As if their low prices weren’t enough to entice people to fly with them, JetBlue—darlings of the bargain basement airline niche—has partnered with Nintendo of America to put together an interactive gaming area focused on the recently-released Nintendo 3DS. Starting today, and going through May 30, visitors to Terminal 5 at JFK International Airport will be able to experience the 3DS through playing games, taking and sharing 3D pictures, and participating in daily prize giveaways.
Hopefully the pilots only play 3DS when they're in the terminal
Born to be Bedfellows?
On the surface, this seems like a strange pairing, but it really make sense if you think about it. The airline security situation in the US necessitates arriving at the airport more than an hour before a scheduled flight—even earlier if you fly internationally. This creates an atmosphere of utter boredom, and leaves people feeling like they have just wasted a lot of time. This detracts from the overall experience of air travel, making some casual fliers less likely to travel.
By creating an atmosphere of fun and excitement, if only for a few weeks, JetBlue has given travellers a way to beat the doldrums of airport waiting. In some cases, this could even persuade some potential travellers with mixed feelings to go ahead and book that ticket.
A Sign of Things to Come?
We can only hope that this event induces other airlines, or potentially even airports themselves, to start giving travellers more than overpriced fast food, grabby TSA agents, and uncomfortable chairs in which to pass the time waiting for boarding.
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