Update: Some offers mentioned below for the JetBlue Card and JetBlue Plus Card are no longer available.
Though JetBlue might not give you a large number of options to redeem your points compared to American, United, and Delta, there are a still handful of great redemptions available.
In this article, I’ll describe the best ways to use your JetBlue TrueBlue points that will give you the highest value rewards.
If you’ve collected enough points through flying JetBlue, spending on your JetBlue credit card, or spending on a credit card that earns Membership Rewards points, read on for some options!
Earning JetBlue TrueBlue Points
There are a few different options available to earn JetBlue TrueBlue points. The most conventional way to earn JetBlue reward points is through flying, but you’ll be able to earn more points a lot quicker through various credit cards. Below are all of the credit cards you can use to earn JetBlue points.
JetBlue Credit Cards
JetBlue has 3 co-branded credit cards that you can use to earn JetBlue points. These cards are provided by Barclays.
Hot Tip: Check out the most valuable benefits of the JetBlue Plus Card!
Chase Ultimate Rewards Credit Cards
You can transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards points to JetBlue at a 1:1 ratio.
Recommended Chase Cards (Personal)
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card - This is our favorite beginners travel rewards card, which is currently offering a 60,000 point bonus after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
The card earns 5x points on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards, 3x points on dining and 2x points on all other travel purchases, plus more. Enjoy a $50 annual Ultimate Rewards Hotel Credit, and other travel benefits such as excellent travel insurance coverage, including car rental insurance and no foreign transaction fees, this card is a very rewarding card. |
Chase Sapphire Reserve® - This premium card will get you access to 1,300+ airport lounges. as well as a number of other card benefits. The current sign up bonus is 50,000 points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. You'll also get a $300 travel credit per year which wipes away a big chunk of the $550 annual fee.
Earn big with this card, earn 5X total points on air travel and 10X total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3X points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases. |
Chase Freedom Unlimited® - A solid, no-annual-fee card that earns you a $200 bonus after you spend $500 in your first 3 months. The newest intro offer earns an additional 1.5% cash back on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) - worth up to $300 cash back! This means you'll enjoy 6.5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, 4.5% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and 3% on all other purchases (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year).
After your first year or $20,000 spent, enjoy 5% cash back on Chase travel purchased through Ultimate Rewards, 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and unlimited 1.5% cash back on all other purchases. |
If you’re a business owner, see our list of recommended Chase business credit cards.
Citi ThankYou Points Credit Cards
You can transfer Citi ThankYou Points to JetBlue at a 1:1 ratio.
You’ll need either the Citi Prestige® Card or the Citi ThankYou® Premier Card to transfer at that ratio. Citi ThankYou® Preferred cardholders, which otherwise cannot transfer points to airline miles, can transfer to JetBlue at 1:0.8 ratio.
Amex Membership Rewards Credit Cards
You can transfer Amex Membership Rewards to JetBlue at a rate of 1:0.8. Sometimes you can take advantage of promotional periods that bump up the transfer rate to 1:1.
Recommended American Express Cards (Personal)
The Platinum Card® from American Express - There's currently a new welcome bonus offer of 60,000 100,000 Membership Rewards Points after spending $6,000 on purchases in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Apply and select your preferred metal Card design: classic Platinum Card®, Platinum x Kehinde Wiley, or Platinum x Julie Mehretu.
This is our #1 card for accessing 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide, including Priority Pass (enrollment required). We leverage ~$4,900+ in benefits and perks from the card every year. Terms Apply. For rates and fees of the Amex Platinum card, click here. |
American Express® Gold Card - This card has a welcome bonus of 60,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $4,000 on purchases in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
We love using this card as it earns 4x Membership Rewards Points at restaurants, including takeout and delivery, and earns 4x Membership Rewards points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1x).
With an annual fee of $250, there's no better card in our opinion if you eat out and/or shop at supermarkets regularly; and you'll have access to many benefits and perks. Terms apply and for rates and fees of the Amex Gold card, click here. |
Business owners can review our list of recommended Amex business credit cards in our guide.
The 8 Best Ways To Use Your JetBlue TrueBlue Points
New York-based low-cost carrier JetBlue is the fifth largest airline in the United States, and TrueBlue is its frequent flyer program.
Similar to Southwest Airlines’ program, any seat on any JetBlue flight can be booked with points as long as it’s available to be booked with cash–no blackout dates! Points can be used on one-way and round-trip flights.
Redemption rates correlate to airfare prices, meaning the cheaper the fare, the fewer TrueBlue points required to redeem an award flight.
A unique feature of the TrueBlue program is that families can pool reward points into a family account. Most airlines allow just 1 account per person, but this option provides an opportunity to keep miles in a single account.
Upon enrolling in the option, family members can earn TrueBlue points more quickly.
The main benefit of doing this is not having to transfer points between accounts or pay fees associated with a member-to-member point transfer. One person designated as the head of the household manages point accumulation and can book award flights for anyone in the family.
I’ve compiled and highlighted some of the best travel redemptions available to book with your JetBlue points here; these are the options that will help you take your JetBlue points to the next level!
This isn’t a completely exhaustive list, but it does include a lot of options traveling to different regions in different classes of service.
Of course, there may be other great redemptions available. Depending on how and where you like to travel, you may have some other favorite award options; feel free to share these with us!
We will work to keep this information as up to date as possible; now onto the best ways to use JetBlue points.
1. Fly in Luxury Transcontinental With JetBlue Mint
JetBlue Mint throne seat. Image Credit: Stephen AuMint is JetBlue’s version of a premium cabin, and it’s available on transcontinental flights within the U.S. as well as on some flights to the Caribbean.
JetBlue Mint class includes fully lie-flat seats, some of which are suites that will be perfect for flyers who value personal space and look for a little more privacy in-flight.
As is the case with many elite travelers, Mint passengers have access to a priority check-in line, early boarding, 2 free checked bags, and a preferred baggage claim upon landing.
In-flight perks include free internet access (known as Fly-Fi on JetBlue flights), unlimited entertainment, tapas menu, and amenity kits.
Currently, Mint is offered on routes originating in Boston and New York (JFK) for travel to San Francisco, Los Angeles, Aruba, and Barbados. Future routes include Fort Lauderdale, Seattle, Las Vegas, and San Diego, as well as Grenada, St. Lucia, and St. Maarten.
Here’s the complete route map currently available:
JetBlue Mint Routes. Image credit: JetBlueAll Mint seats are available for TrueBlue point redemptions.
Flight prices vary quite a bit for Mint, but the lowest price I was able to find for flights between JFK and LAX was 52,000 reward points one-way. It’s possible to fly Mint for less on the Boston to Aruba, route which starts at 39,400 points one-way.
Need Help Booking? Read our guide on how you can book JetBlue Mint Class using points
Hot Tip: Use The Platinum Card® from American Express to gain access to lounges through Priority Pass Select and Amex Centurion Lounges in order to make your trips more comfortable.
2. Use Your Points To Fly to the Forbidden Island of Cuba
Use as few as 11,000 JetBlue points to fly to the forbidden land of Cuba. Image Credit: Shutterstock.comJetBlue is among the few U.S. carriers that have been approved to operate to Cuba. In fact, JetBlue was the first U.S.-based carrier to operate a commercial flight to the forbidden island in almost 50 years. It turns out that flying to the island is also a great use of frequent flyer points!
JetBlue operates to 4 Cuban destinations: Camaguey, Holguin, Santa Clara, and Havana. Departures from New York City and Orlando fly to Havana only, while Fort Lauderdale serves all 4 Cuban destinations.
Please keep in mind that U.S. citizens are required to select one of the approved reasons for travel to Cuba, including family visits, journalistic activity, or official business, among others.
Hot Tip: Note: As of June 5, 2019, the United States is eliminating two main categories: people-to-people travel and educational purposes travel. This is a huge blow, as now it’s nearly impossible to visit Cuba for tourism.
It is possible to book a one-way ticket, but passengers must provide proof of onward travel upon check-in at the airport.
Using JetBlue presents great value for these flights in comparison to other U.S.-based carriers. For example, flights from New York (JFK) to Havana can be booked for as few as 5,500 TrueBlue points per leg or 11,000 round-trip.
Both Delta Air Lines and United Airlines charge 35,000 miles on a similar route; American Airlines requires 30,000 AAdvantage miles.
3. Use Your Points for Even More Space
If you have Mosaic status with JetBlue, use your miles to upgrade to a seat with Even More Space. Image Credit: JetBlueJetBlue elite flyers, known as Mosaic Members, can redeem their TrueBlue points for an upgrade from a purchased economy ticket to a premium economy seat with extra legroom.
Even More Space seats are those roomy seats located either in emergency exit rows or at the front of a plane that offers passengers 38 inches of pitch. In comparison, regular economy seats provide 32 inches.
In some markets, early boarding and access to overhead space are included with a purchase of an Even More Space seat.
Even More Space costs vary by route, beginning at $10 per leg and increasing based on the distance. Mosaic Members can upgrade their economy seat to Even More Space for just 800 TrueBlue points, so it’s a relatively good use of those miles.
4. Take a Trip With JetBlue Getaways Vacation Packages
You can book more than just airfare with your JetBlue points! All-inclusive vacation packages are available for booking via JetBlue Vacation Packages. Image Credit: JetBlueJetBlue sells an array of vacation packages (air + hotel) to travelers who are looking for a getaway that doesn’t involve a lot of planning. Prices vary depending on the length of stay and lodging option included.
Most of these vacations depart from the East Coast: Boston, New York, and Fort Lauderdale. The best part is that you can redeem TrueBlue points toward one of these packages!
Passengers can select a cash and reward points option when browsing for the right getaway, allowing them to apply a combination of both toward a trip. Unfortunately, there’s no option to book a vacation package with TrueBlue points alone.
For example, booking January flights between Fort Lauderdale and Aruba with 3 nights at the Renaissance Aruba Resort and Casino comes to $1,357 per couple, or 22,600 TrueBlue points + $954 per couple when booked with the cash and points option.
This would net you a value of 1.78 cents per JetBlue point, which is pretty good value.
In another example, booking December flights between New York and Cancun with 3 nights at the Grand Hyatt Playa del Carmen Resort comes to $1,148 per couple, or 25,600 TrueBlue points + $703 per couple using cash and points (a value of 1.74 cents per point).
Generally speaking, JetBlue Plus points are worth around 1.4 cents per point, so you’d be receiving 20-25% outsized value over the norm when spending points on JetBlue Getaways.
JetBlue Getaways include domestic destinations such as Daytona Beach, Las Vegas, and Walt Disney World. International destinations in the Caribbean include the Bahamas, Curacao, St. Thomas, and many others.
Hot Tip: If you’re booking a vacation with cash, be sure to use The JetBlue Card or The JetBlue Plus Card in order to earn more points while booking! You could even use an American Express card like The Amex EveryDay® Credit Card from American Express to earn points that are transferable.
5. Flights to the Caribbean (Starting at 11,000 Points Round-Trip)
There’s so much to discover in the Caribbean, both above and below the sea! Image Credit: mycaribbeanlife.com.JetBlue operates quite a multitude of flights to the Caribbean islands. Destinations include Antigua, Bermuda, Grand Cayman, Dominican Republic, and St. Lucia, to name a few. Most recently, JetBlue has added Cuba as a Caribbean destination.
Both United Airlines and Delta Air Lines currently begin pricing flights at 35,000 miles for a round-trip ticket from New York to Grand Cayman, while American Airlines requires 30,000 AAdvantage miles.
With JetBlue, travelers can find round-trip flights for 16,400 TrueBlue points, or about half of the mileage that flagship airlines charge for a similar flight (based on our research for December departures).
If you think about it, with the same number of miles as a flagship carrier requires, you can take 2 people to paradise on JetBlue instead of 1!
Prices during other times of the year can be even lower, dipping down to around 11,000 TrueBlue points round-trip.
In this case, the numbers speak for themselves: using frequent flyer program points on some routes can save you many, many miles!
Hot Tip: Sometimes unexpected things come up and you need to cancel your flight. Here’s our step-by-step guide to canceling your JetBlue flight.
6. Flights to South America (Starting at 30,000 Points Round-Trip)
Use your JetBlue points to visit the charming city of Cartagena, Colombia. Image Credit: wikitravel.com.JetBlue serves multiple destinations in South America, including Bogota, Medellin, and Cartagena, Colombia, as well as Quito, Ecuador, and Lima, Peru.
Award redemptions to the northern South America region cost quite a bit on flagship carriers: 35,000 AAdvantage miles (round-trip ticket on American Airlines), 40,000 MileagePlus miles on United Airlines, and 45,000 SkyMiles on Delta Air Lines…and these are at the lowest award levels in economy class.
Flights to that region using JetBlue miles can be found for fewer than 15,000 each way, depending on the dates and departure cities. Of course, being flexible with travel times can help passengers maximize those redemptions even further!
Hot Tip: Before traveling internationally, you should consider the Global Entry program, which will offer you TSA PreCheck to speed up security on the way there plus Global Entry to more quickly clear customs on the way back!
7. Flights to Central America (Starting at 20,000 Points Round-Trip)
Fly into Liberia or San Jose, Costa Rica to get access to all of Costa Rica’s natural beauty! Image Credit: tour-costa-rica.com.In addition to the Caribbean and South America, JetBlue serves destinations in Central America, including Cancun, Mexico as well as Liberia and San Jose, Costa Rica.
Award redemptions to Central America originating in the U.S. come to 35,000 miles for round-trip flights on United Airlines and on Delta Air Lines. American Airlines requires 25,000 AAdvantage miles during the off-peak dates and 30,000 AAdvantage miles for a MileSAAver redemption.
In comparison, JetBlue offers award flights to Costa Rica for between 10,000 and 15,000 TrueBlue points per leg, depending on the dates. Again, the number of miles required for a redemption depends on the ticket cost, so it pays to be flexible!
8. Flights to Alaska (Starting at 12,000 Points Round-Trip)
It isn’t widely known, but JetBlue operates seasonal flights from Seattle to Alaska between May and September. A round-trip flight to the last frontier can be booked for as little as 12,000 TrueBlue points depending on when you go.
American charges 15,000 AAdvantage miles per leg during the summer months and throughout the rest of the year. United lists its Saver Award level as 17,500 miles per leg. Interestingly enough, Delta has wide availability in the summer for just 14,000 SkyMiles round-trip. If you’re flexible on dates, JetBlue still presents the best value for your miles.
Final Thoughts
This post suggests some of the best ways to use TrueBlue points. Although in most cases reward points represent a fixed value, there are still great redemptions to be had when flying JetBlue.
As demonstrated earlier, a little flexibility and a bit of creativity can go a long way. You’ll be flying to incredible destinations at fraction of the mileage required with other airlines.
Happy redeeming!
