All Things Travel: JetBlue Begins Logan Service To Philadelphia
BOSTON (CBS) – Forget hockey's Stanley Cup waiting to be presented and traveling to the home city, JetBlue will settle for their official J.D. Power Award that arrived at the airline's headquarters in New York on May 22nd, the day before the carrier started service to Philadelphia from Logan Airport.
The award will travel to all JetBlue cities in the next few months and Boston was the first stop for the award presentation.
JetBlue has won the award for the best customer service among low-cost airlines in North America for nine years in a row.
It was a toss-up for JetBlue's crew members in Terminal C at Logan to have their picture taken with the actual award or with a costumed Ben Franklin representing the city of Philadelphia.
As the Franklin look-alike was quick to point out, Ben was actually born in Boston at 17 Milk Street downtown on January 17, 1706, although he is better known in Philadelphia. Playing the part was Dick Elliott of Andover who has been acting as the great Franklin for 25 years at functions and parades.
On May 23rd, JetBlue started flights to its 78th destination from Boston. It will bring lower cost flights to the Philadelphia market as the airline continues its expansion to attract business service. The service will feature five flights a day.
Between June 1st and September 28th, fares will be as low as $39 one way. Holiday blackout dates will apply.
Marty St. George, Senior Vice President of Marketing and Commercial Strategy, made brief remarks before the first flight and went on to Philadelphia on the 100-seat Embracer jet that was almost full for the first flight.
In its continuing partnership with First Book, JetBlue donated 1,776 books to the to Stonehurst Hills Elementary school in Upper Darby Pennsylvania and KenCrest Services.
With several new routes out of Boston, Logan Airport will accommodate more than 30 million passengers a year for the first time. JetBlue has about 23 percent of the Boston traffic and is the number one passenger carrier at Logan.
On November 8, JetBlue will begin flights at the Worcester Airport to Florida. The airline will celebrate its 10th anniversary at Logan Airport next January.
All Things Travel Reports with Bob Weiss can be heard on WBZ News Radio.
