August 5, 2008
Want all the hassle of air travel without going anywhere? Then step up for JetBlue Airways' trial of bag check and security systems at its new John F Kennedy Airport terminal, which is set to open in September.
New York-based JetBlue is looking for 1,000 of its frequent flyers to show up at JFK on August 23 to check bags given to them by the airline, go through security and wait at the assigned gate for their imaginary "flight".
In return, the airline is promising unspecified "giveaways", free parking and lunch.
JetBlue is taking no chances with the systems at its new Terminal 5, following the chaotic opening of British Airways' Terminal 5 at London's Heathrow Airport in March, as baggage systems failed and staff didn't know their way around the new building.
Only last week, American Airlines had to cancel flights from JFK after its baggage system software malfunctioned at a different terminal.
JetBlue, partly owned by Germany's Lufthansa, is no stranger to problems at JFK, canceling hundreds of flights and stranding thousands of passengers last year after an ice-storm hit New York.
(Reuters)
Want all the hassle of air travel without going anywhere? Then step up for JetBlue Airways' trial of bag check and security systems at its new John F Kennedy Airport terminal, which is set to open in September.
New York-based JetBlue is looking for 1,000 of its frequent flyers to show up at JFK on August 23 to check bags given to them by the airline, go through security and wait at the assigned gate for their imaginary "flight".
In return, the airline is promising unspecified "giveaways", free parking and lunch.
JetBlue is taking no chances with the systems at its new Terminal 5, following the chaotic opening of British Airways' Terminal 5 at London's Heathrow Airport in March, as baggage systems failed and staff didn't know their way around the new building.
Only last week, American Airlines had to cancel flights from JFK after its baggage system software malfunctioned at a different terminal.
JetBlue, partly owned by Germany's Lufthansa, is no stranger to problems at JFK, canceling hundreds of flights and stranding thousands of passengers last year after an ice-storm hit New York.
(Reuters)