What the JetBlue Card Offers
JetBlue offers two primary credit cards: the JetBlue Card and the JetBlue Plus Card. Both earn points on every purchase, give you a sign-up bonus, and waive your first bag fee when you fly JetBlue. The main difference is that the Plus Card costs $95 per year and comes with higher earning rates and additional perks, while the standard JetBlue Card has no annual fee.
The standard JetBlue Card earns 1 point per dollar on all purchases. The JetBlue Plus Card earns 3 points per dollar on JetBlue purchases and 2 points per dollar at restaurants, gas stations, and on other airlines. Both cards let you use points to book flights, seat upgrades, or other travel expenses through JetBlue's website.
Neither card is a co-branded card with a bank partner — JetBlue issues both directly through Barclays. This means the terms, rewards structure, and redemption rules come straight from JetBlue, not a third-party bank.
Key Takeaways
- The standard JetBlue Card has no annual fee and earns 1 point per dollar on all purchases, while the JetBlue Plus Card costs $95 per year but earns 3 points per dollar on JetBlue flights.
- Both cards waive your first checked bag on JetBlue flights and give you a sign-up bonus of points after you spend a certain amount in the first few months.
- Points can be redeemed for JetBlue flights, seat upgrades, or other travel purchases, but their value depends on which flight you book and when.
- The JetBlue Plus Card makes sense if you fly JetBlue multiple times per year and can earn back the $95 annual fee through points and perks.
Sign-Up Bonuses and How They Work
When you open a JetBlue card, you receive a sign-up bonus — usually stated as a number of points after you spend a certain amount within a set timeframe, often three months. The exact bonus amount and spending requirement change periodically, so the current offer may differ from what you see advertised elsewhere.
The bonus posts to your account once you meet the spending requirement, not when you explore. This means you need to actually use the card and reach the threshold before the points appear. If you do not spend enough in the timeframe, you do not receive the bonus.
Sign-up bonuses are one of the largest point earnings you will receive from a card, so they matter when deciding whether opening the card makes financial sense for you. If you do not plan to spend enough to hit the requirement, the bonus will not help you.
Annual Fees and When They Make Sense
The standard JetBlue Card has no annual fee — you can keep it open indefinitely without paying anything just to hold it. The JetBlue Plus Card charges $95 per year, billed on your card anniversary each year.
The Plus Card's $95 fee only makes sense if you earn enough value from the higher point rates and extra perks to offset it. If you fly JetBlue at least once or twice per year and spend money at restaurants or gas stations, the higher earning rates can add up to more than $95 in annual value. If you rarely fly or never use the card outside of JetBlue purchases, the standard card is the better choice.
You can downgrade from the Plus Card to the standard JetBlue Card at any time to avoid paying the annual fee again. Call the number on the back of your card and ask to downgrade — you will not lose your existing points.
How Points Earn and What They Are Worth
Points accumulate in your JetBlue account as you use the card. One point per dollar on the standard card, or higher rates on the Plus Card depending on the purchase category. You can also earn points by flying JetBlue, staying at partner hotels, or making purchases through JetBlue's shopping portal.
The value of your points depends entirely on how you redeem them. If you book a flight that costs $300 and use 30,000 points instead, each point is worth about 1 cent. If you book a flight that costs $600 and use the same 30,000 points, each point is worth about 2 cents. There is no fixed redemption rate — you decide which flights to book and whether the point cost feels fair to you.
Points do not expire as long as you keep your account active. Your account stays active if you earn or redeem points at least once every 12 months. If your account goes inactive, JetBlue may close it and you could lose your points, so using the card or flying JetBlue occasionally keeps your balance safe.
Fees Beyond the Annual Fee
JetBlue charges standard credit card fees for things like late payments, returned checks, and cash advances. There is no foreign transaction fee, which means you can use the card internationally without paying extra on top of the purchase amount.
If you carry a balance from month to month, you will pay interest at a rate that depends on your creditworthiness and current market conditions. The card's introductory rate period, if any, varies — check your offer details to see whether you get a 0% period on purchases or balance transfers.
Authorized user fees, if charged, would appear in your cardholder agreement. Most JetBlue cards do not charge to add an authorized user, but confirm this before adding a family member or friend to your account.
Comparing the Standard Card to the Plus Card
| Feature | JetBlue Card | JetBlue Plus Card |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Fee | None | $95 |
| Points on JetBlue Purchases | 1 point per dollar | 3 points per dollar |
| Points on Other Purchases | 1 point per dollar | 2 points per dollar (restaurants, gas, other airlines) |
| First Checked Bag Free | Yes | Yes |
| Seat Selection Discount | No | Yes |
| Priority Boarding | No | Yes |
The Plus Card's extra perks — priority boarding and a discount on seat selection — add value beyond the higher point rates. If you value boarding early and picking your seat without paying extra, those benefits alone may justify the $95 annual fee for frequent JetBlue travelers.
How to Use Your Points
Log into your JetBlue account and go to the "Book with Points" section to see available flights and their point costs. You can filter by date, destination, and number of passengers just like booking with cash. Once you find a flight you want, you can pay entirely with points, or use a combination of points and cash if you do not have enough points for the full price.
Points can also be used for seat upgrades, extra baggage, or other travel-related purchases through JetBlue's website. You can transfer points to a travel companion's account if you want to book them a flight, though there may be restrictions on how many points you can transfer at once.
If you do not want to use points for flights, you can let them accumulate indefinitely. There is no pressure to redeem them by a certain date, and you can use them whenever a flight at a good point value comes up.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to be a frequent JetBlue flyer to make this card worth it?
Not necessarily. Even if you fly JetBlue once or twice per year, the sign-up bonus and the first checked bag waiver can provide value. The standard card with no annual fee is worth keeping open just for the bag benefit alone. The Plus Card makes more sense if you fly multiple times per year or spend regularly at restaurants and gas stations.
What happens to my points if I close the card?
Your points stay in your JetBlue account and do not disappear when you close the card. You can still redeem them for flights or other travel purchases. However, if your account becomes inactive (no points earned or redeemed for 12 months), JetBlue may close your account and you could lose the points.
Can I use points to book flights on other airlines?
JetBlue points can only be used to book JetBlue flights directly. You cannot transfer points to other airline loyalty programs or use them on partner airlines through JetBlue's website. However, you can earn points when flying on partner airlines and credit them to your JetBlue account.
Is there a sign-up bonus if I already have a JetBlue card?
JetBlue typically restricts sign-up bonuses to new cardholders or people who have not had a JetBlue card in the past 24 months. If you currently hold a JetBlue card, you would not be able to earn a bonus by explore for the other version. Check JetBlue's current terms to confirm the exact restriction period.
What credit score do I need to get approved?
JetBlue does not publicly state a minimum credit score requirement. Generally, credit card issuers look for a score in the "good" range or higher, though approval depends on your full credit history, income, and existing debt. You can check your credit score for free through your bank or a free credit monitoring service before explore.