Southwest Airlines makes much out of its Bags Fly Free campaign, but JetBlue, which doesn't charge for the first bag, is relatively silent on the topic.
One reason for JetBlue's lack of marketing about its baggage policy is that it may not make sense to tout a policy which you soon could abandon.
JetBlue President and CEO David Barger told financial analysts last week that the airline is almost in "lock-down" mode at the moment when it comes to introducing new products to boost ancillary-services revenue because the carrier is in the process of switching from Navitaire to Sabre as its internal reservations-system provider, and the transition is slated to be completed in the first quarter of 2010.
"We expect to convert into Sabre into early 2010," Barger said, when discussing the airline's third-quarter results. "And that really give us a very nice platform to take a look at many different options, including charging for the first bag fee."
While the Navitaire system didn't provide JetBlue with much flexibility, the Sabre res system will enable the airline to provide better integration with code-share partners, enhanced connectivity to online travel agencies and global distribution systems, and improved segmentation to corporate and other customer groups, he said.
Barger also said the switch to Sabre could lead to changes in the way travelers earn TrueBlue points "or things like enhancements around even more leg room, or whatever the case may be."
JetBlue's transition from Navitaire to Sabre, if it is completed in early 2010, would appear to be almost lighning-fast in the cumbersome world of airline reservations system changes. JetBlue announced its Sabre agreement in February 2009.
Meanwhile, with new ancillary services capabilities from Sabre apparently in the pipeline, JetBlue's passengers had better enjoy those first bags for free while the free-for-all lasts.