Flying to N.Y. now easier

Students returning to New York over the holidays will now have more money to spend while there. Starting Nov. 8, JetBlue Airways will start offering 10 daily, low-fare flights between Logan and JFK airports.

The New York-based airline company is now selling one-way tickets between Boston and New York City for $40 to $120, raising the prices from the $25 introductory promotion that ended on Oct. 20. Each flight will last approximately 1 hour and 10 minutes, according to the airline, and will offer complimentary leather seating, in-seat DIRECTV programming, and an inflight snack.

Undercutting the fees legacy airlines like Delta, United, or Continental charge, JetBlue's service expansion has found an enthusiastic response among BC students.

"It's a great offer that should've been offered a while ago," said Cameron Javor, A&S '09. "I think BC should offer a free shuttle bus to the airport."

The advantage of JetBlue's offering may be clearly seen when comparing the company's prices to its major competitors'. Since most students tend to go home on the holidays ("My parents don't really want to see me home at any other point," said Peter Murphy, A&S '09), the fares will rarely be their $40 minimum. A round-trip ticket, with departure on Nov. 23 and return on Nov. 27 - the typical Thanksgiving line-up - will cost one between $180 and $240, taxes and flight fees excluded.

By comparison, Delta will charge from $515 to $808 for the same dates, while United and Continental reach into the thousands.

A JetBlue flight, though, is still more expensive than bus tickets. Greyhound Lines charges $18 to $35 for the same trip, if several hours longer, and a trip on the Fung Wah bus costs a mere $15.

But JetBlue believes that many students will be attracted to the comforts of air travel.

"If you're looking for the cheapest way to New York, then yeah, you can take Greyhound, but for me and I think the majority of BC students, the extra $15 is worth two extra hours, and the drinks, and live TV," said Preston Hayes, JetBlue's campus representative.

But student opinions over the question aren't as decisive. Though Jonathan Karl, A&S '09, "never really considered the bus" as a plausible means of transportation, James Ng, A&S '09, said he "would pick probably the Greyhound because it drops off at an easier place, and it's cheaper."

The issue lies with price inconsistency, it seems.

"I'd be willing to fly JetBlue if the prices were consistent, but because of blackout dates, it seems hard to use it for when I travel," said Karl.

Hoping to sway public opinion, JetBlue has employed Mr. Youth, a marketing firm, on the BC campus. Through the efforts of Hayes and 18 other campus representatives, JetBlue is engaged in a semester-long campaign for public awareness.

Some of the ways through which the airline is reaching out to the students include Blue Day, as Oct. 27 was designated, when 10 free round-trip tickets were given out, as well as other strategies like chalking and posters. In addition, Hayes urges all readers to "join the Facebook club, and keep an eye out for other promotions."