Brett Snyder, aka The Cranky Flier finds himself in the crossfire between the City of Long Beach and Jetblue, a spat triggered due to contruction delays to enhancements to the Long Beach Airport Terminal.

Snyder apparently had a chance for a sit-down interview with Jetblue CEO Dave Barger, in which Barger let off steam about Jetblue’s frustration with Long Beach dragging their feet on the terminal enhancements - specifically not being able to use their E-190s in the commuter slots and about being “stuck in temporary trailers.”

In response to a question, Barger answered in the affirmative that if Long Beach doesn’t pay attention to these necessary infrastructural changes, Jetblue could possibly leave Long Beach. The interview got picked up by the mainstream media, with the Long beach Press Telegram, LA Times and USA Today weighing in.

This in turn set the alarm bells ringing at the Long Beach City Council, which immediately tagged on a supplemental to its agenda, asking the City Manager to report on the status of the enhancements. It also triggered off a round of finger-pointing, with the City Council members trying to find someone to blame, just in case things got out of hand. And this is where it gets interesting.

Councilwoman Gerrie Schipske - “I do think that the reporting of the comment that was, by the way, leaked directly from somebody at JetBlue to the blogger and then sent directly to the Press-Telegram and the District Weekly . . . I think the reporting was irresponsible.”

Councilwoman Tonia Reyes Uranga - “This is a blog, give me a break. If we start spending this much time on a blog, we’re really in trouble. So I would like to ask the Press-Telegram to go beyond blogness and get into real news stories. . . let’s stay positive.”

Come again?? You have the CEO of JetBlue himself confirming that it’s possible they could leave Long Beach. What’s it matter where it was published? They want Moses to come down with stone tablets bearing Jetblue CEO Dave Barger’s quotes?

And for people who are not familiar with The Cranky Flier, let me add my own recommendation here. Late last year, I contacted American Airlines requesting documents and background info related to a case filed by AA.

Stephen Schlachter, Director of Marketing and Communications Strategy for American Airlines, provided the necessary documents and also suggested that I visit Cranky Flier, who was also closely following the issue.

When a highly cautious AA spokesperson, who does everything by the book, tells you to visit a blog for more information, you can take it in writing that said blog is a reliable source.

I suggest that along with the airport enhancements, Long Beach also invest in some new media training for its Council members. Or maybe elect Council members who understand the difference between an interview and a leak.

Posted on April 13th, 2009 by PLing
Filed under: Airlines