All-you-can-fly passes: worth the money?
JetBlue’s popular unlimited travel promotion is back but it’s not the only game in town. But a larger question is whether such passes are worth the money.
Sun Country Airlines is also offering a US$499 “Fall Free For All Pass”, which essentially offers an all-you-can fly airline ticket for 37 days with unlimited travel.
A limited number of “Fall Free For All” passes are available and must be purchased between now and Aug. 24, 2010, at 11:59 p.m. CT.
The pass is valid for over a month of unlimited travel before Oct. 13, 2010. The pass has no blackout dates during that span and is good for coach-class seats.
The pass doesn’t include other taxes and fees like $20 for the first checked bag, $30 for the second checked bag and taxes of up to $65 to each international ticket. No shows will also be hit with a $100 penalty and will have their pass suspended until the fee is paid in full. Sun Country has a more limited number of routes compared to JetBlue.
JetBlue is offering a return of its “All You Can Jet” program with unlimited travel anywhere it flies. Passengers can book by Aug. 20 or until supplies last.
The cost is $499 and includes all taxes and fees for domestic flights.
Pass holders can book any available seat as early as for flights Mondays through Thursdays and Saturdays through October 6. Passengers can also upgrade to the $699 pass and fly any day of the week.
JetBlue says is history is a guide, the passes will sell out by Friday.
“Is a pass really worth it – or practical for anyone except retirees with an open schedule and a healthy 401K, given all the extra dough you’d spend on hotels, rental cars and restaurants?” asks Laura Bly of USA Today.
It depends.
Both business and leisure travelers are likely to get the most bang for their bucks from JetBlue’s $499 version, says Rick Seaney of Fare Compare. He adds that "generally, flying coast-to-coast twice is your break-even point."
And adds Ed Perkins of SmarterTravel.com, you have to be realistic: "It sounds like a really good idea, but the problem is, I don’t know that many people who could or would even want to take that much time off to do nothing but fly," he says.
By David Wilkening
David
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