Executives at JetBlue Airways created quite an industry stir earlier this month when they rolled out a one-month "All You Can Jet Pass." A JetBlue news release dated Aug. 12 said the pass, which was $599 USD, would be available until Aug. 21. But the release said the promotion could end earlier at the airline's discretion.
Sure enough, it ended at 8 p.m. Mountain Time on Aug. 19. A JetBlue spokesman told USA Today's Ben Mutzabaugh that "sales of the pass have really exceeded all our expectations."
According to the initial news release, the pass bought unlimited coach-class air travel for one person on JetBlue-operated flights with available seats between any cities in the airline's route network from Sept. 8 to Oct. 8. Two catches: each flight segment has to be booked at least three days prior to the desired flight's scheduled departure. No-shows incur a $100 fee and a suspended pass until the penalty is paid.
Just as budget travelers have long enjoyed savings using European rail passes, this concept was apparently popular enough to exceed JetBlue's sales projections. So could this be the beginning of an industry trend? Take a look at the poll above -- would such a pass find its way into your pocket?
I had an airpass from DELTA in 1988 for $ 400, the Standby Ameripass, for 30 days, and as long as there was one seat left on the plane, I got to go. I traveled almost every day around the USA (you could only buy this as a tourist coming from outside North America) in conjunction with an international ticket. As a tourist from Germany, I naturally loved it! Back then, you would still get fed on airplanes, if you took a dinner flight
Those were the days, but the idea is not new. My husband did a similar standby pass on Northwest Airlines in 1989 or so.