What you need to know about JetBlue flight status
JetBlue is a US-based airline with an exceptionally large fan club. From day one, JetBlue set out to do things differently, giving passengers more for their money while still offering very competitive fares. It’s not a low-cost airline in the traditional sense of the word, more of a hybrid that seeks to find a sweet spot between cheap/no frills and expensive/full service.
For many years, JetBlue made a name for itself by giving all passengers access to free WiFi, free seatback entertainment, free snacks and drinks onboard and the most legroom in economy of any US airline. It bucked its own trend in 2019 when it joined the crowd in offering a ‘basic economy’ fee, which sees baggage allowances stripped out, but everything else stays.
Pitching itself as New York’s hometown airline, the airline now flies to over 100 destinations in the Americas, mostly in the US and the Caribbean but also some in Central and South America. Since the summer of 2022, JetBlue has also started flying across the pond to London, and is set to introduce Paris as its second European destination in 2023.
Flying JetBlue is usually a good experience with excellent service, but just occasionally, the airline can end up with a flight that is delayed, disrupted or even canceled. When this happens, it’s a good idea to check your JetBlue flight status to find out what’s going on and when your service will depart.
How to check the status of your JetBlue flight
JetBlue makes it nice and easy to check out if your flight is facing a problem. On the website, head to https://www.jetblue.com/flight-tracker-and-status to arrive at the flight tracking tool. Here, you can check JetBlue flight status right away using your flight number, and if you don’t have that to hand, you can search by the route you are flying and the date on which you’re traveling.
You can also search by area airports which is very helpful if you’re looking for details on a friend’s flight, but you don’t know precisely which airport they are using. In New York, for example, if could be JFK, LaGuardia, Newark, Stewart… JetBlue’s flight status checker lets you check all airports in the area, so you don’t have to know all the details off the top of your head.
Hit the check status button to bring up a list of all the services operating on that route on your target day. If it’s a busy route, there will likely be a pretty long list, so it will help if you know what time your loved one is leaving.
JetBlue offers a little more information than some other airlines on its flight status checker. Most airlines simply say ‘arrived’, ‘departed’, or ‘on time.’ JetBlue tells you a little more about what’s going on right now, with indications that flights are boarding, doors are closing, planes are taxiing, and much more.
However, also unlike other airlines, there is nowhere to go for more information than this one page. Other carriers like to let you click through to another page with more details, but with JetBlue flight status checker, this is what you get. It does help to see at a glance what is going on – we particularly like the little plane with the blue line showing how far along its journey the plane is – and all the information you need is there.
What else is in this post?
- How to check the status of your JetBlue flight
- What to do if your JetBlue flight status is delayed
- What if your flight is canceled?
- The bottom line
What to do if your JetBlue flight status is delayed
If your flight is showing as delayed on the tracker, you should find it easy enough to figure out what’s going on. Beneath the scheduled time of the flight, you’ll see a second time next to an orange dot. This is the latest update from the airline with regards to when the flight will take off, and there should also be a new expected arrival time too.
Of course, if whatever is causing the delay persists for longer, the estimated arrival time may well change too. As such, it’s worth checking back when the new departure time is approaching so you can see if anything has changed again.
What might be even easier, in this case, is to download the JetBlue app so you can be notified in real-time of any changes to the flight. JetBlue also sends out real-time email notifications, but only to customers booked on the affected flight. That’s great for passengers who are impacted by the changes, but not so good for those who are trying to find out when they can pick them up!
Once the flight does take off, you can use a flight tracking app such as FlightRadar24 to see where the airplane is in real-time, and how long until it arrives at its destination.
What if your flight is canceled?
In the unlikely event that your flight is totally canceled, the tracker indicates this with a gold-yellow dot and a highlight on the left of the flight details. JetBlue indicates that affected passengers should contact the airline for further assistance.
If your flight is canceled, don’t panic – the airline is obliged to assist you in getting to where you need to be (or at least getting your money back so you can book with another airline). The first offer from JetBlue will be to travel on the next available flight. If this is within a few hours, it’s usually the best solution.
However, if there are no more flights leaving that day or for more than six hours, and it is the airline’s fault that the flight got canceled, they will usually provide a meal and hotel vouchers to affected passengers. You will have to request this, but don’t be afraid to ask – it’s your right as a passenger.
The US DOT publishes a very useful guide to air passenger rights. If you are unsure of what you’re entitled to or what help you can get, it’s definitely worth a read.
Nevertheless, if the flight was canceled because of something outside of JetBlue’s control, you’re unlikely to get any help. Some of the things listed as being beyond reasonable control by the airline include:
- Weather conditions
- Riots, pandemics, war, civil unrest
- Strikes and labor-related disputes
- Government regulation or demand
- Shortages of labor, fuel, or facilities
In most cases, the airline will look after you as best they can if you are significantly disrupted.
If you are unable to travel that day and prefer not to travel at all, you will be offered JetBlue Travel Bank credit. The only way you’ll get the money back into your actual bank account is if JetBlue is unable to book you onto another flight in the space of two hours.
The bottom line
Flying JetBlue is usually a super experience. Most flights take off and land without incident, delivering passengers on time and happy to their destinations. But just occasionally, things can go wrong, and if they do, it’s worth knowing where to find the JetBlue flight status tracker to get a handle on what’s going on.