Travel points are huge if you know how to earn them, since they can be used for free or discounted flights and hotels, as well as other travel incidentals. In some cases, expensive trips can become affordable or even free if points are earned and used properly.
Airline JetBlue's (JBLU) travel points can be earned by being a TrueBlue member when booking car rentals, hotel stays, and activities like theme park tickets. Sadly it excludes Universal Studios, according to JetBlue’s website. Points can be claimed up to 45 days after the travel is completed.
The New York-based airline has been a low-cost travel airline since 1998, when it was then called NewAir. The airline also focuses on providing amenities like a TV at every seat and satellite radio. It offers free DirectTV and Wi-Fi.
While snacks and nonalcoholic beverages are free, the airline's lunch and dinner menu runs about $12 to $14 per item. JetBlue released a fresh new menu for inflight lunch and dinner options on Feb. 1. JetBlue wants to be budget friendly and also create a travel experience that's better than other airlines.
JetBlue Travel Just Got Better
JetBlue announced that passengers will be able to earn more travel points by earning rewards beyond traveling through its booking platform Paisly, which was launched in 2021. JetBlue’s TrueBlue members can still earn TrueBlue points by booking through Paisly without having a booked flight with JetBlue.
TrueBlue points can accrue when using Paisly to receive discounts on hotels and car rentals when travel doesn’t require a flight or if your travel takes you to a place that JetBlue doesn’t service.
"Customers love the JetBlue brand for low fares and great service, and more and more are trusting us with other aspects of their travel experience," Andres Barry, JetBlue’s president of travel products, said in a statement. "We've built a curated network of high-quality partners, providing the level of service JetBlue customers know and love. We want to be the company travelers go to when they book a trip, whether they choose to fly, drive, train or boat to their destination."
Members earn TrueBlue points earn one point for $1 spent on hotel stays, and activities including purchasing theme park tickets. Travelers using the JetBlue Plus Card for purchases can earn additional points for every $1 spent when booking through JetBlue’s travel portal Paisly. If purchasing theme park tickets, buyers can claim the rewards only up to two weeks after booking versus the 45 days after booking with car rentals, hotel stays and other activities.
JetBlue Perks Pickup
JetBlue's business model is not only to provide budget-friendly flights across the US and internationally but providing services that other airlines charge for. JetBlue does not charge for the first checked bag per customer, and it offers ability to change flights the same day without a change fee.
JetBlue recently partnered up with Uber to offer free rides to and from the airport for travelers flying to Las Vegas; Orlando or Fort Lauderdale, but that deal ended Jan. 31.
The airline has made these changes during.a time when its closest rival, Southwest Airlines (LUV), has faced massive struggles. That airline faced a massive outage that left tens of thousands of passengers stranded during the holiday season, perhaps damaging the company's reputation for a very long time.
That could open the door for JetBlue to pick up passengers in markets where the airlines compete.