JetBlue card review

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With impressive in-flight amenities like free high-speed Wi-Fi and DirecTV, roomy seating and unlimited snacks and beverages at no extra charge, JetBlue Airways has developed a loyal following as a low-cost carrier headquartered in New York City. The JetBlue credit card offers frequent flyers an opportunity to cash in on a generous rewards program with no annual fee. Another impressive aspect is the card’s lack of a foreign transaction fee, a feature usually reserved for credit cards with high annual fees.

But the card also comes with mediocre cardholder benefits, steep spending requirements for elite status and minimal options for international getaways (thanks, in part, to a shortage of airline partners). The average traveler can certainly find better rewards elsewhere.

Above-average rewards rate (+ bonus opportunities)

In addition to its 1:1 earnings scheme on general purchases, the JetBlue card allows you to earn double points at restaurants and grocery stores, along with triple points for JetBlue purchases. Flights booked directly on JetBlue’s website come with additional bonus points depending on the fare you choose. For example, buying a Blue fare bumps your rewards rate to 6:1, while selecting a Blue Flex fare gets you all the way to 8:1. In other words, it won’t take long for JetBlue regulars to earn a free flight.

Meager sign-up bonus

A paltry sign-up bonus is one of the JetBlue card’s biggest flaws. Cardholders collect just 10,000 TrueBlue points after spending $1,000 in the first 90 days of opening their account. The card’s $0 annual fee doesn’t compensate for such a ho-hum bonus, either, as there are several other no-annual-fee credit cards with much higher sign-up rewards. One example is the Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card, which comes with a sign-up bonus of 25,000 points for those who meet the same spending threshold. The card also comes with the ability to book flights with any airline, and basic travel perks like car rental insurance and roadside assistance — all of which the JetBlue card does not have.

Short list of destinations

Although JetBlue does fly some international routes, including the Caribbean, Mexico and South America, cardholders dreaming of a European getaway or those residing in the Midwest are likely to find the airline’s limited flight path disappointing. Don’t look to JetBlue’s partner airlines for more choices, either: JetBlue’s sole airline partner, Hawaiian Airlines, only shuttles passengers to and from Hawaii by way of 11 U.S. metropolitan areas (and a handful of cities in Asia and the South Pacific).

TrueBlue Mosaic elite status

While the bar to achieve TrueBlue Mosaic status is high, cardholders who manage to get there will enjoy the extras. There are two ways to qualify for TrueBlue Mosaic: 1) Fly 30 segments plus 12,000 base flight points within a calendar year, or 2) Earn 15,000 base flight points within a calendar year. Perks of the program include first and second checked bags free (for you and others on your itinerary); access to Even More Space seats at considerably reduced rates; free entry to expedited security lines; early boarding; complimentary alcoholic beverages onboard; waived change and cancellation fees; and more.

JetBlue vs. JetBlue Plus

Despite a $99 annual fee, the JetBlue Plus card is a much more lucrative option for frequent JetBlue passengers. When used to purchase a free flight, the card’s sign-up bonus of 30,000 points could snag you a round-trip ticket worth roughly $450, more than enough to justify the annual fee. Factoring in 5,000 bonus points on each account anniversary makes the decision even easier. If you’re trying to choose between the JetBlue and JetBlue Plus, opt for the latter.

Why get the JetBlue card?

• You live near a JetBlue hub and mostly fly within the continental United States.
• You want an airline rewards card but hate travel restrictions (like blackout dates) and overly complicated redemption rules.
• You’re willing to forgo a big sign-up bonus in exchange for no annual fee.
• You have another high-interest credit card and want to take advantage of a 0 percent introductory APR for balance transfers. (Keep in mind the 3 percent balance transfer fee.)
• You typically use credit cards to pay for everyday expenses.

How to use the JetBlue card:

• Spend $1,000 within the first 90 days to qualify for the sign-up bonus.
• Accelerate your earnings by pooling points with family members for reward flights or vacation packages.
• For maximum points, use the card for all JetBlue, restaurant and grocery store purchases.
• Save $25 by booking rewards flights online versus over the phone.
• Use your JetBlue card when traveling abroad to save on foreign transaction fees.

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