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JetBlue promises you won't sit next to a stranger on one of its planes

May 20, 2020
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3 min read
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JetBlue promises you won't sit next to a stranger on one of its planes
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As travelers slowly begin to return to the skies, U.S. airlines have been implementing new procedures that aim to make customers feel comfortable onboard while also keeping employees and the traveling public safe.

Alaska Airlines, Delta, JetBlue and Southwest have taken social distancing to an onboard extreme, by blocking the sale of middle seats (or their equivalent, in the case of Southwest), and now JetBlue is extending its own coronavirus-related procedures through the middle of October.

Through Oct. 15, JetBlue will be restricting the sale of a significant number of seats, guaranteeing that customers won't be flying next to a stranger.

JetBlue will block middle seats on its A320 and A321 aircraft through July 6. Photo by Zach Honig/The Points Guy.

On all Airbus A320 and A321 aircraft — which offer up to 200 seats, depending on the model — the carrier will block all middle seats from sale, guaranteeing travelers a bit more personal space. On all Embrarer E-190s, meanwhile, JetBlue will block all aisle seats. That's a far more significant reduction, dropping available seats to just 50 from 100.

There is an exception to this policy, however. If passengers choose to sit next to each other, occupying the adjacent middle or aisle seat, that could potentially free up the airline to sell another seat on the plane. In other words, if 10 families of four travelers each request paired seats on an E-190, the airline would only need to block half of the remaining 60 seats — 30 in total — rather than half of all 100 seats on the plane. With companions occupying adjacent seats, JetBlue could then sell additional seats on that flight while still maintaining its "stranger danger" guarantee.

Note that some paired or middle seats may be available to select, so passengers traveling together can sit together. In situations where a middle or aisle seat doesn't appear to be open, a JetBlue agent may be able to assign the adjacent seat to a companion, and if strangers end up selecting seats together, they may be moved apart.

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The move comes as part of the carrier's new health and safety program, called "Safety From the Ground Up." Other initiatives include temperature monitoring for working crewmembers, back-to-front boarding, and electrostatic aircraft fogging.

Like most U.S. airlines, JetBlue has already mandated face coverings for all passengers and employees — that policy will remain in place as well.

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  • Solid welcome bonus

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  • Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
  • You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
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  • $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
  • $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
  • Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
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