On Thursday, JetBlue revealed it would gradually phase out its seat blocking and capacity capping policies. The carrier said that research shows that the cabin air system, HEPA filters, and face mask policies make the aircraft safer than most indoor environments. Here is what the transition will look like.
Gradual transition until January 8th
In a letter to JetBlue crew members on Thursday, the airline’s President and COO Joanna Geraghty outlined the carrier’s gradual phasing out of its seat-blocking policy. Guided by the latest research that shows virus transmission on board an aircraft to be extremely low, JetBlue will slowly make all of its seats available for purchase.
While JetBlue is no longer guaranteeing an empty middle or adjacent seat since October 15th, the airline has still been capping capacity at 70%. This regime will continue until December 1st.
Starting on December 2nd through January 7th, 2021, the airline will instead limit passenger capacity to 85%. No specific seats will be blocked, and there will be no guarantee of empty middle or adjacent seats.
After the busy holiday period, from January 8th, JetBlue will once more make all seats available for sale. This will last for at least the rest of the winter schedule when, as the airline states, demand is typically lower and flights less full.
“I’m proud we led the industry in limiting the number of Customers on board to give everyone more space. While this helped reassure Customers of our commitment to their well-being when we were still trying to understand this virus, we have always been confident that the potential for transmission on the aircraft is extremely low,” Geraghty said in the message to staff, seen by Simple Flying.
HEPA and face masks a winning combination
The decision to begin to ease up on seat blocking practices is supported by the latest research on virus transmission or lack thereof onboard flights. Both academic and industry-led research has shown that HEPA filers, along with the top-to-bottom airflow circulation in an aircraft, render the risk of catching COVID from your seat neighbors minuscule. This is particularly true when combined with face masks, which decrease the already small risk by six times.
Get hip to HEPA filters and more, as our President and COO helps bust some myths in this quick Q&A. pic.twitter.com/fhAKgtSCYI
— JetBlue (@JetBlue) November 9, 2020
Should customers still not feel comfortable to travel on the dates of previously purchased tickets, JetBlue offers changes and cancellations without any fees under its Back and Forth with Confidence program.
What are other carriers doing with their middle seats?
It is not only JetBlue that is counting on the latest scientific research to shield it from the non-social-distancing backlash of the pandemic’s earlier days. Southwest Airlines is selling all seats on its flight starting December 1st.
Meanwhile, Delta is betting on customer confidence and goodwill to be more important at the moment than load factors and remains convinced it will keep blocking middle seats well into next year. It is joined by Alaska Airlines, which says it will also keep that space vacant through January 6th.
Are you still concerned about social distancing on board flights? Does it matter to you when choosing an airline if they are blocking the middle seat or not? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
