JetBlue Vacations and Utrip today announced a partnership that helps travelers create a personalized, hour-by-hour vacation itinerary – including JetBlue flights, hotels and other amenities – online in just a few minutes. The trip planning portal, available through JetBlue Vacations, uses artificial intelligence and locally curated recommendations to save customers the legwork that planning a vacation requires.
The new feature is a step forward for JetBlue Vacations (formerly JetBlue Getaways) and its evolution to offer more personalized trip experiences. JetBlue Vacations is combining technology with JetBlue’s award-winning customer service to create a one-stop vacation shop and seamless travel journey.
“When you hear artificial intelligence, it’s easy to envision a far-off future seen in the movies,” said Umang Gupta, president, JetBlue Vacations. “But AI is ready to change how we now plan travel. Our partnership with Utrip demonstrates that we can transform the vacation experience using both technology and a human touch.”
Integrating Utrip into the JetBlue Vacations online experience makes it effortless for travelers to discover destinations in the U.S., Latin America and the Caribbean based on what matters most to them. Through the partnership, travelers using the Utrip feature can book a JetBlue Vacations package and create an itinerary with a curated list of local recommendations.
“At Utrip, we are always striving to make travel an unforgettable experience,” said Gilad Berenstein, CEO and Founder of Utrip. “By collaborating with JetBlue Vacations, we’re excited to further our commitment to help our partners enhance their relationships with travelers, empowering them to discover new destinations and create lasting memories.”
Utrip’s vast database of more than 150 destinations has been curated by local area experts. To start planning, travelers go to jetblue.com/vacations and enter their destination and travel dates in the JetBlue Vacations-Utrip portal. Next they rank their travel preferences in sixteen categories, such as history, food, nightlife and budget. Utrip’s artificial intelligence algorithm, created by machine learning scientists, sorts through millions of potential combinations of sites, activities and restaurants – offering a suggested daily itinerary with recommended times and maps.
JetBlue Vacations Evolves the Packaged Vacation Model
Enhancing its service to include a more vibrant and dynamic online portal, JetBlue Vacations offers seamless booking, JetBlue’s award-winning customer service and competitive prices combined with tailored recommendations and experiences.
JetBlue Vacations is collaborating with JetBlue Technology Ventures, the venture capital subsidiary of JetBlue, to identify innovative companies in artificial intelligence, predictive analytics, targeted customer support and other leading edge technologies. JetBlue Technology Ventures helped identify Utrip as a partner for JetBlue Vacations. As the first corporate venture capital subsidiary in Silicon Valley backed by a U.S. airline, JetBlue Technology Ventures invests in, incubates and partners with early stage startups at the intersection of technology, travel and hospitality.
JetBlue Vacations offers vacation packages to nearly 100 destinations throughout the U.S., Mexico, Latin America and the Caribbean and provides customers with added convenience and lower costs by bundling flights and hotels with car rentals and other amenities and personalized experiences. Members of JetBlue’s TrueBlue loyalty program receive six points per eligible dollar when booking a JetBlue Vacations package and can pay using a combination of cash plus TrueBlue points. JetBlue Vacations also maintains an exclusive 24-hour support desk dedicated to assisting traveler’s questions before, during and after their trip by calling 1-800-JET-BLUE (538-2583), option 3.
