{"id":267450,"date":"2025-06-01T18:12:42","date_gmt":"2025-06-01T18:12:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/peraltafinancing.com\/airline\/united-and-jetblue-get-together-southwest-begins-its-assimilation-era-cranky-flier\/"},"modified":"2025-06-01T18:12:42","modified_gmt":"2025-06-01T18:12:42","slug":"united-and-jetblue-get-together-southwest-begins-its-assimilation-era-cranky-flier","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/?p=267450","title":{"rendered":"United and JetBlue Get Together, Southwest Begins Its Assimilation Era \u2013 Cranky Flier"},"content":{"rendered":"


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JetBlue, United Hard-Launch New Relationship<\/h3>\n

All good relationship stories follow the same path: 1) Loud, public breakup after the DOJ says the two of you aren\u2019t right for each other, 2) Consider rekindling things before thinking better of it, 3) Feeling spurned because your ex put out a press release<\/a> saying it was ready to move on, 4) Flirting with your ex\u2019s rival \u2014 or at least not denying the rumors when they\u2019re reported<\/a> a month ago, 5) Finally announcing you\u2019ve moved on to a new relationship<\/a>, one that includes interlining, FF earn and burn opportunities, a trading of slots at NYC airports, and no schedule coordination or anything that could anger the peanut gallery.<\/a> It\u2019s a tale as old as time.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019ve gotten this far, you know the details. JetBlue and United announced their Blue Sky partnership that\u2019s heavy on a positive outlook for the future. First, let\u2019s look at what\u2019s not in this agreement: there\u2019s no codeshare agreement, so each carrier will continue to publish, schedule, and market flights on its own. There\u2019s no merger \u2014 yet \u2014 and there\u2019s no minty-fresh first class upgrades across brands nor is there United lounge access for JetBlue elites.<\/p>\n

But there is a lot \u2014 there\u2019s an interline agreement, there\u2019s reciprocal elite perks across carries to include things like priority check-in, early(ish) boarding, free checked bags, preferred seat access, and same day flight changes. <\/p>\n

There\u2019s also a slot swap \u2014 which will bring United back to New York\/JFK \u2014 an airport it has abandoned at least twice in the last 15 years. United will acquire seven daily roundtrip slots at JFK beginning in 2027, so you can hold off a little while on calling that Uber, while JetBlue will receive eight \u201cflight timings\u201d (that\u2019s Newark speak for slots because everything Newark does has to be a little different) and a 3rd round draft pick in 2029.<\/p>\n

Lastly, United will move to use JetBlue\u2019s Paisly for its sale of hotels, rental cars, cruises, and travel insurance for both united.com and the UA app while JetBlue will use United\u2019s Kinective Media ad network. Where\u2019s the partnership going long-term? Hoo boy, we\u2019re gonna be along for the ride and find out one day.<\/p>\n

For more on this, stay tuned for a Cranky Flier post on Monday.<\/p>\n

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A Whole New World \u2013 Southwest\u2019s New Era Begins<\/h3>\n

We don\u2019t know who the first passenger was on Wednesday to pay a bag fee, but we have to wonder if the $35 used to pay for it (or the credit card receipt) will be framed and go up on a wall at Elliott Investment Management\u2019s headquarters like a restaurant or small business does with its first $1 bill.<\/p>\n

Southwest\u2019s era of \u201cbags fly free\u201d officially ended Wednesday, as it implemented a $35 fee<\/a> for the first checked bag, a $45 fee for the second, and an eight month jail sentence for anyone who dared ask about checking a third bag or more. The policy went into effect for travel booked on or after Wednesday, May 28, meaning there\u2019s at least one person who booked same-day travel on Wednesday and showed up to the airport being hit with a fee they did not expect.<\/p>\n

Those who booked travel prior to Wednesday can still check two bags for free, which we assume will create a black market on the curb of every airport where the airline flies for the next few months. We\u2019ve got 2 checked bag slots available to Sacramento in August for only $20 a pop\u2026.<\/p>\n

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Sunwing Flies off to the Sunset<\/h3>\n

Two years after announcing the transaction, WestJet completed its integration<\/a> of Sunwing on Wednesday, closing a chapter of Canadian aviation history.<\/p>\n

Sunwing\u2019s 18 remaining aircraft will now operate on WestJet\u2019s operating certificate AOC, joining the 16 Swoop aircraft that began doing the same last year. WestJet will eventually modify the Sunwing airplanes to match the interior on the rest of its B737 fleet which will including premium seating up front, economy in the back, and a vat of maple syrup replacing the window seat every third row. But for now, WestJet passengers will be thrilled to find a knee-crunching sea of coach seats.<\/p>\n

The final revenue flight to land using Sunwing\u2019s code was WG2349 from Cayo Coco to Montr\u00e9al which arrived just shy of 1 a.m. on Thursday morning, May 29.<\/p>\n

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Suite Life: AA Unveils New FlAAgship Suite<\/h3>\n

American Airlines showed off its new Flagship Suites<\/a> this week, fancy seats that passengers will find in the pointy end of new Dreamliners AA receives from Boeing going forward. The aircraft will be designated by AA as B787-9P \u2014 the P is for Premium and not for whatever else you might have been thinking \u2014 and it\u2019s apparently so good that even perennial-thorn-in-AA\u2019s-side Gary Leff is impressed<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The first row of each business class cabin features the Flagship Suite Preferred \u2014 American\u2019s less opulent version of what United rolled out last week \u2014 a more elevated version of the rest of the business class cabin, or what we\u2019ve called First Class for the last 80 years. The rest of the business class cabin has a wireless charging pad at each seat which is guaranteed to not work and a 17.5 inch TV.<\/p>\n

The new suites come with new mattress pads, pajamas, and amenity kit for those who take that stuff seriously. The seats are in a 1-2-1 reverse herringbone layout, which is great for those traveling alone or who don\u2019t want to talk to their travel companion. They all have doors that close, but the doors won\u2019t be able to shut quite yet \u2014 AA hasn\u2019t received FAA approval to use them yet. There\u2019s definitely a metaphor in there somewhere about opening closed doors, but we\u2019ll leave it be.<\/p>\n

The hoi polloi in the back will also see some improvements. the 143 seats in economy will see enlarged 11.5 inch TVs with Bluetooth, plus USB-A, USB-C, and universal AC outlets. The first 787-9P will enter service next week flying roundtrip from Chicago\/ORD to Los Angeles before then operating from ORD to London\/Heathrow daily.<\/p>\n

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Azul Files for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy<\/h3>\n

United and JetBlue may be feeling happily blue this week, but we can\u2019t say the same for Azul which is now feeling awfully blue since it filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy<\/a> protection in the United States. This comes after trying for several months to restructure its debt to no avail.<\/p>\n

The restructuring deal it presented to the court includes a commitment of $1.6 billion in financing with an intention to eliminate about $2 billion in debt. The carrier is trying to stave off panic amongst shareholders and stakeholders alike, saying in its release that it \u201cintends to use the proven, well-known legal framework\u201d to eliminate debt, reduce lease obligations, and optimize its fleet. So basically \u2014 nothing to see here, right?<\/p>\n

Azul becomes the sixth notable Latin carrier to file for bankruptcy in the U.S. since the pandemic, joining Aeromexico, Avianca, GOL, LATAM, and Rigoberto\u2019s Palacio de Aviaci\u00f3n.<\/p>\n

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