JetBlue rolls out basic economy fare
JetBlue has officially jumped on the basic economy bandwagon.
The new Blue Basic fare comes with fewer perks such as no advance seat selection more than 24 hours in advance, or changes permitted.
It does offer free Wi-Fi and a carry-on bag is included in the fare.
The new bare bones fare is being positioned to compete with low cist carriers such as Spirit and Frontier but also the network carriers that have each rolled out their own basic economy fares.
"This fare option is designed for a growing segment of travelers who value low fares above all," president and COO Joanna Geraghty said in an internal communication to the airline’s employees.
Geraghty says the airline expects Blue Basic to generate about $150 million in revenue next year.
"We’re pretty conservative in the assumptions around the upsell and take rate."
Like the other big carriers, JetBlue is banking on customers buying more expensive fares just so they can avoid the more restrictive policies of basic economy.
The airline says Blue Basic still offers more legroom than most LCCs and offers frequent flyer points, albeit much less than a standard economy fare.
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