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The immediate reactions to the arrival of JetBlue as 
another option for flights from O'Hare are sort of surprising us. On one hand, we're pretty damn excited at the prospect of hitching a ride to New York for less than $60, but on the other, well, who knew about the seedy underbelly of O'Hare politics?
Despite the fact that JetBlue will only have seven* flights a day total, the established carriers are already doing all they can to match its prices, give it the cold shoulder, and place "kick me" signs on its CEO's back. Its CEO must think this is pretty funny (like we do) because he has been nonchalant about the scare tactics.
Because the low-cost carrier generally attracts average consumers who want friendly staff, Dunkin' Donuts coffee and cheap fares - read: "People who let their children use the ball room at McDonald's" - the competition shouldn't be as cruel. United and other carriers out of O'Hare attract more daily business fliers - read: "People who don't like children throwing little plastic balls at their head while they eat" - because of the frequency and type of flights. Then again, who could resist their trans-fat-free snacks (read: "trans-fart-free" on Google News today, which we got a kick out of)?
Well, we're just excited about the lower fares. Cheaper trips from Chicago to New York especially will make it easier and cheaper to fly abroad, which we've always been meaning to do. We hope the dominant airlines at O'Hare don't pick on JetBlue too bad, causing it to pack up and move out. Buncha bullies.
Image via www.revistaflap.com.br.
*Correction!: JetBlue will have seven flights, rather than five, as reported earlier and in other, lesser publications. Just kidding. Anyway, thanks to JetBlue for letting us know!
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Didja know that JetBlue performed pilot-fatigue tests on its pilots... and didn't tell passengers? Yep: WSJ story on it. That makes me feel pretty shaky about flying JB. Plus, landing in JFK and taking the A train? Enh.
They were not "test" flights and the were flown with additional pilots on board the aircraft just like the FAA rules require. Oh by the way, there is now an Airtrain that will get you downtown in 30 minutes no matter what the traffic is doing and you don't have to pay for a cab from LGA. And jetBlue had been rated the #1 airline in the country for 5 years for service by every rater in the book and then some--JD Powers, Conde Nast, Travel and Leisure, etc.
i'll give jet blue a try. united planes are kind of old and crappy. the worst I have ever flown was ata out of midway so jetblue can be my new discount carrier.
I would fly JetBlue even if it were more expensive (well, ok, honestly, only if it were a LITTLE more expensive), if only for their customer service skills. I'm a bit tired of paying an arm and a leg to ride a metal tube for several hours and be treated like a prisoner by the airline. maybe if United and AA are worried about losing customers, they should look more at the perks of flying JetBlue. Oh yeah, and teach their flight attendants not to treat their passengers like assholes.
The start will be a little bumpy for JB, but I think they'll do fine in the long run.
"who knew about the seedy underbelly of O'Hare politics?"
Um, we live in *Chicago*. Yeah, who knew water was wet and the sky is blue... :)
I find that flight attendants tend to treat you nicely if you treat them nicely. Kind of like... people in general?
As for cheap flgihts to New York, maybe that'll fix Chicago's problem with all the out-of-towners moving to the north side in and complaining about Chicago. One way flights for $60 mean they can just leave.