JetBlue Corp. is offering down-on-their-luck customers a helping hand: a refund on booked flights.
Under the new Promise Program, the airline said it would refund airfare to customers who booked a flight, but are laid off before their scheduled date of travel. Customers who reserve flights between Feb. 1 and June 1, 2009, and lose their job on or after Feb. 17 may be eligible for the refund.
The person who bought the flight and is listed as a traveler on the itinerary can request a refund for up to nine people traveling on one reservation, JetBlue said. The travel must originate in the U.S.
“JetBlue is committed to helping customers book stress-free travel plans, and based on their feedback we made adjustments to our refund policy to allow them to book with confidence,” Robin Hayes, executive vice president and CEO of JetBlue, said in a statement. “This price promise allows them to book early and take advantage of our low fares without worrying they will lose their money if they need to cancel their trip due to job loss.”
The airline is the latest marketer to offer incentives tied to purchases in a recession. Hyundai recently launched a program, the Hyundai Buyer Assurance Program, under which people who lose their job within a year of buying a car can bring it back as long as the depreciation is less than $7,500.
It’s the first time JetBlue has offered such an incentive, spokesperson Alison Croyle said. PR and online marketing support the promotion.
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