Travel News

Are “All You Can Jet” Passes A Good Deal?

Locations in this article:  Minneapolis, MN

With airfare rates flying sky high, some airlines are appealing to consumers by offering unlimited travel passes to international and domestic destinations during the months of September and October.

But are these flight passes worth it?

On Tuesday, JetBlue unveiled two “All You Can Jet” passes, which are good for 30 days from September 7 to October 6.

The passes cost $499 for a package that excludes flights on Fridays and Sundays, and $699 for a package that flies on any day of the week. JetBlue unveiled a similar pass around this time last year. Priced at $599, it was good on any day of the week and sold out early.

A second airline, Sun Country Airlines, also announced an unlimited pass on Tuesday for flights from September 7 to October 13. Called the “Fall Free For All” the pass costs $499 for unlimited flights any day of the week.

Though the idea of an all-you-can-eat airfare buffet may seem appealing, the value of these airfare packages is debatable.

Both airlines require buyers to book each flight three days in advance and are nonrefundable. The packages also impose fees for no-shows and for changes in travel plans that are made within three days of a flight’s scheduled departure.

JetBlue Plane - JetBlue Flight PassesAdditionally, the fall season is known as one of the slowest times of the year for air travel. Unlimited passes fill seats in a normally down period for airlines, so travelers may find comparable savings by staying on top of fare sales and deal alerts.

As smaller airlines, the cost-effectiveness of the JetBlue and Sun Country passes also depends heavily on if the passenger is based near one of the airlines’ hubs.

JetBlue travels to 61 locations around the globe, but travelers not based on the West Coast or East Coast have fewer options and may need connecting flights.

Sun Country, a small leisure airline based in Minneapolis-St. Paul, has even fewer options. Most of the airline’s September and October schedules operate to or from Minneapolis-St. Paul.

Passengers not starting or ending in the Twin Cities can create some connecting itineraries, but the carrier generally is not structured to accommodate to connecting passengers.

However, those who are near the airlines’ hubs and want to take advantage of the passes better act quickly. JetBlue’s deal expires Friday, but may sell out sooner, since the offer is good only “while supplies last.”

Sun Country’s passes are also good until supplies run out, and are on sale through August 24.

By Adriana Padilla for PeterGreenberg.com.

Related Links: BusinessWeek, USA Today

Related Links on PeterGreenberg.com: