JetBlue to Pay $600,000 to Settle Consumer Rights Accusations

The U.S. Department of Transportation fined JetBlue Airways $600,000 for allegedly breaking rules designed to protect disabled passengers and not disclosing to consumers that it booked flights for them on other airlines.

After reviewing consumer complaints against the carrier, the federal agency alleged JetBlue didn't provide sufficient assistance to disabled passengers getting on and off planes or adequate written responses to consumer complaints. The agency also claimed JetBlue didn't disclose that flights sold by the carrier were flown by a code-share affiliate -- a practice where a carrier will sell tickets that use its designator code but are operated by a different airline.