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Update: The Emirates and JetBlue partnership terminated as of October 30, 2022. You may still be able to earn miles on previously booked flights. See the details below.
After a decade as partners, the partnership between Emirates and JetBlue is ending. The news was announced in short statements by both carriers. No reasons are given for why this seemingly successful partnership is ending. Instead, in a simple statement, JetBlue announced on its Emirates partner page:
Effective October 30, 2022, TrueBlue members will no longer be able to earn points for Emirates-operated flights
That statement was mirrored by Emirates on its JetBlue partner page:
Our partnership with JetBlue Airways ends on October 30, 2022.
What Happens With Existing Bookings
For any bookings made and flown on or before October 29, 2022, the partnership will operate as usual. You will still earn JetBlue points for flights on Emirates and vice versa. After that, there is some slight nuance between the airlines.
JetBlue TrueBlue
Any flights on Emirates flown from October 30, 2022 onwards will no longer earn TrueBlue points. That's true even if the flights include mixed itineraries that were booked before October 29, 2022.
Emirates Skywards
Any flight flown on JetBlue metal from October 30 onwards will not be eligible to earn Emirates Skywards miles. This includes mixed itineraries and flights booked before the deadline of October 29, 2022.
If you forgot to add your Emirates Skywards number to a JetBlue flight before October 30, 2022, you have 180 days to claim the miles from the flights.
Why The Relationship is Ending
It seems that Emirates feels that the grass is greener on the other side and has found a more attractive U.S. partner. According to recent reports in Air Current, Emirates and United Airlines have schemed to launch a new partnership agreement for a while now. Sure enough, this new agreement was announced by both carriers on September 14, 2022.
New Emirates & United Partnership
Emirates and United announced their new partnership on September 14, 2022 at an event at Dulles International Airport. By all accounts, it looks like this partnership will develop into a much deeper relationship than the one Emirates enjoyed with JetBlue.
Details of the Emirates-United Airlines deal include:
- Starting March 2023, United will operate a new route from Newark to Dubai.
- United Members will be able to earn and redeem miles for Emirates flights connecting in Dubai from their Newark to Dubai route.
- Eligible United passengers will be able to access Emirates lounges when connecting in Dubai from the Newark to Dubai route.
- Flydubai & Emirates Skywards members will be able to earn miles when flying on United-operated flights.
- Customers can book a single fare via either airline's website involving a connection between the airlines for a seamless check-in and luggage handling experience.
How to Book JetBlue Awards Going Forward
Despite the end of the partnership with Emirates, you still have other options to book JetBlue awards via a partner airline. Fortunately, both partners are U.S.-based carriers. You can earn and redeem points for JetBlue flights with both Hawaiian Airlines and American Airlines.
Hawaiian has a simple redemption chart, and the amount of miles you need corresponds to the cash price of the ticket. Hawaiian publishes an estimated redemption table below.
American Airlines and JetBlue have a deeper relationship that allows you to earn and redeem points and miles and extends perks and benefits to elite members. These perks include free checked bags, priority boarding, expedited security, and more.
When it comes to award pricing, booking main cabin JetBlue awards via American Airlines can be a great value. According to the AAdvantage partner award chart, one-way awards will set you back as follows:
- Within the contiguous 48 U.S. states & Canada: 12,500 miles.
- Awards to Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central America: 17,500 miles.
- Awards to northern South America: 20,000 miles.
Our Take
It is disappointing to see a long-established partnership come to an end. However, most Emirates and JetBlue members will take this in their stride since the transition seems relatively seamless, and enough warning was given about losing the ability to earn miles reciprocally.
What is far more exciting is how the partnership between United Airlines and Emirates pans out. Will it be a simple codeshare? Will it be a matter of only earning miles, or will you be able to redeem miles too? Finally, will elites get reciprocal perks and benefits? There are lots of questions to answer in the coming few months.
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This is a very good news to United Airlines. The new partnership between Emirates and United Airlines will add more flights from USA to the Middle East. As we see more and more US people would like to travel to the Middle East. And Emirates is one of the top Airlines. I will travel to Middle East in X’Mas.