Totally in tears after watching this JetBlue video featuring a recent in-air promotion they did with some mothers of young babies. I am utterly filled with empathy, sympathy, and joy. Why?
Because I’ve been there. I’ve been the mother walking onto a plane with young children, sitting next to adults who really were looking forward to a relaxing flight and knowing that I was going to be the main cause of their stress and discomfort.
JetBlue Celebrates Crying Babies With Mother’s Day Campaign
But JetBlue wanted to change all of that this Mother’s Day. In fact, the airline company wanted to celebrate moms as they face one of their most challenging situations: flying with their babies. Just like the weather, fussy babies are out of anyone’s control.
Moms understand the discomfort crying babies cause fellow customers, and it is often moms themselves who feel most uncomfortable when their babies’ cry in-flight. I mean, nothing feels more helpless than a mom holding a screaming baby on a red-eye. I’ve been there!!
Even if you run to the bathroom to hide, it doesn’t matter. Everyone can still hear you and it’s that knowledge that can be so crippling. I would argue that this FEAR even keeps some parents GROUNDED.
According to a recent survey conducted online by Harris Poll on behalf of JetBlue,
- 65% of U.S. adults report understanding parents have no control on whether their baby cried in-flight
- 40% of U.S. adults who ever travel by airplane still report being annoyed when being on a plane with a crying baby
JetBlue wanted to step in and ease the pain of some traveling moms. They launched FlyBabies to show that empathy towards moms traveling with little ones can be worth it. And BOY – was it WORTH IT!
The FlyBabies Promotion
JetBlue designated a cross-country flight from New York’s JFK Airport to Long Beach, CA as their “FlyBabies” flight and followed moms and their babies on their journey. Basically, they told everyone on the plane that every single time a baby cried, they would receive 25% off an upcoming flight.
That meant that if the babies on the plane collectively cried four times during the route, every single person on the flight would receive a future flight for FREE. Who wouldn’t want to hear a little crying for that?
At first, the people on the plane smiled when they heard the babies do what babies do best. But towards the end, the group was applauding, taking pictures and high-fiving!
Everyone was thrilled to hear the cries of those little ones because it meant rewards for the collective!! The mothers of these children were embraced and adored because they were responsible for all the fun.
Now, that’s how every mom should feel when they fly,right?!
When you aren’t on a FlyBabies flight, families will still get to enjoy so many wonderful benefits created around families and their specific needs.
JetBlue Family Perks:
Courtesy Boarding: JetBlue offers Courtesy Boarding for families with children under the age of 2, so customers can have early access to overhead bins, secure car seats and get children comfortably seated on the plane. This Courtesy Boarding is offered immediately before general boarding.
Channels for kids: With a TV at every seat, your child can choose kid-friendly programming like Nickelodeon, Cartoon Network or Animal Planet from the 36 channels of free DIRECTV®. With our A321 aircraft (coming soon to our A320s) we offer 100+ Channels of DIRECTV and even more kid-friendly options details here
JetBlue Features®: On all flights longer than two hours, we offer at least one kid age-appropriate movie at every seat.
Wings: Crews often keep promotional wings on hand for our littlest customers. Supplies vary, but check with your crew for availability.
Kid-Friendly Snacks:In addition to a number of EatUp boxes and EatUp Café items available for purchase, JetBlue provides a wide variety of complimentary and unlimited snacks and drinks for children (and their parents) including nut-free options.
For Mom: In 2015 JetBlue partnered with Mamava and Seventh Generation to bring the first private nursing pod to JFK Airport. This private lactation suite provides another option for nursing moms who seek more privacy when nursing their little ones while traveling through T5. The nursing pod is available at T5 next to the Kids Play area near Gate 12.
To book your next JetBlue flight, click here. Happy Mother’s Day!
*I’ve teamed up with JetBlue to help spread the word about their FlyBabies video. All opinions are my own.
HilLesha
Wednesday 4th of May 2016
I have never flown with JetBlue before, but I have heard nothing but good! I love that they're more acceptable of babies and toddlers. :)
Tammy Doiel
Tuesday 3rd of May 2016
I love this video. I was recently on a plane with a mom that had two little kids, and they cried almost the whole time. I felt so bad for her, but I was too far away to help her. I've never flown with my kids when they were babies, but I'm sure mine would have cried too.
Jamie
Tuesday 3rd of May 2016
I try to be empathetic when I see parents out with small kids. I've been there and done that twice, and while it's easy to be annoyed by it when they aren't yours, it's hard to forget the way you felt when you were in their shoes.
Jesica H
Tuesday 3rd of May 2016
It is really about time they start making this easier for moms! Perhaps now our trip to Disney wont be so hard!
Up Run For Life
Tuesday 3rd of May 2016
I haven't flown in a really long time. I have flown with my older babies and they were pretty good. I just made sure that I had things to keep them busy.