Hurricanes are no match for JetBlue ‘Weather or Not Getaways’

The popular airline has recently unveiled its “Weather or Not Getaways Protection Policy” that protects travelers -  or as they call them “jetters” – in the event of a hurricane-induced flight cancellation. The new policy aims to boost customer confidence in down travel economy in the face of hurricane season.

The policy is effective for select hotels in Cancun; Montego Bay, Jamaica; Nassau, Bahamas; San Juan, Puerto Rico; and St. Maarten throughout the coming Fall 2009 travel season.

“Similar to our Promise Program, we continue to look for ways to give customers the confidence to book travel plans without the worry,” said Robin Hayes, executive vice president and chief commercial officer for JetBlue Airways. “According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, this will be a near-normal hurricane season. It’s a beautiful time of year to travel and take advantage of some great vacation deals. Our new hurricane policy takes the concern out of the one thing that gives some customers reluctance to book travel to these popular tropical destinations during this time of year.”

According to JetBlue, any customer who has to cancel their Getaways vacation or end it early due to a hurricane, will receive full pre-departure refunds or post-departure hotel and flight credits from the airline – all without incurring cancellation fees.

All a customer needs to do is notify JetBlue within three days of the airline issuing a Hurricane Travel Alert for their vacation destination and prior to boarding the departure flight

Customers who have booked a JetBlue Getaways vacation package to participating hotels between Dec. 8, 2008 and Nov. 8, 2009 for travel between Sept. 1 and Nov. 13, 2009 and who are disrupted by the occurrence of a hurricane may be eligible for The Weather or Not Getaways Protection Policy. To celebrate, JetBlue is currently offering sale packages on Getaways vacations today through Aug. 14.

If a customer has already departed on their Getaways vacation at the time JetBlue issues a Hurricane Travel Alert for their destination, JetBlue will waive the change fees and move the customer to the next available departing flight. Travelers will receive a post-departure hotel credit for the number of nights that they did not use that can be applied to a future JetBlue Getaways vacation at the same hotel.

Additionally, customers will receive a $100 (a) flight credit per person to be applied to another JetBlue Getaways vacation to the same destination city within one year. The customer must change their reservation to an earlier return flight, subject to availability, and request a refund within 14 days of boarding the flight home.

A Hurricane Travel Alert is defined as a travel alert issued by JetBlue in the event a hurricane substantially impacts its flight operations to or from certain destinations. To determine whether a Hurricane Travel Alert is in effect, visit www.jetblue.com and, if a red link labeled “Travel Alert” appears at the top of the page, click on the link. This link will inform customers if the Travel Alert is a Hurricane Travel Alert, and what destinations the alert pertains to during that time.

Always ahead of their time regarding value, service and style JetBlue in 2009 ranked “Highest in Customer Satisfaction Among Low-Cost Carriers in North America” by J.D. Power and Associates, a customer satisfaction recognition received for the fifth year in a row.

All requests for a refund or credit for a JetBlue Getaways vacation package under The Weather or Not Getaways Protection Policy must be made by calling 1-800- JETBLUE (538-2583), option #3. If located in Mexico, dial 1-800-861-3372; if located in St. Maarten, dial 1-801-365-2583; if located in Bermuda, dial 1-800-884-9616; and if located in Jamaica, dial 1-800-963-3014.