JetBlue Cuts Leg Room, Adds Bag Fees

What happened, JetBlue? You were supposed to be the one. You were supposed to be the airline we could take home to our families. You were supposed to have our backs, our legs, and our checked baggage. We trusted you and this is how you repay us?

You announced on Wednesday that you would be reducing the amount of leg room on your Airbus A320 planes from about 34 inches to 33 inches. An inch might not sound like much in leg room, but it’s miles long in betrayal. And it’s all so that you could add 15 seats to each plane? What are those 15 people giving you that we aren’t? We can be different! We’re willing to try new things!

Well, as long as those new things don’t include a fee for checked bags. We heard you’re thinking about doing that too, and frankly it’s insulting. We stuck by your side all these years, from the 2005 landing gear malfunction that led to an emergency landing in Los Angeles all the way up to this year’s emergency landing at Long Beach Airport after the cabin filled with smoke. These things happen, we know. But forcing us to pay for our bags after all of that means you really aren’t all that different from any of the other airlines out there. Except Southwest, which still lets us check not one, but TWO bags for free.

We didn’t want it to come to this, JetBlue. We really had hope for our relationship, but we feel like we don’t even know you anymore. It’s time to say goodbye, and we’re not alone.

@JetBlue Been a loyal passenger since '03 and AmEx holder since '04. Today's news is not good news. You're just another airline now.

— Steve Rechtman (@steverechtman) November 19, 2014

@its_alexflores @JetBlue Just feel really betrayed. Been loyal to them for 11 years. But perks of B6 have been chipped away more and more.

— Alex Knight (@AlexWithAK) November 19, 2014

.@JetBlue used to be my favorite airlines, esp from JFK-RSW. checked bag fees now? seems they're just like the rest. #youusedtobespecial

— Christopher Magiera (@operamagic) November 19, 2014

There’s no one left to like! #Jet Blue is going to add baggage fees and cut legroom. #ttot

— Kay Dougherty (@BlBrTravel) November 19, 2014

@jetblue ? More like @jetblew-it. Bag fees and reduced leg room suck and now so do you.

— Zig VanDam (@ZiggyVanDam) November 19, 2014

Dear @JetBlue you won't be special anymore, just another lousy airline. #dumb dumb dumb

— Kathy (@kakalina10) November 19, 2014

#JetBlue you've taken away all the reasons I loved you !

— fly777 (@fly777) November 19, 2014

As a loyal @JetBlue customer I'm extremely disappointed to see they are adding a 1st bag fee, I'm taking my business to @SouthwestAir

— Jeremy Wein (@thismyshow) November 19, 2014

@thismyshow Jeremy, we don't want to see you blue, my friend. #BagsFlyFree ^BT

— Southwest Airlines (@SouthwestAir) November 19, 2014