Are You Low Cost or High Miles?
(March 8, 2008)
Last week end I flew for the first time THE low cost that revolutionized airlines in the US: JetBlue obviously!
Just another low cost airline? Not exactly … if we go back a few years, February 2000 to be more precise, a new airline named JetBlue was inaugurated with a JFK to Fort Lauderdale flight. It is another low cost but not really like any late-90s low cost! JetBlue features brand new A320s, leather seats, live TV at each seat, simplified service, etc.
At that time you could already fly low cost airlines but only if you were courageous enough to board a 20 year old DC9 with broken seats, faded decorations, no TV, no music, no food, no service and an award if you made it on time and to your original intended destination.
If you were not that courageous, you would throw out a few hundred dollars more to fly American, Delta, United or any other major airline with descent airplanes and more reliable service (at the time ... nowadays Northwest still flies DC9s ... oups).

Am I the wrong person to judge … well I don't think so. I am a Platinum member at Delta, I occasionally fly non-Skyteam airlines (AA, China Eastern, Dragonair & now JetBlue) and I travel numerous routes within the US and internationally, in coach or business class. I went through a lot but I usually do well considering that with experience you learn how to anticipate bad surprises.

So what prompted me to write that article?
Like many frequent flyers at the top of the ladder, I start thinking about the soon coming end of my status. What will I do after losing my dear Platinum status? Should I still fly my preferred airline? Should I change strategy? Changing strategy may be the best option depending how low you fell within the frequent flyers ranks and how willing you are to suffer degraded service.

When flying, I noticed that we belong to 3 groups wherever we go: First/Business passengers, Frequent Flyer preferred passengers or Left Overs. When flying within the first two groups, things are usually OK. The Left Overs group is where you should think twice about your airlines habbits. The best way to understand is to take an example.

Lets do a comparison on North American and Carribean routes flown out of JFK by JetBlue and Delta Airlines. JFK is a hub for both airlines. Here are a few rough statistics and how they rank on various services:

* A320, ERJ-190.
** CRJ, ER4, CR7, CR9, ERJ, M88, 738, 73H, 757, 752, 767, 777.
*** only CR9, M88, 738, 73H, 757, 752, 767, 777 offers Business/First service.

If you compare, a passenger with no status from any airline can fly JetBlue in brand new jets with garanteed personal entertainement and seat pitch equivalent to some other airlines First class cabin. That same passenger would only get entertainment on limited flights and restrictied seat pitch on all flight with no chance to score an upgrade when flying with Delta. Unless lower prices make Delta a better choice, that passenger is better off flying JetBlue. In addition, JetBlue also runs a frequent flyer program where accumulated points can be redeemed for free flights (it works since I got my first JetBlue ticket using my wife's TrueBlue points award).

I personally like Delta for specific reasons including the advantages provided to frequent fliers and some nice equipment from the Song era on transcontinental flights (such as a very advanced PTV with more options than JetBlue). But if I become a Left Overs class member, it is a no-brainer … JetBlue is a better bet.

So it all goes back to the big question, are you a low cost or high miles? The answer may change with time. I may join the Low Cost club next year! And if I do so, I may also try the transatlantic low cost business class carriers ...

Cheers & Fly Safe!

PF.

Are You Low Cost or High Miles? (March 8, 2008)
When flying, I noticed that we belong to 3 groups wherever we go: First/Business passengers, Frequent Flyer preferred passengers or Left Overs. When flying within the first two groups, things are usually OK. The Left Overs group is where you should think twice about your airlines habbits. Read more ...

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Shanghai
Not a typical chinese city where left overs from a broken communist empire fashionably crumbles near capitalism empires with a touch of French Concession.

Beijing
So much history but so little time. What can be done in less than 3 days to grasp the essential.

Xian
A more typical Chinese city lucky enough to seat a few minutes away (traffic permiting ... never) from the famous Terracota Warriors.

Hong Kong
Where poor and rich people, overpopulated and empty areas continue to represent the legacy of a British colony that lost its english!

Maldives
The most beautiful and clean water populated with an amazing marine life.

Puerto Rico
So close to New York but so far from urban US life.

Cayman Islands
Quiet and simple with too many reasons not to do anything. Insider's notes.

La Reunion
The island with 100 different climates even though it is only 40 by 30 miles.

Vancouver
I wish it was not that humid because I could almost live there.

Sacramento
Not one of my holiday destination but after a few month consulting in the area I guess I can say a few words.

Phoenix, Tempe, Scottsdale & Chandler
After a few month of consulting in the area I started to look for a house ... luckily it was too expensive.

Tucson
Quite a nice week end gateway from Phoenix with many uncommon museums.

Montreal
Such a nice and friendly city. Warm people but cold winters.

Quebec City
Even duting a blizzard the city is a charm.

Other cities and regions to come: San Francisco, Napa Valley, Palm Spring, New York, Nice (France), Princeton (NJ), New Hope (PA), Cedar Point (OH), Paris (France), Normandy (France).