What was that thud? Oh, just part of the engine falling off the plane.
It happened this morning shortly after a JetBlue flight from Newark took off for Ft. Lauderdale – the engine’s cowling snapped off either during take-off or in flight, and was discovered on Runway 22 where it was promptly removed.
Nobody was hurt – all that happened was the plane returned to the airport as a precautionary move.
And now the passengers have a not-too-exciting story to tell about their delay.
It’s not quite codesharing, but American Airlines and JetBlue have formed a partnership of sorts, focusing on routes in and out of Boston and JFK.
As the press release put it, this will “extend and complement each others’ networks. For example, it would provide seamless service for customers who wish to fly nonstop from Nantucket to JFK on JetBlue and from there to London on American. Likewise, customers can board American from Paris to JFK and connect to a nonstop flight on JetBlue to Burlington, Vt. JetBlue customers will be able to effortlessly connect on flights to 12 of American’s international destinations from JFK and Boston including Barcelona, Spain; Sao Paulo, Brazil; and Tokyo, Japan.”
This leaves us with some question, as Upgrade: Travel Better’s Mark Ashley notes: “Will JetBlue flights count toward AAdvantage? Vice versa? If so, it will be an interesting question how the programs, which function very differently, reconcile.” Indeed.
At first, the pilots of the JetBlue flight heading for Long Beach figured they’d hit a flock of birds as they took off from JFK.
Birds can be dangerous – after all, that’s what forced Capt. Sully into the “Miracle on the Hudson” landing.
Turned out it wasn’t birds, though. It was hail – icy hard rocks that pelted the plane. According to the Los Angeles Times, it’s not clear if the hail did any “significant damage” – but hail can be destructive.
Just last week in Perth, Australia – the airport there was “thrown into chaos” after part of the roof collapsed at the Qantas terminal – thanks to heavy rain and hail.
Meanwhile, those JetBlue passengers were put on another plane and arrived in Long Beach just a couple of hours late.
UPDATE: Cheap flight alert – both airlines have new airfare sales (see below)
We love Southwest (“Bags Fly Free”), but we love JetBlue, too – and I think a lot of people don’t realize that JetBlue still gives you one free checked-bag, too*.
This occurred to me as I was reading a newspaper blog that included this sentence: “I usually check my bags…but now, with checked bags attracting a minimum $25 add-on charge per bag (except on Southwest Airlines), I had decided to carry on my luggage…”
Wrong – but, maybe JetBlue isn’t available at the author’s airport. In any event, I just want to remind fliers that Southwest is not your only option for avoiding a budget-busting bag fee. JetBlue helps you save, too.
*I know, I know – Southwest allows two free checked-bags while JetBlue only allows one, and that’s great – but honestly, are many of you really going to lug two big suitcases on that trip to Disney World?
UPDATE: Both airlines have brand new sales – Southwest’s sale ends Mar. 25 and the JetBlue sale ends Mar. 24.
It is not the intention of JetBlue or Delta to be cruel or mean – it just kind of looks that way as they seek an exemption to keep passengers on the tarmac for more than three hours, if they have to.
A bit of background: starting April 29, a new Dept. of Transportation rule goes into effect that orders airlines to let people off planes if they’ve been sitting there, going nowhere, for three hours.
It seems DOT Secretary Ray LaHood got tired of waiting around for a “passengers rights bills” and just went ahead and said, “Three hours? That’s enough!” And there are big fines for those who violate this new rule – according to the New York Times, they’ll be dinged $27,500 per passenger.
But here’s the problem: the main runway at JFK is closed for improvements for the next few months and airlines like JetBlue and Delta are scared there’ll be all kinds of delays and on-the-tarmac idling – and, record fines.
Work at JFK is already causing delays. It’s a pity the passengers might have to pay for that, with extra long waits. If your travels take you in or out of Kennedy, be sure to bring a book (Stephen King’s latest, I’m told, is 1,088 pages long, which sounds about right).
UPDATE - You can now check your flights on JetBlue, all snafus seem to be done.
EARLIER: If you blinked, you might have missed it: JetBlue issued a brief “ground stop” as they worked to solve “technical issues” on their website, JetBlue.com.
We learned of this via Twitter. The all-clear message was, “The gremlins in the data have been vanquished” and we were told that flights were departing (well, where they weren’t stopped by snow).
However, as of this writing, travelers are still being directed to check the status of their flights at FlightAware.com.
Starting on May 1, American Airlines will start charging $8 for a blanket and pillow in coach – but I don’t think this is anything to get too excited about.
After all, JetBlue and US Airways already charge $7 for the same deal (though I wouldn’t be surprised if that price creeps up a buck to match AA). That said, there are good and bad things about this, mostly good.
Best Thing: You know your blanket will be fresh and clean (it comes in sealed plastic) and that’s great for staving off colds or even the N1H1 virus (what used to be called “swine flu”); close personal contact with an infected person is said to be the main reason we may get sick on airplanes – and nothing spreads germs like an old, dirty blanket.
Good Thing: Blankets will not be available on flights of less than two-hours, which suggests to me there will be more room in the overhead bins (Southwest got rid of blankets last year during the flu scare and say their customers appreciate the extra space).
Not-So-Good Thing: If you’re the type who gets chilly on a plane even during short hops, bring your Snuggie – if you’re on a longer flight, bring some plastic (on domestic flights, American does not accept cash).
Possible Worst Thing: You buy a blanket and pillow, and it’s yours to keep – but once you land, are you really going to stuff these things into your already over-stressed carryon? Or will there be a wholesale dumping of airplane blankets and pillows? I doubt it will have much effect on global warming but still – remember to recycle…
Attention American Express customers: not all, just those of you who have co-branded cards with Delta/Northwest and JetBlue (and some hotels, too):
According to the AP (via ABCNews.com), notices have been sent to these AmEx customers, telling them that starting in January, “rewards won’t be transferred to loyalty accounts with those partners if you are late paying your bill.”
This doesn’t mean you necessarily lose these rewards forever – but you will have to pay a fee to get them back – a $29 fee. And that’s on top of your “late fee”. Ouch.
See the story for further details – or call the number on your card.
Well, at least now you know which of your cards to pay off first…
