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JetBlue's TrueBlue frequent flyer program is known for its revenue based model, with points earned based on how much you pay for the flight and redeeming points based on the cash fare of the flight. With a strong presence in the United States, Caribbean, and Latin America, JetBlue provides numerous opportunities for its loyal customers. This guide will explore how to earn TrueBlue points, highlight valuable redemption options, explain the program’s expiration policy, and discuss additional program-specific nuances.
How to Earn TrueBlue Points
Flying on JetBlue
The most straightforward way to earn TrueBlue points is by flying with JetBlue. Points are awarded based on the fare paid, rather than the distance flown. Here’s a breakdown of the points earning structure:
This basically means that if you are flying in Blue Basic Economy booking with the JetBlue Plus card directly through JetBlue’s website, you’d earn 8 JetBlue points/$1.
Flying on Partner Airlines
JetBlue has partnerships with several international airlines, including Emirates, Hawaiian Airlines, Icelandair, and Qatar Airways. You can earn TrueBlue points by flying on these partner airlines, but the earning rates vary depending on the airline, distance flown, and fare class. For instance, when flying on Qatar Airlines, you’ll earn based on the following table:
In this example, when flying an eligible Qatar rate, if you fly Business D class, you’d earn JetBlue points totaling 125% of the distance traveled.
Credit Card Spending
JetBlue offers several co-branded credit cards through Barclays, allowing you to earn points on everyday purchases:
- JetBlue Plus Card: Earn 6 points per dollar on JetBlue purchases, 2 points per dollar at restaurants and grocery stores, and 1 point per dollar on all other purchases.
- JetBlue Card: Earn 3 points per dollar on JetBlue purchases, 2 points per dollar at restaurants and grocery stores, and 1 point per dollar on all other purchases.
- JetBlue Business Card: Earn 6 points per dollar on JetBlue purchases, 2 points per dollar at restaurants and office supply stores, and 1 point per dollar on all other purchases.
These cards are not generally strong enough to merit one of your valuable 5/24 spots, so tread carefully. If you’re a JetBlue loyalist, this card may be a good option for you.
Credit Card Transfer Partners
JetBlue is transfer partners with several major US card issuers:
Here are some of our favorite cards where you can earn a healthy load of JetBlue miles!
Buy JetBlue Points
A tale as old as time, you can unsurprisingly buy JetBlue points if you’re missing a few. While buying miles at face value ~(3 cents/mile) is not a good deal, JetBlue does occasionally offer massive sales where you can buy points at significant discounts. For example, recently, JetBlue has offered a 75% bonus on purchasing points, which effectively makes it only cost 1.44 cents per point each to buy them.
Do JetBlue TrueBlue Points Expire?
TrueBlue points do not expire as long as your account remains active. This means you need to earn or redeem points at least once every 12 months to keep your account active. Activities that count towards keeping your account active include flying with JetBlue, using a JetBlue credit card, and earning points through partners.
How To Get JetBlue Elite Status
TrueBlue Mosaic is JetBlue's elite status, offering several benefits to frequent flyers. There are four levels to Mosaic status, titled Mosiac 1–4. You earn Mosiac status by gathering “tiles” which form your own personal Mosiac.
- 1 tile for every $100 spent on JetBlue flights (including many extras & fees) and on JetBlue Vacations packages
- 1 tile for every $1000 for spending on JetBlue credit cards
JetBlue status confers a lot of awesome benefits, including priority boarding, free checked bags, same day changes, dedicated phone support, and even up to 4 BLADE airport transfers for Mosaic 4 members.
Who Are JetBlue’s Airline Partners?
JetBlue is not a part of any of the major airline alliances, so it only has independent partnerships. This means you can seamlessly book these partner airline flights and enjoy smooth, interline bag handling.
- Etihad Airways
- Hawaiian Airlines
- Icelandair
- JSX
- Qatar Airlines
- Silver Airlines
- Singapore Airlines
- South African Airlines
How JetBlue Prices Its Award Flights
JetBlue prices its award flights based on the cash fare of the flight. That means that the number of points required for a flight is directly tied to the cash price of the ticket, which has good and bad consequences. Good in that its easy to understand and plan your redemptions. Bad in that the value of JetBlue points are rather capped.
JetBlue Sweet Spots 2024
Given JetBlue’s redemptions are based on revenue fares, they usually have very few high value sweet spots. An expensive cash fare flight will cost a lot of points.
You can use Roame's free search tool to quickly find potential valuable JetBlue redemptions.
Book Qatar Airways Flights
Booking partner flights using JetBlue points can sometimes be a rather good deal. For instance, JetBlue is partners with Qatar Airlines, meaning you can book partner flights on Qatar with JetBlue. While the nonstop business class seats cost just 70,000 points one way, if you add a layover, some itineraries may price a tad bit higher.
JetBlue Flash Sales
JetBlue sometimes offers award flash sales that can provide some fantastic value. For example, during one of their sales, they offered extraordinarily cheap Cyber Monday fares. Since JetBlue fares are directly tied to the cash fare, that meant you would be spending just a fraction of the amount you would be normally spending on that route.
Cancellation Policy
JetBlue’s cancellation policy is relatively flexible. You can cancel or change your flight booking, but the fees vary depending on the fare type and when you make the change. Mosaic members enjoy free changes and cancellations, making it a valuable status for frequent travelers.
Notably, JetBlue award flights are in essence, refundable. While the points will be refunded to you, any award taxes will be returned to you in the form a travel bank credit, which can be used up to 1 year before it expires.
Conclusion
JetBlue’s TrueBlue program is a user-friendly frequent flyer program with ample opportunities to earn and redeem points. Whether you're a frequent traveler or an occasional flyer, understanding how to maximize your TrueBlue points can help you get the most value and enjoyment from your travel experiences with JetBlue. However, given TrueBlue point award redemptions are generally tied to the cash price of your flight, the value you can derive from your points is a bit capped.
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