Premium Transcon Fares Hit Some Choppy Air

Here’s how to game this ever-changing game.

JetBlue, whose premium-seat debut in June 2014 on the Transcon started the nosedive in premium fares (much like America West and TWA did back in the day), is now showing signs of being influenced by the
three major airlines—American, Delta, and United—that fly this route. Or, is it complacency born of success?

Either way, the fact is that JetBlue is adding restrictions and raising fares. (Since June 2014, its presence on the route sent Transcon fares spiraling downward.) It has imposed an advance-purchase requirement (30 days from/to LAX-JFK) on its lowest fare and raised the price on its walk-up fare again.