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This is the right thing to do. We're down to 4 major network carriers (American, Delta, Southwest, United) + a couple of national players with strong regional n
by SmellTheGlove 5y ago
This is the right thing to do. We're down to 4 major network carriers (American, Delta, Southwest, United) + a couple of national players with strong regional networks (Alaska, JetBlue). The majors are already using regional carriers to fly their thinner routes. Alaska and American are now members of the same alliance and expanding codesharing, where it used to be that Alaska codeshared and partnered well with both Delta and American.
The last thing we need is even less competition with another alliance/codesharing lockup between two domestic carriers. JetBlue has a fantastic northeast/east coast operation ex-BOS/JFK, and as a consumer I'm happier if they have to compete with American ex-PHL/CLT. At least out here in Seattle, we have Delta competing ex-SEA with Alaska, which has been good for fares.
- jrockway 5y agoDoesn't JetBlue lose here? People that are picking frequent flyer programs want one where they can make domestic and international trips, and the legacy carriers have a large international network that JetBlue doesn't. So for the type of person that cares, they will just ignore JetBlue domestically, because it's not a major hardship to fly one of the legacy carriers domestically. i.e. American will do fine here.
- monksy 5y agoThis means that Jetblue still has to compete for customer's happiness. Which is good. When they have a larger customer they don't have to. (Prices go down, quality goes down)
- mtalantikite 5y agoMaybe, it depends on where that traveler prefers to vacation if you’re talking international though. I’m in NYC and fly them a lot (well, used to when that was a thing), and they have pretty good coverage around the Caribbean and parts of Latin America. I’m more likely to want to vacation in Colombia or Mexico or Jamaica than I am in Europe. And when I do go to Paris to see family I just use travel points from my credit card.
- cascom 5y agoI agree. I would have been more inclined to fly jet blue. If you fly all the time status is meaningful (you’re just treated badly, as opposed to being outright abused).
- 542354234235 5y agoFrequent flyer programs cost money. Making deals so you can earn and spend miles on other airlines costs money. Making routes reliably available for business travelers costs money. Jetblue wins by competing in other areas, like price for leisure travelers or routes/times that are underserved by other carriers.