Book about JetBlue

[LesliePHX]

I'm just starting to read a new book JetBlue flyers might be interested in. It's called "Flying High: How JetBlue Founder and CEO David Neeleman Beats the Competition Even in the World's Most Turbulent Industry" by James Wynbrandt.

Interesting factoids:

--Neeleman used to work for Southwest but got fired from there -- he was not a good fit!
--Neeleman is only 44 years old
--Neeleman suffers from ADD

I've never flown JetBlue myself -- they only just started operations in Phoenix, and their flight schedule here is pretty limited. But it seems like they are the new face of profitable flying, as the legacy airlines continue to struggle, and it looks like an interesting book.

[Jeff California]

wow!! I wanna read that!! From my last polls response, it sounds like jet blue is great!! I love the perks!!!!

Jeff

[Passenger Mark]

Leslie... Where is this book?

[LesliePHX]

Mark, I got it at Borders. I had to hunt around for it though. Turns out it is in the Business section, not the Air Travel section.

It's also available at amazon.com:

www.amazon.com/exec/obido...37-6943200 (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0471655449/qid=1097432235/sr=2-1/ref=pd_ka_2_1/002-6375537-6943200)

[Stefjam]

I flew JetBlue from Oakland to DC this past summer and it was two of the best flights I've ever had. I thought the attendants were extremely professional without being too cutesy and the inflight satellite tv was just the thing I needed to keep myself occupied and not thinking of the flight. Southwest is ok for short flights, but I will never fly them cross country again. Also, JetBlue's fares are very competitive, we flew roundtrip for under $200 each. I hope they start offering shorter flights like OAK to PHX. So I definitely give them two thumbs up!

:airplane

[LesliePHX]

Stefjam wrote:

"I thought the attendants were extremely professional without being too cutesy"

The book talks about how JetBlue selects its FAs, and I thought it was really interesting that that's one way they chose to differentiate themselves from Southwest. Being based in New York, they figured their hometown customers got enough of the wanna-be actor personality in real life and didn't need more of it in the air:

"... while much of the airline was based on the Southwest model, JetBlue didn't want the wisecracking, performer-wannabe type flight attendants its paragon was known for. New Yorkers already dealt with enough actor-waiters, smart-alecky counter help, and others who brought what's been called 'an excess of personality' to the job."

Leslie

[EditorASC]

Thanks for the book tip, Leslie. I have ordered it from Amazon, plus several others too. ;)

[LesliePHX]

Yay, Capt. Bob! I'm so glad you're interested in the book. Say, did you ever get your one-cent copy of "Unfriendly Skies"? I would really like to hear your take on that one.

I wanted to tell you that I'm using your Hong Kong landing photo as wallpaper on my computer desktop at work. It has attracted a lot of attention from passers-by! ("What the heck is THAT?")

Leslie