JetBlue Plus card review

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If you’re a big fan of the budget airline JetBlue and don’t mind paying $99 a year for an airline card, the JetBlue Plus card has a lot to offer. It rewards JetBlue purchases with an ample point bonus that’s worth substantially more than the average rewards card bonus. It also sets itself apart from most airline cards by offering a modest bonus on everyday purchases, such as groceries. In addition, the JetBlue card offers additional opportunities throughout the year to earn more points, making it especially lucrative for heavy spenders.

JetBlue doesn’t offer nearly as many flight destinations as other airlines, though, so think carefully about where you would want to fly once you earn enough points to redeem a free trip. This budget airline card could net you a number of complimentary trips around the United States or to select locations in Central or South America. But it’s not going to help fund a long-haul vacation to Europe or to other far-flung locations across the globe. This offer is no longer available.

You don’t just have to fly to earn bonuses

One of the card’s most attractive benefits is its generous rewards program, which offers a number of ways to earn bonuses. For example, cardholders are awarded two points for every dollar spent on groceries and another two points for every dollar spent on dining out. Most airline cards, by contrast, only award bonus points on airfare. The JetBlue Plus card also offers a generous 6-point bonus on JetBlue purchases, making it a lucrative card for frequent JetBlue passengers.

Valuable rewards

JetBlue points are also valued more generously than the average credit card rewards point, giving JetBlue passengers significantly more buying power with their points. For example, the average card rewards point is valued at roughly one cent each. JetBlue points, by contrast, are worth around one and a half cents each. That makes even general purchases using the JetBlue card more profitable than using a standard rewards credit card. It also means cardholders won’t have wait as long to earn a free flight.

Good sign-up bonus

At face value, the JetBlue Plus card’s sign-up bonus isn’t nearly as generous as the bonuses offered by some competitors. Cardholders are awarded just 40,000 bonus points when they spend $1,000 in the card’s first 90 days. Some competitors, by contrast, offer as many 50,000 to 100,000 bonus points to annual fee-paying cardholders. But when you factor in the card’s generous rewards value, the JetBlue card’s bonus is significantly more attractive. For example, cardholders who use the sign-up bonus to buy a free flight should be able to purchase a round-trip ticket that’s roughly worth $450.

Extra points for redemption and heavy spending

JetBlue also helps cardholders top up their point balances by offering 10 percent of their points back each time they redeem them and 5,000 extra bonus points every 12 months. In addition, heavy spenders who qualify for the card’s True Mosaic program (it takes at least $50,000 in annual spending to qualify) will receive another 15,000 bonus points. Cardholders who qualify for the Mosaic program also earn an additional 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked through JetBlue.com.

Limited flight path

The biggest downside to the JetBlue Plus card – in addition to its $99 annual fee – is the limited number of destinations served by JetBlue airlines. JetBlue primarily serves big cities on the East and West Coasts. However, it hardly serves any cities at all in the Midwest and only serves a handful of big cities in the Southwest.

For example, the only cities between Las Vegas and Nashville that JetBlue flies to are Houston, Austin, Dallas, New Orleans, Albuquerque/Santa Fe, Denver, Salt Lake City and Phoenix. The number of international destinations that JetBlue serves is even more limited. For example, it flies to a range of destinations in the Caribbean and to a handful of cities in Central and South America. But it doesn’t fly to Europe, nor does it partner with any international airlines to make up for its limited flight path.  The only airline JetBlue currently partners with is Hawaiian Airlines.

Who should get the JetBlue Plus card:

• Cardholders who live on the East or West Coast and plan to mostly fly within the United States or to select cities in the Caribbean or in Central or South America.
• Cardholders who prefer budget airlines over larger carriers.
• Cardholders who want to use the card for everyday expenses as well as for airfare and other travel expenses.

How to use the JetBlue Plus card:

• Maximize your earnings by using your card for all your JetBlue purchases and for buying groceries and dining out.
• Don’t book your rewards-funded flights over the phone. JetBlue charges a $25 booking fee for flights booked over the phone.
• Enjoy 50 percent off your inflight food and beverage purchases by using your JetBlue card.
• Consider booking a vacation with JetBlue Vacation packages. Cardholders who book a vacation through JetBlue are awarded an additional $100 statement credit.

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