AwardWallet receives compensation from advertising partners for links on the blog. Terms Apply to the offers listed on this page. Enrollment is required for select Amex benefits. The opinions expressed here are our own and have not been reviewed, provided, or approved by any bank advertiser. Here's our complete list of Advertisers.
JetBlue TrueBlue points may be easy to earn — but getting great value from them can be trickier. Sure, you can redeem them for JetBlue flights, but those redemptions often offer middling value. The best redemptions? Many aren’t on JetBlue at all.
Here’s how to get outsized value from your JetBlue points — including redemptions worth 3 cents per point or more.
Page Contents
Should You Redeem TrueBlue Points for JetBlue Flights?
If you're wondering whether you should redeem your JetBlue points for flights on JetBlue, the answer is that it depends. This is mostly because the cents per point you'll get on JetBlue flight redemptions often pales in comparison to what you can get by redeeming points for partner flights.
If you're a budget-conscious traveler or just want to avoid paying anything out of pocket for a JetBlue flight you need to take, then it can make a lot of sense to redeem points. But if you're really looking to maximize your JetBlue points, you'll more than likely get better value by avoiding JetBlue redemptions entirely and using your miles for partner awards.
So, what kind of value can you unlock if you redeem your TrueBlue points for JetBlue flights? Here's a quick example.
One of the cheapest days to fly JetBlue between New York and Seattle this summer is at the end of June. On this flight, you can redeem 12,700 points for a Blue Basic ticket that otherwise costs $189 or 15,500 points for a Blue ticket that sells for $229. After factoring in the $5.60 in award taxes and fees, both options work out to 1.44 cents per point.
That value is okay, but we're going for great. You can do a lot better with partner flights. And we’ll show you how.
Top Ways to Redeem JetBlue Points for Great Value
The best way to get great value from your JetBlue points is by redeeming them for partner airline flights. JetBlue has an interesting partner network, and no two offer the same value — but this is where the real opportunities lie.
Japan Airlines business class to Tokyo
One of the best ways to fly from the U.S. to Japan in business class is by using TrueBlue points to book Japan Airlines. These redemptions now start at 79,900 points, and you can fly from several gateways, including San Diego (SAN), Seattle (SEA), Vancouver (YVR), and more, to or from Tokyo.
On average, a round-trip JAL business class flight (usually cheaper than booking two one-ways) costs around $5,722.
Cut that big number in half, and a 79,900-point redemption gets you roughly 3.53 cents per point after factoring in the $42.60 in taxes and fees. That’s nearly three times the average value AwardWallet users typically get from their TrueBlue points.
Related: The Best Points and Miles for Free Flights to Tokyo
Qatar Airways business class to Doha
The world’s best business class is also one of the best ways to redeem JetBlue TrueBlue points. Since JetBlue introduced Qatar as a redemption partner, award rates have varied, but right now you can book a one-way ticket between the U.S. and Doha (DOH) for 90,000 points in Qatar Airways Qsuite.
That might sound like a lot, but the value you can unlock is just as impressive. Take the Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) to Doha (DOH) flight, for example. A round-trip ticket typically sells for around $6,170. Take half of that, subtract the $7.65 in taxes and fees, and divide by 90,000 points to get about 2.31 cents per point.
While that’s not quite as good as the Japan Airlines example, it’s still a great deal, especially considering how low the out-of-pocket cost is.
Qatar Airways normally charges hundreds in taxes and fees for a ticket like this, and availability is often harder to find if you're trying to book through other programs like American Airlines AAdvantage.
Icelandair economy class to Reykjavík
One of the newest TrueBlue redemption partners is Icelandair, and we're big fans of the value you can unlock on its economy flights.
Icelandair tickets are often pricey, especially when you factor in how little is included with its cheapest fares. So, here's where it's worth redeeming JetBlue points for your ticket to Iceland.
Take Pittsburgh (PIT) to Reykjavík (KEF), for example. A round-trip Economy Standard ticket, which includes a seat selection, carry-on, and checked bag, usually costs around $707.
These award tickets book into the same fare class (not Economy Light) and start at just 17,000 points each way plus $102.10 in taxes and fees. That works out to 3.56 cents per point, which is a fantastic value for a more inclusive fare to Iceland.
Business class redemptions on this route cost a lot more — around 69,900 points each way. And while Icelandair’s Saga business class isn’t terrible, it’s nothing more than a standard recliner seat. If you need the extra space, it might be worth the splurge, but your points won’t go nearly as far here.
Easy Ways to Earn JetBlue TrueBlue Points for Your Next Redemption
Outside of flying JetBlue or crediting partner flights to the TrueBlue program, there are several ways to grow your points balance. Some of the best include signing up for a JetBlue credit card and meeting the minimum spending requirement, or buying points when they go on sale at a reasonable rate. Sometimes, the cost of buying points can be lower than what the airline charges for the same seat.
JetBlue is also a transfer partner of several rewards programs. Just be sure to watch the transfer ratios; some offer better value than others.
That means you can effectively earn JetBlue points by earning points through one of the following cards that earn flexible points
- 5X points on Lyft rides through September 2027
- 5X points on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠
- 3X points on dining at restaurants worldwide
- 3X points on eligible streaming services
- 3X points on online grocery purchases (excluding Target, Walmart, and wholesale clubs)
- 2X points on all other travel
- 1X point per dollar spent on all other purchases
(Terms apply)
- 4X Membership Rewards® Points at restaurants worldwide, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S. (on up to $50,000 per year in purchases, then 1X)
- 4X Membership Rewards® points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per year in purchases, then 1X)
- 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com
- 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotels and other eligible travel booked on amextravel.com
- 1X on other eligible purchases
- 8x points on all purchases through Chase Travel℠
- 4x points on flights and hotels booked directly
- 3x points on dining worldwide
- 1x points on all other purchases
Related: Do JetBlue TrueBlue Points Expire?
Final Thoughts
Some of the best ways to redeem JetBlue TrueBlue points don’t even involve flying JetBlue at all; they involve flying partner airlines. Among JetBlue’s growing list of partners, some of the best-value options include Japan Airlines, Qatar Airways, and Icelandair. Others, like Etihad and TAP Air Portugal, offer mediocre value.
And with this, it's also worth mentioning that JetBlue also has a track record of increasing partner award rates without notice. In other words, take advantage of these sweet spots while they’re still around.
For rates and fees of the cards mentioned in this post, please visit the following links: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (Rates & Fees), American Express® Gold Card (Rates & Fees), and Chase Sapphire Reserve® (Rates & Fees)
The comments on this page are not provided, reviewed, or otherwise approved by the bank advertiser. It is not the bank advertiser's responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered.
