JetBlue pulls the Zig
September 9th, 2008
At a time when the airlines are continuing to screw us all by upping their prices and cutting the number of flights starting next week, JetBlue has once again done something oh so simple that the rest of the boys and girls would’ve never thought of:
They are auctioning their tickets on ebay.
According to a Wired article, auctions start at a nickel and there is no reserve. Yes, you should make sure you are getting a good deal by stopping by jetblue.com before you bid, but what a whack on the head idea for an airline.
And this is why JetBlue continues to win. This is why Umpqua is the zig in the banking industry’s zag. And this is why Zappos is getting so many happy customers these days. Are what these companies are doing revolutionary? Sometimes. But the simple fact that they aren’t afraid to break the ranks of the status quo and try something different is what part of what makes people (employees and customers) love them. They take risks. And in a risk-taking environment, people are allowed to think differently and try new things. Which is the exact opposite of “we’ve never done it that way before.”
Other posts by Spike.
Rusty says:
Did you know Zions Direct has been doing this on eBay?
http://www.netbanker.com/2008/01/zions_direct_uses_ebay_to_auction_new_account_gift_certificates.html
September 9th, 2008 at 12:19 pmNobrainer says:
A willingness to try new things isn’t enough… those things have to be worthwhile, at least on occasion.
Personally, I don’t see tremendous value to these auctions by JetBlue. They seem to be plagued by the same problems that the conventional airlines have; they get your hopes up with low fares (a plane ticket for a nickel!) and leave you upset when you realize the limited availability and horrid flight selection.
September 11th, 2008 at 6:19 am