We’re heartened to see communities cautiously taking steps to re-open. As we move forward, the safety and well-being of both our customers and crewmembers remains our #1 priority and we continue to take a multi-layered approach where the whole is greater than the sum of the parts—grounded in guidance from the CDC and our own infectious disease specialist. For 20 years, JetBlue has raised the bar and set new standards in the industry. You can count on us to keep doing that—so you can always count on a healthy and safe travel experience, both in the air and on the ground.
Conducting temperature checks for our customer-facing crewmembers
We are checking the temperatures of our customer-facing crewmembers as an added layer of protection to help ensure our crewmembers are healthy. While crewmembers are instructed not to work if they are not feeling well, we also recommend our customers monitor their health and reschedule their travel if not feeling well.
Providing paid sick leave and additional time off programs so crewmembers do not come to work sick
JetBlue has a very clear policy in place that states you should not come to work if you are sick. We have an existing generous PTO program that includes sick time. In addition, we announced in March that we will pay up to an additional 14 days sick time for any crewmember diagnosed with the coronavirus or if a crewmember has been instructed by the airline, a health official or a medical doctor to quarantine for any reason.
Following company-wide protocols for reporting cases of the coronavirus, notifications and return to work clearance
JetBlue has instituted strict protocols that we are following when we learn of any possible exposure to the coronavirus among our crewmembers. We also follow all health privacy regulations and notification requirements to slow the spread of the virus, keeping our crewmembers and customers protected.
Providing disinfectant kits for crew use
To help ensure the health of our crewmembers, cleaning kits are provided for use on board. Kits contain sanitizer spray and disinfectant wipes.
Requiring face coverings for all crewmembers while boarding, in flight, and when physical distancing cannot be maintained
All JetBlue crewmembers are required to wear face coverings while they are at work. A face covering is any well-secured cloth (like a bandana or scarf) or mask that covers your nose and mouth. The CDC offers guidance on face coverings and we are directing our customers to their website for further details on effective face coverings.
More frequent disinfecting of common surfaces like kiosks and counters inside our airport terminals
We have increased the frequency with which we are cleaning common surfaces in our airport terminals with a hospital-grade disinfectant, particularly those touched most often by customers and crewmembers. You can feel more comfortable in the airport knowing that our kiosks, help desks and gate counters are being disinfected often.
Providing Personal Protection Packs to customers before boarding, including hand sanitizer and disinfectant wipes
Before boarding, we are distributing Personal Protection Packs, which include hand sanitizer and two disinfectant wipes for customers to use on board. Hand sanitizer is also available for both crewmember and customer use in our airport terminals.
Increased aircraft cleaning before every flight and overnight, including surfaces that are touched most like tray tables
We are conducting deep cleans of our aircraft each night and are applying a hospital-grade disinfectant called Sani-Cide EX3 that is effective against the coronavirus. Our tray tables and lavatories are disinfected before every flight, and we are also focused on other high touch areas such as seat covers, armrests and seatbelts during overnight cleanings.
Using electrostatic sprayers to disinfect the inside of our aircraft
For enhanced disinfecting, we are using electrostatic sprayers in our aircraft cabins during overnight deep cleanings. These devices apply an electric charge to the disinfectant, which allows it to fully coat and cling to surfaces inside our aircraft that may be otherwise hard to reach by hand with traditional aerosol or pump sprays.
Piloting Honeywell’s UV Cabin System as another layer of protection against viruses and bacteria
In addition to our other cleaning and disinfecting enhancements on board, we are the first U.S. airline to test Honeywell’s UV Cabin System, which provides another layer of protection against viruses and bacteria on surfaces. This UV Cabin System is about the size of one of our beverage carts and has ultraviolet-c light arms that extend out and sweep the cabin to treat aircraft surfaces including seats, galleys and bathrooms in less than 10 minutes.
Filtering cabin air through hospital-grade HEPA air filters with cabin air completely changing about every three minutes
All of our aircraft are equipped with hospital-grade HEPA air filters. All recirculated air is passed through these filters before re-entering the cabin or being mixed with fresh air. HEPA filters remove 99.97% or more of particles, bacteria and viruses. All of the air in the cabin is completely changed about every three minutes with approximately 50% fresh air and 50% HEPA filtered air.
Requiring face coverings for all travelers at the airport and on board.
Effective August 10, we will be adjusting our face covering policy. All travelers over 2 years of age must wear a face covering over their nose and mouth throughout their journey, including during check-in, boarding, while in flight and deplaning. Masks with vents or exhalation valves are not permitted. Plastic face shields may be worn in addition to a face covering but not in place of one. Customers with conditions that prevent them from wearing a face covering should postpone travel until this temporary requirement is no longer in place.
Blocking middle seats on larger aircraft and aisle seats on smaller aircraft for those not traveling together (through October 15)
We are limiting the number of seats for sale on JetBlue flights, allowing us to provide additional space between individuals who are not traveling together. Middle seats are blocked for purchase on our larger aircraft, and most aisle seats are blocked for purchase on our smaller aircraft. Our crewmembers are proactively reviewing seat assignments to help ensure as much personal space as possible. In addition, we are creating buffer zones around all inflight crewmember jumpseats, to allow for added crewmember and customer safety.
Learn more about buying extra seats for more physical distancing.
Providing the most space between each row of seats of any U.S. airline¹
JetBlue has the most space between each row of seats of any U.S. airline.¹ This means more legroom, but also more distance between you and the customers seated in front of and behind you.
Requiring all travelers to complete a health declaration
As part of the check-in process, all travelers are now required to complete a coronavirus health declaration that acknowledges that they have not tested positive, experienced symptoms (including a fever) or been in recent contact with anyone who has tested positive.
Providing touchless check-in, bag-tagging and boarding experiences using the JetBlue mobile app and self-boarding gates for many of our flights
To reduce touchpoints at the airport, we are encouraging all customers to download the JetBlue app. Using the app, customers can check-in for a flight, add bags to a reservation and select a seat. At many of our airports, customers can easily print bag tags without having to touch the kiosk by scanning their mobile boarding pass. For a touchless boarding experience, customers can self-scan the boarding pass within the app when ready to board. At many of our terminals, we also have floor decals in place to mark 6 feet and help with distancing during boarding.
Implementing a back-to-front boarding process for most customers to minimize passing in the aisle
We have temporarily suspended our normal group boarding procedures. Most customers will now board our planes from the back to the front.
Streamlining onboard service to minimize physical interactions and maximize safety and comfort.
We’re going above and beyond to deliver the JetBlue experience you know and love – with safety always top-of-mind. This includes:
- Inflight crewmembers wear medical-grade gloves during service and masks throughout the flight.
- Temporarily suspending sales of onboard purchases like beer, wine, liquor, EatUp Boxes, EatUp Café, pillows and blankets.
- Snack baskets and beverage service have been temporarily replaced with a pre-sealed snack and bottled water.
- Grab & Go snacks from the Pantry are not available.
- Adjusting the Mint experience to combine meal and dessert on one tray with coverings on each food item, serve drinks in single-use cups and more.
Using your personal device as a remote for seatback screens on select planes
Our seatback entertainment options are still available, and personal mobile devices can be used as a seatback TV remote on certain aircraft so it is not necessary to utilize the touchscreen functionality. We also encourage customers to bring their own headphones since buy-onboard sales of earbuds has been suspended.
Masks
Effective August 10, all travelers over 2 years of age must wear a face covering over their nose and mouth throughout their journey, including during check-in, boarding, while in flight and deplaning. Masks with vents or exhalation valves are not permitted. Plastic face shields may be worn in addition to a face covering but not in place of one. Customers with conditions that prevent them from wearing a face covering should postpone travel until this temporary requirement is no longer in place.