Blue Bravest", flying it over the West side of Manhattan, NYC. Catch the plane at 7:15AM and tweet a picture of it to win:
• Snap a photo of our newest custom livery “Blue Bravest” (Tail# N615JB) as it comes to New York in the morning of October 23rd. Not in New York? Don’t worry, you can use the photo we’ll tweet in the afternoon!
• Post the photo to Twitter between 7:00:00 AM EST and 11:59:00 PM EST on October 23, 2013
• Your Twitter update must include the hashtag #BlueBravest and mention @JetBlue
• You must be following JetBlue’s Twitter account @JetBlue
Grand Prize (one winner)
• Two (2) roundtrip domestic travel certificates between any of JetBlue’s US destinations

AirSpace Lounge at JFK's T5

The Independent Lounge for T5 Customers

Last week I was able to check out the AirSpace Lounge at JFK which opened up this summer. The lounge is independently owned and operated so anyone can purchase a day pass ($20-25, or free for Amex Platinum cardholders) that allows them to use any of the locations during a single day. In total, the off peak morning pass ran me about $27 after all was said and done. Sometimes passes may be more, as the cost is tied to how crowded the lounge is at any given time to prevent overcrowding and maintain a nice atmosphere.

The main lounge area

Upon arriving I gave my name only to find out that I needed to have my reservation number in order to check in. Somehow I had never received the email with the number and could only log in to the site and show a less than useful order history page to the two young ladies working the counter. They sympathized with me and after a call to their manager let me in despite the lack of official confirmation number. 

Although I was short on time and didn't get to spend more than a few minutes in the lounge (thank you, NYC subways) it was a pleasant experience. I was one of only two other people there at 9AM on a Saturday morning and was able to quickly secure my much needed screwdriver and chex-mix snacks at the bar once I was inside. The overall size of the lounge is smaller than most, but comes equipped with a usual fruit/tea/coffee station, tables, two laptops for use, a meeting room off to the side, and comfortable seating spread throughout. 

The entry to the lounge includes a $10 credit for any extra food or drink beyond the complimentary snacks. While I spent mine on a cocktail ($8), there are plenty of reasonably priced options on the menu that were also tempting - and may have won over if I didn't have a flight so soon.

Overall it was a positive experience, though I do wish I skipped going inside and instead opted for the opportunity to use my already purchased pass anytime in the next 3 months instead of my original reservation date. This isn't a lounge that is worth the cost unless you're going to be there at least an hour or more due to the cost, but it's a great option if you need to kill some serious time.

 - John

Blue's News - Oct. 16

What's New with JetBlue - Oct 16

• J. Crew Factory and JetBlue's promotion is still going on through October! Enter up to once per day to win any JetBlue Getaway destination including:
• Roundtrip airfare on a JetBlue getaway
• Hotel Accommodations 
• and a $2,5000 J.Crew Factory shopping spree

• Gizmodo shares how to find if your Jet Blue seat will have an outlet for most airlines.

• Add Detroit, MI to the list of cities you can Jet on Blue to!

• WhereTraveler Books + More opens in T5 at JFK to offer travel tips, souveneirs, eco-friendly products, and more while waiting for or arriving from your Jet Blue flight.