The initial leap to earn enough points to reach the first rung of airline status can feel like an expensive undertaking.
At JetBlue Airways (JBLU) , the first True Blue Mosaic One tier can be reached by spending $5,000 directly with the airline or $50,000 on a JetBlue credit card). It can snowball into perks and money savings across not just one but multiple airlines.
For those who have earned status in one year but might not have spent enough to extend it into the following year, there is something called "status match." Rival airlines will pull you over by offering equivalent or lower-tier status for a few months.
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When many Delta Air Lines (DAL) customers were unhappy because the airline tightened the rules for lounge access for status holders, JetBlue launched its Match to Mosaic program to pull over the dissatisfied by matching status.
Delta, United Airlines (UAL) , American Airlines (AAL) and Alaska Airlines (ALK) were the initial airlines included in the offer.
These new airlines have been added to JetBlue's status-match program
This week, JetBlue said it was expanding the offer to status-holders with three low-cost airlines: Spirit Airlines (SAVE) , Southwest Airlines (LUV) and Frontier Airlines (FRON) .
Now, those with status with one of these seven airlines can get three months of status with JetBlue by sending the airline proof of their status with the other carrier.
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You can do this at any time and enjoy perks with both airlines or use the program to score three additional months of status as your current airline status expires.
"Qualifying customers will receive complimentary Mosaic One or Mosaic Two status for three months with opportunities to keep their current status or by leveling up to Mosaic Three," JetBlue explained in a statement sent to TheStreet.
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The perks: Why you want to earn or match airline status
Mosaic One at JetBlue is earned by getting 10 Tiles with the airline. You earn a Tile for every $100 spent with a JetBlue flight or every $1,000 spent on the JetBlue MasterCard credit card.
The Mosaic One level offers customers perks like early boarding, two free checked bags and free alcoholic drinks on flights where one would normally have had to pay for them.
Mosaic Two offers larger seats at booking. Major perks such as upgrades to business come at the highest Mosaic Three and Four levels (the latter requires earning 250 tiles).
As low-cost airlines cannot offer the same perks as mainstream ones, those with status at Spirit, Frontier or Southwest will be able to match it only with the Mosaic One tier.
Delta, United, American and Alaska customers, meanwhile, can currently match the equivalent Gold status with JetBlue's Mosaic Two. The highest levels can be earned only directly with the airline.
After you submit proof and request a status match with JetBlue, processing can take as long as three months. So if your status is expiring and you want to match it with at least one airline without a gap, you need to submit the proof and request at least 90 days before your current status expires.
