Markets

JetBlue Offers Refunds For Those Who Lose Their Jobs

By Brett Snyder

Updated on: February 24, 2009 / 11:06 AM EST / MoneyWatch

As people continue to watch in vein for any indicator that the economy is turning around, business are starting to make serious efforts to coax consumers to open up their wallets and start spending again. JetBlue appears to be following Hyundai's lead by offering the JetBlue Promise Program. Those who book now will receive a refund if they lose a job between the time a flight is booked and 14 days before the flight is scheduled to go.

The program seems simple on the surface, but it's actually quite complicated, meaning very few people will probably ever redeem even if they're eligible. Book before June 1 and notify JetBlue more than 14 days before your flight, and you can participate if you lose your full time (30+ hours per week) job, are 18 years of age, are traveling on the itinerary, and paid for the ticket yourself. Up to nine tickets on that itinerary can be refunded. But here's where it gets ugly.

Print out the eligibility letter and terms
Fill it out, have it NOTARIZED, and fax all three pages (including the terms) back to JetBlue
Then send that original form via certified mail to JetBlue in addition to the fax
You'll receive confirmation of the receipt of the fax within 24 to 48 hours
Your refund will be processed within 30 days
If your application isn't approved, you will still be canceled but you'll now have to pay a $100 change fee or have it deducted from the remaining balance, which will simply become a credit and not a refund

I understand that you need to have some hoops to prevent people from taking advantage of a generous program like this, but man would I be scared to even try it. What if I only faxed the form and forgot the terms? Would I lose my money?

I understand what JetBlue is trying to do here. On the surface, it should put people at ease when they're instead pushing off big purchases like travel. But for those who actually do take advantage of it, it very well could result in more complaints than anything else.

There is some risk to running a program like this in that it could backfire with so many restrictions, but I suppose it's worth a shot to try to get frightened consumers to open up their wallets.