Conan O'Brien

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Fri, 02/23/2007 - 19:36 — Jill Howard-Allen

I'm actually more of a fan of David Letterman, so I missed this skit on Conan the other day.

The airline industry is a small industry, and we all have friends and family at the various airlines. I think everyone was feeling for the employees and passengers of JetBlue this past week.

Of course, I am in Marketing and did appreciate the promotion of our ontime efforts.

http://video.nbc.com/v/?linkId=64190&sender=meghan@jetcrew.com&name=meghan

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I CAN'T IMAGINE WHAT IT FELT LIKE TO BE STUCK FOR OVER 10 HOURS AND I CAN'T IMAGINE HOW LONG JET BLUE CAN STAY IN BUSINESS WITH THEIR COMPENSATION PLAN. IF THAT BILL OF RIGHTS STICKS IT LOOKS LIKE ALOT OF AIRLINES JUST WON'T OPERATE IN SEVERE WEATHER. THE REAL CHOICE IS UP TO THE CUSTOMERS. AS BAD AS THINGS WERE FOR ALL AIRLINES THAT WEEK MOST CUSTOMERS DO UNDERSTAND THAT WHEN WINTER STORMS BLOW IN SO DO MANY DELAYS, CANCELLATIONS AND DIVERSIONS. I'M SO THANKFUL THAT SOUTHWEST WAS PREPARED FOR WHAT COULD HAVE EASILY BEEN US ON LATE NIGHT TELEVISION TAKING THE HIT FOR FRONTPAGE NEWS.

carroll herzog — Sat, 02/24/2007 - 03:36

Then you missed Jay Leno just ripping into JetBlue the other night. It was absolutely hysterical. I feel for the employees though, especially when your CEO or president or whoever just throws you under the bus. That's why I LUV the company I work for. Our higher ups would NEVER do that to us!

Paco Cerda — Sat, 02/24/2007 - 04:56

There is no excuse for what happened to the passengers on jetblue airlines and American Airlines. Waiting ten hours on a plane is beyond comprehension. There is no excuses. There does need to be a customer's bill of rights. This would not have happened on Southwest airlines. They put their customers before the mighty dollar. Oh by the way i am no fan of David Letterman... he is not funny... personal opinion....

USS BLOG BOY
FRANCISCO

FRANCISCO DELGADO — Sat, 02/24/2007 - 05:29

Jill,
Thanks for bring this comedy sketch to our attention! I am in your corner; I think David Letterman is wonderful (sorry, Francisco) and I really am NOT a fan of either Leno or Conan, so I never saw this.

Although I know that the incident was surely not funny for either JetBlue's pax or employees, seeing Southwest being featured so favorably as the punch line to this joke was rewarding. I've been on plenty of Southwest flights over the years that were late leaving or arriving, but have also been on lots of flights that left exactly on time and arrived early. However, I agree with Paco above; I just cannot imagine SWA holding their Customers hostage on a plane for 8, 10 or 12+ hours to start with, and find it equally unlikely that Gary or Colleen or Herb would produce such insulting quotes as the CEO of JetBlue did.

Even though the Employees of Southwest do a FANTASTIC job every day, it makes it even EASIER to look great when your "competition" is so mediocre! Maybe they should modify their advertising tag line to say, "You are now free to move about the taxiways, runways AND the country on time."
Kim :-)

Kim Seale — Sat, 02/24/2007 - 16:21

To be stuck on an airplane for hours is horrible but to be asked to pay for the food you eat during that time period is insane. Which I understand American did. Where is the common sense in that. I am glad I work for a company that lets me make decision that is the best for the passengers and in the long run the company.

Francisco, I agree with you. Not only is David Letterman not funny he is just rude to his guest.

Mary J — Sat, 02/24/2007 - 19:19

Thanks for posting this clip! I can't imagine WHO thought holding the customers onboard for hours was a sensible, compassionate idea.

My heart goes out to the Jet Blue passengers and to the frontline employees that continue to deal with the aftermath. While rare unforeseen events do happen I'd much rather tell my customers, "You are now free to roam around the gate area" than to keep them in the aircraft waiting on the tarmac.

Laurie SNA/CSA

Laurie Sisk — Sat, 02/24/2007 - 20:29

shades of the failure that northwest had here several years ago.
No excuse for it.
B6 should not run all of there flights thru jfk. It took them 5 days more after the storm to completely recover. They had to cancel all of the non airbus flights for those five days. Southwest just overflew the trouble areas.
It's a shame that David Neeleman didn't learn anything will employed at southwest except how to hire the lady who fired him.

Building America one blog at a time,
Joe Friedmann

Joe Friedmann — Sat, 02/24/2007 - 23:36

Um...Leno is the one that isn't funny. Letterman is more of a sarcastic dry wit and I actually find Conan hilarious in a self-effacing nerdy way.

Oh, and I'm glad I work for WN and we had delays the other day and I KNOW our PAX were much happier than on jetBlew-It since they told me as much!

Matt D — Sun, 02/25/2007 - 03:08

Perhaps I picked the wrong website to post this opinion but oh well: jetBlue did screw up royally. I made reservations for a trip in July...I've gotten two apology letters from jetBlue in my inbox. I respect jetBlue for their actions in attempting to alleviate their mistakes. I'm truly sorry Southwest (and to other airlines for that matter), but if I am to fly my choice is going to be the airline with the In-Flight-Entertainment system...Which used to be Song(until Delta rolled it back) but now means jetBlue. Plus the seat pitch on jetBlue is better than any other airline I've experienced. I am flying Southwest (MHT-PBI) in April...(it was cheaper round trip than jetBlue was one way :( ) I am still looking forward to my flight on jetBlue. Sorry.

Will — Sun, 02/25/2007 - 05:15

Kim,

That would be a great commercial... Still i don't think that David Letterman is funny. I do not want to turn this into a poltical blog but when asked if he wanted America to win the war on terror, he could not answer which tells me he does not support the troops or our mission. Jay Leno is not only funny but at least he makes an effort to show that he supports us. just a food for thought.

USS BLOG BOY

francisco.delgado — Sun, 02/25/2007 - 06:17

Ok that clip was FUNNY! It is not funny that those poor people had to wait, bu that clip was hilarious. Southwest is great to it's customers! Thanks!

J.D. — Mon, 02/26/2007 - 06:56

Maybe someone on this blog can tell me, I always wonder when I hear of these long delays on the flights such as mentioned here. Doesn't the crew and pilots have an allotted amount of time they can work? Does being on the ground not count? I just can't understand how they could be delayed 8hrs on the plane and still be able to fly.

Just curious

Bonnie — Mon, 02/26/2007 - 07:44

There is an editorial in this morning's Financial Times which primarily discusses the lack of choice when it comes to U.S. low cost carriers (although I was disappointed that they did not mention SWA). Primarily, the article mentioned how JetBlue, with their passenger bill of rights are moving away from 'low cost' and toward higher cost. Also, companies usually drift toward the 'industry mean'. I'm glad SWA has not done this. It is an interesting read if you can find a copy.

Andrew Brown — Mon, 02/26/2007 - 15:33

I have spoken to Kate Hanni about what they went thru sitting on the tarmac for all those hours, it was awful and I hope that I never have to endure such a thing!!
I am a loyal SWA customer and have experienced short delays but I would have to say that 99% of the time we are either on time or early..
On a selfish note...Someday everyone out there will find out just how great SWA is and I am hoping we can still all find available flights on our favorite airline!! lol (I am kidding)
I am sure, knowing SWA that they will adjust so none of us loyal customers will be left behind..
If Kate's Passenger Bill of Rights makes the cut, the only airline out there that wouldn't be affected would be the one that has always shown LUV to its customers!!
I again agree with Kim (above) its Easy for SW to look great when you look at the competition!!
Love the commercial idea too!!!

Cindy — Mon, 02/26/2007 - 23:45

Conan should have Gary Kelly on his show. I'm sure his ratings would go way up...

Jeramy Brian — Tue, 02/27/2007 - 02:03

"Maybe someone on this blog can tell me, I always wonder when I hear of these long delays on the flights such as mentioned here. DoesnÃ

Ben — Tue, 02/27/2007 - 02:11

It's A shame they have to pass a bill to make companies give GOOD CUSTOMER SERVICE!!!!!!!!! IT shows what the companies really care about, MONEY. sure money is important, But like SWA says take care of your passengers and you won't have to worry about the money it will take care of itself.

Kevin — Tue, 02/27/2007 - 04:29

Maaaaaaaaaaaan, I just saw that clip last night. How hysterical!

"I'm leaving now......"

Paco Cerda — Wed, 02/28/2007 - 05:48

That's not the only spoof they've done of JetBlue on Conan. In another, one of the skits they do ("New Off-Broadway Shows"), they do a piece on folks stuck on a JetBlue plane.

"Hour five, the attendant's getting rude,

Hour six, and the fat guy wants more food,

Hour seven, we've stopped looking at our watch,

Hour eight, there's a burning in our crotch,

Hour nine, and the toilets overflow,

Is this JetBlue, or Camp Guantanamo???"

at which time the Flight Attendant comes running up the aisle from the back of the plane and screams at them, "ALL RIGHT YOU PEOPLE, GET BACK IN YOUR SEATS, THIS IS A VIOLATION OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS!!! I'M GONNA TAZE YOU RIGHT NOW!" and after they all sit down ALL RIGHT, WE KNOW YOU HAVE A CHOICE WHEN YOU TRAVEL, THANK YOU FOR CHOOSING JETBLUE!!!!"

I'd post the link, but some of the other skits are...ahem...too "blue" for our blog. :)

Bill

Bill Owen, Southwest Airlines Schedule Planning — Wed, 02/28/2007 - 23:47

Ray Stark — Mon, 03/05/2007 - 04:11

Thank you so much for that info! Very interesting! Poor Blue employees, Poor Blue passangers - should have flown Southwest! I don't care what the seat pitch is and for the price of DVD's now days I'll bring my own entertainment and fly with the best Pilots in the world! Poor us if more regulations are passed.

Bonnie — Mon, 03/05/2007 - 07:59

Awesome post captain Ray! I hope one of these days I can non-rev on one of your flights from Phoenix!

PS. FourBucks is on me!

Paco Cerda — Tue, 03/06/2007 - 01:40

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