The Complete Guide to Using JetBlue Points for the Best Value

June Casagrande
By June Casagrande 
Updated
Edited by Mary M. Flory

Many or all of the products featured here are from our partners who compensate us. This influences which products we write about and where and how the product appears on a page. However, this does not influence our evaluations. Our opinions are our own. Here is a list of our partners and here's how we make money.

JetBlue TrueBlue points offer fewer redemption options than currencies of big carriers like American Airlines. For example, American AAdvantage miles can be redeemed for flights on 22 partner airlines. TrueBlue points, on the other hand, are currently good for flights on only JetBlue and Hawaiian Airlines.

Does that mean TrueBlue points aren’t worth collecting? Far from it. TrueBlue points can be some of the most valuable rewards currency you hold — provided you know how to make the most of them. Here are some strategies for stretching those TrueBlue points as far as possible.

Fly domestic

Traditionally, many airlines used a zone-based system to decide how many points were needed for an award flight. A flight from Los Angeles to Seattle could cost the same number of points as a flight from Miami to Seattle. JetBlue redemption rates are far less regimented.

That means you can find wildly varying redemptions for similar flight itineraries. For example, getting from chilly Boston to sunny Fort Lauderdale in mid-February could cost you as many as 23,000 TrueBlue points or as few as 9,900 on the same departure day.

Because JetBlue redemptions have no blackout dates, this means you have lots of power to decide whether to spend a big chunk of points on your preferred flight or to save a ton by tweaking your itinerary a little.

Say aloha to Hawaii

Hawaiian Airlines is one of the best ways to get to and around the islands. The airline still serves a free hot meal to economy class passengers on mainland-to-Hawaii routes. A flight from the western United States to the islands will cost you 22,000 TrueBlue points each way in economy class.

To fly between the continental U.S. and one of Hawaiian’s international destinations in Asia and the South Pacific, you’ll need 50,000 TrueBlue points each way. Inter-island flights are about 6,000 points each way, which is better than Hawaiian’s own redemption rate of 7,500 miles. To redeem TrueBlue points for Hawaiian flights, you will have to call JetBlue reservations.

Share points with your crew

JetBlue has a unique points pooling program that could be very advantageous for some. It works likes this: On JetBlue’s website, you create a “pool” with between two and six friends and family members.

All the points earned by members go into the pool, which the Pool Leader can redeem for flights for one or all. The Pool Leader is also able to nominate other Pool members to redeem points. All of this is free of charge.

Compare that with what you have to pay to transfer AAdvantage miles to a friend or family member: For a 20,000-mile transfer, the fee is $265 — and the more miles you transfer, the higher the fee.

Book a vacation package

You can’t redeem TrueBlue points for hotel stays alone, but you can redeem them for vacation packages. We value TrueBlue points at 1.5 cents each, so use that as a guide to evaluate whether redeeming points for a vacation package is a good deal. Either way, you’ll have one more price to compare, giving you that much more power to save.


How to maximize your rewards

You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are our picks for the best travel credit cards of 2024, including those best for:

Travel Cards from Our Partners
Chase Sapphire Preferred Credit Card

on Chase's website

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
5.0
NerdWallet Rating
Rewards rate

1x-5x

5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases.

Points

Intro offer

60,000

Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.

Points
Chase Freedom Unlimited Credit Card

on Chase's website

Chase Freedom Unlimited®
5.0
NerdWallet Rating
Rewards rate

1.5%-6.5%

Enjoy 6.5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel; 4.5% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and 3% on all other purchases (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year). After your first year or $20,000 spent, enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel, 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and unlimited 1.5% cash back on all other purchases.

Cashback

Intro offer

$300

Earn an additional 1.5% cash back on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) - worth up to $300 cash back!

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

on Capital One's website

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
4.7
NerdWallet Rating
Rewards rate

2x-5x

Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day. Earn 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options.

Miles

Intro offer

75,000

Enjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel.

Miles
See more travel cards
Get more smart money moves – straight to your inbox
Sign up and we’ll send you Nerdy articles about the money topics that matter most to you along with other ways to help you get more from your money.