JetBlue Mosaic Status Review: (Matches, Challenges, Benefits) [2020]

Are you interested in receiving special perks like free checked bags and priority boarding when flying on JetBlue? If so, then you might be interested in earning JetBlue Mosaic elite status.

In this comprehensive article, I will tell you everything that you need to know about JetBlue Mosaic status. I will cover everything such as how to qualify for the status with flights, credit cards, and status challenges and matches. And I will also go over all of the benefits that you can expect to receive with the status.

This article also includes the new 2020 Coronavirus update.

Interested in finding out the top travel credit cards for this month? Click here to check them out! 

What is JetBlue Mosaic status?

JetBlue Mosaic status is the sole elite status for JetBlue, which is the sixth-largest US airline and one of the most highly respected low-cost carriers. Mosaic status offers a range of benefits like free checked bags and many others that I will discuss below.

Unlike other programs such as United Airlines who have multiple tiers of elite status such as Silver, Gold, Platinum, 1K, etc., JetBlue only has one single tier of elite status.

Tip: Use the free app WalletFlo to help you travel the world for free by finding the best travel credit cards and promotions!

How to get JetBlue Mosaic status

There are a few ways that you can get JetBlue Mosaic status.

Qualify with flights

The first way that you can get JetBlue Mosaic status is by qualifying with flights.

There are two ways to do this.

  • Earn 15,000 base flight points within a calendar year OR
  • Fly 30 segments plus earn 12,000 base flight points within a calendar year.

You will normally earn 3 base flight points for every dollar spent, so spending $5,000 will get you Mosaic. However, JetBlue has offered promotions in the past where you can earn two times the base flight points.

A “segment” means any origin-destination pair. A one-way flight (whether non-stop or including a connection) is one segment, and a roundtrip flight (whether non-stop or including a connection) is two segments.

Flying the minimum number of segments and/or earning enough base points in the current year will qualify you through the following calendar year. So, for example, if you meet the requirements in October 2020 then you will retain your status through the remainder of 2020 and until December 31, 2021.

2020 Coronavirus update:

JetBlue reduced the qualifying points and segment minimums by 50 percent for Mosaic qualification. Here are the reduced thresholds:

  • 7,500 qualifying points (vs. 15,000 points for the calendar year)
  • 6,000 qualifying points and 15 segments (vs. 12,000 points and 30 segments)

Mosaic customers will continue to receive an award of 15,000 bonus TrueBlue points upon qualification.

Also, for 2021 you’ll get additional benefits based on the amount of qualifying points you earn.

  • 10,000 Mosaic Qualifying points – 10,000 bonus points
  • 20,000 Mosaic Qualifying points – Gift Mosaic status to anyone of your choosing (valid through 2022)
  • 30,000 Mosaic Qualifying points – Free round-trip flight certificate in Core Experience (valid for one year)

Companion pass benefit

Due to the pandemic, JetBlue is also offering a companion pass benefit for Mosaic members.

You can enjoy unlimited companion passes for travel booked and flown from January 1, 2021 through May 20, 2021. You will need to book through the dedicated mosaic line 1-877-JET-TRUE (538-8783) 

Credit cards

The JetBlue Plus Card will allow you to earn Mosaic status after you spend $50,000 in a calendar year. I definitely would not go chasing that requirement because I do not fly JetBlue, and I could put $50,000 of spend in a year to much better use.

However, if you do you go this route you should note that it could take several weeks or even a couple of months for your Mosaic status to show up after you meet your spend. So you might want to email JetBlue and request for them to expedite the process.

The JetBlue Plus card also earns 6X points per $1 spent on JetBlue purchases, gives you a free first checked bag for you and up to 3 companions on the same reservation, and gives you 5,000 bonus points every year after your account anniversary, among other perks.

For 2021, you can also get Mosaic elite status with $30,000 spent on purchases with your JetBlue Plus or JetBlue Business Card + 4,000 Mosaic Qualifying points during the calendar year.

Tip: Check out the free app WalletFlo so that you can optimize your credit card spend by seeing the best card to use! You can also track credits, annual fees, and get notifications when you’re eligible for the best cards!

JetBlue Mosaic status challenge

Sometimes you can enroll in a status challenge in order to earn Mosaic status. An example of the prior status challenge was earning 3,750 base flight points in 90 calendar days.

That challenge would require you to spend $1,250 in three months which isn’t that bad if you already had flights planned. However, that type of challenge is not quite lucrative enough to get me to go out of my way to spend that much money.

Something cool about these challenges is that if you are a current Mosaic member, sometimes you can still take advantage of these challenges and secure your status for the next year. Many status challenges exclude current elite members so this is a bit of a unique perk.

JetBlue Mosaic status match

JetBlue is also known for offering generous status matches to Mosaic status, though these are not always offered. Here are the different airlines that could be matched in the past and their corresponding elite levels.

  • Alaska Airlines®: Mileage Plan™; MVP® Gold or MVP® Gold 75k
  • Virgin America®: Elevate® Silver, Elevate® Gold
  • Delta®: SkyMiles Medallion® Gold, Platinum or Diamond
  • United®: MileagePlus® Premier® Gold, Platinum or Premier1K®
  • American Airlines®: AAdvantage Platinum® or Executive Platinum®
  • Southwest Airlines®: Rapid Rewards® A-List Preferred or Companion Pass
  • Emirates: Emirates™; Skywards‎ Silver, Gold or Platinum

Notice that you can be matched to JetBlue Mosaic if you obtain the Southwest Companion Pass.

Typically, you will be matched for the remainder of the year in which you applied for the status match. JetBlue will also likely enroll you in their status challenge so that you can hold onto your Mosaic status for the next calendar year if you meet the requirements for the challenge.

Purchase JetBlue Mosaic status

Toward the end of a calendar year, JetBlue might offer you a chance to purchase Mosaic status. If you have zero base points the price will likely be around $5,500 for the status. That is wayyy too high for my liking and I don’t think that I would ever go for that.

However, if you are short on base points, you might be able to purchase the amount of base points needed to get you Mosaic status and in those instances it could be a better deal. For example, if you were only a few hundred points short of getting elite status, then it could make sense to jump on the offer.

Extended benefits (coronavirus update)

JetBlue is extending status of all current Mosaic customers through 2021, whether status was obtained through travel or spend on the JetBlue Plus Card.

What are the JetBlue Mosaic status benefits?

First and second bag free

You and others on your itinerary can check both the first and second bag for free – no matter which fare option you chose.

Here are the JetBlue baggage fees:

  • 1st checked bag: $30
  • 2nd checked bag: $40
  • 3rd+ checked bag: $150

So with Mosaic status you could be saving $70 per flight per person when checking two bags in. 

Change and cancellation fees waived

JetBlue change and cancellation fees will be waived for Mosaic members and others on their itinerary. You should note that this is only when you book through JetBlue.com.

The amount for your change and cancellation fees will depend on the type of fare that you purchase. For example, for changes and cancellations to Blue and Blue Plus fares under $100, you would have to pay $75 per person plus difference in fare and for fares between $100 and $149.99, you would have to pay $100 per person plus difference in fare. The price continues to go up the more expensive the fare.

So with Mosaic status you could be saving several hundred dollars in the event that you needed to make necessary changes or cancellations.

If you utilize a third party booking sites such as an online travel agency you likely will not be able to have your cancellation and change fees waived.

Bonus points

You will receive 15,000 bonus points upon qualifying for Mosaic. In the past, JetBlue has given this bonus even for those who have completed status challenges. I would always try to confirm that this is still is the case before expecting those points though.

If you reach Mosaic status via the credit card, I do not believe that you will receive the 15,000 points.

Expedited security line

You will get access to an expedited security line. If you really want to expedite your security line experience, you should seriously consider getting TSA Pre-Check. That will allow you to breeze through security without having to take out your liquids, electronics, light coats, belts and shoes. Read more about the program here.

Early boarding

You will be one of the first to board the plane.

Here is what the JetBlue boarding process looks like:

  • Pre-Boarding for customers with disabilities/unaccompanied minors
  • Mosaic and Mint customers
  • Even More Space customers (Group A)
  • Courtesy Boarding for active military personnel and customers traveling with children in car seats or strollers.
  • General Boarding by group:
    • Group B
    • Group C
    • Group D
    • Group E (N/A for E-190 aircraft)
  • All remaining customers

So as you can see, you will be among the first passengers to board right after pre-boarding.

Additional bonus points

Earn an additional 3 TrueBlue points per dollar on your JetBlue flight, for at least 9 points per dollar if you book on jetblue.com. This bonus is a great way to rack up your points but keep in mind that these bonus points will not count toward earning Mosaic status for the next year — only base flight points count for that.

Earning 9 points per dollar at a valuation of 1.4 cents per point would be a 12.6% return on your spend. Compare that to what you can earn if you are A-List Preferred with Southwest Airlines, which allows for returns up to 36% for Business Select!

That to me is a pretty significant difference between JetBlue and Southwest — Southwest Airlines is much more rewarding for their top elites when it comes to putting money back in their pocket.

JetBlue Mosaic phone number

You will have access to a dedicated customer service line.

The JetBlue Mosaic phone number is: 1-877-538-8783.

Many people have good things to say about the customer service line and so this could be a very helpful benefit if anything ever comes up.

Complimentary drinks

You will be able to enjoy complimentary alcoholic beverages onboard. The drinks are not available on flights operating with express or no inflight service (flights under 340 miles) or where prohibited by law.

Also, this perk applies only to the qualified Mosaic member and may not be transferred. So if someone else is flying with you, they may not be able to partake with you (for free).

Here are the products you might find and the normal prices you would have to pay:

Beer ($7)

  • Angry Orchard Hard Cider
  • Brooklyn Brewery Lager
  • Bud Light®
  • Samuel Adams Octoberfest
  • Heineken®
  • Lagunitas Pale Ale

Spirits ($7)

  • Bacardi® Rum
  • Bombay Sapphire® Gin
  • Dewar’s® White Label® Scotch Whisky
  • Jack Daniel’s® Whiskey
  • Tito’s® Handmade Vodka

Wine

  • Redwood Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon California 2015 ($7)
  • Reserve Selection ($7)
  • KWV Classic Collection Chenin Blanc ($7)
  • Ambre Selina Extra Dry Sparkling Wine ($9)

JetBlue Mosaic upgrades

JetBlue Mosaic does not have an official upgrade policy but JetBlue is known to offer upgrades to the Even More Space seats when available. With Even More Space seats you’ll enjoy up to 38″ of legroom. That is a whole lot of legroom.

Check with an agent at the gate if you are interested in getting upgraded since these are usually given last-minute. Some airports should have a designated Mosaic desk for you to inquire with.

Update: Mosaic members can request same-day Even More Space seats for free for themselves and eligible travel companions on their reservation. Request will be honored in the order they are received based on availability.

To make a request, see an airport crewmember at the Mosaic desk, ticket counter, Just Ask desk, or gate.

Unfortunately, there is no official policy for upgrading Mosaic members to Mint but upgrades to Mint class can happen (though rare and mostly due to over bookings).

Lounge access?

Unlike some other major airlines, JetBlue does not have any airport lounges. This is likely because the lounges do not fit the business model similar to Southwest Airlines. However, with the addition of the Mint class maybe there is hope in the future for some select airports to open up lounges (one can always dream).

Tracking JetBlue Mosaic Status

You will be able to track your activity on the TrueBlue homepage once signed in with their Mosaic trackers. Simply log in and then click on “My Activity” and you will be able to see your progress.

JetBlue will also notify you via e-mail when you’re close to qualifying for TrueBlue Mosaic and once you reach the qualification criteria you will receive an e-mail.

Does points pooling affect Mosaic status?

JetBlue has a cool points pooling system that allows families and friends to pool miles together. However this pooling will not affect your Mosaic status eligibility, since it is based solely on your individual travel and the number of TrueBlue Points you earn individually.

Points in a Points Pooling account that are earned by other Participants will not count towards your eligibility for TrueBlue Mosaic or any other TrueBlue offers, badges or bonuses.

Earning JetBlue TrueBlue points

There are a lot of ways to earn TrueBlue points.

Transfer partners

JetBlue is a transfer partner of the major credit card rewards programs, such as Chase Ultimate Rewards, American Express Membership Rewards, and Citi ThankYou Points. Thus, it is one of the easiest programs to rack up points for.

These do not count towards Mosaic eligibility.

Earning points by flying

You can earn bonus points when you fly with JetBlue and make your booking directly on www.jetblue.com. You should note that only JetBlue base flight points are eligible for TrueBlue Mosaic. So all of the bonus points that you might earn below will not count towards your Mosaic eligibility.

Here are the bonus rates for purchasing flights:

  • Members who have purchased a Blue fare can earn an extra 3 bonus points per dollar for a total of 6 points per dollar spent.
  • Members who have purchased a Blue Plus fare can earn an extra 4 bonus points per dollar for a total of 7 points per dollar spent.
  • Members who have purchased a Blue Flex fare can earn an extra 5 bonus points per dollar for a total of 8 points per dollar spent.
  • Members who have purchased a Mint fare can earn an extra 3 bonus points per dollar for a total of 6 points per dollar spent.

You’ll also earn 300 points for every JetPaws fee paid and 200 points when purchasing each Even More Space seat.

Special Bonuses

JetBlue will also offer special bonuses for earning points.

Here are a few examples of ongoing bonuses you might come across:

  • Take 3: Earn 5,000 bonus points when you purchase and fly 3 roundtrip flights in a calendar year.
  • Lucky 7: Earn 7,000 bonus points when you purchase and fly 7 roundtrip flights in a calendar year. (Lucky you.)
  • Go Long: Earn 10,000 bonus points when you purchase and fly 10 one-way flights of 1,600 miles or more in a calendar year.

Once again, these will not count towards Mosaic eligibility.

Travel packages and activities

  • TrueBlue members earn 6 points per dollar on the base price (excluding taxes and fees) of JetBlue Vacations packages, including the JetBlue flight, hotel, car, and activities purchased at the time of booking.
  • Cruise vacation packages are eligible to earn TrueBlue points on the base airfare purchase price for the flight portion of the package.

JetBlue Mosaic Status FAQ

How many flights are needed to earn JetBlue Mosaic status?

In a normal year, you will need to earn 15,000 base flight points or fly 30 segments plus earn 12,000 base flight points in order to earn JetBlue Mosaic status.

Can I get JetBlue Mosaic status with a credit card?

The JetBlue Plus Card allows you to earn Mosaic status after you spend $50,000 in a calendar year. 

Does JetBlue offer challenges for Mosaic status?

You can often find status challenges to earn JetBlue Mosaic status. The requirements may vary but prior challenges have required you to earn 3,750 base flight points in 90 calendar days.

Does JetBlue offer status matches for Mosaic status?

Yes, sometimes you can match your status from other airlines to obtain Mosaic status.

Below are some airline programs that match to Mosaic status.

Alaska Airlines®: Mileage Plan™; MVP® Gold or MVP® Gold 75k
Virgin America®: Elevate® Silver, Elevate® Gold
Delta®SkyMiles Medallion® Gold, Platinum or Diamond
United®MileagePlus® Premier® Gold, Platinum or Premier1K®
American Airlines®: AAdvantage Platinum® or Executive Platinum®
Southwest Airlines®: Rapid Rewards® A-List Preferred or Companion Pass
Emirates: Emirates™; Skywards‎ Silver, Gold or Platinum

Can I purchase JetBlue Mosaic status?

In some cases, you can purchase JetBlue Mosaic status.

This could cost you over $5,000 if you do not have any base points but in other cases it may only cost you a few hundred bucks depending on how many points you already have.

What are the main JetBlue Mosaic status benefits?

The main benefits include a free first and second checked bag, change and cancellation fees waived, 15,000 bonus points upon qualifying, expedited security line, early boarding, and additional bonus points.

Do you get free drinks with JetBlue Mosaic status?

Yes, you will get free alcoholic beverages on flights over 340 miles.

Do you get upgrades with JetBlue Mosaic status?

Although there is not an official upgrade policy, JetBlue will sometimes offer you upgrades to Even More Space seats when available.

Unfortunately, there is no policy for upgrading Mosaic members to Mint but upgrades to Mint class can happen.

Do you get lounge access with JetBlue Mosaic status?

JetBlue does not offer airport lounges so this is not a possibility for Mosaic members.

Can I track my status?

Yes, you can track your progress towards Mosaic status by signing in and clicking on “my activity.”

Do points transferred to JetBlue count towards JetBlue Mosaic status?

Unfortunately, whenever you transfer points from programs like Chase Ultimate Rewards and American Express Membership Rewards, those points do not count towards elite status.

Final word

There are many different ways that you can earn JetBlue Mosaic status. With all of the different status matches and challenges offered throughout the year, this is one of the easiest elite statuses to earn. There are some pretty decent benefits for Mosaic members, so I would definitely look into these various options and see which could be the best route for you to go.

JetBlue Plus Card Review (60K Offers?) [2020]

The JetBlue Plus Card is a popular travel rewards card. It has fantastic earning potential for JetBlue flights and some pretty solid perks that can save you money when flying JetBlue. In this article, I’ll break down everything you need to know about the JetBlue Plus Card, including things like the welcome offer (which could be up to 60K), bonus categories, and benefits. 

JetBlue Plus Card

  • Welcome bonus (ranges)
  • 6X on JetBlue purchases
  • 2X on grocery stores and restaurants
  • 1X on all other purchases
  • Free first checked bag
  • 5,000 points after first year anniversary
  • 10% points rebate
  • Points don’t expire (standard JetBlue policy)
  • No foreign transaction fees
  • TrueBlue Mosaic benefits for one year after you spend $50,000 or more on purchases annually with your card
  • 50% savings on eligible inflight purchases including cocktails and food
  • $99 annual fee (not waived)

Tip: Use WalletFlo for all your credit card needs. It’s free and will help you optimize your rewards and savings!

Welcome bonus

The welcome bonus for this card will fluctuate over time. Over the past few years, I’ve seen the offers fluctuate pretty widely from 30,000 miles all the way up to 60,000 miles — this card is known to offer limited time offers. For the most part, though, you’re probably going to find an offer around 40,000 to 50,000 miles. 

Barclays is known for having low minimum spend requirements for their cards and for the JetBlue Plus Card, you might find it as low as $1,000 in three months, which is great. 

How much are these bonuses worth?

The value depends on how much you value JetBlue miles. At a valuation of 1.4 cents per point, you could be looking at up to $800+ worth in value which is very good.

Remember, JetBlue has a dynamic currency so that means the price of your redemptions are tied to the cash value of the ticket. The value of your points will often be on average around 1.4 cents per point but it can definitely fluctuate.   

Here are some of the lowest redemption prices that I found for one-way flights:

  • LAX to JFK: 6,400 points + $5.60 in fees
  • JFK to FLL: 6,500 points + $5.60 in fees 
  • IAH to JFK: 12,800 points + $5.60 in fees
  • SFO to BOS: 11,900 points + $5.60 in fees

JetBlue Mint

One thing that’s awesome about JetBlue is that you can fly on a very nice business class, known as JetBlue Mint. Mint routes have gotten more expensive over the past few years but here are some of the award rates that I’ve found for one way flights in the past: 

  • JFK to SFO: 65,000 one way + $5.60 in fees
  • JFK to LAX: 57,700 one way + $5.60 in fees
  • BOS to LAX: 45,300 one way + $5.60 in fees
  • FLL to LAX: 53,100 one way + $5.60 in fees

This means you could cover a one-way journey across the US if you caught the right bonus. 

The one major drawback to JetBlue is that they don’t have the most expansive flight network. For example, they only fly to Houston from the Northeast (Boston and NYC). So if I wanted to fly their Mint class, I’d need to route through BOS or JFK just to connect.

JetBlue Mint.

Credit card strategy tips

A non-Chase airline card should generally come after you fill up your 5/24 slots. As long as you haven’t opened up five accounts in the past 24 months, the Chase Sapphire Preferred (full review) or Chase Sapphire Reserve might be better options to go with first if you want better bonus earnings on dining and general travel expenses.

You can also transfer Chase points to many partners (including JetBlue). Also, if you really wanna maximize your wallet, go with the Chase Ink Business Preferred first since that card will generally not account towards your 5/24 status.

Finally, if you’re interested in airlines cards, the United Explorer and Chase Southwest credit cards could also be solid options. 

After you have maxed out your 5/24 slots, then I’d start looking at non-Chase co-branded cards for airlines like American, Delta, etc. And again, JetBlue is not ideal for many people because of its limited route network, so always think about which hubs you’ll be flying out of before jumping on a card.

Eligibility

Barclays imposes something known as “6/24.” This is a soft rule that means that if you’ve opened six or more cards in the past 24 months, you might not get approved for their cards. This is not always enforced so you don’t always have to worry about. 

And there are other eligibility rules at play with this card as well. Personally, I would just recommend that you check out the free app WalletFlo so that you can automate your eligibility for all of these terms and conditions.

Bonus categories

  • 6X on JetBlue purchases
  • 2X on grocery stores and restaurants
  • 1X on all other purchases

Earning 6X on JetBlue purchases is better than most Southwest credit cards that offer only 2X on Southwest purchases (read: Southwest vs JetBlue). Eligible JetBlue Purchases are items billed by JetBlue via JetBlue channels like jetblue.com, JetBlue reservations, JetBlue Vacations, etc. 

As for the 2X on groceries, note that large warehouse-type stores (Target, Walmart and Costco) are generally not classified as grocery stores.

Assuming JetBlue points are worth 1.4 cents per point, getting 6X on JetBlue purchases means getting 8.4% back on JetBlue and 2.7% back on grocery stores and restaurants. 

That’s great for your JetBlue purchases but pretty average on grocery stores and restaurants. It’s not that difficult to earn ~4X on grocery stores and restaurants these days so I wouldn’t necessarily want to put those categories on a card like this. 

2X JetBlue points on groceries is pretty average compared to other cards.

JetBlue Plus Benefits

  • Free first checked bag
  • 5,000 points after first year anniversary
  • Get 10% of your points back every time you redeem to use toward your next redemption
  • 50% savings on eligible inflight purchases including cocktails and food
  • Annual $100 statement credit

Tip: Use the free app WalletFlo to help you travel the world for free by finding the best travel credit cards and promotions!

First checked bag free

Unlike Southwest that gives you two free checked bags, when flying on JetBlue, you’ll have to pay for your checked baggage. But if you have the JetBlue Plus Card, you can get your first bag checked for free for the primary cardmember and up to 3 travel companions on the same reservation (so a total of four people).

That could save you over $120 per one-way flight and you find out more about JetBlue baggage fees here.

It’s worth noting that to get this perk, the purchase must be made with your JetBlue Plus Card and the account must have been open seven days prior to air travel and reservation must include the primary cardmember’s TrueBlue membership account seven days prior to air travel. 

5,000 points anniversary

Every year you’ll get 5,000 anniversary points which is very nice. These points could be worth about $70, so this bonus alone could almost offset the entire annual fee of $99. It’s worth mentioning that the Southwest Premier card offers a bonus of 6,000 anniversary points.  

10% rebate

The 10% rebate puts value back into your wallet and increases the value of the welcome bonus and bonus earning. So if you earn a 50,000 miles bonus, it’s like getting an additional 5,000 point bonus (equivalent to the anniversary benefit). There is no maximum number of points you can receive from this benefit so this can really add up over time.

50% savings

It’s not uncommon for an airline card to offer you in-flight discounts on food and drink purchases but they are often capped at around 15% to 25%. So it’s nice to see this benefit knocking off 50% off your in-flight purchases.

Eligible purchases include the inflight purchase of cocktails, beer, wine and meals on JetBlue-operated flights when you use your card. However, the discount will not apply to any other inflight purchases, such as pillows, earphones or upgraded seats or cabins.

Annual $100 statement credit

You can get this benefit after purchasing a JetBlue Vacations package of $100 or more with your JetBlue Plus Card. Just keep in mind, your purchase must be $100 or more and there is a limit of one $100 statement credit per calendar year per Account. 

Chip + PIN technology

This card will come with Chip and pin technology which is very useful when traveling to certain destinations where you might need to use a kiosk. I always make sure to carry at least one card with Chip + Pin technology when I travel. 

No foreign transaction fees

The JetBlue Plus Card does not come with foreign transaction fees.

JetBlue Plus Mosaic benefit

  • TrueBlue Mosaic benefits for one year after you spend $50,000 or more on purchases annually with your card

JetBlue only has one level of elite status and it is known as Mosaic. It can be earned by meeting the following requirements:

  • 15,000 base flight points within a calendar year OR
  • Fly 30 segments plus 12,000 base flight points within a calendar year.

Or in this case, you can earn it after you spend $50,000 or more on purchases annually with your card (each calendar year). Many airlines often give you credits toward elite status for spend but you don’t often see elite status given outright just for spend on a credit card. 

Here are all of the TrueBlue Mosaic benefits.

  • First and second bag free
  • Change and cancellation fees waived
  • 15,000 bonus points upon qualifying for Mosaic
  • Expedited security line
  • Early boarding
  • Complimentary drinks
  • 6 points per dollar if you book a Blue fare on jetblue.com

With the JetBlue Plus Card + Mosaic status, you could be earning 12X on Blue fares on jetblue.com, which is pretty awesome and could start to add up pretty quickly. You’d also get the 15,000 bonus on top of the JetBlue Plus bonus of 5,000 anniversary points for a total of 20,000 points.  

Benefit changes

Barclays announced in the fall of 2019 that changes were coming to its cards. It sent emails out to cardholders stating the following: 

Your Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver and Identity Theft benefits will be enhanced. For example, you will now have access to an online monitoring dashboard and resolution features that scour the internet and Dark Web for compromised credentials and financial account takeover.

Also, you will be eligible to receive Cellular Telephone Protection, which provides coverage for certain damage to or theft of your cell phone effective November 1, 2019.

Your Extended Warranty, Price Protection, Purchase Assurance, Satisfaction Guarantee and Trip Delay benefits will be removed; however, claims can be submitted for eligible purchases made through October 31, 2019.

So we saw some key benefits removed like Extended Warranty, Price Protection, Purchase Assurance, Satisfaction Guarantee and Trip Delay benefits. When more details come out about the cell phone protection, I’ll add more of those to this section. 

But it’s worth noting that you have to use your JetBlue card to get perks like the free checked bag. That means losing out on much better travel insurance benefits you get with cards like the Chase Sapphire Preferred, Reserve, etc. So that’s definitely something to think about. 

Annual fee

  • $99 annual fee 

Barclays can be good about waiving fees and sending out retention offers. So many people won’t even have to pay this full annual fee every year.

Final word

The JetBlue Plus Card is actually a pretty solid airline card. The highlights for me are: 

  • Strong limited time offers of 50K+ miles
  • 6X earning on JetBlue
  • Free checked bag, anniversary points, and rebates/discounts

I just don’t like that it lost so many protections in November 2019. I don’t like to miss out on solid travel protections like trip delay so I’m not overly crazy about this card because of that. 

Barclaycard JetBlue Plus Card Now at 60K!

Barclaycard is offering a new and improved sign up bonus for its JetBlue card. The standard public offer for a long time was 30K and was recently bumped up to 40K. However, now you can earn 60K JetBlue points after $1,000 in spend within the first 90 days of account opening. Here’s a closer look at the offer.

Update: Some offers are no longer available — click here for the latest deals!

The offer

  • 60K JetBlue points after $1,000 in spend within the first 90 days of account opening 
  • 6X on JetBlue purchases
  • 2X on grocery stores and restaurants
  • 1X on all other purchases
  • Free first checked bag
  • 5,000 points after first year anniversary
  • Get 10% of your points back every time you redeem to use toward your next redemption
  • Points don’t expire
  • No foreign transaction fees
  • TrueBlue Mosaic benefits for one year after you spend $50,000 or more on purchases annually with your card
  • 50% savings on eligible inflight purchases including cocktails and food
  • $99 annual fee (not waived)

JetBlue points function a lot like Southwest Rapid Rewards. They are set at a fixed value that, while subject to fluctuations, remains close to 1.4 cents per mile. This means that a 60K bonus will net you around $840 (without even factoring the 10% rebate on points). Some even value JetBlue points higher than that so this is definitely a very valuable sign-up bonus. 

JetBlue Mint

One of the biggest draws to this card for me is that 60K JetBlue points can get you enough miles to try out JetBlue’s new business class Mint product, which is considered one of the best business class products for transcontinental flights, especially if you can snag the suites on board. The new mint cabin is still only flying on a limited number of routes but they are expanding. You can check out the map below to see current Mint routes and those scheduled for the future.

Mint routes have gotten more expensive over the past year but they can still be manageable. Here are some of the current rates that I’ve found for one way flights:

  • JFK to SFO: 65,000 one way + $5.60 in fees
  • JFK to LAX: 57,700 one way + $5.60 in fees
  • BOS to LAX: 45,300 one way + $5.60 in fees
  • FLL to LAX: 53,100 one way + $5.60 in fees

These are some of the cheapest prices I found and while you might be able to find cheaper rates on certain dates, most of the prices were higher than these. So it’s at least possible to score enough JetBlue miles to cover at least one way in Mint transcon. If you need to supplement your miles remember that JetBlue is a transfer partner of American Express and Citi (just not 1:1).

Limited route network for some

The one major drawback to JetBlue is that they don’t have the most expansive flight network. For example, they only fly to Houston from the Northeast (Boston and NYC). So if I wanted to fly their Mint class, I’d need to route through BOS or JFK just to connect. For international flights that’s not an issue but for domestic flights, that’s quite a bit extra of flights and considering that there’s no Mint from Houston to anywhere, that’s a bit of a bummer for people like me trying to get on board with JetBlue.

Final word

Overall, this is a very solid offer. Considering that it’s 20K than the previous offer and 60K makes scoring Mint redemptions much more obtainable, I think this is an offer that people should strongly consider. The biggest drawback is that JetBlue doesn’t have as wide of a flight network as Southwest, so in some parts of the country, you might struggle to find attractive and practical flight routes. Still, for someone who even flies JetBlue semi-frequently this could be a great option.