e airline not only with the most up to date
luxuries for its customers, it keeps the cost of airfare as low as possible; which makes JetBlue
highly competitive with other airlines. All the planes are fitted with leather seats instead of cloth.
This costs twice as much, but also lasts twice as long. The aircraft are constructed to have a
single class, with a single level of service. JetBlue offers complimentary light snacks instead of
meals, which saves about $3 per passenger. After saving money from serving snacks instead of
meals, JetBlue could now offer free satellite television to all the passengers, which many of its
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competitors could not think of offering for free. JetBlue also feels that using the latest technology
is another way to cut costs. It is one of the first airlines in the United States to offer automatic
check-in and electronic bagging, and paperless cockpits. These technologies not only cut costs in
resources and labor, but also saved between 15-20 minutes in takeoff.
JetBlue is one of the few airlines in the U.S. that does not have a unionized workforce.
Employees are called “crewmembers” and top management focuses to construct a family-like
atmosphere. The airline is well aware that if it treats its employees with the utmost respect, the
employees in return will treat the customers the same way. JetBlue emphasizes in hiring people
with positive attitudes and high energies. Many customers who have flown JetBlue in previous
years were “impressed by the energy and attitude of the employees”. All crewmembers are free
to suggest ideas to improve operations and cut costs. Employees don’t mind to pitch in and go
above and beyond their job descriptions. All are expected to clean up the cabin between flights,
and because of this they are frequently rewarded with bonuses and profit sharing programs.