Your Essential Guide to Flying JetBlue [2024]

A lot of attention is paid to American, Delta, Southwest, and United in the rewards community, but you shouldn’t ignore JetBlue. JetBlue consistently ranks high in customer satisfaction, and you can fly JetBlue to over 100 destinations worldwide.

If you’re curious about JetBlue, we’ve got you covered. This guide will answer some of the most common questions about the airline, ticketing options, baggage policies, loyalty program, and more.

About JetBlue Airways

JetBlue was founded in 2000 in New York City. It currently operates more than 1,000 daily flights and serves more than 42 million customers annually. Service is offered to over 100 cities; about one-third of its destinations are in the Caribbean, Latin America, and other international locales.

The airline operates nearly 300 aircraft, and 100% of them are equipped with Fly-Fi, JetBlue’s in-flight WiFi. Mint service (which we’ll discuss in a minute) is offered on all its planes, but availability depends on your destination.

JetBlue focuses its operations in New York, Boston, Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood, Los Angeles, Long Beach, Orlando, and San Juan. Popular routes include Seattle to Boston, Los Angeles to New York, Fort Lauderdale to Los Angeles, and New York to the Caribbean.

JetBlue Airways: Five ticket options

JetBlue offers five different ticket options for its passengers, including:

• Blue Basic
• Blue
• Blue Plus
• Blue Extra
• Mint

Blue Basic

People on a budget may opt for JetBlue’s new Blue Basic fares. These tickets are only available when you pay cash for a ticket instead of using TrueBlue points. No changes or cancellations are permitted, so only book this fare if you are sure you’ll be traveling. You’ll board last, and this fare does not include a checked bag (unless you have Mosaic status — more on this later), so pack light. (Here are some of our favorite carry-ons if you’re looking for a new one!)

Blue

Blue is JetBlue’s traditional Economy class ticket. With this ticket, you’ll board during general boarding, and changes are allowed for a fee. Unfortunately, it does not include a free checked bag unless you have Mosaic status, but you can select your seat in advance.

Blue Plus

Blue Plus tickets offer all the same benefits as Blue tickets. However, these tickets include one complimentary checked bag — and you don’t need Mosaic status to get this perk.

Blue Extra

JetBlue recently introduced the Blue Extra ticket, which provides early boarding, expedited security screening, and free cancellations and changes. This refundable ticket does not include a free checked bag (unless you have Mosaic status).

Mint

JetBlue also offers Mint service between select cities. Mint tickets are JetBlue’s version of First Class. You’ll enjoy lie-flat seating, artisanal dining, and suite doors on select flights for extra privacy. Passengers can board early, receive expedited security screening, and check two bags for free. Change and cancellation fees are required, except for Mosaic members.

JetBlue’s in-flight amenities

One of the reasons travelers give JetBlue such high marks is that it offers several amenities that other airlines charge for. For example, passengers receive the most legroom in coach of all domestic airlines. The airline also provides complimentary brand-name snacks and drinks. Plus, passengers enjoy free WiFi, DIRECTV, SiriusXM radio, and movies at every seat.

Mosaic members also receive complimentary alcoholic beverages, no matter which class of seat they’re flying.

If you’ve flown other airlines recently, you know how cramped Economy seats can be. JetBlue offers up to 34” of seat pitch in standard Economy seating. Seat pitch is the distance between the same spot on the seat in front or behind it. These extra inches can make a world of difference versus flying other carriers, especially if you’re over six feet!

JetBlue’s baggage policies

When you fly JetBlue, you are allowed one personal item and a carry-on bag at no cost. You can add up to two checked bags when you travel. Your checked bags may be free depending on the ticket class you purchase, your loyalty program status, and if you’re a JetBlue credit cardholder.

Generally, though, standard-sized checked bags on JetBlue are $35 for the first bag and $45 for the second bag. Here’s how you can avoid or reduce JetBlue checked baggage fees:

• Purchase the right ticket: Blue Plus tickets include the first checked bag for free, while Mint tickets include two complimentary checked bags.
• Earn JetBlue Mosaic status: Mosaic elite status includes two checked bags for the member and others traveling on the same itinerary. (More on earning this status in a minute!)
• Open up a JetBlue credit card: The JetBlue Plus Card includes one free checked bag for the cardholder and up to three companions on the same itinerary.

Oversized bags and bags weighing over 50 pounds cost $150 each. Golf bags, fishing rods, skimboards, skis, or snowboards are counted as standard checked bags and do not incur a charge for being oversized. However, keep in mind you will be charged if they are over the weight limit.

Flying JetBlue: What customers are saying

JetBlue Airways has been the TripAdvisor Traveler’s Choice for four years (2017-2020). TripAdvisor customers love JetBlue’s in-flight amenities and extra room compared to other airlines. Kayak reviews list JetBlue as the #1 Budget Airline Worldwide. In addition, travelers note that they feel very comfortable on JetBlue flights, and the crews are very friendly.

The biggest negatives about JetBlue include its limited footprint (e.g., no flights to Asia) and minor problems with individual flights that may or may not be JetBlue’s fault. Some reviews on Influenster note JetBlue’s decision to eliminate free checked bags for everyone in 2015.

TrueBlue: The JetBlue loyalty program

The loyalty program for JetBlue Airways is called TrueBlue. It is free to join, and only takes a few minutes to open your account. Once you have an account, you can start earning TrueBlue points. We also recommend signing up for JetBlue’s emails so you can be one of the first to find out about fare sales and promotions.

How to earn JetBlue points

You can earn JetBlue points in several ways, and the best part is that they don’t expire. Most flights earn 3X TrueBlue points per dollar of base fare; however, JetBlue Basic flights only earn one point per dollar. JetBlue gives you an extra 200 points if you book an Even More Space seat and 300 points when you travel with a pet. Finally, if you book a JetBlue vacation package, you earn points on the entire itinerary, not just the flight.

Shopping through the TrueBlue Shopping portal allows you to earn additional JetBlue points with your purchases. It is free to use and features many popular stores, including Best Buy, Home Depot, Staples, and Groupon. In most cases, you’ll earn 3X points per dollar spent through the portal, plus there are coupons that can save you money.

You can also credit your flights on partner airlines to JetBlue to earn additional points. JetBlue airline partners include Aer Lingus, Emirates, Hawaiian Airlines, and JSX.

If you’re a loyal JetBlue flyer, you may also want to consider opening a JetBlue credit card. JetBlue is a transfer partner of American Express, Capital One, Chase, and Citibank, which means you can transfer the points you earn with those credit cards to your TrueBlue account.

Points pooling

One of the unique features of the JetBlue TrueBlue loyalty program is that families can pool points and use them to book flights through the TrueBlue travel portal. A JetBlue points pool is free to start and requires a minimum of two members, though up to seven friends and family can pool points together. 

Members of the pool contribute 100% of their points to the collection yet can still redeem their individual points for award bookings. This pooling allows the leader to redeem points pooled from several accounts to book award travel faster.

Earning JetBlue TrueBlue Mosaic status

JetBlue Airlines’ loyalty program has four elite status levels: Mosaic 1, 2, 3, and 4. To achieve membership, you earn “tiles,” a new metric that replaced Mosaic-qualifying points in May 2023. Travelers who earn Mosaic status receive numerous perks as rewards for their loyalty while flying JetBlue.

What are tiles?

The TrueBlue tiles system tracks members’ progress toward perks and Mosaic status. Every 10 tiles earned gives you access to select perks before you reach Mosaic 1 status, which you’ll achieve once you have 50 tiles. (More on Mosaic benefits in a moment.)

Tiles are different from TrueBlue Points. Unlike TrueBlue Points, you can’t redeem tiles for travel or purchase them outright. You earn tiles through spending on JetBlue travel and JetBlue credit cards.

Once you’ve collected enough tiles, you can achieve Mosaic status benefits, whereas TrueBlue points are JetBlue’s loyalty currency that can be redeemed for award travel and other bookings. Tiles also reset at the end of each year, while TrueBlue points never expire.

How do you earn tiles?

You can earn one tile for every $100 spent on qualifying JetBlue flights, JetBlue Vacations, Paisly by JetBlue, or American Airlines purchases. JetBlue cardmembers can also earn one tile for every $1,000 spent on qualifying purchases using any JetBlue credit card.

What are the benefits of Mosaic status?

When you start earning tiles on JetBlue, you’ll immediately start receiving benefits. For example, change and cancellation fees are waived, your first and second checked bags are free, and in-flight alcoholic beverages are complimentary. Each Mosaic level comes with the benefits of the previous tiers.

Each time you reach a new Mosaic tier, you can also select one perk from the Mosaic "Perks You Pick" list:

• FoundersCard Blue membership: Access to more than 150 premium travel, business, and lifestyle benefits created for Mosaic members.
• Pet fee waiver: Fly with your pet (cat or small dog) on all eligible JetBlue-operated flights at no extra charge — $125 value per flight
• $99 statement credit on select JetBlue cards: One-time $99 statement credit for the JetBlue Plus Card or JetBlue Business Card.¹
• 20-Tile bonus: You can get or gift 20 tiles to boost yourself or a friend to the next level faster.
• 15,000-point bonus: Boost your TrueBlue balance with 15,000 bonus points.
• Mint Suite® Priority (coming soon): Priority access to Mint Suite selection on select flights, pending availability. Excludes Mint Studio®.

Consider these credit cards to earn more JetBlue points

JetBlue Card

The JetBlue Card is a decent credit card that earns 3X points on JetBlue purchases and 2X points on restaurants and grocery stores. It has a $0 annual fee and cardholders can save 50% on in-flight purchases of alcoholic beverages and food. New cardmembers can earn 10,000 bonus points after you spend $1,000 on purchases in the first 90 days.

JetBlue Plus Card

For more frequent fliers, it pays to upgrade to the JetBlue Plus Card. This is the best airline credit card if you love JetBlue. With this card, you’ll earn 6X points on JetBlue purchases, 2X points at restaurants and grocery stores, and 1X points per $1 spent on all other purchases. You’ll also get a 50% discount on in-flight drinks and food, and the first checked bag is free for you and up to three companions on the same itinerary.

You’ll earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases (and paying the annual fee) in the first 90 days. Plus, you’ll get a $100 discount on a JetBlue Vacation package of $100 or more. The annual fee for this card is $99, and you’ll receive 5,000 bonus points each year when you renew the card.

JetBlue Business Card

The JetBlue Business Card is similar to the JetBlue Plus Card. With this card, you can earn 6X points on JetBlue purchases, 2X points at restaurants and office supply stores, and 1X points per $1 spent on all other purchases. New cardmembers can also earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 in the first 90 days (plus another 10,000 when a purchase is made on an employee card in the first 90 days).

Cardholders receive a free checked bag for them and up to three companions on the same itinerary, plus a 50% savings on in-flight drinks and snacks. You also get a $100 statement credit each year for purchasing a JetBlue Vacations package of $100 or more. The card’s annual fee is $99, and you can earn 5,000 bonus points each year you’re a cardmember.

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Capital One introduced JetBlue as a transfer partner in May 2019. With the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card, you can earn 2 miles per dollar on every purchase, every day, 5 miles per dollar on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 5 miles per dollar on Capital One Entertainment purchases through 12/31/25. 

New cardmembers can also earn 75,000 bonus miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening. You can transfer Venture Miles to JetBlue on a 1:1 basis. The annual fee for this card is $95.

Chase Sapphire Reserve^®

The Chase Sapphire Reserve is one of the best travel credit cards that gets you premier benefits. With this card, you can earn 5X points on flights and 10X points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually; 3X points on other travel and dining & 1X points per dollar on all other purchases. 

Plus, it offers numerous travel benefits, like a $300 travel credit, access to Priority Pass airport lounges, and primary rental car protection. New cardmembers can earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. Chase Ultimate Rewards points transfer to JetBlue on a 1:1 basis. There is a $550 annual fee with this card, which many people consider a net of $250 after the $300 travel credit.

Citi Strata Premier℠ Card

With the Citi Strata Premier, you earn 10X points on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked on CitiTravel.com; 3X points on air travel and other hotel purchases, at restaurants, supermarkets, gas and EV charging stations; and 1X points on all other purchases. New cardmembers can also earn 70,000 bonus thankyou® points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months of account opening, redeemable for $700 in gift cards or travel rewards at thankyou.com. 

These points can be transferred to 15 airline partners. Citi ThankYou Points transfer from the Strata Premier card to JetBlue on a 1:1 basis. You’ll pay a $95 annual fee for this travel credit card.

FAQs about flying JetBlue

Our readers often have questions about JetBlue. These are some of the questions we see the most.

The bottom line on flying with JetBlue

Flying JetBlue is a great experience. Even Economy tickets receive amenities that many other airlines charge for. The process is simple if you’re interested in earning points that you can redeem on JetBlue. Just sign up for the JetBlue TrueBlue program and earn points by flying, shopping through its portal, or using its credit cards. Several credit card programs also transfer to JetBlue, providing even more options to earn TrueBlue points.

There are no blackout dates when flying JetBlue with points; points are worth between 1 and 1.5 cents per point when you redeem them for flights. You won’t receive outsized value like some airlines, but the consistent value, great amenities, and ability to book a seat on any flight make up for that.

Easy-to-Earn Unlimited Rewards

Bank of America^® Travel Rewards credit card

Benefits

Card Details

• $0 annual fee
• Simple, flat-rate rewards
• Flexible redemption options
• Up to 75% preferred Rewards bonus potential
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• Earn unlimited 1.5 points per $1 spent on all purchases, with no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees and your points don't expire as long as your account remains open.
• 25,000 online bonus points after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening - that can be a $250 statement credit toward travel purchases.
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• Redeem points for a statement credit to pay for travel or dining purchases, such as flights, hotel stays, car and vacation rentals, baggage fees, and also at restaurants including takeout.
• 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases, and for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days. After the Intro APR offer ends, a Variable APR that’s currently 18.74% - 28.74% will apply. A 3% Intro balance transfer fee will apply for the first 60 days your account is open. After the Intro balance transfer fee offer ends, the fee for future balance transfers is 4%.
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Earn 25,000 online bonus points after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening - that can be a $250 statement credit toward travel purchases

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• The Bank of America^® Travel Rewards credit card is great for individuals who enjoy earning rewards and traveling.

• Cardholders will enjoy the flexibility to redeem points with no blackout dates and receive a statement credit to pay for travel and dining purchases.

• Earn 1.5X points on all purchases everywhere, every time.

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