Review: Barclays Jet Blue Plus Card

Jet Blue is a favorite airline among domestic travelers and points and miles enthusiasts. This is especially true because it is a transfer partner with Chase, Amex, Citi, and Capital One. In turn, that means that travelers with a transferrable point-earning credit card can transfer any type of transferrable points to their Jet Blue account. However, transferrable point-earning credit cards are not the only ways to earn TrueBlue bonus points. The Barclays Jet Blue Plus Card is a great option for those who want to earn TrueBlue bonus points faster. It also has the potential to be a long-term keeper card because of its generous perks.

Earning

The Jet Blue Plus Card is a great way to earn TrueBlue bonus points, especially for those who don’t have a transferrable point-earning credit card. It earns 6x points for every dollar spent on Jet Blue flights. It also earns 2x points at Grocery Stores and Restaurants, as well as one point for all non-bonus category spend. This earning structure best suits Jet Blue expenses as there are better alternatives for the 2x categories.

Barclays is also offering a sign-up bonus worth 40,000 points for the Jet Blue Plus Card. Cardholders can earn the bonus after spending just $1,000 within the first three months. This is a nice bonus with a low minimum spend akin to the American Express Hilton Honors card. The low minimum spend makes it more reachable for beginners and those on a budget.

Burning

The question here is “what to do with all of those TrueBlue bonus points?”. There are two options that could be of value:

Airfare

As with most airlines, redeeming for airfare is the most obvious, rewarding, and valuable method. Plus, cardholders will receive 10% of their points back towards the next redemption each time they book a reward ticket.

Jet Blue Vacations

Jet Blue Vacations are pre-packaged trips that are often offered on airline portals. Cardholders can’t redeem points for hotel rooms, rental cars, or other incidentals. However, Jet Blue offers packages that include everything.

Benefits

The Jet Blue Plus has some nice benefits that should help justify its $99 annual fee (NOT waived the first year).

Mosaic Elite Status

This level of status is the highest in the Jet Blue pyramid. Earning Mosaic Elite Status can be done by spending $50,000 per year on the Jet Blue Plus Card. Mosaic Status includes the following:

• Bonus Points
• Dedicated Customer Service Phone Number
• Priority Check-In, Security, & Boarding
• Qualification Bonus
• Take 3 and Lucky 7 Bonuses
• Two (More) Free Checked Bags

These perks are worth the card’s $99 annual fee and then some, even for those who fly Jet Blue once per year. The two checked bags are easily worth $50 each. The catch is that cardholders must spend at least $50,000 per year on the Jet Blue Plus card to get the status. There are more efficient ways to spend $50,000 than towards earning Mosaic Status. Otherwise, you can justify the card’s annual fee through its other perks.

50% Discount on In-Flight Purchases

This is a nice perk for any incidentals, food, and entertainment that’s purchased while flying. Many airlines charge premiums for in-flight goods and services, so its nice to see Jet Blue pass the savings along.

$100 Annual Statement Credit

Cardholders will receive a $100 annual statement credit if they buy a Jet Blue vacation package worth at least $100. This credit is enough to justify the card’s $99 annual fee and realize positive expected value.

Free Checked Bags

This perk provides cardholders the first checked bag free for themselves and up to three companions or family members. The American Express Gold Delta SkyMiles Card has a similar perk, but it covers the main flyer and up to nine companions.

Travel Insurances

Trip Delay Protection helps cardholders if their flight is delayed at least six hours. Cardholders can receive up to $300 for incidentals and food. This insurance can only be used twice per calendar year.

Trip Cancellation Insurance also covers up to $5,000 to refund a trip if it needs to be cancelled before departing. This insurance has a maximum liability of $10,000 per calendar year.

Similar Cards

Check out the following alternatives if the Jet Blue Plus Card is not right:

Chase Sapphire Preferred

The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card can be either a complement or a substitute for the Jet Blue Plus card. It has a $95 annual fee, which is slightly less than that of the Jet Blue Plus Card.

Chase’s mid-tier credit card earns 2x Ultimate Rewards (UR) points per dollar on general travel and dining and only one on non-bonus spend. UR points can be transferred to Jet Blue and a plethora of other hotel and airline partners. Such membership in the Chase “ecosystem” does not limit the Sapphire Preferred to Jet Blue redemptions. Therefore, people who are not loyal to Jet Blue (or any other single airline or hotel) could transfer points to one of Chase’s 13 partners.

Furthermore, Chase is offering a sign-up bonus worth 60,000 points for the Sapphire Preferred. It can be earned after spending $4,000 in the first three months. This is one of Chase’s higher sign-up bonuses, making the Sapphire Preferred valuable and worthwhile in the short-term.

As for benefits, the Sapphire Preferred has excellent travel insurances that would work well with those from the Jet Blue Plus Card. This includes Primary Car Rental Insurance. The Jet Blue Plus card does not have any of those insurances, stating the Preferred Card’s case for being a complement.

American Express Green Card

The American Express Green Card earns transferrable Membership Rewards (MR) points. It has a $150 annual fee (NOT waived the first year). But it can be an excellent alternative to the Jet Blue Plus Card.

The Green Card earns 3x MR points on general travel and dining and one point per dollar on non-bonus spend. Fortunately, American Express’ definition of “travel” has expanded for the Green Card. You can now earn 3x points on hotels, airfare, ride sharing, taxis, subways, tolls, and more.

Furthermore, Amex is offering a sign-up bonus worth 30,000 MR points. This bonus can be earned after spending $2,000 within the first three months.

The Green Card also comes with a $100 credit for Lounge Buddy and a $100 credit for CLEAR every year. The former credit might be useful for those who do not have a premium card or membership to Priority Pass.

Similar to the Chase Sapphire Reserve, the Green Card has membership in the American Express “ecosystem”. Such membership does not limit it to Jet Blue redemptions. Therefore, people who are not loyal to Jet Blue (or any other single airline or hotel) could transfer points to one of American Express’ partners.

Final Draw

The Barclays Jet Blue Plus Card is a great option for Jet Blue loyalists as well as travelers who want a potential long-term airline keeper card. It is a strong earner that also offers the chance to earn Jet Blue Mosaic Status and other excellent perks.

However, the Jet Blue Plus Card does not earn transferrable points. Consider how loyal you are to Jet Blue before getting this credit card. Those who are not loyal to Jet Blue should consider a transferrable point-earning credit card instead.

Apply Today: Barclays Jet Blue Plus Card