JetBlue’s Big Reveal: Just Another Card?
So, picture this: It’s September 2024, and JetBlue finally lets the cat out of the bag. After what feels like endless whispers, they’re dropping plans to unveil flashy new airport lounges in New York (JFK) and Boston (BOS), scheduled to appear like mirages in the distant future of late 2025.
And just when you thought that was the big tease, they up their game with a shiny new premium credit card. Dive right in, folks, because this card is up for grabs starting… now.
JetBlue’s Premium Credit Card Deep Dive
Enter JetBlue and Barclays, strutting onto the scene with the JetBlue Premier World Elite Mastercard. Yes, the card’s full title might be longer than the actual terms and conditions, but let’s break down the nitty-gritty, shall we?
Here’s what this enticing piece of plastic promises to offer:
- A whopping annual fee: $499 for the queen bee cardholder, and an extra $150 for those sidekicks you call authorized users. Yes, they get lounge access too.
- Welcome bonus: Bag 70,000 TrueBlue points plus five tiles towards that glittery Mosaic status when you splash out $5,000 in the first three months. Merrily note – if you’ve swung around with the JetBlue Plus Card before, this is a no-go.
- Point rewards: Rack up 6x TrueBlue points on JetBlue and Paisly spends, 2x at your favorite cafes and grocery aisles, and 1x on everything else. The best bit? No foreign transaction fees to cramp your shopping spree at the Val Seny ski resort.
- Mosaic status seekers, rejoice: Earn one tile for every $1,000 spent. It’s a level playing field, just like other JetBlue cards.
- Lounging luxury: Priority Pass membership and access to JetBlue’s lounges (when they eventually open).
- Paisly perks: Up to $300 in statement credits annually, served $50 at a time on every $250+ Paisly purchase, up to six times a year. Tick tock, let’s shop.
- Anniversary gift: A thoughtful 5,000 TrueBlue points when you ponce up the annual fee to stay in the club.
- Travel perks: 10% of redeemed points bounce back after a JetBlue award trip.
- Swift security: A Global Entry or TSA PreCheck fee credit worth up to $120 every four years, because those lines are for the basic folks.
- Boarding benefits: Priority Group A boarding on JetBlue jaunts for you and four buds on the same ticket.
- Luggage love: First checked bag flies free, for you and three companions on the same booking.
- Inflight savings: 50% off on eligible chow and drinks during JetBlue flights.
The JetBlue Take
According to JetBlue’s VP of Loyalty and Partnerships – an exuberant human being – this card is the secret ingredient to the JetForward plan. Designed with feedback from their most devoted Mosaic members, it’s crafted to rival top travel cards. Translation: More reasons to adore JetBlue, while doubling down on points and securing exclusives pre-takeoff.
Disappointment Alert: JetBlue Card Letdown
Reality check, folks. As much as we’d love to bless this card with enthusiasm, its execution falters, leaving us with a checklist cringe:
- Sure, for a handful, the initial bonus might be tempting enough to bite. Can’t deny that.
- However, don’t let the glitzy name fool you; in terms of spending returns, it mirrors its less glam relatives in the JetBlue card lineup.
- Then there’s that $300 Paisly credit debacle. A $50 discount here and there feels less like a perk and more like a chore.
- True to its word, the unique charm relies heavily on lounge access. And considering the first lounge’s faraway launch, there’s little actual value here and now.
So, while JetBlue enthusiasts residing near these lounges might find joy eventually, everyone else is left waiting. Priority Pass is hardly a novelty, given its abundance through other cards. Till they beef up the offering, making this card’s math work is puzzling at best.
The Bottom Line
JetBlue’s venture into the premium card jungle with its Premier Card is lukewarm at best. With a stiff $499 fee and a blend of benefits, it struggles to stand out. The allure lies in promised lounge access, but that’s as elusive as finding a unicorn before 2025.
In a hotly contested arena brimming with tantalizing card options, this one needed to step it up a notch. It’s a start, but the runway ahead is long.
What’s your take on JetBlue’s latest card move?