JetBlue Extends Refunds for Laid-Off Passengers

JetBlue has extended its Promise Program through December 31, meaning customers who are laid off at any point this year can get a full refund for their air travel or vacation package purchase. The terms and conditions are a bit unwieldy, so here are some highlights:

• “Program applies to newly-booked air-only JetBlue flight purchases made between February 1, 2009 and December 31, 2009 and newly-booked JetBlue Getaways vacation package purchases made between February 1, 2009 and December 31, 2009. Program applies only to un-flown flight segments that are U.S.-originating o/w or r/t.”
• “Does not apply to changes to existing travel, flights/packages packages purchased after December 31, 2009, or flights/packages purchased within on or before December 31, 2009 but changed after December 31, 2009.”

And then, of course, we have the instructions for those seeking a refund. I posted these when JetBlue initially launched the program, but the—shall we say—intricate details seem to warrant a refresher:

• “Person seeking to cancel reservation and request a refund under the Program must (1) involuntarily lose his/her full time job on or after February 17, 2009 (for flight refunds) or March 17, 2009 (for package refunds), (2) be aged 18 or older as of February 17, 2009 (for flight refunds) or March 17, 2009 (for package refunds), (3) be a traveler on the reservation/itinerary for which a refund is sought; and (4) have personally paid for the travel for which a refund is sought. Requestor must agree to, complete, sign, notarize and return full Program Terms and the original Eligibility Letter to JetBlue via (a) facsimile AND (b) via certified mail, return receipt requested. The facsimile must be received NO LATER THAN 14 DAYS PRIOR TO SCHEDULED DEPARTURE OF OUTBOUND FLIGHT. For package refunds, certain holiday periods require more advance notice. For packages that include travel or hotel stay on November 25-28, 2009, December 17, 2009-January 2, 2010, April 1, 2010- April 5, 2010, November 24, 2010 – November 27, 2010 and December 17, 2010 – January 2, 2011 request for a refund must be received by fax NO LATER THAN 60 DAYS PRIOR TO SCHEDULED DEPARTURE OF OUTBOUND FLIGHT.

Whew! Like I’ve said before, hopefully this is one airline offer you’ll never have to take. But it’s nice to know it’s there—for the rest of the year.