For today only, value airline JetBlue Airways is offering seats on sale for just $14 each way on non-stop flights between San Francisco International Airport and both New York City/JFK and Los Angeles/Long Beach for travel from today through April 8, 2009.

The $14 fares to/from San Francisco are available until 11:59 p.m. MDT today, April 2, 2009, or until availability is gone, whichever is first. Travel must take place between April 2, 2009 and April 8, 2009. Full details are available here.

All I can say is huh?!?!?! Most major U.S. airlines charge more than $14 to just check in a bag!!! If I recall correctly, on JetBlue, the first checked bag is still free.

In my recent interview with SpiceJet CEO Sanjay Aggarwal, he highlighted some of the innovative cost cutting methods adopted at SpiceJet.

These methods have won SpiceJet the coveted Institute of Cost and Works Accountants of India (ICWAI) award for Excellence in Cost Management. It is the only airline to win this award.

A distinguished jury of eminent persons from industry, academia and administration selected the winners, and on the basis of better practices for resource management, efficient utilisation of capacity and working capital, quality augmentation programs and R&D efforts, and precise information on performance.

Nandan Mimani, Vice President Finance and Financial Controller of SpiceJet received the award from The Ministry of Corporate Affairs, Government of India recently. SpiceJet was one out of three companies from the private sector who won this award.

Commenting on this Sanjay Aggarwal, Chief Executive Officer, SpiceJet Limited said,

“We are delighted with this award – it is a recognition of our collective efforts in the right direction. Cost consciousness has been an intrinsic part of our corporate culture – SpiceJet has one of the lowest operating costs in the industry. We are constantly evaluating how to manage our costs even better, while providing a better experience to our customers.”

I cannot but help compare the corporate culture of SpiceJet, which never loses focus on the passenger, with that of Ryanair, which will do anything to earn a buck or rather a Euro.

Kudos to the team at SpiceJet.

SpiceJet has announced the return of its successful promotion scheme “Book for 2 pay for 1”.



This scheme is valid for bookings made from March 4 to 6, 2009 and only for bookings made through the SpiceJet website. There are conditions attached to this scheme.

SpiceJet in a bid to compete in the business segment with fellow low cost carrier IndiGo has announced some features:

• Passengers can buy hot coffee or tea with cookies for only Rs 20.
• Busy travellers can now collect their boarding passes for return flight, at the time of check in, provided they are coming back on the same day.
• Guests who land after travelling via an International airline, do not need to spend extra, to carry their “two bags”, while they fly with SpiceJet on domestic sectors
• Music is played as passenger boards and deplanes. This has been composed in-house by SpiceJet employee Moin Wasil.

Fellow low cost carrier IndiGo, has introduced special "all-inclusive" fares of Rs 1,600 and Rs 2,600 for journeys below and above 750 km. The over 750km Rs. 2,600 fare is attractive since, for example, for a Delhi-Mumbai flight the average full fare tickets cost Rs 5,500 or higher. For more details visit the IndiGo website.

Air New Zealand has adopted a different approach to marketing. It has created a parody of a low cost airline Saverjet.com. Enjoy the video.