JetBlue Airways, its stock sale to Lufthansa complete, has taken on another international partner, announced major expansions of service on both coasts and begun offering refundable fares. Lufthansa now holds a 19 percent stake in the low-cost carrier.
JetBlue Airways, its stock sale to Lufthansa complete, has taken on another international partner, announced major expansions of service on both coasts and begun offering refundable fares. Lufthansa now holds a 19 percent stake in the low-cost carrier. At the conclusion of that deal on January 22, the two airlines said they were ready to begin "exploring innovative commercial arrangements designed to benefit both airlines and their customers." Without making specific reference to that statement, the LCC's press room has been busy with fresh announcements ever since the estimated $300 million deal was consummated.
Beginning on April 3, a new partnership with Aer Lingus will allow travelers booking through either airline to have access to the other's web site. Those booking a reservation in Ireland will have access to continental US destinations, connecting through JetBlue's home base at JFK International Airport. Those traveling from the US to Ireland will be transferred with one click from the JetBlue site to Aer Lingus' site to complete their booking.
At JFK, and after customs clearance, Aer Lingus customers will first clear customs, then check in for their domestic JetBlue flight and drop their bags at Aer Lingus' transfer desk in the Terminal 4, then travel via the AirTrain to JetBlue's Terminal 6 to make their connection. Customers traveling from the US to Ireland will be able to check their bags at their JetBlue origination point and pick them up again in Dublin or Shannon. Earliest available reservations are for the end of April.
Shortly after that, JetBlue will begin launching a series of new routes. On May 1, the airline will inaugurate nonstop service from Boston to Chicago and New Orleans, bringing its total of destinations from O'Hare to 30. That same month, service will be added to several new destinations up and down the West Coast:
• May 1, service between Long Beach (CA) Airport and Austin;
• May 21, service from LAX to JFK and Boston, and back, from Long Beach to San Jose and Seattle; between Bob Hope Airport in Burbank, CA, to Washington DC, and Las Vegas; San Diego to Seattle.
JetBlue's new fully refundable fares are available direct from the airline or through the GDS and other third-party channels. Customers who buy refundable fares will be able to make unlimited reservation changes, including name changes, or opt for a full refund any time prior to the flight's departure.