The best credit cards for JetBlue flyers: Earn points and perks
JetBlue flyers can earn extra points and enjoy free checked bags with a JetBlue credit card. Top options include JetBlue co-branded cards and flexible travel rewards cards that let you transfer points to JetBlue.
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Unlimited snacks and drinks. The most legroom in coach for any domestic airline. And now, expanded service to Europe. There are many reasons to love JetBlue, but you can make your flights even better by holding the right credit card.
Whether you're a diehard JetBlue flyer or you just want some extra points in your back pocket, there's a card that can help you earn rewards faster and enjoy money-saving perks. We'll break down the best credit cards for JetBlue loyalists and occasional flyers so you can find the perfect fit for your wallet.
What are the best credit cards for JetBlue flights?
The best cards for earning TrueBlue points already have the JetBlue name. The best option depends on your spending habits and how often you fly with the airline. Plus, some of the best-known travel rewards cards earn points you can transfer to JetBlue. Your options include:
- JetBlue Plus Card
- JetBlue Business Card
- JetBlue Card
- Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
- Citi Strata Premier℠ Card
A JetBlue card is best for frequent JetBlue flyers who can maximize bonus categories and perks. Infrequent travelers or those who want more flexible redemption options should consider a general travel rewards card instead.
JetBlue co-branded cards
JetBlue offers three co-branded credit cards with different earning rates and perks. Let’s take a closer look at each one.
JetBlue Plus Card
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The JetBlue Plus Card is a good choice if you spend a lot on JetBlue flights and value perks like free checked bags, anniversary points, and the ability to earn Mosaic status through spending.
You can redeem points for any JetBlue flight with no blackout dates or seat restrictions. You can also redeem points for statement credits on non-travel purchases. Redemptions must be for statements of $25 or more, with a maximum of $1,000 in statement credits per year.
The JetBlue Plus Card has an annual fee of $99, but many of its perks can quickly offset that. The card's travel insurance is decent, too — it comes with coverage for trip delays, baggage delays, and trip cancellations and interruptions. The Plus card doesn’t charge transaction fees, making it a good travel card option for overseas use.
If you spend more than $50,000 per year, you can achieve Mosaic status. This status upgrade comes with perks like priority boarding, expedited security, and waived cancellation fees.
JetBlue Business Card
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The JetBlue Business Card is similar to the Plus Card but tailored for business spending. It offers 2X points for office supplies and a robust welcome bonus that can jump-start your rewards earning.
Redemptions and perks are the same as the Plus Card, including a free checked bag for you and up to three eligible travel companions, an anniversary bonus, 10% points back on award flights, and a 50% discount on in-flight purchases. Additionally, it offers Group A boarding and primary car rental insurance.
One key perk of this card is the ability to pool points — you and six others can combine points into one pooled account. This makes it easier to rack up points quickly to book award flights.
The downside to this card is the lack of other business-related perks, like account management features. If your business doesn't spend much on the card's bonus categories or prefers a business card that earns more flexible rewards, you may want to consider other cards.
JetBlue Card
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The JetBlue Card offers a smaller welcome bonus and a lower earning rate on JetBlue purchases. But, it could be a good fit if you fly JetBlue occasionally and want to boost your points earning without committing to an annual fee.
You won't find many of the perks found on the other JetBlue cards. This includes no free checked bags, no priority boarding, and no redeeming points for statement credits. If you fly JetBlue often enough to get value from the perks offered by the JetBlue Plus or Business cards, you may want to skip this card.
Flexible travel rewards cards
All three JetBlue cards have their upsides for anybody who flies JetBlue regularly. But there's a decent chance you don't fly only JetBlue.
The best travel cards will earn you comparable — if not better — bonus points on your everyday spending. Plus, you'll get the added benefit of being able to redeem points on not just JetBlue flights but on other airlines and hotel rewards programs, too.
Here are some flexible rewards cards to consider.
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card is one of the best travel rewards cards on the market today. It earns Chase Ultimate Rewards points, which can be transferred to JetBlue at a 1:1 ratio, along with a dozen other airline and hotel partners. This gives you the freedom to redeem your points in various ways.
This card earns:
- 5X points on hotels and car rentals purchased through Chase Travel℠
- 5X total points on Lyft rides (through March 31, 2025)
- 3X points on dining (including eligible delivery services), select streaming services, and online grocery purchases (excluding Walmart, Target, and wholesale clubs)
- 2X points on other travel
- 1X points on other purchases
The card also comes with a $50 annual hotel credit, which you can use for hotel stays purchased through the Chase Travel℠ portal. This perk alone can offset over half of the card's $95 annual fee.
If you use the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card for your everyday purchases, you’ll earn points faster than with a JetBlue card (except on JetBlue flights). Chase also partners with 14 different airline and hotel programs, so you're not locked into redeeming just with JetBlue.
Other valuable benefits include trip cancellation/interruption insurance and baggage delay insurance. You'll also get a 10% anniversary point bonus each year, and there are no foreign transaction fees.
Citi Strata Premier℠ Card
The Citi Strata Premier is another solid option for transferring points to JetBlue. It earns Citi ThankYou Points, which can be transferred to JetBlue at a 1:1 ratio. With this card, you’ll earn:
- 10X points per dollar on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked on CitiTravel.com
- 3X points per dollar on air travel and other hotel purchases at restaurants, supermarkets, and gas and EV charging stations
- 1X point per dollar on all other purchases
The Citi Strata Premier also comes with an annual $100 hotel credit on stays of $500 or more (excluding taxes and fees) when booked through CitiTravel.com. This perk alone can offset a sizable chunk of the card's $95 annual fee.
The Citi Strata Premier offers benefits like no foreign transaction fees and Citi Entertainment access, but perks like trip delay reimbursement and baggage delay protection aren't as robust.
Comparing the top JetBlue credit cards for JetBlue
How to earn the most JetBlue TrueBlue points
Earning JetBlue TrueBlue points is the key to redeeming award flights. Here are some of the best ways to rack up points quickly:
- Use a JetBlue credit card for JetBlue purchases: The JetBlue Plus Card and JetBlue Business Card earn 6X points on JetBlue purchases. If you frequently fly JetBlue, putting those purchases on a co-branded card will accelerate your earnings.
- Spend in bonus categories: The JetBlue cards offer 2X points at restaurants and grocery stores (Plus Card) or office supply stores (Business Card). Concentrating your spending in these categories will earn points faster.
- Shop through the TrueBlue Shopping portal: Using the TrueBlue Shopping portal before making online purchases with hundreds of retailers can earn you bonus points.
- Take advantage of partner offers: JetBlue partners with companies like Amazon, Lyft, and IHG Hotels to offer bonus points on purchases or stays. Check the TrueBlue partner page regularly for new opportunities to earn.
- Buy TrueBlue points during a promotion: While buying points or miles usually isn't a great value, JetBlue occasionally offers bonuses of up to 60% when you purchase points. These promotions can be a good way to top off your account for a high-value award.
Understanding JetBlue Mosaic elite status
JetBlue's top elite status tier is called Mosaic. It comes with perks like waived change and cancellation fees, free checked bags, priority boarding, and more. There are four Mosaic tiers, each with different levels of perks.
To earn Mosaic status, you’ll need to earn a certain number of tiles in a given calendar year. You can earn one tile per $100 spent with JetBlue (including JetBlue Vacations, Paisley by JetBlue, JetBlue fees, and JetBlue add-ons). You’ll also earn one tile per $1,000 spent on a JetBlue co-branded card.
To reach each tier of Mosaic elite status:
- Mosaic 1: Earn 50 tiles
- Mosaic 2: Earn 100 tiles
- Mosaic 3: Earn 150 tiles
- Mosaic 4: Earn 250 tiles
When does it make sense to get a JetBlue credit card?
Choosing the right airline credit card might seem complicated, but it’s fairly simple. More than anything, it's about personal preference. Consider these factors:
- Your regular spending habits
- Where you fly most
- What your miles are worth
- Which perks matter most to you
- What airline status is worth to you
- If you regularly pay airline fees
- The card's annual fee
There's no right or wrong answer to which card is best for you. Generally speaking, the flexibility of a travel card benefits more people in more ways. But if you're locked in on JetBlue, fly often, and check a bag regularly, having status through a JetBlue credit card can make a ton of sense and save you a bundle.
Other reasons to consider a JetBlue card include:
- You want a fast track to Mosaic status. Big spenders may value putting $50,000 a year on a JetBlue credit card to earn Mosaic status without the flying requirements.
- You want to diversify your loyalty portfolio. Even if JetBlue isn't your primary airline, having some TrueBlue points can be handy for the occasional JetBlue trip, especially if you live in a city where the airline has a major presence.
When to consider a flexible travel card
- If you rarely fly JetBlue: A general travel rewards card like the Chase Sapphire Preferred will offer more flexibility and value for your everyday spending and travel redemptions.
- If you want luxury perks: Cards with higher annual fees, like the Chase Sapphire Reserve®, offer premium benefits like airport lounge access and travel credits that can be more valuable than JetBlue-specific perks if you're a frequent traveler.
- If you want easier elite status: Airlines like Delta and United offer credit cards with elite status tiers that may be easier to reach through spending and flying than JetBlue Mosaic status. If elite perks with those airlines are more important to you, their co-branded cards may be a better fit.
- If you prefer cash back: If you don't travel often and prefer simple cash back rewards, a card like the Citi Double Cash® Card or Chase Freedom Unlimited® could earn you more rewards on your everyday spending.
Tips for maximizing your airline miles
To maximize your airline miles, it's essential to be diligent about using your miles-earning card on every purchase — especially in categories where you earn bonus miles. Sign-up bonuses also go a long way toward earning free flights, so consider how long you'd take to earn that same amount of points based on your normal spending habits.
As for redemptions, you can calculate the value of your points by comparing the cash price to the price in airline miles. For example, if a flight costs $400 or 33,333 miles, your points are worth 1.2 cents each.
That's a pretty good value for your points. Be aware that JetBlue uses a dynamic pricing system on award flights, meaning there's no set value for points. Doing the math on each booking helps determine if you're getting a good value on each redemption — some are better than others.
How we chose these cards
Every credit card review we publish has undergone a rigorous editorial process to ensure accuracy and objectivity. Learn more about our methodology here.
The bottom line
If you fly JetBlue often, want status, or check bags often when you fly JetBlue, getting a JetBlue card can save you money. But if you only fly JetBlue once in a while or only fly once or twice a year, a general travel rewards credit card makes more sense.
Only you can determine which card is best for you, but knowing the factors that contribute to a card's value can help you make the right choice.
Editorial disclosure: Opinions expressed are author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included in the post.