NEW YORK, Nov. 8, 2007 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- JetBlue Airways (Nasdaq:JBLU) announces an expanded Remote Check-In service now available to customers onboard cruise ships. The cruise ship Remote Check-In program complements the service currently offered by the low-cost carrier at select hotels, convention centers, on-airport and off-airport parking areas, and rental car facilities in several cities across the nation and in the Caribbean.
JetBlue Remote Check-In allows travelers to check in, get boarding passes and drop their checked baggage at off-airport locations hours before their flight. Their checked baggage is transported to the airport, screened and loaded on their flight, allowing customers to proceed directly to security and their gate when arriving at their departure airport.
JetBlue first offered Remote Check-In service to Orlando customers in July 2005, and since then has grown its partnership with Bags Inc., a dedicated airline service provider, to offer the program at a growing number of the airline's destinations. Remote Check-In is currently available at select properties in Boston, Chicago, Fort Lauderdale, Orlando, Phoenix, San Diego, San Juan, San Francisco, Seattle and Tampa. Since October 2007 the service has been newly offered on seven major cruise lines, including Carnival Cruise Lines, Celebrity Cruises, Disney Cruise Line, Holland America Line, Norwegian Cruise Line, Princess Cruises and Royal Caribbean International, in the following ports: Port Canaveral, Port Everglades, Port of Boston, Port of Miami, Port of San Diego, Port of San Francisco, Port of San Juan, Port of Seattle and Port of Tampa.
"Remote Check-In offers an amazing service for our customers and is also a win-win for every organization that participates. The airlines, airport and port authorities, the Transportation Security Administration, and Customs and Border Protection realize increased efficiencies and tremendous cost savings through this 'virtual airport' model," said Mike Messeroff, JetBlue's program manager for Remote Check-In. "The service provided by Bags Inc. couples a truly remarkable experience for our customers with increased efficiencies and cost savings at our airports. It's no wonder we're expanding this service to as many new locations in as many cities as possible."
"Bags Inc. is very excited to be expanding our service to additional JetBlue passengers with our Onboard Airline Check-in product," said Craig Mateer, president of Bags Inc. "Bags Inc. has been successfully simplifying the travel experience for JetBlue passengers at resorts, convention centers, and remote parking facilities throughout the country. We look forward to our future growth with JetBlue passengers in cruise ship markets throughout the United States."
JetBlue Remote Check-In is available in the following locations:
JetBlue Destination JetBlue Remote Check-In Locations
Boston, MA (BOS) Boston Convention & Exhibition Center
Hynes Convention Center
Port of Boston*
Chicago, IL (ORD) McCormick Place Convention Center
Fort Lauderdale, FL (FLL) Port Everglades
Port of Miami
Orlando, FL (MCO) Disney's All-Star Movies Resort
Disney's All-Star Music Resort
Disney's All-Star Sports Resort
Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge
Disney's Beach Club Resort & Villas
Disney's Boardwalk Inn
Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort
Disney's Contemporary Resort
Disney's Coronado Springs Resort
Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort &
Campground
Disney's Old Key West Resort
Disney's Polynesian Resort
Disney's Pop Century Resort
Disney's Port Orleans Resort -
French Quarter
Disney's Port Orleans Resort -
Riverside
Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa
Disney's Wilderness Lodge & Villas
Disney's Yacht Club Resort
Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
Hyatt Orlando Airport
Marriott Downtown Orlando
Orange County Convention Center
Port Canaveral
Rosen Centre Hotel
Rosen Plaza Hotel
Rosen Shingle Creek
Shades of Green Hotel
Phoenix, AZ (PHX) Westin Kierland Resort
San Diego, CA (SAN) Port of San Diego
San Diego Convention Center
San Francisco, CA (SFO) The Moscone Convention Center
Port of San Francisco*
SFO Long Term Parking Garage
SFO Rental Car Facility
San Juan, PR (SJU) Port of San Juan
Seattle, WA (SEA) Port of Seattle*
Tampa, FL (TPA) Port of Tampa
*Seasonal Remote Check-In service to begin spring 2008
To take advantage of this service, customers may visit a JetBlue Remote Check-In property 2-24 hours prior to their flight (times may vary by location). Cruise ship passengers should inquire at the onboard purser's desk several days prior to arrival in the ship's port of debarkation to verify the program's availability. Remote Check-In is available for a fee of $5-$20, depending on the location. The service is offered free as part of Disney's Magical Express program at Disney resorts and onboard Disney Cruise Line. JetBlue is regularly adding new Remote Check-In properties; a current list of Remote Check-In locations is available at www.jetblue.com/deals/bags.
New York-based JetBlue Airways has created a new airline category based on value, service and style. Known for its award-winning service and free TV as much as its low fares, JetBlue is now pleased to offer customers the most legroom throughout coach (based on average fleet-wide seat pitch for U.S. airlines). JetBlue is also America's first and only airline to offer its own Customer Bill of Rights, with meaningful and specific compensation for customers inconvenienced by service disruptions within JetBlue's control. Visit www.jetblue.com/promise for details. JetBlue serves 53 cities with up to 550 daily flights. New service to St. Maarten and Puerto Plata begins in January 2008. With JetBlue, all seats are assigned, all travel is ticketless, all fares are one-way, and an overnight stay is never required. For information or reservations call 1-800-JETBLUE (1-800-538-2583) or visit www.jetblue.com.
JetBlue's 36 channels of DIRECTV(r) service are not available on flights outside the continental United States; however, where applicable, FOX InFlight(tm) is offered complimentary on these routes. FOX InFlight(tm) is a trademark of Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation. JetBlue's in-flight entertainment is powered by LiveTV, a wholly owned subsidiary of JetBlue.
The JetBlue logo is available at http://www.primenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=795
This press release contains statements of a forward-looking nature which represent our management's beliefs and assumptions concerning future events. Forward-looking statements involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions, and are based on information currently available to us. Actual results may differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements due to many factors, including, without limitation, our extremely competitive industry; increases in fuel prices, maintenance costs and interest rates; our ability to implement our growth strategy, including the ability to operate reliably the EMBRAER 190 aircraft; our significant fixed obligations; our ability to attract and retain qualified personnel and maintain our culture as we grow; our reliance on high daily aircraft utilization; our dependence on the New York metropolitan market; our reliance on automated systems and technology; our being subject to potential unionization; our reliance on a limited number of suppliers; changes in or additional government regulation; changes in our industry due to other airlines' financial condition; and external geopolitical events and conditions. Further information concerning these and other factors is contained in the Company's Securities and Exchange Commission filings, including but not limited to, the Company's 2006 Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. We undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that may arise after the date of this release.