I’m told that travelling by airplane used to be a somewhat formal event. Passengers dressed up as if they were going to church; gentlemen wearing suits and ties; women wearing tailored dresses. I don’t entirely understand why this was. Maybe travelling by plane felt like a special event? Perhaps they wore their Sunday best because the plane would literally take them closer to God? Or was it really just the fear of death — at least they’d die looking good?
That was way before my time, and I wonder if the overall experience of flying has degraded. When I fly, it’s almost always coach. Flying coach on a crowded flight (aren’t they all?) is worse than a trip on a bus. The rows have been squeezed to close together that my knees rub the seat in front of me. You sit close enough to the passengers on either side of you that it would be considered inappropriate in any other setting. Any sense of a special trip is lost amid a sea of human flesh.
Thursday morning I flew across the country, from Long Beach to Maryland, for my nephew’s wedding. This was my first trip on one of the newer airlines: JetBlue. Those of you who know me might suggest I have a bias for all things blue, but indigo-hued name aside, it really was a superior experience.
First, they fly out of Long Beach. This is a really, really small airport. The kind where you walk out onto the tarmac and climb a set of stairs to board the plane. But this, to me, is an advantage over LAX or any other mega-airport where you must park miles away from anything, shuttle to the terminal, walk what seems like miles to the gate, work your way elbow-to-elbow with the crowd.
In contrast, the long-term parking at Long Beach is only a hundred yards further than the short-term parking. There is one building for ticketing, and the planes are right behind it. It’s relatively easy to get in and out. Works for me.
If you’ve ever seen any JetBlue commercials, you know that they tout their leather seats and personal DirectTV screens for every passenger. Those are nice, but what I really appreciated was the extra legroom. I could actually cross my legs without contorting my body.
The entire JetBlue fleet is comprised of brand new Airbus planes. They are well designed, comfortable and clean. It’s a small thing, but some planes I’ve flown on other airlines have a well-worn look that doesn’t serve them well. There may be some safety advantage to a newer fleet, but I don’t have the expertise to comment on that definitively.
There are a few tips to be aware of on JetBlue. First, they don’t serve meals. They do serve drinks and snacks (twice on my cross-country trip). You’re welcome to bring your own meal if you’re so inclined. Personally, the snacks were perfect for me.
Second, you’ll get the best rates if you book online. They offer special web fares that further discount their already low prices (they are very competitive).
Third, if you’re into TV, you can check out the programming that will be available for your flight. It’s actually live programming, so you can keep abreast of the financial news.
Finally, their TV screens use standard 1/8″ stereo jacks. If you prefer high-quality audio, bring your own headphones — they’ll work just fine. If not, they provide adequate headphones that you may keep. They’ll work in your computer and pretty much any portable audio device.
JetBlue currently has a limited number of cities they fly to, so unless you’re travelling on one of their routes, you may be out of luck. The are not listed in the typical travel websites (Expedia, Travelocity, etc.). If you’re shopping for the best deals, start there, then check the JetBlue website.
The bottom line? I like JetBlue, and I’ll fly them every chance I get.
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