JetBlue Airways has officially taken "fashionably late" to new heights—or, rather, grounded lows. The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) recently fined the airline a hefty $2 million for chronic delays, proving that being late doesn’t just upset your mom, it can upset the federal government too.
Delays So Chronic, They’re Legendary
If you’ve ever sat at the airport wondering if your JetBlue flight was secretly filming the next season of Survivor, you’re not alone. Some routes were so consistently delayed that passengers could have walked to their destinations faster—or at least taken a leisurely cross-country road trip.
Certain flights, like those between New York and Orlando, seemed to treat "on time" as a mere suggestion. At this point, if your JetBlue flight leaves within 24 hours of the scheduled time, you might want to buy a lottery ticket.
The Cost of Tardiness
The DOT wasn’t amused by JetBlue’s inability to stick to a schedule and decided it was time for a wake-up call, fining the airline $2 million. That’s a lot of peanuts and complimentary sodas! Half of this fine will go to affected passengers in the form of vouchers, which we can only assume will help them book their next delayed adventure.
JetBlue’s Reaction
JetBlue didn’t exactly say, “Oops, our bad,” but they did assure everyone that they’re committed to improving. We assume that means their pilots now get priority boarding… and maybe an alarm clock.
A Lesson for All
Let’s be honest: who hasn’t been late to something? A meeting, a date, or maybe even the start of a blockbuster movie. But if JetBlue has taught us anything, it’s this—when you’re late enough times, someone’s eventually going to hand you a $2 million bill.
What’s Next?
JetBlue has promised to clean up its act, and passengers can only hope this means fewer naps at the gate and more time in the air. Until then, if you’re flying JetBlue, bring snacks, a good book, and maybe a sleeping bag—just in case.
So, here’s to JetBlue’s new motto: "Better late than never—unless the DOT is involved." Safe travels, everyone, and may your next flight be on time. Or at least close enough.
