(TAN): JetBlue announced several updates to its ‘Safety From The Ground Up’ programme, a multi-layered commitment to the safety of its crewmembers and customers.
JetBlue is extending its commitment to seat distancing for flights through at least October 15 by blocking middle seats in rows where parties are not travelling together. The airway is also extending its ‘Go Back and Forth with Confidence’ initiative through October 15, which provides travel flexibility by waiving change and cancellation fees for new bookings.
JetBlue is also strengthening its face covering policy to prohibit masks with vents or exhalation valves, and will no longer allow customers to claim exemptions from wearing a face covering altogether.
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“Our Safety From The Ground Up programme continues to be a thoughtful and evolving set of layered protection measures that demonstrate our commitment to keeping our crewmembers and customers safe while providing them with peace of mind in the air and on the ground,” said Joanna Geraghty, president and chief operating officer, JetBlue.
JetBlue’s safety programme is focused on four areas: healthy crewmembers; clean air and surfaces; more space, fewer touchpoints; and travel flexibility.
As part of its “more space, fewer touchpoints” focus, JetBlue’s seat distancing policy provides assurance that customers will not be seated directly next to someone they don’t know. Middle seats are blocked on its Airbus aircraft, and on its smaller Embraer 190 aircraft, JetBlue is blocking aisle seats. The airline, however, does allow customers travelling together to sit in middle and aisle seats.
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“We continue to hear from our customers that added space onboard and travel flexibility are incredibly important to them during this time and we want them to know we are listening because we are all in this together,” Geraghty said.
Strengthening safety with face covering
In line with information from the Centers for Disease Control and JetBlue’s own medical experts, starting August 10, the airline will no longer allow the use of face masks with vents or exhalation valves. JetBlue will also no longer allow customers to claim exemptions from wearing a face covering altogether.
“The simple act of wearing a proper face covering is one way we can all help ensure the safety of all JetBlue crewmembers and customers,” Geraghty said. “Our terminals and airplanes are a shared space, and every customer must wear a proper face covering or will need to delay their travel on JetBlue until face coverings are no longer required. Our policy is meant to offer the strongest level of protection for everyone given all that we currently know about how COVID-19 is transmitted.”
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Customers who do not agree to wear a face covering will not be allowed to board any aircraft, and customers who do not follow crewmember requests to wear a face covering while in flight will be reviewed for future travel on JetBlue. Customers two years and younger will not be required to wear a face covering if they cannot maintain one.
Expanding safety technology
JetBlue partnered with Honeywell to pilot the company’s UV Cabin System. The system harnesses the power of UV-C lights connected to two arms on what looks like a high-tech beverage cart. The arms sweep the light over aircraft interior surfaces, helping to reduce viruses and bacteria. The airline is piloting the technology while continuing its hand cleaning and electrostatic disinfection.
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JetBlue has also rolled out technology meant to further reduce common touchpoints. They include: Mobile app check-in with touchless bag tag integration, avoiding the need to touch kiosks; Automated bag drop, avoiding close proximity with crewmembers; Touchless self-boarding, avoiding crewmembers handling boarding passes and personal devices; Mobile device remote control pairing for inflight entertainment, avoiding the use of in-seat remote and/or touchscreen menus onboard.
Travel flexibility
JetBlue has adjusted policies allowing customers to choose to travel when they are comfortable. This includes: Waiving change and cancel fees for tickets purchased by October 15 to give customers confidence when booking; and Extending Travel Bank credit expirations to a 24-month period for credits issued between February 27 and June 30.
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