I agree completely that JetBlue's situation and the way they handled it was completely unacceptable.

But NYC to Pittsburgh is about a 6-hour drive. Unless there's some reason that it's physically not possible, we now drive anyplace that close. Between the hassles and uncertainties of airline travel, and the flexibility afforded by driving, trips of 300 or 400 miles are now best done on the ground.

Coming back from Milan last year, I had so many cancelations both to and fro. I got back to NY from Italy but my flight to Dayton got canceled or greatly delayed due to "weather", none apparent. I just went and found the nearest flight to my destination and changed to a departure for Columbus, Ohio got there and rented a car and drove the hour difference. I think they should have covered my car rental cost because I don't believe the "weather" excuse but I never pursued it.

"We had many flights that were able to depart from JFK, we just were not able to get all of them out that day so necessary measures needed to take place."

What is especially distressing is that those circumstances are not covered by most travel insurance policies.

It is not surprising that you could not be rebooked until two days later. They have to have a flight with empty seats to put you (and all the others on the cancelled flight).

Boy, I can understand if the plane truly had positioning issues.(?Falls under the same rules as weather delays, equipment issues etc I would guess)

What I do not understand is why JB is denying a full refund of the originial ticket price...

JB does not cite the regulation that allows them to not reimburse for services not rendered?

I would write a letter thanking for the response of Team Member on whatever date to the President of JB: then ask for the specific regulation that does not allow total refund for airline ticket.

Notorize the letter and sent Registerd mail or FEDEX (some proof of delivery)

Then I would send that letter and all responses from JB to Conde Nsst Traveler magazine Ombudsman section and ask them to respond.

They have pretty good luck investigating issues similiar.

I'm not defending JetBlue here because the two day delay after the cancellation is very poor performance.

However, Ground Delay Programs have nothing to do with individual airlines. They are delays or cancellations imposed by FAA's Flow Control Center because of traffic conditions somewhere along the intended route of flight, often around the destination. It may or may not have anything to do with weather.

The air traffic control system is antiquated and often cannot handle the volume of traffic that the airlines would like to have, especially around major hubs and at popular times of the day for travel.

The customer service issues are another matter but JetBlue (or any airline) shold not be blamed for ground delays imposed by the ATC system.

1JAR - I just re-read the original post carefully because (like you) I initially thought that JetBlue was not refunding the cost of the ticket for the canceled flight. But in re-reading, I note that the OP says "I wasted over an hour and a half (with JB customer service) to be told I could receive a refund". The $119.50 referenced later is the credit from Delta for the unused return flight.

Txs Azzure, that helps clarify the lette content posted later on that I was reading.

Rule 240 has worked for us in the past:

http://airtravel.about.com/cs/delays/a/rule240.htm

Just noticed that Rule 240 doesn't apply to Jet Blue:
http://www.petergreenberg.com/2007/1...240-explained/

The only airline exceptions to the rule: airlines that don’t have existing “interline” agreements with other carriers. Jet Blue, Southwest and a few other low cost carriers are not governed by 240. But American, United, Delta, Northwest, Continental, Alaska, and U.S. Air do have to abide by 240.