My family and I returned from our trip east last night, flying from JFK to Sea-Tac on Jet Blue, then on to Sacramento on Alaska Air. We'd never flown Jet Blue before, and generally found the trip pretty nice. Aside from a lumbar support issue -- I finally folded up a pile vest to use as a bolster -- it was very comfortable, with a ton of leg room and a great staff.
However, there's one thing we didn't know and found out the hard way: Jet Blue doesn't have luggage contracts with other carriers. We assumed that our bags would be checked through to Sacramento, and only learned this wasn't the case as we were boarding our 6:25 p.m. Alaska Air flight. We had to leave the gate, go to the Jet Blue counter to claim our bags, check in at Alaska Air, go back through security, and catch the 9:30 flight to Sac. Instead of getting home around 9:00 p.m. PDT as planned, we dragged in a little after midnight, or around 3:00 a.m. according to our body clocks, which were on East Coast time. It was a long day.
I will never grasp how airlines view luggage; you're going on a trip and you are penalized for bringing a suitcase.
That is terrible.
Sorry for your misfortune. I avoid switching carriers on a flight at all costs, as you found there are some hidden stuff associated with a lower priced ticket.
My method is to see what carrier of Alaska, Delta, United and now American (the only carriers at our local regional airport) ALSO have flights to my destination, I then make a choice based on schedule and price. I can go to LAX, SEA, PDX, DEN or SLC ONLY as my first leg.
Not as inexpensive as shopping the discount carriers, BUT those all require a bunch of roll your own schedules and other assorted issues as you experienced.
SHG
