By Philip Newman
The Kew Gardens-based airline JetBlue Airways has begun offering frequent flyer benefits, although in this case points rather than miles are the reward for brand loyalty.
The JetBlue program appears to offer particular benefits to business flyers. For one thing, the points earned by passengers expire at the end of one year, unlike those of most larger airlines.
And, under JetBlue's frequent flyer program, the length of the trip determines how much of a reward the passenger receives.
JetBlue last week introduced what it calls “TrueBlue,” operated on the Internet and involving passengers who book flights on the airline’s website: www.JetBlue.com.
Frequent flyers on JetBlue are awarded points rather than mileage on flights designated as short, medium or long. A short flight earns two points, a medium flight four points and a long flight six points. Points are automatically doubled when TrueBlue members book flights by Dec. 31, 2002. Accumulation of 100 points earns a passenger a free round-trip flight anywhere the airline offers service. On such occasions, JetBlue automatically notifies a passenger by e-mail that he has won a round-trip flight.
For example, a round-trip flight from Long Beach, Calif. to Washington would earn 24 points. Thus, a passenger would qualify for a free a round-trip flight by taking at least five Long Beach-Washington flights within a 12-month period.
“In our 30 months of operation, JetBlue has already attracted an incredibly loyal customer base,” said Tim Claydon, vice president of sales and distribution for JetBlue. “And TrueBlue is our way of saying thanks to them.”
Customers will now be able to track their flight history with the airline. A new feature of the program will track customers’ canceled bookings, show account balances and assist in using credits to book future flights online.
JetBlue is a low-fare airline that has served more than 6 million passengers using 25 new Airbus A320 jetliners. The airline is scheduled to take delivery of 11 more new A320s by the end of this year. The planes have leather seats and live satellite television at every seat.
JetBlue flies from John F. Kennedy International airport to five cities in Florida, Buffalo, Rochester and Syracuse, N.Y., Long Beach, Ontario and Oakland, Calif., Burlington, Vt., New Orleans, Denver, Salt Lake City, San Juan, P.R. and Seattle. From Washington Dulles Airport JetBlue flies to Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and Long Beach and Oakland, Calif.
Reach contributing writer Philip Newman by e-mail at Timesledgr@aol.com or call 229-0300, Ext. 136.
