The JetBlue Card is tailored for people who take one to two vacations annually and use JetBlue for their flights. It lets you earn decent points on JetBlue flights, dining and grocery purchases, plus a sign-up bonus, all for no annual fee. However, aside from in-flight discounts, the card lacks some of the typical perks you’d expect from an airline card. If you're a frequent JetBlue flier, you may want to consider the JetBlue Plus Card, which offers higher rewards and additional benefits.
JetBlue Card Review: Fair Rewards for No Annual Fee
With this card, you’ll earn increased points on JetBlue flights, dining and groceries for no annual fee. However, you’ll also miss out on perks other airline cards offer, like free checked bags.
Doug Milnes, CFA
Head of Credit Cards at MoneyGeek
Doug Milnes is a CFA charter holder with over 10 years of experience in corporate finance and the Head of Credit Cards at MoneyGeek. Formerly, he performed valuations for Duff and Phelps and financial planning and analysis for various companies. His analysis has been cited by U.S. News and World Report, The Hill, the Los Angeles Times, The New York Times and many other outlets. Milnes holds a master’s degree in data science from Northwestern University. He geeks out on helping people feel on top of their credit card use, from managing debt to optimizing rewards.
Brett Holzhauer, CPFC
Personal Finance Journalist
Brett Holzhauer is a Certified Personal Finance Counselor (CPFC) and a personal finance reporter at MoneyGeek. He has written for several leading publications, including Forbes Advisor, LendingTree, CNBC and ValuePenguin. Holzhauer has a journalism and mass communications degree from the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communications at Arizona State University.
Casie McCoskey
Content Editor
Casie McCoskey is a professional editor passionate about providing people with accessible information on personal finance. Before MoneyGeek, she worked in the legal field, drafting and editing briefs and motions.
Doug Milnes, CFA
Head of Credit Cards at MoneyGeek
Doug Milnes is a CFA charter holder with over 10 years of experience in corporate finance and the Head of Credit Cards at MoneyGeek. Formerly, he performed valuations for Duff and Phelps and financial planning and analysis for various companies. His analysis has been cited by U.S. News and World Report, The Hill, the Los Angeles Times, The New York Times and many other outlets. Milnes holds a master’s degree in data science from Northwestern University. He geeks out on helping people feel on top of their credit card use, from managing debt to optimizing rewards.
Brett Holzhauer, CPFC
Personal Finance Journalist
Brett Holzhauer is a Certified Personal Finance Counselor (CPFC) and a personal finance reporter at MoneyGeek. He has written for several leading publications, including Forbes Advisor, LendingTree, CNBC and ValuePenguin. Holzhauer has a journalism and mass communications degree from the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communications at Arizona State University.
Casie McCoskey
Content Editor
Casie McCoskey is a professional editor passionate about providing people with accessible information on personal finance. Before MoneyGeek, she worked in the legal field, drafting and editing briefs and motions.
Updated: September 26, 2024
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The JetBlue Card is a no annual fee card for JetBlue travelers who want to earn TrueBlue points but don't fly JetBlue enough to justify an annual fee. It lacks common travel card perks like free checked bags that you'll find in the elevated annual fee JetBlue Plus card. However, it earns bonus points on dining and groceries, which can help rack up points if you want your credit card rewards to take you places.Finally your purchases earn tiles contributing to earning Mosaic status, a card feature that makes it stand out from other annual fee cards.
- PROS
- No annual fee
- 3x TrueBlue points for JetBlue fares
- Bonus points on dining and grocery
- No foreign transaction fees
CONS- No free checked bags
- Limited rewards redemption
- Limited airline scope
- Earn tiles on JetBlue's TrueBlue program.
- Points never expire and can be pooled.
- Redeem for any seat without blackout dates on JetBlue-operated flights.
JetBlue Card Detailed Review
If you’re an occasional traveler who sometimes flies JetBlue, the JetBlue Card can be a good choice. It’s the entry-level option among JetBlue’s co-branded cards, all issued by Barclays. With no annual fee, you’ll earn 3X points on JetBlue purchases, 2X points at restaurants and eligible grocery stores and 1X points on everything else. You can also earn 10,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 in the first 90 days.
The card offers a 0% foreign transaction fee and a 50% discount on in-flight purchases. Plus, all spending earns tiles toward TrueBlue Mosaic, JetBlue’s elite flier program.
However, the card lacks some perks that other airline cards offer, like free checked bags (which typically cost $35 each). Also, your points can only be redeemed on JetBlue and a few partner airlines, limiting your options for using your points. If you’re flying more than four times a year and always on JetBlue, the JetBlue Plus Card might be more rewarding with its higher points and additional benefits, even with an annual fee.
TrueBlue Points Earning and Redemption
All your purchases with the JetBlue Card earn TrueBlue points, with heightened rewards on airfare, dining and groceries. Here’s the points rate for each category:
- Earn 3X points on eligible JetBlue purchases
- Earn 2X points at restaurants and eligible grocery stores
- Earn 1X points on all other purchases
Points earned with the JetBlue Card never expire, and you can pool your points with your friends and family.
The best way to redeem your points is for JetBlue-operated flights, where you can get a value of 1.4 cents per point and enjoy no blackout dates. You can also use them for hotel packages and flights from JetBlue’s partners, which include Etihad Airways, Hawaiian Airlines and Icelandair. However, you may receive less value from your points if you book with these partner airlines. Note that you can’t transfer your TrueBlue points to other loyalty programs.
Can the JetBlue Card Earn Mosaic Tiles?
Yes, the JetBlue Card can earn Mosaic tiles, helping cardholders qualify for JetBlue’s elite status, TrueBlue Mosaic. By using the card, you accumulate tiles based on your spending. You earn one tile for every $1,000 spent, and you need 50 tiles to reach Mosaic status. Achieving Mosaic status provides benefits like two free checked bags, statement credits, bonus points and more.
Benefits and Perks
For no annual fee, the JetBlue Card lets you earn high rewards on flights and some everyday purchases. It also comes with some valuable benefits.
No annual fee: Unlike many airline cards, the JetBlue Card doesn't charge a yearly fee, so you can keep it in your wallet without extra cost.
Sign-up bonus: The 10,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 in the first 90 days is a generous bonus that's worth $150 when redeemed for flights.
Drawbacks and Considerations
Even though the JetBlue Card has no annual fee, consider these drawbacks before getting the card:
No free checked bags or priority boarding: Unlike other airline cards, the JetBlue Card does not offer free checked bags or priority boarding, which can be a significant drawback for frequent travelers. Checked bags at JetBlue start at $35 per bag. This can add up quickly, especially for families or those taking longer trips. The JetBlue Plus Card offers free checked bags for the cardholder and up to three companions.
Limited rewards redemption: You can only redeem rewards with JetBlue and its partner airlines, which restricts how you can use your points. JetBlue also has a smaller network compared to major airlines, which could limit your travel options, particularly for international destinations. If you prefer flexibility in how you use your points, consider a more traditional travel card like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card.
How the JetBlue Card Compares
The JetBlue Card has an upgraded version, the JetBlue Plus Card, which offers higher points, free checked bags and other benefits. We listed the key differences between the two cards so you can make an informed decision.
JetBlue Card | JetBlue Plus Card | |
---|---|---|
Annual fee | $0 | $99 |
Sign-up bonus | Earn 10,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 90 days | Earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases and paying the annual fee in full within the first 90 days |
Rewards |
|
|
Travel perks | 50% in-flight savings on cocktails and food purchases |
|
Redemption bonus | None | 10% redemption bonus when you redeem TrueBlue points for flights |
Anniversary bonus | None | 5,000 points bonus each year |
We also compare the JetBlue Card with another airline card below to help you decide if it works for you.
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card vs. JetBlue Card
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card offers 5X points on travel purchased through Chase Travel, 3X points on dining, select streaming services and online groceries and 2X points on other travel purchases. Chase points are transferable to several airline and hotel loyalty programs, including JetBlue. It’s a more flexible choice that offers elevated rewards in several categories. If you can justify its $95 annual fee, the Chase Sapphire Preferred is a strong alternative.
Cards to Pair With the JetBlue Card
The JetBlue Card lets you earn 2X points on dining and groceries. However, it might be a good idea to pair it with a card dedicated to everyday purchases so you can maximize the rewards you earn from all your spending.
Pair With the Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express
If you’re looking for a card to pair with the JetBlue Card, the Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express fits the bill. It offers 3% cash back at U.S. supermarkets, online retail purchases and gas stations. This covers several high-spend categories that aren’t included in JetBlue Card’s bonus categories. You can use the JetBlue card for flights and dining and the Blue Cash Everyday card for everything else. The Blue Cash Everyday Card is also a no-annual-fee card, so having it in your wallet won’t incur an additional expense.
Is the JetBlue Card Worth Getting?
The JetBlue Card could be a good fit if you only travel occasionally and usually choose JetBlue. It lets you earn high points on flights and other categories without an annual fee. However, if you travel more often, the card’s limited travel perks might mean paying out-of-pocket for things like checked bags that other cards might cover. The JetBlue Plus Card is a better choice for frequent JetBlue flyers, with more benefits and added perks.
JetBlue Plus Card Details
Feature | Details |
---|---|
Card uses |
|
Annual fee | $0 |
Introductory offer | Earn 10,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 90 days |
Introductory APRs | 0% introductory APR for the first 12 billing cycles |
Rewards |
|
Regular APRs | 21.24%–29.99% variable |
Penalty APR | None |
Balance transfer fees | Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater |
Late fees | Up to $40 |
Foreign transaction fee | 0% of each transaction in U.S. dollars |
Other perks |
|
How We Evaluated the JetBlue Card
We assessed the JetBlue Card alongside 20 other cards using the following weighted criteria:
- Expected Value to Traveler (40%): Evaluates the potential monetary value of rewards and benefits minus annual fees for frequent travelers.
- Airline Scope (20%): Assesses the range of destinations the airline serves, which is important for those who travel frequently.
- Offer ROI (15%): Analyzes the return on investment from the card’s introductory bonus offers.
- Airline Rewards Rate (10%): Evaluates rewards earned on airline expenditures.
- Foreign Transaction Fees (5%): Considers the absence of foreign transaction fees, which is advantageous for international travelers.
- Issuer Satisfaction (5%): Reflects customer satisfaction based on J.D. Power's issuer satisfaction survey.
- Recommended Credit (5%): Indicates the typical credit score range needed for approval, with higher scores being more widely accepted.
About Doug Milnes, CFA
Doug Milnes is a CFA charter holder with over 10 years of experience in corporate finance and the Head of Credit Cards at MoneyGeek. Formerly, he performed valuations for Duff and Phelps and financial planning and analysis for various companies. His analysis has been cited by U.S. News and World Report, The Hill, the Los Angeles Times, The New York Times and many other outlets.
Milnes holds a master’s degree in data science from Northwestern University. He geeks out on helping people feel on top of their credit card use, from managing debt to optimizing rewards.
sources
- American Express. "Blue Cash Everyday® Card." Accessed September 26, 2024.
- Barclays. "JetBlue Card." Accessed September 26, 2024.
- Barclays. "JetBlue Plus Card." Accessed September 26, 2024.
- Chase. "Chase Sapphire Preferred Credit Card." Accessed September 26, 2024.
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