New United-JetBlue Alliance Brings More Flights and Perks

After weeks of speculation, United Airlines and JetBlue Airways have announced a formal partnership that’s a big win for consumers.

On May 29, 2025, the airlines unveiled the new pact called Blue Sky. The partnership will allow members of United MileagePlus and JetBlue TrueBlue to earn and redeem miles on either airline. You’ll be able to book flights with each carrier through the partner website, and elites within each loyalty program will have their benefits recognized by one another.

An official launch date for Blue Sky hasn’t been announced, but according to the airlines, it should start in the fall of 2025, subject to regulatory approval.

The collaboration will also let JetBlue exchange landing and take-off slots with United at John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) for up to seven daily round-trip flights beginning as early as 2027. Additionally, United will exchange up to eight slots with JetBlue at Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR).

Here’s what you need to know about the Blue Sky partnership:

Expanded route networks

Blue Sky includes an interline agreement, which will let travelers connect between the two airlines on one itinerary. That means more options for United passengers to access JetBlue’s route network along the East Coast and the Caribbean, and for JetBlue passengers to access United’s extensive domestic and international route network, including transatlantic and transpacific flights.

The two airlines did note that they would not be coordinating schedules or pricing, which a federal judge previously said was a dealbreaker when striking down the Northeast Alliance between JetBlue and American Airlines in 2023.

More options for earning and redeeming miles

With this partnership, loyalty program members can both earn and redeem miles with the partner airline. For example, you could book JetBlue flights with United miles, and United flights with JetBlue points. That means potentially better access for award travel across those expanded route networks. However, we still don’t know how many miles or points it will cost to book a partner award flight.

Reciprocal benefits for elites

In a boon for United and JetBlue frequent flyers, the Blue Sky partnership will include elite status recognition when flying on the other airline, including priority boarding, free seat selection for preferred and extra legroom seats and the ability to stand by or switch to a different flight on the same day.

However, some of these perks will be stingier than what frequent flyers are used to. For example, extra legroom seats will be only available for selection at check in, regardless of what level of status you hold.

Elite frequent flyers will also be able to check one free bag when traveling on the other airline.

United’s return to JFK

United stopped flying out of JFK in 2022 due to limited access to slots — or landing and take-off rights. But starting as early as 2027, United will regain the ability to fly into and out of JFK. JetBlue will provide slots to United for up to seven daily round trip flights from the newly built Terminal 6.

JetBlue and United will also exchange up to eight flight times at Newark airport, United’s main hub in the New York area.

Why Blue Sky is a big deal

We’ll see how pricing and logistics work out once the partnership is implemented, but for now, it appears to be a major win for both the airlines and consumers.

The ability to connect between two airlines on one itinerary creates more opportunity for passengers of both airlines.

JetBlue flyers will be able to use cash or miles to gain access to the largest global route network of any domestic airline. That means more options to see the world from the airline’s East Coast stronghold. United flyers will gain access to JetBlue’s market along the East Coast of the U.S. and the Caribbean.

And United’s return to JFK, even if only with seven potential daily flights, gives the airline an opportunity to regain market share on the east side of New York.

Benjamin Din, a lead travel writer at NerdWallet, contributed reporting to this story.