JetBlue gets a lot of praise from travelers, and with good reason. You can stretch out comfortably in the 18” wide seats, which offer the most legroom of any airline in coach. And you won’t have to stop browsing the internet, even after takeoff, since JetBlue offers free Wi-Fi with every seat.
With more than 100 destinations to choose from, you can pick your own adventure on JetBlue. And all that travel can add up to some serious rewards with the right credit card. For frequent JetBlue travelers, the JetBlue Plus Card is one of the best airline credit cards out there, and it even comes with perks that will make your travel experience a lot more comfortable.
Who should get the JetBlue Plus Card?
The JetBlue Plus Card is a great option for anyone who flies JetBlue frequently. That’s because you’ll earn 6X points on JetBlue purchases, which is a higher rate of return than you would get with other premium travel rewards cards, even those with higher annual fees.
If you’re not flying JetBlue at least a couple of times a year, you’ll probably be better off with a travel rewards card that earns you points for travel purchases on any airline.
Card basics
Card type | Travel |
Credit card issuer | Barclays |
Credit card network | Mastercard |
Annual fee | $99 |
Welcome offer | Earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases (and paying the annual fee) in the first 90 days |
Reward rate | 6X points on JetBlue purchases, 2X points at restaurants and grocery stores, and 1X points per $1 spent on all other purchases |
Recommended credit score | Excellent |
Foreign transaction fee | None |
JetBlue Plus Card benefits and perks
- Generous welcome offer: With the JetBlue Plus Card, you can earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases (and paying the annual fee) in the first 90 days of account opening.
- High rewards rate: Cardholders earn 6X points on JetBlue purchases, 2X points at restaurants and grocery stores, and 1X points per $1 spent on all other purchases. There are no blackout dates, and your points don’t expire as long as your account remains open.
- Introductory APR: This card offers a 0% intro APR on balance transfers for 12 billing cycles on transfers that post within 45 days of account opening. After that, the interest rate increases to the regular APR of 21.24% to 29.99% (variable).
- Statement credit on vacation packages: Each year you spend $100 or more on a JetBlue Vacations package, you’ll get a $100 statement credit awarded to your account.
- Anniversary bonus points: This card offers a bonus of 5,000 rewards points each year on your account anniversary.
- In-flight savings: When you use your JetBlue Plus Card for in-flight purchases, you’ll get half off cocktails and food!
- Free checked bag: When you book a flight with your JetBlue Plus Card, you and up to three companions on the same reservation will get your first checked bags free.
- Reach Mosaic status faster: When you reach Mosaic status in the JetBlue loyalty program, you’ll enjoy premium perks like early boarding, no change/cancel fees, two free checked bags, free alcohol, and more. You can earn one tile for every $1,000 spent on qualifying purchases with this card. The first Mosaic status level starts at 50 tiles.
Drawbacks to the JetBlue Plus Card
- Limited redemptions: This card is one of the best airline credit cards for JetBlue frequent flyers, but your redemption options are limited beyond JetBlue flights. If you're looking for a card that offers flexible redemptions, this may not be the card for you.
- Has annual fee: This card has an annual fee of $99, so you need to make sure you'll take advantage of its perks or spend in its bonus categories often enough to offset this cost.
Earning and redeeming JetBlue Trueblue points
Potential earnings in years one and two
Here's a look at how your points can add up with the JetBlue Plus Card. To calculate these values, we used a point valuation of 1.3 cents apiece.
Remember, this is an estimation. The actual value will be determined by how much you spend and in which categories you spend.
Year one earnings: $1,557
Year two earnings: $936
These values are based on the FinanceBuzz Credit Card Rewards Valuation Model, which takes a look at points earned via spending, the welcome bonus, and the annual fee.
Note that the amounts above only account for general travel spending, not spending specific to JetBlue. If you spend on JetBlue purchases, you'll earn 6X points, which can help you get much more value with this card.
Best ways to earn
The real value of this card is in the 6X points you earn for JetBlue purchases. But if you don’t have a premium card that earns more points on dining, you can also use your JetBlue Plus Card when you dine out.
Categories | Rewards rate |
JetBlue purchases | 6X |
Restaurants and grocery stores | 2X |
All other purchases | 1X |
Maximizing your redemptions
If you want to get the most value from your points, use them to book award flights through your TrueBlue account. You’ll get 10% of your points back in your account after you redeem them and take your trip.
FAQs about the JetBlue Plus Card
Is the JetBlue Plus Card worth it?
If you travel with JetBlue frequently, you can quickly rack up enough points to offset the $99 annual fee. For example, if you buy even one JetBlue Vacations package in a year, the $100 statement credit you receive will make up for the annual fee. Also, consider that you’ll get a free checked bag every time you fly, which would normally cost you $30.
What does the JetBlue Plus Card include?
With the JetBlue Plus Card, you’ll get premium perks like a free checked bag with every flight, 50% off in-flight purchases, 5,000 extra points each cardmember anniversary, and the opportunity to earn Mosaic elite status.
You’ll also get 6X points on JetBlue purchases and a generous welcome bonus — new cardmembers can earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases (and paying the annual fee) in the first 90 days. And you can count on features like $0 fraud liability protection and more.
What credit score do you need for JetBlue Plus Card?
CardRatings estimates that you’ll need excellent credit to qualify for the JetBlue Plus card.
Does the JetBlue Plus Card have travel insurance?
No, the JetBlue Plus card does not come with a travel insurance perk.
Other cards to consider
If you’re not a frequent JetBlue traveler, you might be better served by one of the travel rewards credit cards that earn you points for purchases on any airline.
With the Chase Sapphire Reserve®, you’ll 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. Those points stretch 50% when redeemed for travel through the Chase Travel℠ portal, which means you’ll essentially get 4.5 points per dollar spent on most travel costs. This card does come with a higher annual fee of $550, though. However, this fee can be partially offset by the $300 annual travel credit you get with this card.
If you’re looking for a card with a similar annual fee to the JetBlue Plus card, the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card could be an excellent option for you. With a generous welcome offer, it’s easy and fast to rack up travel rewards with this card. Plus, the annual fee is just $95.
Choose the right travel rewards card for you, and you’ll be on your way to earning free airfare to your favorite destinations.