JetBlue Responds to my complaint about Airbus purchase

JetBlue Customer Commitment Crew ^ | 04/26/03 | JetBlue Customer Commitment Crew

[W04Man]

Re: e-mail received Thursday, 04/24/03 5:00 AM, Speak Up 377444

Hello Oliver,

Thank you for your e-mail regarding our choice of the Airbus A320 aircraft.

Airbus is, in fact, not a French company. It is a European organization owned by British, Spanish, French and German concerns. While the A320 is assembled in France, Airbus also operates numerous manufacturing and assembly plants throughout Europe and spends more money with suppliers in the U.S. than in any other country. In 2002 alone, Airbus spent $5.5 billion in the U.S., supporting 120,000 American jobs at hundreds of companies located across some 40 U.S. states.

As an airline that calls New York City home, we are very sensitive to the patriotic measures and sacrifices of Americans in these difficult times. We, like you, look forward to a time in the not too distant future when the international cooperation that goes into building our aircraft finds its way into world affairs.

Sincerely,

Tiffany JetBlue Customer Commitment Crew

Original Message Follows: ------------------------ Customer name: Oliver xxxxxx Message: We were becoming a regular customer. Now with your French purchase, that might change.

[W04Man]

This is a response I got from JetBlue. I consider it a resonable response, and will continue to fly JetBlue.

[Puppage]

Jet Blue rocks! It's the best airline by far. It doesn't really surprise me that they replied to your query so quickly.

[Trust but Verify]

I got a similar response. I will NOT be flying JetBlue.

[W04Man]

Why, do you work for Boeing?

[goldstategop]

Excellent customer service you received. Another company would probably shrug its shoulders and go with the attitude, I could care less.

[verity]

I am certain you will make a difference.

[RJCogburn]

A good example of what a 'global economy' is. If the Airbus is the best choice for them, they should proceed in that direction. Simple.

[StockAyatollah]

There are only two companies making jumbo jets. So you want every airline to buy only Boeing?

[cynicom]

Rooster is an American capitalist.

[Mr. Silverback]

Couldn't hurt!

Regards,
Mr. Silverback,
Extremist Boeing partisan and user of Boeing Products (KC-135A, E, Q and R)

[Archangelsk]

So you want every airline to buy only Boeing?

Yes. (Besides with Airbus' committment to the A380 they will be going out of business soon).

[capt. norm]

This is a (rare) good example of responsible company that knows the importance of good public relations as well as a good business sense for getting the most for their money.

Gotta love an outfit that puts its cards on the table. Just the opposite of what you'd get as a response from ABC Network, NYT, et al.

When I was growing up my grandfather always told me that simply paying attention would allow a person to succeed. His words: "Your tongue can get you fired in a heartbeat, but Nobody ever listened their way out of a job". I've noticed that the companies that are known for listening to their customers (Wal-Mart is a good example), are always well-supported by their customers.

In the Wal-Mart example: If you've ever taken an item back to Wal-Mart, then you know what I mean. They don't care what, if anything, is wrong with the product, if you don't like the item for whatever reason,it's refund time. I would imagine that they have enough clout with their suppliers to get the manufacturer to take it back from them.

[Archangelsk]

In the Wal-Mart example: If you've ever taken an item back to Wal-Mart, then you know what I mean. They don't care what, if anything, is wrong with the product, if you don't like the item for whatever reason,it's refund time. I would imagine that they have enough clout with their suppliers to get the manufacturer to take it back from them.

There's a flip side to that however. As good as WalMart is in regards to customer service/relations they run roughshod over their suppliers. The suppliers are caught in a bind because of WalMart's market share.

[wysiwyg]

They have a ways to go to catch up to Southwest. IMHO.

[need_a_screen_name]

I got a similar response. I will NOT be flying JetBlue.

Hell no, me either!

[Archangelsk]

They are very much still a start up. Anyway, comparing one airline to another is a fools game at best. Southwest has their demographic and JetBlue has another.

[sinkspur]

As good as WalMart is in regards to customer service/relations they run roughshod over their suppliers. The suppliers are caught in a bind because of WalMart's market share.

Are you kidding? If suppliers feel abused by Wal-Mart, they don't have to sell to them. (Yeah, right!)

What supplier is caught in a bind because of Wal-Mart? If anything, Wal-Mart makes suppliers more efficient by forcing them to squeeze costs out of their structure to meet WM's price demands.

It's all good for consumers, which is Wal-Mart's bottom line.

[TruthFactor]

I received the same response 2 days ago. I am highly skeptical of the claim of this many American jobs in Airbus prod.. European unions are very protective of their jobs. We need to dig into these claims of the U.S. content in Airbus products. With the internet, it shouldn't be too difficult.

[Puppage]

They're new to the game. They'll get there. They were also the only airline to post a profit last year....must be doing something right.

I REALLY like the fact that if departure is 11:15am.....at 11:15am the door closes & they pull away from the jetway. No more wait'n for stragglers. The rest of the industry had better take a memo.

[sakic]

I got a similar response. I will NOT be flying JetBlue.

Thank you for doing your small part to help me secure seats on the best airline in America today.