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Although basic economy fares have become pervasive across the airline industry, it's been rare to see basic economy award flights. Delta launched basic economy awards way back in 2018 — but other airlines didn't follow Delta's lead. Now, JetBlue TrueBlue broke the trend this week and began pricing its basic economy fares as awards.
Let's dig into the news and see what this means for JetBlue travelers and beyond.
JetBlue Blue Basic Ticket Restrictions
JetBlue's basic economy product — “Blue Basic” — has been around since 2019 when the airline overhauled its fare structure. Until recently, the fare was pretty restrictive and required passengers to pay to carry on anything larger than a small personal item.
However, as of September 2024, JetBlue Blue Basic fares include one full-sized carry-on. However, you'll still have to pay for advanced seat assignments, no changes are allowed with your ticket, and you'll have to pay a $200 fee if you cancel your flight. Finally, you'll board last. So, that free carry-on is at risk of being gate-checked.
Related: Why JetBlue Is the Best Program for My Family Right Now
JetBlue Now Sells Blue Basic Award Tickets
It hasn't been possible to purchase an award ticket for a Blue Basic fare until this week. Now, you'll see the option to book a Blue Basic award ticket when you perform a search, as I did for a Phoenix (PHX) to Fort Lauderdale (FLL) flight.
Before this week, the cheapest fare showing in the flexible date bar and search results was for a “Blue” main cabin fare. However, with the introduction of Blue Basic awards, the headline price you'll see is for the more restrictive Blue Basic fare. So, temper your excitement if you see lower prices than before.
You'll see the Blue Basic fare is priced lower than the Blue fare. The Blue fare allows you to select a seat, board earlier, and cancel and change your ticket for free.
Now, let's compare the cash fares for the same flight.
AwardWallet users typically redeem for 1.24¢ per TrueBlue point. With this fare, here are the cents per point you're receiving at each fare level:
- Blue Basic: 1.46¢ per point
- Blue: 1.48¢ per point
- Mint: 1.19¢ per point
In this case, Blue Basic provides around the same redemption rate as the Blue fare. Both main cabin options exceed the average value that AwardWallet users typically receive for their TrueBlue points.
Related: Do JetBlue TrueBlue Points Expire?
What This Means For Travelers
At first glance, I'd say this is a positive change for TrueBlue travelers, especially ones that don't require the perks of the Blue fare. A JetBlue basic economy award ticket costs fewer TrueBlue points, so it could help flyers book their next award sooner.
However, we don't know what JetBlue plans for this fare. It's possible, but unlikely, that the airline could only offer the more restrictive Blue Basic fare available for awards. Perhaps more likely, JetBlue may increase the cost of a Blue award, charging more points than before if you want to avoid the restrictive basic economy fare.
Other airlines may follow suit, too. Delta has sold basic economy awards for years. Thankfully, United and American Airlines so far haven't followed. I'd expect in the ever-expanding quest to find more “efficiencies” and profits at the airlines, we may see a basic economy award pop up from more airlines in the future.
Related: The Best Ways To Earn JetBlue Points
Final Thoughts
In my early days of award travel, I was amazed that I received free perks on my “free” flight. Checked bags, a seating assignment, and even a free meal awaited me when I stepped on board. Travel is different now. Airlines have developed unbundled fares like basic economy to appeal to customers looking for the lowest price with no frills.
So far, award travelers have mostly avoided having to worry about basic economy fares. Award tickets on most airlines still guarantee travelers the “standard” economy experience.
Overall, we'll have to wait and see what the future holds for award travelers across the industry. For JetBlue flyers, it means they have more choice in how they redeem their TrueBlue points. Even after recent improvements, a Blue Basic fare is quite restrictive. However, for the right trip, it can save a few thousand TrueBlue points for the next award.
For this award traveler, I hope this news won't spread to other airlines, who may be eyeing any way to charge more for traditional awards.
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