You can think of JetBlue points as a form of currency. As with any currency, how much value you get from each point will depend on how you use them. On average, JetBlue points tend to be worth around 1.3 cents each, but you can sometimes squeeze out more value — especially when booking partner airlines.
In this article, we’ll walk you through different ways to use your points, how to make sure you’re getting a good deal, and highlight some strategies to maximize value. By the end, you’ll have a clear picture of what your JetBlue points can get you and how to make the most of them.
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How to determine the value of a point based on the flight cost
Before we discuss how much JetBlue points are worth, we should understand the math behind “cents per point” — the metric used to figure out what a particular redemption is worth.
Imagine a flight costs $100. If you need 1,000 points to book that flight, then your points would be worth one cent each. To find this number, divide the cost of a flight (remembering to subtract any award fees) by the number of points required.
A $300 flight requiring 20,000 points plus $10 in fees would look like this:
$300 – $10 = $290
$290 divided by 20,000 = 0.0145, which is 1.45 cents per point.
You can use this same math on points redemptions for flights, gift cards, rental cars, or anything else.
The value of JetBlue points when booking flights
We have three pieces of good news to share regarding JetBlue TrueBlue points. First, using your points for flights is really simple. If a seat is available on a flight, you can use your points for it. Moreover, there’s no guesswork regarding award availability as you’ll find with other award programs, and there aren’t any blackout dates that prohibit you from using points around holidays or other peak travel dates.
Instead, JetBlue lets you book flights using points based on the current cash price of a ticket. The more a flight costs, the more points you’ll need. Points are used at a fixed value, typically ranging from 0.75 to 1.5 cents each.
Second, JetBlue allows you to share points with up to seven other people. This user-friendly feature helps you pool your points together to get the amount you need for an upcoming flight redemption.
Third, if you still don’t have enough points for a redemption, JetBlue offers a Cash + Points feature that lets you combine money and TrueBlue points to cover flights. Blue Basic seats aren’t eligible and you’ll still earn points on the paid portion of your ticket.
So, what can you get with your points? Let’s look at the options for both JetBlue and partner airline flights.
JetBlue has regular TrueBlue Deals offering discounted flights that you can use points for. You can see current options after selecting your home airport.
Otherwise, you can search for flights on JetBlue’s website and check the “Use TrueBlue points” box to use points. Consider this flight from Newark, New Jersey to Fort Lauderdale, Florida in March. The cash price for a Blue fare is $114, but you can pay 7,200 points and $5.60 in taxes. That makes your points worth 1.5 cents each on this ticket.
It’s also possible to redeem points to fly in JetBlue’s acclaimed Mint business class, which comes with hot meals, lie-flat seats, and much more space. These seats cost between 82,200 and 86,900 points each way between New York City and Los Angeles.
Cash prices for those flights run from $988 to $1,043 each way, meaning your points are worth roughly 1.2 cents each on these redemptions. Thus, you’re getting less value on a per-point basis on these redemptions than we saw in the economy ticket flights above.
JetBlue flights aren’t the only thing you can book with TrueBlue points. You can redeem 44,900 points to fly from Miami to Doha, Qatar, on Qatar Airways in economy class or 90,000 points to fly in the famous Qsuite business class. You’ll pay $7.65 in taxes and fees on either reservation type.
Qatar Airways is selling these flights for $725 and $8,235, making your points worth 1.6 or 9.1 cents per point, respectively. Those values are superior to other options we’ve seen, but it’s worth pointing out that not everyone is flying to Qatar every day.
Moreover, using points for Qatar Airways flights is subject to availability, which is especially tough to find for flights in business class, even if you’re booking well in advance.
Closer to home, you can use TrueBlue points to fly on Hawaiian Airlines, which operates from Hawaii to numerous airports in the continental U.S., Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, and multiple points in Oceania. Flights from the West Coast, such as San Francisco to Maui, cost 20,000 points each way in economy and 50,000 points in business class.
Hawaiian Airlines is selling these seats for $164 and $635, so using points provides a value of 0.79 and 1.26 cents per point, respectively.
The value of JetBlue points on other redemptions
It’s also possible to use your points in other ways. For example, JetBlue Vacations offers packages that include a flight and hotel (with the option to add a rental car) or a hotel plus 5,000 bonus points included with your booking. However, points can only be used for the flight, hotel, car, and activities portions of a flight and hotel package. They cannot be used on flight and cruise packages or packages that include partner airline flights.
When using points for these reservations, the value isn’t nearly as good as the numbers we saw for flight bookings with points. Consider these options for a two-person trip to Mexico in February. After subtracting the taxes and fees from the cost of the reservation, you can redeem points at a value of around 0.76 cents each, depending on the hotel you choose.
It’s also possible to donate your JetBlue points to multiple charities. There’s no assigned value here, as your points aren’t converted to cash. Instead, the points are sent directly to the charity, and the value here will be subjective.
Lastly, for those with the JetBlue Plus Card, you can redeem points toward recent purchases of at least $25 on your card. There’s an annual maximum of $1,000 for these types of purchases. Redemption rates start at 3,333 points for a $25 statement credit, which means you’re using points at a value of 0.75 cents each.
The best use of your JetBlue points
- Long-distance flights with Qatar Airways and Etihad
- Business-class seats on Hawaiian Airlines
- Economy flights with JetBlue
The worst use of your JetBlue points
- Statement credits on the JetBlue Plus Card
- JetBlue Vacations packages
- JetBlue Mint flights
- Economy flights on Hawaiian Airlines
Frequently asked questions about JetBlue points
How much are 10,000 JetBlue points worth?
If JetBlue points are worth anywhere from 0.75 to 1.5 cents apiece, then 10,000 points are worth $75 to $150 toward airfare. With 10,000 points, you can easily fly from the northeast to Florida in economy class.
How much are 50,000 JetBlue points worth?
Using the range of 0.75-1.5 cents per point, 50,000 points are worth $375-$750. However, you can find flights from Boston to San Francisco for 10,800 points per person each way, meaning 50,000 points is enough for a couple to take round-trip flights for a weekend away together. At the time of writing, JetBlue was selling these flights for roughly $350 each, meaning you’d get $700 worth of flights.
How much are 100,000 JetBlue points worth?
Using our same range of 0.75-1.5 cents, 100,000 JetBlue points are worth $750-$1,500. With 100,000 points, you can easily book a JetBlue Mint flight from coast to coast, which regularly sell for at least $1,000. Alternatively, you could book a round-trip flight to the Middle East in economy class or a one-way flight in business class that sells for over $8,000.
How many JetBlue points does it take for a free flight?
There’s a massive range, so the answer isn’t simple. JetBlue charges points depending on the cash price of its flights. You may find flights for 5,000 points on JetBlue’s shortest routes or as much as 90,000 points for a one-way flight in business class with partner airlines. Generally, the answer can be summed up like this: The more the flight costs with cash, the more points you need.
Do JetBlue points expire?
No, JetBlue TrueBlue points don’t expire as long as your account is open.
Can you use JetBlue points to book flights on other airlines?
Yes, you can use JetBlue points to book flights on other airlines. JetBlue allows you to use TrueBlue points for partner flights with airlines including Cape Air, Etihad Airways, Hawaiian Airlines, and Qatar Airways.
Summary
JetBlue TrueBlue points are an easy-to-use airline currency, and their value can vary depending on how you redeem them. On average, JetBlue points are worth 0.75 to 1.5 cents per point, with better redemptions possible, particularly when booking with partner airlines like Qatar Airways or Hawaiian Airlines. In this article, we covered different redemption methods to help you determine whether you’re getting the best value, including tips on how to maximize your points.
From JetBlue flights to international travel with partners, you should have a good idea on when to use your points, based on an understanding of what’s possible and how to calculate the value of a potential points redemption.
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