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JetBlue Plus Card review: Valuable benefits with a modest annual fee


Our take: The JetBlue Plus Card is a top airline card for frequent JetBlue flyers due to its high rewards rate on airline purchases, significant travel perks like free checked bags and inflight discounts, and additional benefits like points pooling and no foreign transaction fees. 

Pros

  • 12-month 0% introductory APR on balance transfers 
  • Competitive rewards rate
  • No foreign transaction fees

Cons

  • Has an annual fee
  • Limited redemption options outside of JetBlue travel

JetBlue Plus Card Highlights

Card type: Airline

  • Welcome bonus: 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases and paying the annual fee in full, both within the first 90 days of account opening.
  • Annual fee: $99
  • Rewards:
    • 6X points on eligible JetBlue purchases
    • 2X points at restaurants and eligible grocery stores
    • 1X points on all other purchases

Overview

The JetBlue Plus Card, designed primarily for frequent JetBlue customers, offers a variety of benefits that enhance the travel experience. Cardholders earn significant rewards on purchases, with 6X points on eligible JetBlue purchases, 2X points at restaurants and eligible grocery stores, and 1X points on all other purchases. New cardholders can also earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 and paying the annual fee in full within the first 90 days of account opening.

Beyond earning points, the card provides several travel-specific perks. These include a free first checked bag for the cardholder and up to three travel companions on JetBlue flights, 50% savings on eligible inflight purchases, and a $100 statement credit for JetBlue Vacations packages. Plus, it comes with no foreign transaction fees and a 10% rebate when you redeem your rewards toward JetBlue flights. These benefits make the card a keeper long-term.

JetBlue Plus Card: Rewards

The JetBlue Plus Card comes with a simple but generous rewards structure:

  • 6X points on eligible JetBlue purchases
  • 2X points at restaurants and eligible grocery stores
  • 1X points on all other purchases

New cardholders can also earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases and paying the annual fee in full, both within the first 90 days of account opening.

How to redeem JetBlue Plus Card points

Once you’ve racked up points using your JetBlue Plus Card, the best way to redeem them in on JetBlue flights. The 10% rebate when using points for flights really comes in handy.

You can redeem TrueBlue points for any JetBlue flight, including any seat at any time with no blackout dates (excludes Blue Basic fares). The amount of award points required is dynamic, based on the price of the ticket. In general, you can expect between 1.3 and 1.5 cents per point in value.

Points can also be used to book JetBlue Vacations packages, including on the flight or the hotel and car portion of a flight + hotel package. Plus, the Cash + Points option lets you pay with almost any combination of cash and TrueBlue points starting with as few as 500 points. You can also both earn and redeem TrueBlue points with a growing number of airline partners, including Hawaiian Airlines and Qatar Airways.

Other options exist like points payback and points donation but the best value will be using points to fly on JetBlue.

Rates and Fees

  • Intro APR: 0% introductory APR for the first twelve billing cycles following each balance transfer that posts to your account within 45 days of account opening
  • Purchase APR: 21.24%–29.99% variable
  • Annual fee: $99
  • Foreign transaction fee: None

Additional benefits

  • Free first checked bag for you and up to three eligible travel companions on JetBlue-operated flights.
  • Receive 50% savings on eligible inflight purchases on JetBlue-operated flights.
  • Get 10% of your points back after you redeem for and travel on a JetBlue-operated Award Flight.
  • Receive a $100 statement credit after you purchase a JetBlue Vacations package of $100 or more with your JetBlue Plus Card (limit one statement credit per year).

Credit cards similar to the JetBlue Plus Card

When choosing an airline card, it’s important to pick one that matches your spending habits and needs. Consider alternatives before making a decision.

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card vs. JetBlue Plus Card

One way to earn points that can be used on JetBlue is to utilize a card like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card. For the same $95 annual fee the Sapphire Preferred earns Ultimate Rewards points which can be transferred to JetBlue, but also to a large number of other travel partners like United Airlines and Hyatt Hotels. You’ll use the flight benefits but will gain points flexibility.

American Express® Gold Card vs. JetBlue Plus Card

The American Express® Gold Card is another travel rewards card with similar rewards to the JetBlue Plus Card. Those who don’t want to be tied to a single airline to get the most value out of their card will appreciate the flexible earning and redemption options of the Gold Card. 

Cardholders earn 4x Membership Rewards® Points at restaurants (including takeout and delivery in the U.S.), 4x Membership Rewards® points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1x), 3x Membership Rewards® points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com, and 1X points on all other purchases. The card also comes with up to $120 in annual dining credits, $120 in Uber Cash per year, shopping and travel perks, and more. The Gold Card’s annual fee is a bit higher than the JetBlue Plus Card at $250.

To view rates and fees of the American Express® Gold Card, see this page.

Is the JetBlue Plus Card right for you?

The JetBlue Plus Card is an excellent choice for regular JetBlue passengers who can leverage all of the card’s benefits for a more rewarding travel experience. The card has value long-term for as long as you continue to fly JetBlue.

Frequently asked questions

What are the perks of having a JetBlue card?

The JetBlue Plus card comes with several perks, including earning rewards points on spending, free checked bags, inflight discounts, and more.

What credit score do you need for JetBlue Plus card?

There is no specific credit score minimum required to get approved for the JetBlue Plus card. However, it’s recommended that you have good to excellent credit, or a FICO score of at least 670.

How do I get 60,000 points on JetBlue?

Earning 60,000 points with your JetBlue Plus card is possible by earning the sign-up bonus for new cardholders who meet the spending requirements (50,000 points) and then earning the rest through spending.


Please note that card details are accurate as of the publish date, but are subject to change at any time at the discretion of the issuer. Please contact the card issuer to verify rates, fees, and benefits before applying.

Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.

Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.


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