Often hailed as the operator that revolutionized the low-cost airline industry, JetBlue Airways’ focus has always been to maintain a high level of customer satisfaction while also offering much-needed affordability in air travel. Officially inaugurated in 2000, the company pioneered the concept of free live television and satellite radio at every seat, elevating the in-flight experience. It also started prioritizing passenger comfort by offering more legroom than its competitors, further enhancing the travel experience.
Over the years, JetBlue has consistently been ranked among the most punctual airlines in the United States, which rightfully showcases its efficiency and penchant to value people’s time. The company’s short-term success also led to a rapid expansion, adding new routes and destinations across the United States, Caribbean, and Latin America. It should be known that the airline’s fleet primarily consists of Airbus A320 family aircraft, which offer fuel efficiency and operational reliability compared to the options available from Boeing.
Despite its runaway success, JetBlue has faced numerous challenges over the years, most notably in 2007, when a severe storm led to widespread flight cancellations and delays, damaging the airline’s reputation for reliability. If you are someone who had to experience a similar kind of setback, where you had been denied boarding on an oversold flight involuntarily, then be sure to go through our comprehensive guide for helpful insights.
What is the Eligibility Criteria For Compensation
According to JetBlue’s ‘Contract of Carriage’, passengers who are involuntarily denied boarding on a flight that they were supposed to travel in will be eligible to receive a certain amount of compensation, based on the company’s discretion.
The case for ‘denied boarding’ usually takes place in the event that a flight is overbooked, where the total number of tickets booked is more than the number of seats available on the flight. When such a situation arises, JetBlue’s personnel will first ask for volunteers to give up their seat reservation in exchange for compensation. However, if there are not enough volunteers, then the airline operator will deny boarding to passengers based on a specific boarding priority, which means priority will be provided in the order of when passengers checked in. This means that a passenger who checked in at last will be first denied boarding and then on.
It should be known that there are certain exceptions, under which if a passenger falls into, they will not be eligible to obtain the ‘denied boarding compensation’ amount. The exceptions are as follows: passenger who does not fully comply with JetBlue’s terms and conditions for ticketing, reconfirmation, check-in, and acceptability for transportation; passenger who is traveling in a flight that is originating in the United Kingdom or a European Union nation; passenger who has been offered a seat in a section of the aircraft other than what was specified in the ticket at no extra charge; passenger who has been provided with alternative travel arrangements within 1 hour of the planned arrival of the original flight; or passenger who voluntarily relinquishes his or her confirmed reservation in exchange for compensation offered by JetBlue.
Know the Available Options
JetBlue states that if a passenger, holding a confirmed reservation on a flight, presents himself or herself for take-off at the correct time and place while also complying fully with the airline operator’s requirements related to ticket reservations and check-in but is unable to make the journey because of an oversold flight and denied boarding involuntarily, then he or she will be able to receive a ‘denied boarding compensation’ amount of $1550.
Once the passenger accepts the denied boarding compensation offered by JetBlue, the airline operator will be relieved of any further liability caused by its failure to honor the passenger’s original confirmed reservation. Additionally, before denied boarding takes place, a written explanatory statement will be provided to the passenger by the airline operator.
How to Claim Compensation
Based on the aforementioned rules and regulations, if you are eligible to receive the involuntary denied boarding compensation, then you can effortlessly register a claim by following the steps suggested below.
- Start by first making a phone call to JetBlue’s customer support team at 1-800-JETBLUE (1-800-538-2583). Phone lines are available 24×7.
- Navigate through the on-call menus and select the option to speak to a customer service executive.
- Wait for a customer care representative to connect to your call session, and when it does, state that you want to file a compensation claim for your involuntary denial of boarding.
- Proceed to provide your name, contact details, and residential address. After that, disclose your original ticket number and flight number so that the customer service agent can verify the same.
- Once verification is complete, wait for the agent to register your claim. Be sure to provide any other additional information, if necessary.
- After successfully registering your claim, the customer care representative will then let you know the estimated time you need to wait for the payment of $1550 to be reflected in your mail (physical cheque or online travel credit).
