I am in the export business and travel a lot for my work. On March 12th, 2020 I had a flight to LAX on a Jetblue as part of my international travel and it all started.
During my check in process, the kiosk was acting up, so I went to the counter to check my luggage with the Jetblue employees. One of my luggage was over the weight limit (~27kg) and I was told that the airline that I booked with charges $40.00 for that weight, but she's going to charge $150.00 "just in case" and I will get a refund with the airline once I land. I still don't understand her logic behind this, especially since, according to the airline website, I should have been charged $100.00 for that luggage weight? I am fine with paying extra for overweight luggage, but overcharging a passenger and delaying the whole process seems deceitful at best; as the delay was making me nervous of missing my flight.
It doesn't end here.
On the plane, someone was in my seat so I sat in one of the empty seats away from other passengers as current world events recommends me to practice "social distancing". Yet, I was immediately told I can't sit there as it is one of their premium economy seats. I was moved to the back to the crowd of passengers--not to my original seat. I just wanted to rest at that point so I just let it go.
There's more.
I got to my destination and lo and behold, one of my luggage is lost. Ironically, the one I was overcharged for was nowhere to be seen. I waited until everyone left and I was the only one without my luggage. It took me another hour or so working with the airport staff in filling out lost luggage forms, providing my info, description of the luggage etc.. Two days later, in another country no less, I get a call that they found my bag in New York JFK. I never even had a ticket for NY nor did JFK had any flights outbound for my final destination that day. It still boggles my mind how it ended up there, but I praise Jetblue for making it happen. It took me another day and a half to finally get my luggage.
Finally, I called Jetblue on an international phone call--which by the way, they don't have their official phone number, email, or chat available on their website "contact us" section--and had to wait almost an hour to get a hold of a representative and the first thing I heard was "do you have a Jetblue confirmation number?" and when I answered no, she hung up immediately. Another hour of waiting and when I finally asked the representative for the refund she transferred me to her supervisor Georgina. It was a long conversation, but the take away was that Jetblue is not responsible for anything and I should take up the issue with the international airline. Even though Jetblue overcharged me and sent my luggage to a completely wrong airport, they did nothing wrong and there is nothing they can do--including the original partial refund that I was told to request at the original airport by a Jetblue employee for the fee they charged "just in case".
So, if you want to fly with an airline that overcharge every chance they get without a chance of a refund, care more about charging fees rather than the health and safety of their passengers even during an international emergency, lose your luggage and takes absolutely no responsibility let alone a simple apology, then by all means fly Jetblue. I will avoid this airline at all costs, even if it means paying more to use other airlines--whether it be for me or any of my colleagues, employees or family members.
I have flown with many international and domestic airlines during my military service and work including a handful of budget airlines. Jetblue, by far, was the worst experience I have ever had with any airline out there.
Also, on a side note, while many, if not all, domestic airlines waive overweight baggage fee for military personnel, Jetblue does not--the info is vague on their website, but a representative of Jetblue confirmed this over the phone. That's why they completely ignored me when I showed my military ID asking if there are any fee waivers.
I guess their motto really should be "Profit Above All" read more