How to increase the value of your JetBlue TrueBlue points by 10%
Quick summary
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If you fly JetBlue, there are many reasons why you should consider getting one of its credit cards. Not only can you earn a generous welcome bonus and earn up to 6 points per dollar when buying tickets, but you can also get back 10% of your JetBlue TrueBlue points when redeeming for flights.
While a 10% rebate might not seem like a lot, it can add up quickly. We value JetBlue points at 1.3 cents apiece, meaning that if you redeem 100,000 TrueBlue points on a trip for two, the 10,000 points you get back as a rebate are worth around $130. That's more than enough for an award ticket on some dates.
Let's take a closer look at this benefit, how to get it and when it makes sense to open a JetBlue cobranded credit card.
How to get a 10% rebate when you redeem JetBlue points
If you want to get 10% back when you redeem JetBlue TrueBlue points for award flights, here's how to do it in three easy steps:
- Apply for the JetBlue Plus Card or the JetBlue Business Card.
- Redeem points for a flight and complete your travel.
- Automatically receive 10% of the points redeemed four to six weeks later.
The information for the JetBlue Plus Card and JetBlue Business Card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
For example, if you book a flight that is 20,000 points, you'll receive a rebate of 2,000 points in your account about a month after your complete the flight. However, in practice, the rebate should post to your JetBlue account within a day of completing travel.
There is no limit to the number of points that you can receive each year with this benefit. This is an excellent benefit for JetBlue TrueBlue members with a large number of points. And you don't have to be a longtime cardholder for this benefit to apply to TrueBlue points that you've been accumulating over years. As long as the card is open and linked to your TrueBlue account when you book and take your flight, you'll receive the 10% rebate after your trip.
Related: The complete guide to the JetBlue TrueBlue program
What are JetBlue points worth?
Unlike most airline loyalty programs, the JetBlue TrueBlue program is revenue-based. This means that the value of your points is fixed to the cash cost of the ticket. Unfortunately, you won't be able to redeem them for outsize value on expensive flights. But, you also won't be insulted by sky-high prices on award bookings when the cash cost is low.
At TPG, we value JetBlue points at 1.3 cents each. However, the value that you receive per point varies slightly based on which type of ticket you buy and which cities you're flying between. Here's a table comparing cash versus award tickets on a few different routes.
| Route (one-way) | Paid ticket | Award ticket | Redemption value |
|---|---|---|---|
| JFK-LHR | $545. | 40,900 + $5.60. | 1.32 cents/point. |
| JFK-ORD | $124. | 7,800 + $5.60. | 1.51 cents/point. |
| SEA-BOS | $164. | 10,700 + $5.60. | 1.48 cents/point. |
| JFK-LAX (Mint) | $1,348. | 124,000 + $5.60. | 1.08 cents/point. |
| LAS-BDL | $326. | 21,900 + $5.60. | 1.46 cents/point. |
| FLL-CUN | $179. | 9,000 + $37.43. | 1.57 cents/point. |
Prices are for the Blue fare class on Nov. 5, 2022.
When you have one of the JetBlue credit cards that offer the 10% points rebate, the value of your points increases. On average, when you factor in the 10% rebate, you'll receive 1.44 cents per JetBlue TrueBlue point.
Related: How to earn points in the JetBlue TrueBlue program
Let's take a look at the flights above to see what the net cost is after the rebate and how that changes the redemption value that you could receive.
| Route (one-way) | Award ticket | Net points | Redemption value |
|---|---|---|---|
| JFK-LHR | 40,900 + $5.60. | 36,810. | 1.46 cents/point. |
| JFK-ORD | 7,800 + $5.60. | 7,020. | 1.68 cents/point. |
| SEA-BOS | 10,700 + $5.60. | 9,630. | 1.64 cents/point. |
| JFK-LAX (Mint) | 124,000 + $5.60. | 111,600. | 1.2 cents/point. |
| LAS-BDL | 21,900 + $5.60. | 19,710. | 1.62 cents/point. |
| FLL-CUN | 9,000 + $5.60. | 8,100. | 1.74 cents/point. |
How many JetBlue points should I redeem for this to make sense?
Surprisingly, you don't need to redeem a massive amount of TrueBlue points for the 10% rebate to justify paying an annual fee. At a value of 1.3 cents per point, you would need to redeem just over 76,000 points each year for the 10% rebate to cover the annual fee.
This is because redeeming 76,154 points would yield a 7,615 rebate. Based on our valuation, this is worth roughly $99, covering the cost of the card's annual fee.
If you're redeeming at least 76,000 points each year, it is a no-brainer to sign up for the JetBlue Plus or JetBlue Business credit cards. It's also important to note that both cards include an annual 5,000-point bonus when you pay the annual fee, worth $65 per our valuations.
Related: What is JetBlue elite status worth in 2022?
Bottom line
Although the JetBlue credit cards that include the 10% points rebate have an annual fee, it is worth it for most JetBlue customers.
Not only do those cards earn more points on JetBlue purchases, but they also include the first checked bag free, an anniversary bonus of 5,000 points and the ability to earn JetBlue Mosaic elite status based on your spending.
Depending on how many JetBlue TrueBlue points you redeem every year, this benefit alone can give you hundreds of dollars a year in value.