JetBlue’s New Lounges, Premium Credit Card: What We Know So Far

JetBlue announced on Sept. 19 that it would open two new airport lounges and launch a premium credit card.

Plans include a 8,000-square-foot lounge at New York John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) that’s scheduled to open late 2025 in Terminal 5, and a 11,000-square-foot Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) lounge that’s expected “soon after” in Terminal C. Barclays, the card issuer, confirmed the card would launch “later this year.”

This move is JetBlue’s latest effort to differentiate itself in a competitive space. By adding a premium lounge experience and credit card, JetBlue can better capture more of the high-spend traveler market while continuing to cater to budget-conscious flyers. Still, JetBlue is much smaller and has a limited route network compared with American Airlines, Delta Air Lines or United Airlines, so its offerings might be relatively niche, appealing only to a specific set of JetBlue flyers.

Who can access JetBlue’s new lounges?

This plan is the airline's first move into a standalone lounge experience, responding to growing customer demand for the “highly requested perk.” Each lounge will feature complimentary refreshments, high-speed Wi-Fi and quiet areas designed for travelers.

Complimentary access will be available to:

• JetBlue TrueBlue top-tier elite members. 

• Transatlantic Mint customers.

• JetBlue premium credit cardholders.

JetBlue will also sell day passes and an annual pass, though details on pricing and eligibility have yet to be finalized.

Airport lounges are in high demand

JetBlue’s future lounges won’t be the only new options at JFK or BOS. Airlines and banks are moving away from relying on third-party lounge networks like Priority Pass, opting instead to invest in branded spaces that allow for greater control over the customer experience. In 2024 alone, JFK saw some new lounges and plans, including:

• Capital One Lounge: In June 2024, Capital One announced it would open a 13,000-square-foot lounge in Terminal 4; an opening date hasn’t been shared.

• Chase Sapphire Lounge by The Club: This lounge opened in early 2024 and is also in Terminal 4. 

• Delta One Lounge: The largest Delta lounge in the world, located in Terminal 4, opened in June 2024. 

Chase also opened a Sapphire Lounge by The Club in BOS in 2023 and Delta added a nearly 21,000-square-foot Sky Club last year, in addition to two others that were already there.

This underscores other airlines’ commitment to branded lounges, as well as ways that banks are increasingly getting into the airport lounge space. More lounge options are welcomed, especially as overcrowding has become a notorious issue among even among the most upscale lounge offerings.

JetBlue's new premium card benefits

While details are scant, JetBlue has already made it clear its new premium card will include lounge access for the cardholder and a guest. JetBlue’s current credit cards are all issued by Barclays, which will also issue this forthcoming card.

With only two lounges planned so far, it’ll be interesting to see at what price point JetBlue lands with its upcoming card and what other benefits will come with it. It’s unknown if lower-tier cardholders will have discounted or limited lounge access.

It’s worth noting that several premium cards include Priority Pass Select membership to access over 1,600 Priority Pass lounges around the world. While quality varies, it’s a way issuers offer airport lounge access when cardholders travel beyond a smaller lounge network. If it’s not a perk of JetBlue’s new card, it’ll be a tough sell to enter two specific lounges unless the other benefits are truly stellar.

» MORE: What JetBlue card is right for you?