Have you heard of a JetBlue credit card? JetBlue was one of the first low-cost airlines to start flying in the United States, and it has been in operations for over twenty years now. It has earned a spot as one of the most popular airlines in the country to this day.

One of the major selling points this airline offers is its many on-air amenities which include a screen for every seat, complimentary snacks and soft drinks, free Wi-Fi and more legroom than other airlines. In order to attract passengers, the True Blue program rewards customers with three points per mile flown and since points do not expire, even those who fly only occasionally can slowly build up a considerable cache of points.

That is why if you are looking for a new credit card, getting one that gives you miles in your favorite airline sounds like a good idea. With four stars in the Trip Advisor website, JetBlue, a New York-based carrier, offers flights to more than 85 cities in the United States, South America and the Caribbean in a mainly economy class cabin. Its TrueBlue program was named 2017’s third best for frequent flyers by WalletHub.

What is the JetBlue Credit Card?

JetBlue offers two different credit cards. The standard one is just called the JetBlue card while the premium card is called JetBlue Plus. Both are part of the MasterCard network, and the issuing bank is Barclays.

Product Specs

The standard JetBlue credit card gives you a 10,000 point bonus for signing up and spending at least $1,000 during the first 90 days after opening the account. And start thinking about points instead of miles because this is how these rewards are offered: one point per dollar spent on everything, 2 points when you use it in restaurants and grocery stores and three points for everything you purchase with the JetBlue credit card. Most of all, enjoy the fact that there is no annual fee with this card. On the other hand, the JetBlue Plus card requires excellent credit and a fee of $99 per year. Yet, it offers you three times the points as an initial bonus and twice as many points on JetBlue purchases.

For a great majority of customers, getting a JetBlue credit card turns out to be a good deal provided you travel at least once a year with the airline.

Pricing

• Standard JetBlue card: No annual fee.
• Premium JetBlue Plus card: $99 annual fee.

How it Compares

Just like there are plenty of pebbles on the beach, there are many options to choose from when it comes to finding the credit card that is just right for you. To make your comparison easier, we have picked a couple of similar products available on the market to see how they compare to the JetBlue cards. These are:

• JetBlue Plus Credit Card.
• Citi® / AAdvantage® Gold World Elite™ Mastercard®.
• United℠ Explorer Card.

JetBlue Credit Card

PROS

• Receive 10,000 points as an initial bonus.
• 1, 2 and 3 point rewards offered depending on where you spend the money.
• A good credit rating gets you this card.
• Points don’t expire because of account inactivity.
• No blackout dates or seat restrictions when redeeming points.
• Half-off when you buy stuff on the plane (drinks, food, movies, etc.)
• No foreign transaction fees.
• 0% financing on transferred balances during the first 12 months.
• Family pooling of points is accepted, gathering everyone’s points in one account.
• Annual $100 statement credit towards JetBlue vacation packages reserved with the card.

 

CONS

• 3% balance transfer fee.
• Points cannot be used for flights that include layovers.
• JetBlue has a limited number of airline travel partners.

JetBlue Plus Credit Card

JetBlue is offering a new, higher-end credit card that brings with it enhanced customer loyalty points. As its standard partner, Barclays Bank is also the issuer of this card. As a JetBlue Plus card holder, you will get a big bonus if you spend $1,000 during the first three months from the moment the account gets opened. In this case, the bonus is 30,000 points, and the card lets you fly without paying for your first checked bag. As with its sister card, you will get 2 points per dollar spent at grocery stores and restaurants and one point for all other purchases.

To break even with the $99 annual fee, you will need to take advantage of the rewards, or it will end up costing you money every year. Aim to purchase a single JetBlue ticket per year or earning at least 8,250 points on the card annually.

 

PROS

• 30,000-point sign up bonus.
• First checked bag free.
• 6 points earned per dollar spent on JetBlue purchases.
• 50% savings on all eligible in-flight purchases.
• 5,000 bonus points for every year you keep the card.
• Get 10% of your points back every time you redeem them.
• No foreign transaction fees.
• Points don’t expire.
• No blackout dates for award flights.
• 0% APR on balance transfers for the first twelve months.

 

CONS

• Annual fee of $99.00
• No low APR for new purchases.
• The card only reaches its full potential if you frequently fly with JetBlue.

Citi® / AAdvantage® Gold World Elite™ Mastercard®

American Airlines, headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas, is the world’s largest airline and, together with its regional partners, it operates an extensive national and international network with over 350 destinations, and more than 50 countries serviced every day. American Airlines is a founding member of the Oneworld Alliance, the third largest airline alliance in the world.

As one of the largest airlines in the world, American Airlines, and its AAdvantage frequent flyer program let you fly just about anywhere you can dream of. One of the best ways to acquire additional airline miles is through one of several American Airlines co-branded credit cards. By offering you extra perks, they truly make it difficult to select another airline when making your travel plans or booking your reservations.

As a co-branded partner, Citi offers Apple Pay to ease payments, and it is accepted in more than 200,000 establishments. It also provides Citi Concierge, a service that helps you save valuable time through a staff of specialty-trained experts who can assist you when you need help with travel, shopping, dining, entertainment and everyday necessities.

The Citi®  / AAdvantage®  Gold World Elite Mastercard® is the most inexpensive, basic card that American Airlines offers, and it does not include a free checked bag. Undoubtedly it comes with less robust benefits than its pricier relatives.

 

PROS

• Sign up bonus of 25,000 bonus miles after you spend $750 within the first three months of getting the card.
• 25% savings on eligible in-flight food and beverage purchases.
• $0 annual fee the first year.
• 1 mile per dollar spent.
• No blackout dates on award travel.
• Worldwide car rental insurance.
• Lost baggage protection.
• Travel and emergency assistance.
• Worldwide travel accident insurance.
• Trip cancelation insurance.

 

CONS

• $50 annual fee after the first year.
• No additional mileage offered for purchases at different types of establishments.
• Foreign transaction fee of 3% of each purchase transaction in dollars.
• No free checked bags.
• Cash advance fee of $10 or 5% per transaction, whichever is greater.
• 29.99% penalty APR.
• Card does not give you benefits like priority boarding or free checked bag.
• On-air benefits are limited to a 25% discount on eligible food and beverage purchases.
• You will not be considered eligible to receive the 25,000 sign up bonus if you have had any Citi AAdvantage card opened or closed in the previous 24 months.

United℠ Explorer Visa Card

United Airlines, headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, is the world’s third-largest airline after American Airlines and Delta. It is a founding member of Star Alliance, the world’s largest airline partnership that includes 28 member airlines. United Mileage Plus is the official frequent flyer program of the airline, and redeemable miles don’t expire provided there is account activity within the last 18 months.

As its most basic credit card, United℠ Explorer Visa card offers a wide array of travel and purchase protection benefits. Among them, cardholders can enjoy trip cancelation and trip interruption insurance of up to $1,500 per trip if the trip is canceled due to illness, severe weather phenomenon and other situations. If baggage is delayed, the card reimburses you for essential purchases like toiletries and clothing when baggage delays are over six hours up to $100 a day for three days. If luggageis lost or damaged by the airline, you’re covered for up to $3,000 per passenger. Other benefits also include purchase protection against damage or theft, extended warranty protection by an additional year on eligible warranties of three years or fewer and car rental collision damage waiver.

 

PROS

• First checked bag free for cardmember and one companion.
• Priority boarding for primary cardmember and companions in the travel party.
• 2 United Club one-time passes each anniversary.
• Statement credit of up to $100 every 4 years as reimbursement for the application fee for Global Entry or TSA Precheck (when charged to the card).
• 25% back as statement credit on United in-flight purchases.
• No foreign transaction fees.
• Unlimited mile earning potential and miles don’t expire.
• No blackout dates for award travel on United-operated flights.
• Award travel can also be booked through Star Alliance and other partner airlines.
• Miles can be redeemed on upgrades, hotel stays and car rentals.
• Miles can also be used to purchase merchandise, gift cards, and special events.
• Earn 2 miles per dollar spent at restaurants and on hotel accommodations.
• Earn 2 miles per dollar spent on United purchases (including tickets, in-flight food and beverage purchases, baggage charges and other fees).
• Earn one mile per dollar spent on all other purchases.
• No annual fee for the first year.

 

CONS

• No sign-up bonus (40,000-mile bonus at sign up expired July 16).
• $90 yearly fee starting on year two and after that.
• This card is good for someone who flies United regularly but not enough to earn Mileage Plus® Premier status.

JetBlue Credit Cards – The Conclusion

When the time comes to decide what JetBlue credit card works best for you, it is likely you will feel lost among so many options, terms, benefits and sign-up bonuses offered. Before filling out the application you should be aware of the amount you charge each month, the types of purchases you are likely to make and any fees you will have to pay. Those are issues that depend on you and your spending habits. But you also need to consider the type of rewards you will receive once you get the card. Clearly, some will give you a percentage back on the amounts you spend while others, like the ones reviewed here, will award you with airline perks.

In any case, a good starting point is looking at how much it will cost you to have this card. What is the annual fee? Is it waived only the first year or do you get it for free every year? Do you frequently travel overseas? If that is the case, keep an eye out for foreign transaction fees that can really take a bite out of how much you end up paying for the things you buy at foreign destinations. Late fees can also add up, and most cards charge around $35 for late payments, so on-time payments are a must. Lastly, cards can also charge you for cash advances. These entail both the fee itself and a higher APR than you would be charged elsewhere. Use this option only as your last resort if there are no other options. As a general rule, credit card fees should be avoided at all costs.

In the case of the cards reviewed here, the airline rewards program plays a decisive role in the value of acquiring a certain card versus another. Many rewards cards offer rates for different types of purchases. Figure out where you spend your money every month and decide if the credit card you are considering matches your spending habits and rewards you accordingly.

Take the time to thoroughly weigh the pros and cons of every JetBlue credit card reviewed, as well as any other credit card. The result can be the difference between one more piece of plastic and a card that truly enhances your quality of life.