JetBlue Defines "Controllable Irregularity" In New "Bill of Rights" - Consumerist Comments

JetBlue Defines "Controllable Irregularity" In New "Bill of Rights"

Overturf — Thu, 08 Mar 2007 12:00:01 EST

I agree 100% with itchy feet. If you have an issue with a force majuere clause, you better rethink just about any legal document you've ever signed for any material item or service.

This are included because PEOPLE ARE LITIGIOUS BONEHEADS. Kudos to JetBlue for stepping up as much as they are.

Northwest could take lessons but it would be like teaching a pig to sing.

Overturf

JetBlue Defines "Controllable Irregularity" In New "Bill of Rights"

itchy feet — Wed, 07 Mar 2007 21:59:08 EST

The force majeure statement is practically boilerplate. Check out your favorite airline's force majeure statement (they've all been in place since God's dog was a pup).

Where JetBlue differs is where it departs from the standard, i.e., in outlining compensation for tarmac time and overbooking. That's better than practically anyone else out there.

Full disclosure: I have never flown JetBlue; they do not serve any airport in my state. I wish they did.

itchy feet

JetBlue Defines "Controllable Irregularity" In New "Bill of Rights"

Mark Ashley — Wed, 07 Mar 2007 18:39:01 EST

I actually f'ed up here and posted a correction at the bottom of my post. Mea culpa. The airline WILL give vouchers if your plane has backed away from the gate and is stuck on the ground for hours. However, if they DON'T back away from the gate, and you're delayed, then the controllable/uncontrollable irregularity language kicks in, and there's still lots of wiggle room there.

I'm still not overwhelmed, but I'm a little less underwhelmed. I'm just whelmed.

Mark Ashley

JetBlue Defines "Controllable Irregularity" In New "Bill of Rights"

geofffox — Wed, 07 Mar 2007 14:48:08 EST

I am a meteorologist. The weather event which caused all the grief for jetBlue was quite well predicted by me and everyone else. It would be tough to say it wasn't 'reasonably foreseen.' jetBlue made a bad call, whether with or without whatever meteo staff they use.

geofffox

JetBlue Defines "Controllable Irregularity" In New "Bill of Rights"

Kornkob — Wed, 07 Mar 2007 14:16:37 EST

@Tallanvor: Exactly what I'm reading. Seems to me they are making good on the ground delays while not committing themselves to paying out for flight cancellations and the like that are out of their control.

However, it seems pretty clear that a ground delay (which is what has been getting all the horrible press) is NOT exempted. They are promising to not keep you on that plane for excessive periods.

Kornkob

JetBlue Defines "Controllable Irregularity" In New "Bill of Rights"

Juancho — Wed, 07 Mar 2007 14:03:05 EST

Anyone surprised by this, raise your hands. Ok, yes, that means you, JetBlue fans...

Actually, I would just appreciate if JetBlue flew out of Cleveland.

Juancho

JetBlue Defines "Controllable Irregularity" In New "Bill of Rights"

Tallanvor — Wed, 07 Mar 2007 13:57:26 EST

"F. GROUND DELAYS/DEPARTURES; In the case of Ground Delays, as defined in Section 1, on Departure, regardless of cause, Customers will receive the following compensation..."

I make no claims to being a lawyer, but they seem to be waiving the force majeure clause there.

I still agree that the changes, for the most part, are more lip service than real improvement, but this may actually help to keep the ground delays down.

Tallanvor

JetBlue Defines "Controllable Irregularity" In New "Bill of Rights"

averdade — Wed, 07 Mar 2007 13:51:10 EST

@humphrmi - I agree, except congress won't take it up unless enough of us start complaining to them. Give it to them with a phone call!

averdade

JetBlue Defines "Controllable Irregularity" In New "Bill of Rights"

shiwsup — Wed, 07 Mar 2007 13:45:16 EST

Actually, the "ground delays" section of the JetBlue Customer Bill of Rights does not say anything about controllable irregularities. They promise to get you off the tarmac or give you vouchers.

shiwsup

JetBlue Defines "Controllable Irregularity" In New "Bill of Rights"

humphrmi — Wed, 07 Mar 2007 13:32:23 EST

Years ago, the airlines had the heebie-jeebies because several famous tarmac-stuck events made big news. Congress was poised to pass a bill of rights, and only backed down because the airlines promised to police themselves. Which they didn't do. Things were great (relatively speaking) when passenger traffic was down post 9/11 - planes were empty, plenty of room to rebook people, and we didn't have any winter seasons like this year.

Fast forward to this year, and record pax traffic and some horrible weather have exposed that the airlines have done *nothing* to ensure that passengers don't get stuck on tarmacs for eight hours.

Now JetBlue has said "No really! We mean it! We'll self-govern ourselves" and then *specifically* excluded the very situations that are causing passenger outrage to begin with.

It's nothing but bluster and BS.

I say, give it to Congress.

humphrmi

JetBlue Defines "Controllable Irregularity" In New "Bill of Rights"

Wed, 07 Mar 2007 13:31:04 EST

As Dirk Gently would say, it's an act of God, but which God?

JetBlue Defines "Controllable Irregularity" In New "Bill of Rights"

AcilletaM — Wed, 07 Mar 2007 13:15:04 EST

C'mon people, get it over with. Start talking about how Jet Blue is the bestest airline ever and even though this only appears to suck but really is better than all the other airlines. How this obviously just legalese required by their lawyers but the next time it happens they'll still apologize because hey, the CEO apologized and that caused all the delayed people to get where they needed to be. Oh, wait...

AcilletaM

JetBlue Defines "Controllable Irregularity" In New "Bill of Rights"

MarcAnthony — Wed, 07 Mar 2007 13:14:32 EST

acts of GOD?
you mean like GOD sending heavy rain, and gusty winds? or GOD sending a plague of something for 40 days and 40 nites? Just curious....

MarcAnthony