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Cody Godwin, USA TODAY
JetBlue Airways’ surprise $3.6 billion bid for “ultra” low-fare carrier Spirit Airlines sounded like a late April Fools’ prank to some passengers.
JetBlue claimed its offer, which would thwart a bid by Frontier Airlines to acquire Spirit, was a “superior” deal that would benefit customers and shareholders.
But will the joke be on air travelers? If the last big merger is any indication, maybe.
“If the merger means improved service and the end of Spirit’s poor treatment of passengers, then I’m all for it,” says Vince Marano, an electrician from Feasterville, Pennsylvania “But I would hate to see JetBlue get dragged down to Spirit’s level.”
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The conventional wisdom is that this unlikely airline combination could disappoint JetBlue’s customers and damage its brand. But a closer look at the customer service records of JetBlue and Spirit reveals it may already be too late.
And a review of the last big airline merger suggests that even if it isn’t, a combined JetBlue-Spirit would probably receive more complaints and deliver worse customer service for years to come.
JetBlue and Spirit have a lot more in common than you think
When JetBlue announced its unsolicited bid for Spirit earlier this week, CEO Robin Hayes declared the two carriers have “much in common.” He pointed to both airlines” focus on keeping costs low so they can “profitably” expand.
Besides that, JetBlue and Spirit seem completely different. Spirit Airlines charges customers for anything that isn’t bolted down, including carry-on luggage, snacks and beverages. JetBlue’s onboard experience has featured…