Jet Blue Credit Card Review
We all know Jet Blue airlines is a great value, but how about their card? You are about to find out the good, the bad, and the ugly in this Jet Blue credit card review.
Who issues the card?
The card is issued by American Express.
What’s the annual fee?
The annual fee for the Jet Blue card is $40. This is definitely on the low end for an airline miles credit card… so this good!
What’s the APR?
What’s unusual about the Jet Blue card is that everyone has the same interest rate (instead of different tiers which depend on your credit). At the time of writing that’s 15.24% and it’s variable, depending on the prime rate.
How do you earn rewards?
The card earns “TrueBlue” points on spending, which can then be redeemed for Jet Blue flights.
- 1 point per dollar on regular purchases
- up to 8 points per dollar spent on JetBlue. Notice the “up to” part – the minimum is 3 points, but there is an additional 3 points for booking eligible flights on jetblue.com (for a total of 6 points). Then the other 2 points comes from paying with your AmEx Jet Blue credit card, for a grand total of 8 points.
- the points never expire and there are no blackout dates
How many points are needed to buy a ticket?
The Jet Blue credit card application claims that round trip flights start at just 10,000 points. While I’m sure it’s technically correct that award flights “start at” that amount, I wouldn’t say it’s an accurate representation of the typical amount of points you will be paying.
First Test: I priced out a roundtrip flight – two months in advance – from Los Angeles to Baltimore and the cheapest roundtrip flight I could find would cost me 22,200 points. I would estimate most roundtrip domestic flights will probably cost you around 20,000 to 30,000 points and possibly a lot more from the numbers I’ve seen so far.
Second Test: I searched for a roundtrip flight – a couple weeks in advance – from Austin to Pittsburgh during Christmas time (Tues Dec 21st thru Mon Dec 27th). The cheapest flight would have required 77,400 Jet Blue credit card points. Sure, it’s nice that there are no blackout dates, but the points increase directly correlates to the cash price increase, so it doesn’t appear their rewards program will help you save on last minute flights.
Should you apply?
Overall the Jet Blue card is good, but the value of rewards appear to be comparable to most airline cards. However the main benefit by going with the Jet Blue is that the annual fee is only $40. Be sure to compare other travel credit cards before making your decision.
The 1 point for every dollar spent (as stated above) is not true. You earn 1 point for every dollar spent on “eligible purchases” which are restaurants, theaters, gym memberships, sporting events, performing arts events, golf…. not on regular, every day purchases. There are other cards out there that cost more annually, but you truly early 1 point with every dollar spent regardless of where and you earn points quicker. I have had this card several years and only used it and since they’ve change their eligible purchases I am not accumulating like I did under their old way. Disappointed and thinking of moving to some other card.
my husband has just learned today that if you change your flight on the same day not only are you charged 40.00 dollars you forfeit your points..Can this be true last winter was brutal, you are no longer for big bonus points if you decide to leave earlier in the day