More on Jetblue and Their Flying Green Machines? [Plus a Bonus Mini Rant]
When we fly, we usually fly Jetblue. Why? Well…we take our munchkins everywhere with us and Jetblue seems okay with that. The TVs in the seats, the direct flights, the multiple snack rounds all make it a wee bit easier for us toddler wranglers to get through the 3 hours it takes to get to FL, which is about as far as we have dared to fly so far. [Mini rant time. Fellow passengers...save the stink eye...we're not getting off the plane no matter how many times you sigh and look around for someone to share your miserable disappointment that children exist. And yes...my 2yr old still holds a boob to go to sleep. I can tell by the horrified look on your face how much you approve. Keep staring and I will let him grab yours.]
Now we all know there isn’t a whole lotta greenness going on when you fly. One great big carbon stomp for the most part. I, however, am not willing to give up visiting my family or allowing my children to see the rest of our country and the rest of the world and all its goodies in the name of conservation. We do fly direct and economy, both suppose to be better choices. But while my children amused themselves by seeing who could stare at the cranky bit** behind us the longest, I started to think about what things could be done to make flying at least green where it can be. Low and behold Jetblue was running a little self-promotion on their flight tracker about planting 200,000 trees in NYC as part of their One Thing That’s Green campaign. (Nothing better than mind washing ads inches in front of your face when strapped into a chair 40,000 feet in the air. Even the most ADD afflicted of us can handle that kind of research.)
Recycling…as mentioned yesterday, they recycle 70% of what is collected on board. Even though they collect it all in the same bag they actually sort it later. As far as the remaining 30%, I’m not sure if there is a practical solution to that. Not really practical or sanitary to not do the individual snacks and there just isn’t much on the market that is not packaged in plastic.
No Free Head Phones Starting June 1st, they stopped giving out free headphones. You now have to pay $1 for a set. The sets you pay $1 for are a little better than the freebies, but not so great that you are likely to be holding on to them forever. (The freebies are awful. We took 4 on the way down and 2 didn’t work at all and one ribbed in half when I leaned forward on the plane. Top quality, huh?) The dollar might jolt some people into remembering to bring them for the return flight at least, but not likely. I was pleased to see so many people just using their IPod ear buds. Overall I assume that there will be less plastic wasted here thanks to super cheapness or just greater consciousness.
Reduced Luggage Allowance Also starting on the first Jetblue will only allow one up to 50lb bag to be checked in for free. Each additional bag will be $20. Each lb over 50 on the first bag will also cost you $20. (I’m sure that fee will be raised if it doesn’t have an impact at $20.) Now obviously reduced weight means reduced fuel consumption, no? I tried to find some actual figures but had no luck.
Now here is the big question…how much does your greenness influence your travel? Are you willing to sacrifice experience for environment? What else could airlines do to fly greener? Do you feel these small adjustments will have a real impact in reducing waste and fuel consumption…or are we just just finding a way to rationalize an unnecessary luxury? 
The Latest In Environmentally Friendly Travel
Southwest also recycles btw.
One other little thing you can do: use the restroom before you board the plane. Everytime you use the restroom on the plane, it uses up a crazy amt of energy. (I can’t really remember how much or why, but I know I read it at Green as a Thistle.)
I have accepted that I am not going to stop flying. But I also think that the airline industry, unlike the car industry, is more personally motivated to make changes because they themselves bear the cost of fuel. For example, if the airline industry already had the option of going electric like cars do, they wouldn’t be stalling! They’d be all over it. I think a reluctance to go out of business will keep airlines pressing new technology and I think it’s very possible we will see emissions-free planes much sooner than one would expect. I don’t believe the same is true of the automotive industry.
I never knew about the bathroom thing. I wonder why they don’t post signs about stuff like that. Obviously if you have to go you have to go, but it would probably make people at least give it the ol’ college try beforehand.
I am looking forward to seeing airplanes powered by solar cells – imagine one with solar chips plastered all over it…
About luggage, I do think people tend to pack too much. This friend of mine was raised by her dad as a world-traveler. At 7 she was taught to read any local maps to orient herself and to pack a duffel bag of belongings no matter how long and how far she traveled. She still travels this way and has passed the tradition on to her children.
I can’t give up traveling. I love traveling. I love seeing the world. In fact in a couple of weeks, we are flying long distance – 13 hours. Yes, with a 5-year old and a 3-year old. Last year they were 4 and 2, and we managed to/fro Italy without going nutso. I feel for the fellow passengers. But such is life
Having just come off of a flight- flown solo with baby delaney, i can relate to the mini-rant. being crammed into the window seat with a lap baby, who has just discovered the art of lifting up my hooter hider is not picnic in the park for me either. but the kids got to eat and hormone injected milk or additive laden formula just doesn’t sound quite as appetizing. oh, and by the way, consider the math on how much waste we breastfeeders reduce: no formula packaging, no water wasted on bottle washing, no ozone pollution from those nasty plastic bottles…
thanks for sharing brandi, your blog is wonderful:)
Hi Tasha. Welcome. Excellent point about the green side of breastfeeding. I must say after about a month into nursing my first son I gave up on the hooter-hiders, great name by the way. I think most of NYC, willingly or not, has seen one of my girls at some point or other. Fortunately in NY it takes a little more than flashing a little nip to get any real notice.