Is JetBlue ethical?

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Privacy & surveillance Allegation

JetBlue is accused of sold customer data to third parties

JetBlue is accused of selling customer data to third parties and violating federal and state privacy laws.

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people.com
The complaint alleges JetBlue sold customer data to third parties and violated federal and state privacy laws
JetBlue Allegedly Used Customers' Personal Data to Raise Ticket Prices: Lawsuit

Workplace equity Confirmed

JetBlue breached pilots' employment agreements

JetBlue is accused of breaching section 3A of pilots' employment agreements.

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nycourts.gov
The pilots contend that JetBlue breached section 3A of their employment agreements.

Corporate conduct Allegation

JetBlue is accused of permitting unsafe aircraft to operate

JetBlue is accused of permitting aircraft with alleged ELAC issues to operate despite knowing about the problems.

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people.com
The lawsuit claims JetBlue knew about the alleged ELAC issues and permitted the aircraft to operate anyway.
JetBlue Plane Took Terrifying Mid-Flight Nosedive Allegedly Due to Software Glitch, Passengers Say in New Lawsuit

Corporate conduct Allegation

JetBlue is accused of charging extra for free seat selection

JetBlue is accused of charging extra for 'free seat selection' it didn't provide, facing a $5 million lawsuit.

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people.com
JetBlue Faces $5 Million Lawsuit Claiming Airline Charged Extra for ‘Free Seat Selection’ It Didn’t Provide
JetBlue Plane Took Terrifying Mid-Flight Nosedive Allegedly Due to Software Glitch, Passengers Say in New Lawsuit

Corporate conduct Settlement

JetBlue settles for $2 million in financial violations

JetBlue consents to a $2 million settlement to avoid litigation over financial-law violations.

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gizmodo.com
In a First, Feds Fine JetBlue for Chronically Delaying Flights
In announcing the settlement with JetBlue, the DOT also touted its other recent accomplishments in regulating the airline industry.
transportation.gov
We find that JetBlue Airways Corp. held out chronically delayed flight s, as defined by 14 CFR 399.81(c)(2): a.
In order to avoid litigation, JetBlue consents to the issuance of this order to cease and desist from future violations of 49 U.S.C. § 41712 and 14 CFR 399.81 and to the assessment of $2,000,000 in compromise of potential civil penalties otherwise due and payable pursuant to 49 U.S.C.
transportation.gov
In order to avoid litigation, JetBlue consents to the issuance of this order to cease and desist from future violations of 49 U.S.C. § 41712 and 14 CFR 399.81 and to the assessment of $2,000,000 in compromise of potential civil penalties otherwise due and payable pursuant to 49 U.S.C.
transportation.gov
In order to avoid litigation, JetBlue consents to the issuance of this order to cease and desist from future violations of 49 U.S.C. § 41712 and 14 CFR 399.81 and to the assessment of $2,000,000 in compromise of potential civil penalties otherwise due and payable pursuant to 49 U.S.C.
We assess JetBlue Airways Corp. $2,000,000 in civil penalties for the violations described in paragraphs 2 and 3, above: (a) 500,000 of the assessed penalty is due and payable within 60 days of the date of this order; (b) $500,000 of the assessed penalty is due and payable within one year after the payment in paragraph 5(a); and (c) $1,000,000 of the assessed penalty will be credited to JetBlue for costs that JetBlue has incurred or will incur for: (1) goodwill compensation already paid to affected passengers during the timeframe covered by this investigation;8 and (2) goodwill compensation payable within one year of the date of this order to passengers who are 8 Credit for goodwill compensation to passengers is calculated at 100% for cash refunds and 80% for vouchers or travel credits.
We find that JetBlue Airways Corp. held out chronically delayed flight s, as defined by 14 CFR 399.81(c)(2): a.

Workplace equity Allegation

JetBlue is accused of religious and racial discrimination

JetBlue is accused of religious and racial discrimination in a lawsuit seeking compensatory and punitive damages.

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finance.yahoo.com
The lawsuit, which accused JetBlue of religious and racial discrimination, seeks compensatory damages, punitive damages, and attorneys' fees and costs.
A Jewish passenger is suing JetBlue claiming religious discrimination after he was thrown off a plane following his refusal to sit next to a woman

Corporate conduct Allegation

JetBlue promised not to exit certain routes it served from JFK before the pandemic

The source excerpt states: “The commitments are memorialized in an agreement signed on January 10, 2021 (“the DOT Agreement”).32 They include: 1) a promise by JetBlue not to exit certain routes it served from JFK before the pandemic; 2) an agreement by the defendants to amend the NEA to add certain “mandatory limitations on what can be discussed” during joint “network planning sessions”;33 3) an agreement to amend the NEA to prohibit certain actions a partner might otherwise take “in response to, or to influence, the other’s competitive behavior,” and to require that any slot leases between the partners have a minimum one-year duration; 4) a promise by both defendants to maintain and provide to the DOT certain data, records, and reports about the…”.

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courthousenews.com
The commitments are memorialized in an agreement signed on January 10, 2021 (“the DOT Agreement”).32 They include: 1) a promise by JetBlue not to exit certain routes it served from JFK before the pandemic; 2) an agreement by the defendants to amend the NEA to add certain “mandatory limitations on what can be discussed” during joint “network planning sessions”;33 3) an agreement to amend the NEA to prohibit certain actions a partner might otherwise take “in response to, or to influence, the other’s competitive behavior,” and to require that any slot leases between the partners have a minimum one-year duration; 4) a promise by both defendants to maintain and provide to the DOT certain data, records, and reports about the

Corporate conduct Confirmed

The U.S. Department of Transportation fined JetBlue Airways $50,000 for violating price advertising rules

Department of Transportation (DOT) today fined JetBlue Airways $50,000 for violating federal aviation laws and the Department’s rules prohibiting deceptive price advertising in air travel.

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transportation.gov
JetBlue’s website violated DOT rules requiring any advertising that includes a price for air transportation to state the full price to be paid by the consumer, including all carrier-imposed surcharges.
Department of Transportation (DOT) today fined JetBlue Airways $50,000 for violating federal aviation laws and the Department’s rules prohibiting deceptive price advertising in air travel.
The Department’s Aviation Enforcement Office found that for a period of time in early 2011, JetBlue displayed fare advertisements on several websites that did not provide any information on additional taxes and fees.

Corporate conduct Confirmed

JetBlue Airways Corp. abandoned its pursuit of Spirit Airlines Inc

The documented action involving JetBlue Airways Corp. concerns pursuit.

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bloomberg.com
JetBlue Airways Corp. formally abandoned its pursuit of Spirit Airlines Inc. more than a month after a federal judge blocked the $3.8 billion acquisition on antitrust grounds.

Corporate conduct Confirmed

JetBlue faces damages claims for ticket sales

JetBlue is sought for monetary damages by plaintiffs on behalf of direct purchasers of airline tickets from JetBlue and American Airlines.

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sec.gov
Among other things, plaintiffs seek monetary damages on behalf of a putative class of direct purchasers of airline tickets from JetBlue and American Airlines and, depending on the specific case, other airlines on flights to or from the NEA Airports from July 16, 2020 through the present.