JetBlue Airways’ revamped loyalty program debuts on Could 10. The countdown is now on to the launch of the hotly anticipated new “Tiles” program and the numerous main modifications coming to its frequent flyer program. Do not fret: There aren’t many huge losers.
The New York-based service is rolling out an overhauled TrueBlue program in early Could that’ll deliver updates to the perks you obtain for flying and transacting with JetBlue and its companions.
The revamped program contains advantages for rare flyers, new Mosaic elite tiers and way more. It’s value mentioning that JetBlue isn’t making any modifications to the way you earn or redeem factors, together with the redemption charge and the no-expiration coverage.
Right here’s all the things it’s worthwhile to know concerning the modifications.
Tiles are the brand new standing metric
American Airways has Loyalty Factors. United Airways has Premier qualifying factors. And now, JetBlue has Tiles.
Traditionally, you earned standing in JetBlue’s program by accumulating Mosaic qualifying factors or by hitting a cobranded bank card waiver.
With the revamped program, you’ll have to accumulate Tiles to earn standing. (The naming conference is sort of considerate — many Tiles create a mosaic, the title of JetBlue’s elite tier.)
Tiles could be gathered in two methods:
- Earn 1 tile for each $100 on qualifying JetBlue spend, which incorporates flights, JetBlue Holidays packages, Paisly by JetBlue bookings, JetBlue charges, JetBlue add-ons (equivalent to seats) and American Airways-operated flights.
- Earn 1 tile for each $1,000 spent on a cobranded JetBlue bank card. In contrast to the earlier program, this contains all playing cards, equivalent to these issued internationally.
You’ll earn Tiles for eligible actions between Jan. 1 and Dec. 31 of every 12 months. In 2023, members started incomes Tiles for exercise on Jan. 1, though this system doesn’t formally launch till Could 10. Extra particulars concerning the transition are beneath.
Join our day by day publication
As you earn Tiles, you’ll unlock advantages and elite standing in this system.
At first look, it’s clear that JetBlue has reconsidered the way it defines engagement with the airline. JetBlue will now measure your exercise throughout a number of channels, not simply flying, in your standing journey.
The airline has considerably expanded the flexibility to earn perks from bank card spending. You’ll even be rewarded for transacting with different components of the airline, together with by means of bundle bookings and by paying ancillary charges.
In a method, Tiles are fairly just like American’s new Loyalty Factors, which you’ll be able to earn by means of many actions, not simply flying.
Perks You Decide earlier than Mosaic
This one is huge.
Historically, the advantages of airline loyalty don’t start till you cross a standing threshold. Till then, basic members don’t normally get pleasure from any particular perks.
Nevertheless, with JetBlue’s new program, even an off-the-cuff flyer might be rewarded. If you earn 10, 20, 30 and 40 Tiles, you’ll be eligible for a decide from the next “Perks You Decide” menu:
- Group B boarding.
- Precedence safety.
- One free drink (beer, wine or liquor) per flight.
- 2 occasions the factors for a JetBlue Holidays bundle (one-time use).
- 5,000 TrueBlue factors (value $65, in line with TPG’s valuations).
Be aware you can’t decide the identical perk a number of occasions as you hit extra milestones. Should you don’t choose a profit, JetBlue is not going to robotically select one for you.
“We wish to watch out about … we don’t wish to select for a buyer what their desire could be,” Chris Buckner, JetBlue’s new vp of loyalty packages and partnerships, mentioned in an interview with TPG.
Your chosen perk(s) expire on Dec. 31 within the following 12 months after you earn them. So, when you earned 20 Tiles in 2023, you’ll get pleasure from your two chosen advantages by means of Dec. 31, 2024. You may make your choice at any time earlier than the perk expires.
The introduction of perks earlier than incomes standing is a significant improvement for airline loyalty packages. The flexibility to pick a profit or two simply from spending $1,000 or $2,000 on JetBlue makes the airline’s program one of the rewarding for informal flyers.
In fact, the perks aren’t practically as profitable as these you’d obtain from incomes standing, however one thing is actually higher than nothing.
It’s value noting that these new advantages come on the on the expense of the Go Lengthy, Fortunate 7 and Take 3 bonuses, which had been traditionally accessible to all members. They are going to be retired on the finish of the 12 months.
“We really had fairly low engagement on these bonuses. So we haven’t really heard loads of buyer suggestions on that. And once more, that additionally allowed us to reinvest into a few of these different wonderful perks that we’re capable of present,” Buckner mentioned when requested about these bonuses.
“So we predict it’s going to be a extremely huge win for patrons,” he added.
4 tiers of Mosaic standing
Final 12 months, JetBlue launched a second tier of Mosaic standing, dubbed Mosaic+. That further tier, resulting from expire on the finish of the 12 months, was a sign of issues to come back in this system.
Starting Could 10, JetBlue will provide 4 tiers of Mosaic standing. Every stage might be referred to as Mosaic, however the perks related to every tier will fluctuate.
To earn standing in 2023 and past, you’ll have to accrue the next variety of Tiles between Jan. 1 and Dec. 31 of a given 12 months.
- Mosaic Stage 1: 50 Tiles (equal to $5,000 in JetBlue spend or $50,000 in JetBlue card spend or a mixture of each).
- Mosaic Stage 2: 100 Tiles (equal to $10,000 in JetBlue spend or $100,000 in JetBlue card spend or a mixture of each).
- Mosaic Stage 3: 150 Tiles (equal to $15,000 in JetBlue spend or $150,000 in JetBlue card spend or a mixture of each).
- Mosaic Stage 4: 250 Tiles (equal to $25,000 in JetBlue spend or $250,000 in JetBlue card spend or a mixture of each).
Including extra Mosaic ranges aligns JetBlue’s elite program with a lot of its main opponents.
The variety of flyers spending $25,000 a 12 months with JetBlue (to attain Mosaic Stage 4) is, certainly, significantly decrease than that of Delta or United. Nevertheless, a minimum of JetBlue will provide extra perks than ever earlier than for individuals who do determine to go all-in with the airline.
That mentioned, as you climb the elite ranks, the advantages aren’t as profitable as these you’d obtain with the main U.S. airways, as you’ll see beneath.
Mosaic Signature Perks
If you earn Mosaic standing, you’ll get pleasure from a set of advantages included along with your membership. These so-called “Mosaic Signature Perks” largely resemble Mosaic’s historic advantages, with some notable modifications.
Be aware that the Mosaic Signature Perks come along with the Perks You Decide that you simply accumulate in your journey to hitting 50 Tiles.
If you earn 50 Tiles, you’ll turn out to be a Mosaic member and earn the next advantages:
- Mosaic boarding.
- Two free checked baggage.
- Free beer, wine and liquor.
- Free Even Extra Area seats at check-in.
- Free same-day switches.
- Precedence safety.
- Devoted check-in areas.
- Precedence help line and precedence chat.
- Complimentary upgrades on Heathrow Categorical.
If you earn 100 Tiles, you’ll turn out to be a Mosaic Stage 2 and earn the next advantages along with all Stage 1 perks:
- Free Even Extra Area seats throughout reserving.
If you earn 150 Tiles, you’ll turn out to be a Mosaic Stage 3 and earn the next advantages along with all Stage 1 and a couple of perks:
- 4 “Transfer to Mint” certificates that provide complimentary upgrades from core to Mint.
If you earn 250 Tiles, you’ll turn out to be a Mosaic Stage 4 and earn the next advantages along with all Stage 1, 2 and three perks:
- Two further “Transfer to Mint” certificates.
- 4 complimentary seats on Blade helicopter transfers between Manhattan and John F. Kennedy Worldwide Airport (JFK) or Newark Liberty Worldwide Airport (EWR).
You should utilize these “Transfer to Mint” certificates to substantiate a business-class seat on an economic system fare. The variety of certificates required to improve your flight will fluctuate by flight, and JetBlue wasn’t prepared to supply any extra specifics about this perk, together with when you may apply these vouchers.
Perks You Decide for Mosaic
Along with the signature perks of Mosaic standing, you’ll additionally obtain a decide from a brand new menu of six advantages each time you cross a Mosaic tier.
The menu contains:
- 20-tile bonus (that may be gifted to a different member).
- 15,000-point bonus (value $195, in line with TPG’s valuations).
- Mint Suite precedence (arriving later in 2023).
- Pet charge waiver.
- $99 assertion credit score on the JetBlue Plus Card and the JetBlue Enterprise Card.
- FoundersCard Blue membership.
The data for the JetBlue Plus and JetBlue Enterprise playing cards has been collected independently by The Factors Man. The cardboard particulars on this web page haven’t been reviewed or offered by the cardboard issuer.
You may solely select a perk as soon as yearly, so you may’t theoretically replenish on 15,000-point bonuses when you cross a number of Mosaic tiers.
Beforehand, all Mosaics obtained a 15,000-point bonus when incomes or requalifying for standing. Now, you may customise your expertise by selecting the perk(s) you worth most.
Identical to Perks You Decide earlier than Mosaic, your chosen perk(s) expire on Dec. 31 within the following 12 months after you earned them. So, when you earn 100 Tiles in 2023, you’ll get pleasure from two advantages by means of Dec. 31, 2024. You may make your perk choice at any time earlier than your standing expires.
Extra particulars about these advantages might be introduced earlier than the refreshed program launches. Some choices are fairly fascinating and distinctive, particularly the pet charge waiver, which might present plenty of worth for Mosaic members who often journey with pets. (JetBlue costs a $125 per flight pet charge.)
The Mint Suite Precedence profit can be an fascinating one. JetBlue’s previous Mint product is organized in an alternating 2-2 and 1-1 configuration. Savvy vacationers know to pick one of many 4 non-public “suites,” which supply further storage, direct aisle entry and sliding doorways.
Traditionally, JetBlue hasn’t charged additional for these seat assignments resulting from compliance points with the Individuals with Disabilities Act. They’re at all times among the many first seats to be chosen, so this might be an ideal profit for Mosaics who often fly the previous Mint.
JetBlue wouldn’t disclose what number of seats it’ll block and when the blocked seats could also be launched to different vacationers. The airline promised to share an replace when this perk launches later in 2023.
Another advantages, just like the FoundersCard membership or $99 assertion credit score, don’t appear to be that rewarding.
The flexibility to get or reward 20 Tiles might be an fascinating decide, particularly when you or a cherished one are inching nearer to a standing threshold. Be aware that these bonus Tiles are awarded within the 12 months during which they’re picked, so they might theoretically offer you a head begin on requalifying for standing the next 12 months.
Different Mosaic perks
JetBlue isn’t planning to distinguish between the Mosaic tiers apart from with the aforementioned advantages and perks.
The airline is asking all elites Mosaic members, and boarding passes will merely show “Mosaic” standing, no matter which stage you’ve achieved. JetBlue is not going to prioritize cellphone calls or waitlists by standing ranges, however flight attendants will have the ability to see your stage on their digital manifests.
That mentioned, it appears like JetBlue is contemplating some additional differentiation among the many softer advantages at every tier.
“The Mosaic expertise goes to be tailor-made for each stage. There might be some kinds that might be differentiated,” Buckner mentioned.
2023 transition brings a novel alternative
JetBlue at all times appears to chart its personal path and timeline, and that’ll be true with the transition to the brand new loyalty program. As a substitute of a clear transition with a program launch on Jan. 1, JetBlue will make it significantly extra difficult and wait till Could 10 to debut the brand new program. Till then, it’ll be enterprise as ordinary for TrueBlue.
When this system launches, all journey and bank card spending from Jan. 1, 2023, and onward might be transformed into Tiles. Should you’ve flown sufficient to earn a perk by the launch date, you may choose it then.
Current Mosaic standing will even be transformed into an equal tier when this system launches. JetBlue will compute your 2022 earnings and year-to-date progress in 2023, and it’ll award you with a Mosaic tier equal to both one, whichever is greater.
When the standing is transformed, you’ll additionally have the ability to choose Mosaic Perks You Decide related along with your new stage.
Maybe the most important unanswered query is whether or not JetBlue can efficiently pull off the expertise transition to the brand new program. The airline has suffered from damaged expertise for a few years, and the airline’s app expertise primarily pulls up a mobile-friendly model of JetBlue.com when performing difficult duties.
“We now have the utmost confidence in our skill to ship,” Buckner mentioned. It will likely be very fascinating to see the end result.
Bank card enhancements
Along with the brand new program, JetBlue can be making some (minor) updates to its cobranded bank cards that’ll launch with the brand new program in spring.
JetBlue Enterprise Card members will even now obtain Group A boarding on JetBlue-operated flights.
Backside line
JetBlue simply introduced a launch date of Could 10 for maybe its largest replace but to its TrueBlue loyalty program.
The overhauled program features a brand-new strategy to measure your loyalty — Tiles — which you will earn primarily based in your spending with JetBlue, its companions and cobranded bank cards.
There at the moment are 4 tiers of Mosaic standing, every with a set of customizable perks. Plus, everybody can now earn journey advantages, even when you don’t fly or spend sufficient to hit Mosaic.
This system provides JetBlue an extended runway to develop its community and increase its footprint amongst vacationers in lots of key markets. It comes because the airline is within the means of buying Spirit and because the airline seeks to win a lawsuit introduced by the Division of Justice towards the Northeast Alliance with American.
Most flyers, even the occasional ones, will profit from the brand new program. However, it’s not solely excellent news — you’ll want to learn our winners and losers evaluation on JetBlue’s new program.