How Reliable is JetBlue Airline? Ratings, Safety, and Customer Service

Is JetBlue a good airline? When you’re planning a trip, you have lots of airlines to pick from. Some people just want the cheapest option, while others care more about things like special services or earning miles with a particular airline group.

JetBlue Airways is a big airline in the U.S. It flies to most of the major cities in America, and it also goes to places in the Caribbean, Central America, South America, and Europe.

Let’s go further to learn more about what it’s like to fly with them, what makes them different from other airlines, and other important factors to think about before booking with JetBlue.

Is JetBlue a Good Airline?

To know if JetBlue is a good airline depends on what you care about when you fly.

Some things to consider are how comfortable the flight is if you can earn rewards with their loyalty program, and how easy it is to book and check in.

JetBlue flies to over 100 places, but sometimes their routes can be a bit indirect if you’re not near one of their main hubs on the coasts.

They’re known for having affordable prices, giving passengers plenty of legroom in economy class, and offering free Wi-Fi for everyone onboard.

In terms of reliability, JetBlue’s performance is average compared to other big airlines. They have a low rate of tarmac delays and flight cancellations, which is good.

But their flights aren’t always on time, arriving punctually about 68% of the time, and they mishandle baggage for a small percentage of passengers.

Factors to Consider When Choosing JetBlue

Here are the factors to consider when choosing JetBlue;

1. Classes of Service

JetBlue offers three main types of seats: Economy, Even More Space, and Mint.

In Economy, you can choose between different fare options like Basic, Plus (with a free checked bag), or Extra (with benefits like priority boarding).

Even More Space seats have extra legroom and priority boarding. Mint is like first class, with lie-flat seats and fancy amenities, but it’s not available on all flights.

2. Booking Your Flight

You can book your JetBlue flight online through their website or mobile app, over the phone, or at the airport.

Their app works on both Apple and Android devices. If you book over the phone or through chat, there’s a $25 fee.

3. Checking In

It’s best to check in for your flight 24 hours before it leaves.

You can do this online through the app, or at the airport using a self-service kiosk or the ticket counter.

4. Boarding

JetBlue has 10 boarding groups. People with disabilities can pre-board, followed by Mint and Even More Space passengers.

Then, active military and families with young kids board.

After that, the rest of the passengers board in groups based on their seat location and check-in time.

5. Loyalty Program

JetBlue’s loyalty program, TrueBlue, has expanded its Mosaic elite status program with new levels, offering frequent flyers enhanced perks and recognition.

The additions aim to deepen customer loyalty by providing tailored rewards, such as priority boarding and complimentary upgrades.

And, aligns with JetBlue’s commitment to elevating the travel experience and maintaining competitiveness in the airline industry.

6. Destinations

JetBlue mostly flies to destinations in the United States, the Caribbean, and Latin America. They’ve recently added flights to Europe, serving the U.K., Paris, and Amsterdam.

Their main hubs in the U.S. are in Boston, Ft. Lauderdale, New York-John F. Kennedy, Los Angeles, and Orlando.

Sometimes, if you’re flying between two cities, you might have a longer trip because JetBlue’s hubs are all on the coasts. For example, a flight from Nashville to Chicago might have a layover in Boston.

7. Partner Airlines

JetBlue isn’t part of any big airline groups, but it works closely with several other airlines.

These include Hawaiian Airlines, Icelandair, JSX, Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines, and South African Airways.

However, their partnership with American Airlines, called the Northeast Alliance, ended in July 2023.

8. Airfare Cost

JetBlue started as a budget airline, and it still tries to keep prices competitive in the areas it flies to.

While it’s not the cheapest option anymore, they often have sales where you can find one-way fares as low as $59.

Plus, when you fly with JetBlue, you get some extras like snacks, free Wi-Fi, and more space in economy class compared to other U.S. airlines.

9. Safety Ratings

JetBlue got the highest rating possible, seven out of seven stars, from AirlineRatings in 2023.

They did well in all safety categories, like having no fatal accidents in the last 10 years and passing all their major audits.

But in the AirlineRatings website’s overall ranking of airlines worldwide, JetBlue was in 18th place.

10. Reliability

According to the U.S. Bureau of Transportation, JetBlue cancelled 4% of its flights and 31% were late in 2022.

On average, delayed flights were about 74 minutes late leaving and 77 minutes late arriving. In June 2023, JetBlue ranked sixth out of 10 airlines for mishandling baggage.

They improved from the previous year, mishandling 0.49 bags per 100 checked bags, down from 0.66.

11. Customer Satisfaction

JetBlue usually does well in customer satisfaction surveys. In the 2023 J.D.

Power North America Airline Satisfaction Study, they were ranked highest for first/business class and were in the top three for premium economy and economy.

But in the 2023 American Customer Satisfaction Index (ASCI), they dropped from first to fifth place because of changes in how they handle travel credits.

Why Do People Like JetBlue?

JetBlue is known for being a leader in providing in-flight Wi-Fi. They offer fast internet for free on all their planes, with the best service available on their newer aircraft.

And, every seat comes with its entertainment screen. JetBlue’s “Even More Space” seats are really popular.

They give you up to 7 extra inches of legroom, plus perks like early boarding, priority access to overhead bins, and priority security lines at some airports.

But, even though these seats are affordable, they come with some rules. For example, you might not be allowed a carry-on bag, or you might have to board last.

There could also be fees for changing or cancelling your ticket.

However, if you’re a frequent JetBlue flyer, there are ways to still get good value from these tickets, especially if you’re a member of their elite program.

JetBlue seems like a good airline overall. It has good safety ratings, does fairly well in being on time and handling baggage, and usually makes its customers happy.

While it’s not perfect, it’s a solid choice for your travels.