I fly JetBlue routinely from Boston to Pittsburgh in order to visit parents, on board their smaller Embraer E190 aircraft. Like all of my previous flights with JetBlue, the staff has been very courteous and polite, even cracking jokes with passengers pre-flight. The overhead bins and space beneath seats are more than ample for my messenger bag and rolling suitcase, and even for coat storage during this latest cold weather snap. Pilots are experienced with the aircraft and provide consistently pleasant flights, even over the continental divides in the Appalachian Mountains, an area notorious for turbulence and foul winter weather.
On board, the in-flight display provides plenty of free entertainment through live satellite TV and satellite radio, though the location of the controls and headphone jack in the armrest can affect usability for larger framed passengers like myself. It’s worth noting that JetBlue, like many airlines, also has seating with extra legroom, referred to as “Even More Space” seats, and these are seats I fly in every time. The surcharge is modest, but provides ample legroom in an exit row, which helps to offset the cramped seating on board, and it also provides an additional service called “Even More Speed”, which permits use of the First Class/Priority Boarding lanes at most airports. Tickets are available in passbook format for iOS devices as well as digital scans, but do not auto-update with changes in gate or departure/arrival times, necessitating use of the JetBlue app or departure/arrival boards in terminal; a small annoyance.
The real test of JetBlue came during the recent winter storms in the Northeast, during which they cancelled many flights and delayed many more. My flight was one of them, and while initial communication by the staff left much to be desired, once they did begin making announcements to passengers they also deployed water, crisps and biscuits for passengers waiting in the terminal to snack on. Once the plane landed, they produced an impressive turnaround time with clean seats and a fueled plane in under half an hour.
Domestically, I choose JetBlue whenever I’m able to. They’re not perfect (small seats, poor usability of the in-flight entertainment system with regards to controls/jacks, gaps in mobile apps/digital tickets), but they remind me of what it was like flying in the good old days of travel: free snacks and beverages, polite and jubilant staff, safe and clean aircraft, experienced crew, and a first class treatment from gate to gate.
