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Thinking of Flying JetBlue’s New NYC to Paris Route? Here’s What It’s Really Like

Jetblue launched its inaugural flight from new york to paris on june 29. one afar editor flew the airline’s mint business class (and economy back) to see how it compares..

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Photo by Lyndsey Matthews

JetBlue’s inaugural flight from New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) to Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) took off last week, marking the low-cost airline’s first transatlantic flight route to continental Europe. The new route follows the successful launch of JetBlue’s first transatlantic flights between JFK and London’s Heathrow and Gatwick airports in 2021 and is part of the airline’s growing effort to disrupt transatlantic air travel by offering lower airfares on narrow-body aircraft—at a time when international airfares are soaring .

“We’re here to shake up the market just as we did in London. We’re here to bring an outstanding product at low fares,” Robin Hayes, JetBlue’s CEO, said at the ribbon-cutting event that took place at JFK on June 29 before the inaugural flight boarded. “We compete against a very high-fare legacy joint venture with a lot of flights. So it’s not easy, but we’re going to do our part to . . . make it more competitive.”

I was among the first passengers who flew in Mint business class on JetBlue’s inaugural flight to Charles de Gaulle and in its “Even More Space” economy plus cabin on the return trip home. Overall, the experience was fun, seamless, and very comfortable. Here’s everything you need to know about JetBlue’s first flights to Paris.

The schedule

As of June 29, JetBlue flight 1407 takes off daily from New York–JFK at 5:09 p.m. and lands the following morning at Paris-CDG at 6:55 a.m. for a flight time of 7 hours and 41 minutes. For those flying from CDG to JFK, the daily JetBlue flight 1408 departs at 8:55 a.m. and lands at JFK the same morning by 11:51 a.m. local time for a total of just under 8.5 hours in the air.

JetBlue also plans to launch nonstop flights between Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) and CDG in 2024, but has yet to announce specific dates or schedules for this route. ( JetBlue flights to Amsterdam from both JFK and Boston are launching later in 2023, too.)

JetBlue flies new A321LR planes on its transatlantic routes.

Courtesy of JetBlue

The flights are being operated on JetBlue’s Airbus A321LR (long range) planes that can fly on routes up to 4,600 miles. Though these planes look similar to the single-aisle A321 with Mint planes that JetBlue flies on its transcontinental routes, the A321LR planes that JetBlue flies on its transatlantic routes are configured differently to offer more business-class seats that are more spacious and private, too.

On these A321LR planes, there are 90 “core” or economy seats and 24 “Even More Space” or economy plus seats in a three by three configuration, plus 22 private Mint Suites and 2 Mint Studios in the first row of the plane—which come with slightly larger TVs plus a seat and table for a guest—in JetBlue’s version of business class. Unlike the transcontinental Mint class, which has some seats in a two by two pattern on each side of the aisle, the transatlantic Mint class is configured in 12 rows of single seats offering both window views and aisle access.

To celebrate the inaugural flight, JetBlue welcome passengers to JFK’s Terminal 5 with balloon letters of the airport code for Paris Charles de Gaulle.

To celebrate the route launch, limited round-trip sale fares on the new JetBlue Paris flights from JFK were briefly available for as low as $499 round-trip in economy, with Mint fares starting at $2,499 round-trip. (Fares were even cheaper when the airline first opened up bookings this spring.) At press time, the lowest fares on JetBlue’s website for this route are $566 for round-trip economy “Blue Basic” fares (you’ll have to pay extra fees for advanced seat selection and change/cancellation) and $2,610 for Mint round-trip for travel in January 2024.

JetBlue’s original goal when it announced this new route was to introduce lower fares in the transatlantic market without sacrificing service, and it seems like the competition has already started matching its fares. For the same January dates, all three other major U.S. airlines—Delta, American, and United—were offering the same basic economy fare ($566 round trip) on their New York–Paris routes. According to Google Flights data, the least expensive flights for similar trips to Paris usually cost between $570–$1,600. The only airline that offered cheaper fares is the low-cost Norse Atlantic (the reincarnated Norwegian Air) for $430 round- trip, which doesn’t include meals or carry-on bags like the other carriers do.

Mint seats convert to lie-flat beds with a touch of a button.

What it’s like to fly “Mint” business class on Jetblue to Paris

• The flight: Jetblue, Flight 1407, JFK, New York (JFK) to Charles de Gaulle (CDG)
• The class of service: “Mint,” JetBlue’s version of business class

I arrived at JFK’s Terminal 5 two hours before the flight took off and breezed through the TSA PreCheck line with maybe one person in front of me—no late June 2023 travel messes here. When I arrived at Gate 15, the area was packed with other travel journalists, JetBlue employees, and broadcast news media to celebrate the official launch of the route with a ribbon cutting. Without the fanfare of the inaugural flight party, I would’ve been more bothered that JetBlue doesn’t have any airport lounges of its own. If I had flown business class to Paris on American Airlines out of Terminal 8 or Delta out of Terminal 4, I would have had access to those airlines’ proprietary lounges.

After boarding the flight in the first group, I took my seat in Mint—3A—located on the left side of the plane. As a narrow-body plane, the JetBlue A321LR has two rows of Mint seats arranged in a herringbone pattern angled diagonally to the single aisle (similar to Virgin Airlines’ business class, but with fewer aisles). With my head near the window and my feet closest to the aisle, I found these seats offered quite a bit of privacy thanks to the angle and the tall barriers between each seat: I could only see the feet of the person sitting across the aisle from me when I was seated (and I could also use the sliding door for extra privacy). Though this diagonal set up offers a lot of privacy, I had to crane my neck to look through the windows during takeoff and landing to see the views. (Thankfully, most of this flight to Paris is when it’s dark so there’s not much to look at for long anyway.)

Inside Mint class on JetBlue’s A321LR from JFK to CDG

Each of these 22 private lie-flat Mint Suites come with a buttery soft blue leather seat cushion by Tuft & Needle, a tilting 17-inch seat-back screen, and a wireless charging pad for your phone (which unfortunately didn’t work on my flight for unknown reasons). The overhead bins are the newer extra large design that allow for carry-ons to be stored on their sides instead of flat, so more bags can fit. For in-seat storage, there’s a slim tray that pops out from under the TV to hold laptops, books, or anything that’s a few inches tall. On the side near the armrest, there was space for water bottles and any taller objects. In the first row of these planes are two Mint Studios, which feature a larger 22-inch tilting seat-back screen plus an extra side table and a guest seat.

Each seat in Mint came with slippers and a small amenity kit, which included an eye mask, a toothbrush, a small tube of toothpaste, and earplugs. The headphones were noise-isolating Master & Dynamic over-ear models that delivered rich sound for watching movies, including new releases like John Wick 4 and Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania . There was also a large selection of movies in French as well as a special section of movies set in Paris like Ratatouille , Before Sunset , and Les Misérables .

One of my favorite features of the seat-back screen is that I could pair it via Bluetooth with my phone to use as a remote, which was useful because the screen was quite far from the seat when reclined. (This feature is also available in economy.) The entire plane was also outfitted with free Wi-Fi that worked well enough for me to scroll Instagram and TikTok without any issues.

Shortly after takeoff, the extra friendly flight crew came around to take drink orders. I got one of the specialty cocktails, a Venetian Spritz, an aromatic and slightly sweet blend of grapefruit juice, sparkling wine, and a house-made aperitivo. They also offered a black maple Old-Fashioned and a drink called Mint Condition, served with either gin or vodka, plus ginger, lime, cucumber, and mint. Other options included two zero-proof mocktails, plus a full offering of beer, wine, and liquor. The flight crew was extra generous with the drinks in Mint—the flight attendant seemed shocked I turned down a second Venetian Spritz, and when I asked for a rosé with dinner, she responded with a boisterous “Rosé all day!” to affirm my order.

My carb-forward dinner in Mint class included chicken, pasta, and a farro salad.

As for food, JetBlue partnered with New York–based Delicious Hospitality Group to offer two meals in Mint that I ordered via the seat-back screen as soon as I sat down—three small plates plus dessert for dinner served around 7:30 p.m. and two small plates for breakfast about an hour before landing. (There’s an option for a to-go breakfast in a bag so you could sleep longer and eat after landing.) For dinner, I chose the chicken, pasta, and farro salad. (There was a chilled English pea soup option for a less carb-heavy meal, but I don’t like cold soups). The cavatelli pasta was cooked well and had a chunky tomato sauce. The farro salad came with roasted cherry tomatoes, radishes, pistachios, and slices of Parmesan cheese. The chicken was pretty standard airplane chicken (i.e., edible but not amazing) and came with an eggplant caponata served cold that I didn’t finish. For dessert, I ordered the vanilla gelato with a generous serving of blackberry preserves and almond granola for crunch. Breakfast offerings included a watermelon salad, coconut yogurt with a passion fruit puree, and an asparagus frittata with goat cheese, Parmesan, and fresh herbs.

The Mint cabin comes with two bathrooms that are large, but not extra spacious as I’ve seen in business-class cabins on carriers like Singapore Airlines, for example. I did appreciate the motion sensor on the flusher so I didn’t have to touch it.

When it was time to sleep, the seat turned into a lie-flat bed with one button. A Tuft & Needle blanket and pillow also came with the seat. Though the pillow felt like memory foam, it wasn’t as thick as what you might have at home. At 5’4”—with my head as close to the top of the seat as possible—I noticed I maybe had just three to four inches left in the footwell when I was fully stretched out. Though I was perfectly comfortable, taller passengers might have to curl up to fit inside these lie-flat seats. I also found the 22-inch width of the seat to be OK for my average-size frame, but I heard other passengers complain about not being comfortable. I slept for maybe two hours and then woke up when the flight crew started preparing breakfast. (I was in the third row so maybe wear better earplugs or sit farther back if you’d like to sleep longer.)

The flight took off on schedule and landed around 6:10 a.m.—about 30 minutes early—which gave me a full day to explore the French capital (and take a short nap before dinner).

The “Even More Space” seats offer generous amounts of legroom in economy.

What it’s like to fly “Even More Space” economy plus on JetBlue from Paris

• The flight: Jetblue, Flight 1408, Charles de Gaulle (CDG) to New York (JFK)
• The class: “Even More Space,” JetBlue’s version of economy plus

On the way home on July 5, I arrived at the CDG Terminal 2B at 6 a.m. for the 8:55 a.m. flight to give myself plenty of time to check a bag and get through Parisian security and customs, which didn’t take as long as I anticipated given reports of summer travel crowds and worker strikes across the pond . (There were short lines at all checkpoints, but just remember European airports are much stricter than U.S. airports about liquid limits and removing electronics from bags.)

Since I was in JetBlue’s “Even More Space” version of economy plus, I was able to board in group A (right after Mint). Not long after I took my seat in 15F—a window seat on the right side of the plane looking out over the wing—the pilot announced that boarding was complete and I realized I got an entire row of three seats to myself. (The JetBlue A321LR core cabin is configured with three seats on each side of the single aisle.) Because the flight was so empty, the flight attendants had the 11 people in rows 13–17 (which include the “Even More Space” seats and the exit rows) move to row 25 or higher for takeoff until we reached cruising altitude (about 30 minutes) to help balance out the plane since it was so light. Our takeoff was also delayed from 8:55 a.m. to 10:12 a.m. because of this since they had to rescan every bag on the flight to make sure the weight was enough to fly. (Thankfully, the pilot kept us up to date with frequent announcements about the situation.)

What legroom looks like for a 5'4" passenger—me—in JetBlue’s “Even More Space” seats on its A321LR planes between New York and Paris.

Each of the 24 “Even More Space” seats came with plenty of legroom (a 37-inch pitch to be specific) and a comfortable leather seat. Even though the regular “core” economy seats have five inches less legroom than the “Even More Space” seats, with a 32-inch pitch, they still offer more room between seats than the standard seat pitch (30–31 inches) most carriers offer in their transatlantic economy seats in wide-body jets. Seats across the core class are decently sized at 18 inches wide.

One of my favorite details was the number of pockets the seat back had for organizing belongings, including one wide enough to fit my 18-ounce Hydro Flask water bottle and a tiny one so I didn’t lose my lip balm and earbuds. Every seat in economy also came with a blanket and a small reusable silicone amenity kit packed with lotion, socks, and a face wipe. The seat-back screen measured 10.1 inches (slightly smaller than an iPad) and featured the same movies as in business class on the way out. Tennis fans were also delighted to be able to watch Wimbledon on one of JetBlue’s live TV channels for the entire flight.

The complimentary amenity kit in economy class includes lotion, mints, a face wipe, and socks.

The food in economy is by New York–based farm-to-table restaurant group Dig Inn. I was able to order complimentary breakfast (one main and two sides) and drinks—alcohol is included—on the screen as soon as I sat down. I ordered the zucchini and egg crepe, apple and grape salad, and coconut yogurt with grapefruit. Though the pancakes with roasted peaches came instead as the main, the flight attendant double-checked to see if my order was correct after serving but they were good so I didn’t ask to switch.

Around 11 a.m., the flight attendants announced they opened the pantry for people to help themselves to drinks and snacks as they’d like. I had some Cheez-Its but there were also Chewy Bars and Plantain Chips and a few other items (but not the famous blue potato chips!).

JetBlue partnered with Dig Inn for food in economy on its transatlantic flights. Here is breakfast on a recent flight.

With around two hours left in the flight, the flight attendants came around with a snack service—pizza pockets—and more drinks. The pizza pocket was lukewarm, but I ate it anyway since it had been about five hours since breakfast.

There are two bathrooms in economy and the one on the left is significantly bigger than the one on the right. (Its door also wasn’t working properly—to lock it, the flight attendant had to push it closed from the outside: my hero!) After I came out, we bonded over the small snafu since she actually got stuck in it a few weeks back, which is surprising for a fairly new plane.

Though we were delayed about an hour and 20 minutes, we landed only about 20 minutes late at JFK around 12:10 p.m. from the originally scheduled 11:51 a.m. arrival.

The takeaway—is it worth it?

As Edith Piaf said, “ Non, je ne regrette rien .” In the future, when flying for personal travel, it’s unlikely I’d be able to afford to fly Mint to Europe (though I can transfer my Chase Ultimate Rewards points to JetBlue at a 1:1 ratio). However, I would easily spend the money to fly in JetBlue’s “Even More Space” economy plus or even its “core” economy seats to Paris again—especially if the fares remain competitive—since I found the food just as good, the seats more comfortable, and the service even friendlier than the other major airlines.

Michelle Baran contributed reporting to this article.

Not as simple as it seems: How to use JetBlue Travel Bank

Whenever you cancel a JetBlue flight, the refund — if you're eligible — is credited to your Travel Bank account. This is essentially a holding account that keeps the value of canceled flights for one year. You can use these credits to book a new flight within a year.

On paper, this is pretty simple: The funds accumulate, and you can redeem them for flights when the time comes. In practice, though, the process is a bit more complicated. TPG readers have reached out to the Points and Miles team to discuss mishaps they've had finding Travel Bank funds and using them to book flights.

Since 2020, many travelers have racked up Travel Bank funds from flights canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic . Because of this, we want to give you the lowdown on using them so you know what to expect when redeeming your funds.

Things to know about the JetBlue Travel Bank

Before we dive into using the JetBlue Travel Bank, let's discuss a few of the program's nuances. We'll cover how Travel Bank funds are allocated, their validity and other bits of "good to know" information.

Related: How to earn points in the JetBlue TrueBlue program

Travel Bank funds are distributed per flyer

The biggest annoyance with JetBlue Travel Bank is how funds are distributed. After you cancel a paid flight , refunds are issued to each traveler individually, even if they're all on the same record locator.

This causes a massive headache for families that travel together . In 2020, TPG's Nick Ewen canceled a JetBlue reservation that included flights for himself, his wife and his daughter. When rebooking, each family member was given a refund to their respective Travel Bank accounts despite being on the same reservation.

You can only use one Travel Bank per reservation. So when it came time to rebook, Nick had to rebook each family member separately and combine all reservations into a single record locator over the phone.

Things get even more confusing when it comes to canceling flights on a combined record locator. Nick had to cancel the rebooked flight due to the coronavirus pandemic. He couldn't do this online as the JetBlue website gave him an error stating that the ticket didn't match his Travel Bank balance. Again, he had to call in to cancel the flights.

This can be incredibly inconvenient if you're booking travel for a friend or even a co-worker. The traveler gets the Travel Bank credit, making it challenging for the person that booked the ticket to get a refund.

Related: 10 things families should know when flying JetBlue

Funds are valid for 1 year from the date of issuance

Typically, Travel Bank funds can be used within one year from the date of issuance. So if you cancel a flight on Dec. 1, you must use the credit by Dec. 1 of the following year. Unfortunately, there is no way to extend this credit.

Related: What to do if you can't use your airline credit by its expiration date

You can only use Travel Bank funds for flights

Unfortunately, you can only use your Travel Bank funds for a new flight's fare and taxes. You cannot use it to redeem for assigned seating, priority boarding , checked bags or other ancillary fees. This is likely because these add-ons are refunded to your original form of payment when you cancel a flight.

You can, however, use your Travel Bank credit to book a flight for someone else.

Accessing your Travel Bank funds

You can view your JetBlue Travel Bank funds on the airline's dedicated Travel Bank website . This is automatically linked to your TrueBlue account when you cancel a ticket associated with your frequent flyer number. JetBlue will email you instructions on how to sign in to your account.

If you cancel a ticket for someone who isn't a TrueBlue member, they will receive an email with credentials to log in to their Travel Bank. Remember, even if all travelers are on the same record locator, they will receive their own Travel Bank refund.

Related: TPG Lemonade session: JetBlue TrueBlue

Once signed in, you can view your Travel Bank balance and when your funds expire. You can also click the "Account Statement" link to view a list of recent Travel Bank transactions.

Related: What is JetBlue elite status worth in 2022?

Booking flights with Travel Bank funds

Once you have access to your JetBlue Travel Bank account, using available funds is relatively simple. Head to the JetBlue website and sign in before booking a flight. Search for a flight as you usually would and enter your passenger information.

On the payment screen, select the "Travel Bank" option located above the credit card entry field. You'll be prompted to sign in to your Travel Bank account if you're not a TrueBlue member.

Once signed in, you'll get the option to use as much or as little of your credit as you'd like. Note that you can only use credits to cover the fare and its associated taxes and fees (as discussed). Seat selection fees and other add-ons are not eligible. Click the "Apply Travel Bank Credits" button to apply the funds to your purchase.

And that's all there is to it: You've successfully used your JetBlue Travel Bank funds. It's easy enough once you have the hang of it, but bookmark this page just in case you need a refresher.

Related: Why you should wait to change or cancel your flight if you want your money back

Bottom line

JetBlue's Travel Bank program is a little tricky to use, but hopefully, this guide helps you navigate it better.

Keep in mind that these funds are accessible under a separate login from your JetBlue account. And that even if multiple travelers are under the same record locator, each traveler is allocated refunds to their own Travel Bank account.

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What to Know About the JetBlue TrueBlue Frequent Flier Program

Discover everything you need to know about JetBlue's frequent flier program.

How to Sign Up

How to earn miles, jetblue mosaic status tiers, redeeming miles, how to get the most out of your jetblue points.

Courtesy of JetBlue

TrueBlue is the frequent flier program offered by New York-based airline JetBlue that provides loyal passengers with various options for earning and redeeming points. The program offers flexible award travel with no preset minimums or blackout dates, making it easy to redeem points for JetBlue flights.  And unlike other loyalty programs, even occasional travelers can benefit thanks to "Perks You Pick," which kick in after a TrueBlue member earns just 10 "tiles" (more on those tiles later). Additionally, members can pool points with friends and family.

Elite Mosaic status can be achieved by collecting 50 tiles, unlocking various Mosaic Signature Perks and additional customizable perks at different levels. “There’s a unique focus on partners that help the day-of travel experience,” Gilbert Ott, the director of partnerships at Point.me, tells Travel + Leisure , citing the free Blade helicopter airport transfers offered to top-tier Mosaic members. “However, a limited international route network (for the time being) means people may need to fly other airlines to destinations abroad.”

Joining JetBlue’s TrueBlue program is free. On the online sign-up page, you’ll need to provide personal details, including your name, contact information, and date of birth. Then, you’ll choose a password for your TrueBlue account. Once your account is verified, you'll be able to earn points through JetBlue flights and partner activities. 

Related: 9 Best Frequent Flier Programs

The number of TrueBlue points you earn on JetBlue flights is based on a few different factors:

• Flight Cost: You earn at least three TrueBlue points per dollar spent when booking flights in Blue, Blue Plus, Blue Extra, or Mint fare classes.
• Booking Channel: Booking your flight on JetBlue’s website or through the JetBlue app earns you an additional 3x points.
• JetBlue Mosaic Status: Mosaic elite status members earn an extra 3x points on all paid JetBlue flights, regardless of fare class.

Travelers booking Blue Basic fares (JetBlue’s version of basic economy, introduced in 2019) earn fewer base points (1x) and a lower bonus (1x) for booking directly through JetBlue's website or app. However, if they have Mosaic status or are a JetBlue cardholder, they still earn 3x points.

JetBlue also offers bonus programs for frequent fliers:

• Take 3 Bonus: Earn 5,000 bonus points after flying three roundtrip JetBlue flights per calendar year.
• Lucky 7 Bonus: Earn 7,000 bonus points after flying seven roundtrip JetBlue flights per calendar year.
• Go Long Bonus: Earn 10,000 bonus points after flying 10 one-way JetBlue flights that are 1,600 miles or longer in the calendar year.

You can earn bonus points by paying for extras like upgrading to an Even More Space seat (200 bonus points) or paying pet fees (300 points).

JetBlue also has a few domestic and international airline partners, including Hawaiian Airlines, Icelandair, JSX, Qatar Airways, Silver Airways, and South African Airways. While you can only redeem TrueBlue points on Hawaiian Airlines and Qatar Airways, it’s easy to earn points on all these partners by adding your TrueBlue number to your flight reservation. The number of points you earn for partner flights mostly depends on the airline and booking class. 

Credit Cards

Aside from flying, one of the most straightforward ways to accumulate TrueBlue points is by applying for one of the airline’s co-branded credit cards. The JetBlue Card, the JetBlue Business Card, and the JetBlue Plus Card all let cardholders earn miles on their everyday spending and typically have lucrative signing bonuses based on minimum spending. For instance, new cardholders for the JetBlue Plus Card can earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases within the first 90 days. 

Other Ways to Earn

• TrueBlue Dining: Join TrueBlue Dining and earn 500 bonus TrueBlue points when you dine at eligible restaurants, plus additional points for regularly eating out.
• TrueBlue Shopping: JetBlue’s online shopping platform allows you to earn additional TrueBlue points on top of any points you may earn through credit card purchases.
• Jet Opinions: Share your opinions and complete surveys to earn 400 points.
• Peacock: Subscribe to Peacock and earn 1,000 points as a TrueBlue member.
• Rental Cars: Earn 100 points daily (200 for Mosaic members) and save up to 35 percent when booking Avis or Budget cars through Paisley, JetBlue’s travel booking site.
• Hotels: You can earn up to two TrueBlue points per one dollar spent on qualifying stays at most IHG properties or earn one point per one dollar when booking Yotel stays through Paisley.
• Airport Rewards: Earn one point per dollar when dining and shopping with over 1,000 merchants at 100+ airports.

Related: Everything You Need to Know About Earning and Redeeming Airline Miles

JetBlue's TrueBlue program offers multiple tiers of Mosaic elite status with escalating perks and benefits. Frequent fliers with status can earn bonus points and enjoy privileges like priority boarding, free checked bags, complimentary in-flight beverages, seats with more legroom, same-day flight changes, expedited security access, dedicated check-in, and 24/7 support.

“​​JetBlue has invested heavily in its elite status program over the past two years, adding features and benefits including business class upgrades on their flights to Europe,” Gary Leff, travel expert from View from the Wing, tells T+L.

The airline uses a new system for awarding Mosaic status called "tiles." TrueBlue members can collect these tiles through various means, including flying with JetBlue and using the airline's co-branded credit cards. Specifically, you earn one tile for every $100 spent with JetBlue, JetBlue Vacations, and Paisley by JetBlue. JetBlue credit cardholders also earn one tile for every $1,000 spent on their card.

Here are the requirements and benefits for JetBlue Mosaic status tiers. 

Requirements: 

• Earn 50 tiles (by spending approximately $5,000 on JetBlue travel)
• Priority boarding
• Two free checked bags
• Complimentary beer, wine, and liquor
• Even More Space seats at check-in
• Same-day changes
• Priority security and check-in lines
• Status match with Avis (coming in 2024)
• Earn 100 tiles (by spending approximately $10,000 on JetBlue travel)

Additional Benefits:

• Upgrade to Even More Space seats at booking, if available
• Earn 150 tiles (by spending approximately $15,000 on JetBlue travel)
• Four Mint upgrade certificates
• Dedicated Mosaic customer service line (coming in 2024)
• Earn 250 tiles (by spending approximately $25,000 on JetBlue travel)
• Two more upgrade certificates
• Four complimentary Blade helicopter transfers between Manhattan and JFK or EWR

Related: How to Use Airline Elite Status for Seat Upgrades, Free Checked Bags, Priority Check-in, and So Much More

Award travel is easy to book on JetBlue — just search for flights on JetBlue's website and select "Use TrueBlue Points" to see prices displayed in points. Like most U.S. airlines, JetBlue adjusts its award ticket prices dynamically, reflecting changes in cash ticket prices based on demand. You can compare prices in points and dollars.

If you don't have enough TrueBlue points to cover the entire fare, JetBlue lets travelers pay with a combination of cash and points. Once you’ve selected your flight, you can use a slider to choose how many points to apply to the booking, provided you have a minimum of 500 TrueBlue points. This option is not available for Blue Basic fares.

While Mosaic 3 and Mosaic 4 travelers can use upgrade certificates for JetBlue’s Mint class, you cannot use TrueBlue points to upgrade to Mint. If you’ve booked an award ticket in economy, you would need to cancel it and rebook your ticket in Mint. 

Partner Airline Redemptions

TrueBlue points can be redeemed for flights on partners Hawaiian Airlines and Qatar Airways. JetBlue uses an award chart to determine the points needed based on the class of service, origin, and destination of the trip — award tickets start at just 6,000 TrueBlue points for an economy ticket within Hawaii.

Other Ways to Redeem Miles

• JetBlue Vacations: You can use your TrueBlue points to book complete vacation packages through JetBlue Vacations, which include flights, accommodations, and sometimes even activities. This can be a convenient way to use your points for a comprehensive travel experience.
• Points Payback: JetBlue Plus cardholders can redeem their TrueBlue points for statement credits up to $1,000 annually.
• Donate Points: JetBlue has partnered with multiple charities that allow frequent fliers to donate their points. Charities include Make-A-Wish, Miles4Migrants, and the New York Urban League.

Use the Best Fare Finder.

JetBlue's Best Fare Finder tool allows you to search for the best award prices on your selected route in a calendar format. This can help you identify dates with lower prices.

Optimize for Mint.

If you're seeking a premium travel experience, consider using your TrueBlue points to pay for a seat in Mint, JetBlue's business class with lie-flat seats. Just remember that you can't use your points to upgrade from an economy ticket — you have to book Mint from the start.

Combine points and cash.

JetBlue offers a Cash + Points option that allows you to pay for flights with a combination of currencies — and you get to choose the ratio between the two. This can be useful when you don't have enough points for the entire fare.

Do you want to install app?

Add a shortcut to your home screen: Share button at the bottom of the browser. Scroll left (if needed) to find the Add to Home Screen button.

Travel Bank Credits

Got some JetBlue travel credits? It’s easy to view your current balance, expiration dates and transaction history—and use your credits for a new booking. Just create/log in to your travel credit or TrueBlue account to get started.

• Travel Bank 101

What can travel credits be used for?

How to access and link travel credits, how to use travel credits, using multiple travel bank accounts, helpful videos, how to use jetblue vacations credits, terms and conditions travel bank 101.

Your JetBlue Travel Bank is an online account (or bank) where you can access and manage any JetBlue travel credits you’ve received. Think of it like a payment wallet that you can choose to use on jetblue.com or the JetBlue app.

• Your Travel Bank account is created automatically the first time you’re issued a travel credit, and your login info is sent to you in two separate welcome emails.  
• The link in the password creation email expires after 48 hours. If you haven’t received or can’t locate these emails, you can request your login ID  and/or reset your password with our online login look-up form. 
• You’ll need to use your login ID and password every time you want to view or use your Travel Bank account. 

Travel credits can be used to book a reservation for anyone you’d like. The name on the account doesn't need to match the name of the traveler. 

JetBlue travel credits can be applied to:

• Airfare and taxes on JetBlue-operated flights booked through jetblue.com.
• The air portion of a JetBlue Vacations package.
• Blue Basic fares booked or exchanged on or after Mar 18 2024 cannot be changed but may be cancelled. 

Travel credits cannot be applied to:

• Checked bags 
• Same-day switches
• Taxes for Move to Mint certificates (Mosaic 3 and Mosaic 4) 
• Seat selection for Blue Basic or other seat fees 
• Even More® Space 
• Core (preferred) seats
• Priority security 
• Unaccompanied minor fee  
• Service fees (including phone and GDS bookings and changes), etc. 
• Bookings on partner airlines 
• Non-air portion of a JetBlue Vacations package 
• Online travel sites other than jetblue.com or the JetBlue app 

Access Travel Bank without a TrueBlue account 

• For your security, the first email contains your login ID, and the second email contains your password. 
• Create your Travel Bank password. 
• Save your Travel Bank account details somewhere safe for future use.  
• You now have full access to Travel Bank. 

Access Travel Bank with a linked TrueBlue account

• Log in to your TrueBlue account. 
• Click your initials or picture in the top right corner. Your total travel credit amount will be displayed in the dropdown menu. 
• If you would like to review your Travel Bank statement, select Travel Bank Credit from the dropdown menu. You should be automatically logged into your Travel Bank account to view your Travel Bank statement.  
• Any travel credits issued to you should be visible when you log in to your TrueBlue account. If you don’t see them, your TrueBlue account and your Travel Bank account might not be linked. 
• Expired travel credits will not display in your TrueBlue dropdown. 

Not receiving Travel Bank emails? Contact us

How to use travel credits while booking:

• If you have a TrueBlue account linked to your Travel Bank account, log in before you begin to book your trip. You also have the option to sign in during the booking process. 
• If your Travel Bank is not linked to your TrueBlue account, or you are not logged in, you will have the option to log into your Travel Bank account on the payment screen while booking.  

Need to use travel credits in Manage Trips?

• If you don’t have a Travel Bank account, select create a new account in Manage Trips. 
• If you have an existing Travel Bank account that is not attached to a TrueBlue account, log into your Travel Bank account on the Manage Trips payment page. 
• If you have an existing Travel Bank account that is attached to your TrueBlue account, log into your TrueBlue account and your Travel Bank Credits will auto-populate. 

Where is my travel credit?

Credit expirations and open tickets.

Locate Travel Bank Info with TrueBlue

Find Your Travel Bank Credentials

Reset Your Travel Bank Password

How to Use Your Travel Bank Credit

If you’ve received a JetBlue Vacations credit, it’s important to know how it’s different than a JetBlue travel credit. While both can be used to book your next JetBlue adventure, here are the key differences:

• Can be applied toward any portion of a JetBlue Vacations package.
• Can't be viewed or managed in your Travel Bank account.
• Can’t be applied online—it must be redeemed by calling JetBlue Vacations at 1-844-JB-VACAY (1-844-528-2229). Provide them with your confirmation code and the last four digits of the credit card used on the original JetBlue Vacations reservation. 
• Can be applied toward JetBlue-operated flights or the flight portion of a JetBlue Vacations package.
• Can be viewed or managed in your Travel Bank account.
• Can be applied online by choosing Travel Bank on the Payment screen.

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This Airline is Now Charging Peak and Off-Peak Checked Luggage Fees. Will Others Follow?

By Jessica Puckett

Bad news for the overpackers among us: It’s now even more expensive to check baggage on one of the most popular airlines in the US .

Following a recent spate of US airlines raising their checked bag fees in early March, JetBlue is once again raising its prices for the service. Under the airline’s latest policy, JetBlue plans to charge as much as $50 for the first checked bag and as much as $70 for the second bag during “peak” travel periods, including the majority of this summer .

A JetBlue spokesperson told Condé Nast Traveler in March that raising checked baggage fees is one step the airline is taking to help return the company to profitability and cover the increased costs of transporting bags. “By adjusting fees for added services that only certain customers use, we can keep base fares low and ensure customer favorites like seatback TVs and high-speed Wi-Fi remain free for everyone,” the spokesperson said, adding that the first checked bag is free for JetBlue Plus cardmembers, and Mosaic customers can check two bags free of charge.

For everyone else, here's what you should know about JetBlue's new checked bag fees—and whether or not other airlines might follow suit.

How does JetBlue’s new checked bag policy work?

The new fee policy operates on a sliding scale, with prices jumping during “peak” travel windows and dipping during times that are considered “off-peak.”

For most economy fares—including Blue, Blue Basic, and Blue Extra—the airline’s checked bag fees now range from $35 to $50 for the first checked bag, and from $50 to $70 for the second checked bag. The full pricing breakdown is available on the luggage page of JetBlue’s site.

According to JetBlue’s website, the airline considers the following days as peak travel periods over the next year: April 11 to April 29, 2024; June 20 to September 3, 2024; November 21 to December 2, 2024; December 19, 2024 to January 6, 2025; February 13 to February 24, 2025; and April 3 to April 28, 2025.

All other days are considered off-peak travel days. Looking at the date ranges for peak travel, they do fall during some busy stretches, including the spring break travel period, almost the entire stretch of summer travel, Thanksgiving week, peak Christmas travel , as well as President’s Day 2025.

Has this type of fee policy ever been used before?

“Variable pricing is hardly new,” says Gary Leff, a travel specialist who writes the aviation blog View From the Wing . “It’s just unique for checked baggage.”

Some airlines use a sliding scale of fees for extra charges like seat selection and pricing for award trips using frequent flier miles —the more in-demand the route or travel window, the higher the cost for these services. “Some of the ultra low-cost carriers vary their bag fees as well, but it's not rigidly spelled out in the same way,” says Brett Snyder , president of Cranky Concierge , a firm that provides travel planning and airline assistance.

Will other airlines adopt JetBlue’s new checked baggage fee policy?

It’s not yet clear if charging extra for checked luggage during peak travel periods is something that will spread throughout the industry. But airlines do tend to copy each other in these areas: When one carrier raises fees, others generally follow in a domino effect—like travelers saw happen with baggage fees in early March.

“I would never be surprised to see an airline adopt a new method of charging fees that would allow it to increase revenues,” says Snyder. “This plan allows JetBlue to keep bag fees at the same low level as other airlines during off-peak times. But during peak times, it can charge more and make more money since it knows people are more likely to have to travel anyway.”

But since most major air carriers raised the cost of checking a bag only weeks ago, they might be slower to adopt JetBlue’s model, possibly waiting and watching to see how it performs. “JetBlue was first with the most recent spate of baggage fee increases, just two months ago. Since the major carriers just increased bag fees after JetBlue did, I don’t expect them to follow suit at least right away,” Leff says.

Traveler reached out to major US airlines to ask whether they might adopt a sliding scale of fees in the future, but most declined to comment, and others did not respond by time of publication.

What do these fees mean for the industry, and how can travelers avoid them?

Checked bag fees are part of the bread and butter of airlines’ profits. US airlines collectively earned nearly $5.5 billion from checked bag fees in the first nine months of 2023 alone, according to data from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics . During that time period, American Airlines brought in more than $1 billion in the charges just by itself.

Airlines want to keep these fees as profitable as possible. “There’s an argument for charging more for checked bags when the capacity of aircraft to carry them is limited, for instance on routes where people tend to check a lot of baggage,” says Leff. (For its part, JetBlue has said the price increases are in part due to higher wages and the surging price of fuel, among other inflationary pressures.)

If travelers want to avoid the sliding scale of fees, there are a few key points to pay attention to in JetBlue’s new policy. “There is a discount for booking checked bags in advance instead of waiting to do it until the last minute,” Snyder says. Under the new rules, passengers can save up to $10 if they pay for a checked bag more than 24 hours before departure (essentially, before check-in opens). “If someone has to check a bag, they should do it in advance. Otherwise, the only way to avoid this is by not checking a bag. That might mean stuffing everything into a carry-on , or looking into shipping services that send you baggage ahead of you,” Snyder says.

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JetBlue baggage fees and how to avoid paying them

Editor's note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information and offers.

Similar to many other airlines, JetBlue recently raised its checked bag fees , but that doesn't mean you can't still travel with checked luggage for cheap.

Luckily, with the JetBlue baggage policy, there are still many ways to avoid paying baggage fees on your next flight depending on your JetBlue elite status , the fare class you booked or which credit card you're carrying.

JetBlue's baggage fees are also very simple and clearly stated, making it easy to understand the additional cost you'll incur on your next flight; let's take a closer look.

JetBlue carry-on guidelines

All passengers flying with JetBlue can bring along one personal item that fits under the seat in front. The personal item might be a backpack, purse, laptop bag or approved pet carrier (if you pay the pet fee ). It cannot be larger than 17 inches by 13 inches by 8 inches.

On top of the personal item, JetBlue passengers who booked a Blue, Blue Plus, Blue Extra or Mint fare are also allowed a carry-on bag that can fit into the overhead bin. There is no fee for this second bag, although the size can't exceed 22 inches by 14 inches by 9 inches. Note that these dimensions include wheels and handles.

Passengers who booked the lowest fare ticket — Blue Basic — are not allowed to bring a larger carry-on bag to store in the overhead bin. Blue Basic passengers who bring extra bags or a bag that is too large to fit beneath the seat in front will face JetBlue checked bag fees. JetBlue baggage policy currently lists this fee as $65 for the first or second checked bag and $180 for the third.

There are some exceptions to this policy. You can still bring a carry-on bag to place within the overhead bin when traveling on a Blue Basic fare if you fall into one of the following categories:

• Mosaic members (who get a carry-on bag and early boarding with all fares)
• If you're flying on a transatlantic flight (including connecting flights)
• Travelers combining a Blue Basic fare with an Even More Space seat (on all legs, if connecting)*
• Active U.S. military members
• Unaccompanied minors

*Note: If you're flying on a transatlantic flight, booking an Even More Space seat does not grant you any additional baggage other than those already included.

Related: How to change or cancel a JetBlue flight

JetBlue checked bag fees

All JetBlue passengers are allowed to check bags. Your fare type, JetBlue elite status and whether you have a JetBlue credit card will determine the checked bag fee you must pay.

JetBlue has two different checked bag fee charts — one for routes within the U.S., Latin America, the Caribbean and Canada, and one for transatlantic flights.

The chart below will allow you to determine your JetBlue checked bag fee for your first and second checked bag at the airport.

JetBlue baggage fees for flights within the US, Latin America, the Caribbean and Canada

*For flights purchased before Jan. 11, 2024, the first checked baggage fee will cost $30 to $35. For flights purchased between Jan. 11 and Jan. 31, 2024, the first checked baggage fee will cost $35 to $40. For flights purchased before July 25, 2023, second checked baggage fees cost $45.

Unless you book a Blue Plus fare or a Mint seat, are a Mosaic loyalty member, have the JetBlue Plus Card or have the JetBlue Business Card , you will pay $35 to $45 for the first checked bag and $50 to $60 for the second checked bag.

However, paying your checked baggage fees more than 24 hours before departure can secure the least expensive pricing ($35 for your first bag and $50 for your second bag). Remember that travelers with Blue Plus fares, JetBlue Plus cardmembers and JetBlue Business cardmembers only have one bag included, so you'll still have to pay for the second checked bag.

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.

Per the JetBlue baggage policy, Mint passengers can check a bag up to 70 pounds. With the JetBlue baggage weight restrictions, all other passenger bags must be 50 pounds or less to avoid additional overweight charges. In my experience, Mosaic members can also check a bag up to 70 pounds, but this isn't formally included in the JetBlue baggage policy online.

If you want to travel with more than two checked bags, you'll need to pay $125 per bag for your third bag and $150 for each subsequent bag, regardless of your fare type or elite status. Note that on reservations made before July 25, 2023, the third checked bag fee is $150.

You may want to check the JetBlue baggage policy for yourself before your trip, though. After all, some destinations have limitations on luggage — specifically international destinations.

Related: JetBlue to 'evolve' TrueBlue frequent flyer program under new loyalty chief

JetBlue baggage fees for transatlantic flights

Although the fee to check a bag is significantly more expensive when traveling to Europe, most fare types include your first checked bag.

However, if you want to travel with more than two checked bags, you'll need to pay $200, 150 pounds or 185 euros per bag for your third bag and each subsequent bag regardless of your fare type or elite status.

Bags that don't incur JetBlue baggage fees

Some items won't count toward your carry-on or checked baggage limit, regardless of your destination. For example, if you are traveling with an assistive device — such as a stroller, car seat, crutches or wheelchair — you can bring it with you for free (although it is still subject to carry-on size and weight restrictions).

Additionally, with the JetBlue baggage policy, all U.S. military members on active military orders and dependents can check up to five bags at no additional cost (and up to 99 pounds each). Those traveling for leisure along with their dependents can check up to two bags at no additional cost.

Overweight and oversize baggage fees

JetBlue charges both an overweight and oversize fee, which can add up quickly if you exceed limits.

These additional fees are charged as follows:

• Overweight fee (up to 99 pounds): $150 per bag; $150/120 pounds/140 euros per bag for transatlantic flights (bags that exceed 70 pounds not accepted on transatlantic flights)
• Oversize fee (up to 80 inches, including wheels and handles): $150 per bag; $150/120 pounds/140 euros on transatlantic flights

Related: JetBlue cuts 20 routes, trims new Canada service to boost summer reliability

Sporting equipment fee

JetBlue allows you to check sporting equipment , but some items carry an excess fee.

Golf bags, fishing rods, skimboards, skis and snowboard bags all count as standard checked bags. The fee for these items will follow the same criteria as your first or second checked bag. As long as these particular items are within the weight limits, they will not incur an oversized bag fee.

You can find all the JetBlue fees associated with checking sporting equipment here .

How to avoid JetBlue checked bag fees

Fortunately, there are many ways to avoid JetBlue baggage fees.

Elite status allowances

All Mosaic loyalty members can check up to two bags at no cost. You can earn JetBlue Mosaic status by earning 50 Tiles.

Tiles can be earned in the following ways:

• Earn one Tile for every $100 spent on qualifying JetBlue purchases (including paid JetBlue flights, JetBlue Vacations packages and Paisly reservations).
• Earn one Tile for every $1,000 in qualifying spend on a JetBlue credit card.

Additionally, all eligible travel companions booked on the same reservation with a JetBlue Mosaic elite member can check up to two bags for no fee. For example, as long as one passenger in a family of four has Mosaic status, the group can check up to eight bags for no additional fee.

Related: What is JetBlue elite status worth?

Avoid checked baggage fees by holding the right credit cards

JetBlue offers three credit cards — two personal cards and one business card. However, only two cards offer a checked bag benefit. In particular, with the JetBlue Plus Card and JetBlue Business Card , you can check your first bag for free as long as you purchase the ticket with your card. This perk extends to three additional companions on the same reservation as the cardholder.

Both cards come with a $99 annual fee. So, even if you only check a bag on three flights each year, you'll break even.

Related: JetBlue Plus Card versus JetBlue Business Card

Book a premium cabin

When you book your ticket, there are many fare-class options — each one includes different benefits for your flight. If you aren't a Mosaic member and you don't have an eligible JetBlue credit card, then you might want to consider selecting the Blue Plus fare option. Doing so will allow you to check your first bag for free. However, this fare type is not an option on many routes, so don't be surprised if you don't see it listed.

JetBlue Mint seats also allow you to check up to two bags at no additional fee. And for flights within the U.S., Latin America and the Caribbean, you can check a bag up to 70 pounds without facing any overweight charges.

Related: You can now book JetBlue Mint to London with Emirates Miles — and it's a good deal

Use card travel credits to cover fees

If you have to pay baggage fees on your next JetBlue flight, know that many travel rewards cards offer annual statement credits . You can use these credits toward various travel purchases, including baggage fees.

For example, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® offers a $300 annual travel credit on anything that codes as "travel" on your credit card statement. You'll also find that many American Express cards , such as The Platinum Card® from American Express , offer annual airline fee credits . However, note that you'll need to enroll before using some of these benefits.

Bottom line

Although JetBlue charges a checked baggage fee for most customers, there are many ways to avoid this additional cost. For starters, if you can pack a smaller suitcase, you can bring your bag as a carry-on and store it in the airline's overhead bin (as long as you don't book a Blue Basic fare).

If you must check your luggage, your first bag will travel with you for free as long as you have a JetBlue credit card. While you might not want to have another credit card in your wallet, if you find yourself flying JetBlue often, an eligible JetBlue credit card is an easy way to avoid the JetBlue baggage fee.

Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

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The Guide to JetBlue Travel Insurance

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One way to protect the investment you've made in your vacation is to buy travel insurance.

When booking a flight on JetBlue Airways, you can purchase JetBlue travel insurance, provided by Allianz, to protect your trip against unexpected situations.

Is JetBlue travel protection worth it? Find out below as we discuss what JetBlue insurance covers, how much it costs and any exclusions that may apply.

» Learn more: The best travel insurance companies

JetBlue travel insurance plans

We created multiple scenarios in the JetBlue flight insurance calculator , and each time the only policy option was "Travel Insurance II." Although Allianz travel insurance offers several policy types when shopping directly, travelers can only purchase one type of policy through the JetBlue insurance link.

The Travel Insurance II policy is a single-trip policy. If you want an annual policy, you'll need to buy it directly from Allianz or another travel insurance company.

» Learn more: How annual (multi-trip) travel insurance works

What does JetBlue travel protection cover?

JetBlue travel insurance offers robust protections. These benefits include:

Trip cancellation . Reimburses travelers for prepaid, nonrefundable expenses when you need to cancel for a covered reason.

Trip interruption . Reimburses the unused, nonrefundable costs if you need to return home early due to a covered reason. This benefit also covers the increased transportation costs resulting from changing your plans.

Emergency medical and dental . Covers the expenses of emergency medical and dental care during your trip.

Emergency medical transportation . Reimburses travelers for medically necessary transportation to the nearest medical facility when they have a covered injury or illness.

Trip delay . Reimburses policyholders for eligible expenses when their trip is delayed for a covered reason.

Lost or damaged baggage . When your luggage or personal belongings are lost, stolen or damaged, you'll receive reimbursement up to daily or coverage limits.

Baggage delay . Covers the reasonable cost of purchasing essential items when your bag is delayed.

24-hour assistance . Speak with an agent 24 hours a day for help with medical assistance, missed flights, lost or stolen travel documents and other travel needs.

Many travel protections are included in the benefits of eligible travel credit cards . However, benefits and coverage limits vary by card. Review your credit card benefits before purchasing a travel insurance policy to ensure you're not paying for something you already have.

» Learn more: The best airline credit cards right now

What isn't covered by JetBlue flight insurance?

It's important to understanding what it doesn't cover so you aren't disappointed when making a claim. The following items are not covered under these policies:

The cost of refundable reservations . If you can cancel a reservation without penalty, travel insurance will not cover these costs. Other benefits apply to these reservations, such as trip delay and lost luggage. Instead of filing a claim, simply cancel the reservation to get your money back.

Pre-existing conditions . Travelers with pre-existing conditions are generally not covered if those pre-existing conditions result in emergency medical situations, trip cancellations or interrupted travel.

Losses due to known, foreseeable events . Policyholders are not covered if they proceed into a situation where there is a likely expectation of loss. For example, once a hurricane is named, and it is predicted to impact your destination.

This list does not cover all situations where JetBlue travel insurance won't cover policyholders. For a complete list or questions about a specific situation, contact JetBlue or Allianz customer service.

» Learn more: What to know before buying travel insurance

JetBlue insurance cost

The cost of a JetBlue travel insurance policy can vary based on several factors. You can get a quote from the Allianz travel insurance for JetBlue page and answer a few simple questions. These questions include where you live, how much the total trip cost is, the number of travelers and your travel dates. The form also asks about your destination, but that information is optional.

Travel insurance policies only cover nonrefundable prepaid costs. Don't include the cost of flights, hotels and other reservations that you can cancel without penalty. Otherwise, you'll unnecessarily inflate the cost of your travel insurance premiums.

Travelers requesting a quote can also indicate whether their travel was purchased with frequent flyer or reward points. Many travel insurance policies don't cover the cost of award reservations, so this is an important feature.

From our research, JetBlue travel insurance premiums are primarily dependent on the total cost of the trip. While the application asks other questions about who is traveling, where you live and how long you'll be gone, those factors did not impact insurance premiums.

This chart provides examples of the cost of JetBlue travel protection policies for different types of trips, for a two person traveling party.

The maximum trip cost allowed for two people is $20,000 under a JetBlue travel insurance policy. If your total trip cost is higher than this, you'll need to purchase your coverage directly from a travel insurance company.

Is JetBlue travel protection worth it?

Yes, a JetBlue travel insurance policy is worth it for many travelers. For a flat fee of approximately 11.5% of your trip cost, you'll enjoy peace of mind during your trip.

These policies offer protection against trip cancellation or interruption, lost or delayed baggage, medical benefits and more. Before purchasing your policy, compare prices, benefits and coverage limits from several travel insurance companies to find the best deal.

Additionally, for those paying with a travel credit card, verify the benefits that come included with the card. Then, compare its benefits and coverage limits to JetBlue insurance to ensure that it is worth the added expense.

JetBlue travel protection is an insurance policy that covers a set of eligible situations related to a trip. This travel insurance policy reimburses travelers and provides benefits if you need to cancel a trip or face a covered interruption. These policies also offer other benefits, such as emergency medical transport and 24-hour assistance.

Although you can purchase JetBlue travel insurance from the airline, it doesn't actually provide coverage itself. Instead, Allianz travel insurance has offered policies to JetBlue customers for more than a decade.

Yes, customers have at least 15 days to request a refund as long as they haven't started their trip or submitted a claim. The refund varies by state, but all customers have at least 15 days to change their mind. After this "free-look" period expires, Allianz travel insurance premiums are nonrefundable.

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:

Flexibility, point transfers and a large bonus: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

No annual fee: Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card

Flat-rate travel rewards: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Bonus travel rewards and high-end perks: Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Luxury perks: The Platinum Card® from American Express

Business travelers: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

on Chase's website

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.

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℠.

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.

$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!

on Capital One's website

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.

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.

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Jetblue introduces peak pricing to baggage fees, depending on when you fly, you could pay an extra $5 to $10 for your checked bag..

While traveling with JetBlue, you must now consider whether you're flying during a peak travel date when checking a bag, as the difference can cost you $5 to $10 a bag.

Below, CNBC Select breaks down what you need to know about the new checked bag fee pricing — including how to avoid it.

Find the best credit card for you by reviewing offers in our  credit card marketplace  or get personalized offers via  CardMatch™ .

JetBlue checked bag fees

JetBlue already charges a different checked baggage fee based on whether you check your bags within 24 hours of your flight. Now, with the addition of peak and off-peak dates as of March 22, passengers must keep track of another factor when budgeting their trips.

According to the JetBlue website , you must pay $45 for your first checked bag and $60 for your second checked bag if you check your bags within 24 hours of your flight and travel within the U.S., Canada, Latin America and the Caribbean on an off-peak date.

But if you made the same trip during one of JetBlue's peak dates, you would pay an extra $5 for the first bag ($50) and an additional $10 for the second bag ($70).

Peak season pricing applies to the following dates, assuming you booked your ticket on or after March 22, 2024:

• April 11 to April 29
• June 20 to Sept. 3
• Nov. 21 to Dec. 2
• Dec. 19 to Jan. 6
• Feb. 13 to Feb. 24
• April 3 to April 28

For transatlantic flights, the fee during peak travel times for the first checked bag is $70 when checking within 24 hours, and $115 for the second bag.

When reached for comment about the addition of peak travel pricing, JetBlue told CNBC Select that the change was intended to cover increased costs and to "keep base fares as low as possible and ensure customer favorites like seatback TVs and high-speed Wi-Fi remain free for everyone."

How to avoid (or at least lessen) checked bag fees

One way to save on baggage fees is by checking your bags more than 24 hours before your flight. This nets you a $10 discount on the fees of checking both your first and second bag.

To avoid checked bag fees entirely (at least on your first bag), you could book your ticket with the JetBlue Plus Card . This airline card offers one free checked bag on JetBlue flights for you and up to three companions on the same reservation. You'd also earn 6X points on every $1 spent on eligible JetBlue purchases.

JetBlue Plus Card

6X points per dollar spent on eligible JetBlue purchases; 2X points at restaurants and eligible grocery stores; 1X points on all other purchases

Welcome bonus

Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $1,000 on the card and pay the annual fee in the first 90 days with the JetBlue Plus Card.

0% APR on eligible balance transfers that post to account within 45 days of account opening, for the first 12 billing cycles; 21.24%, to 29.99% variable thereafter depending on creditworthiness

Regular APR

21.24% to 29.99% variable

Balance transfer fee

Either $5 or 5%, whichever is greater.

Foreign transaction fees

Credit needed.

Excellent/Good

Terms apply.

Of course, the JetBlue Plus Card can only help you with baggage fees if you're flying JetBlue. The good news is that major airlines usually have a co-branded credit card that can help you with baggage fees. The United℠ Explorer Card , for example, lets you check your first bag for free (as well as the first bag for a traveling companion). In addition, this card provides other perks such as a 25% rebate back (as a statement credit) on food, beverage and Wi-Fi purchases on United flights.

United℠ Explorer Card

2 miles per $1 spent on United purchases; 2 miles per $1 spent on dining, eligible delivery services and hotel stays; 1 mile earned on every $1 spent on all other purchases

Earn 50,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.

$0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95

21.99% - 28.99% Variable

5%, minimum $5

Member FDIC. Terms apply.

If you prefer flying Delta, then the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card is another solid option to avoid baggage fees. Cardholders get their first bag checked for free (and up to 8 companions on the same reservation as the cardmember), and the card earns 2X miles on purchases at U.S. supermarkets and at restaurants worldwide, making it a versatile tool to rack up rewards. Terms apply.

Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card

Earn 2X Miles on Delta purchases, at U.S. Supermarkets and at restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery in the U.S., and 1X Mile per dollar on all other eligible purchases

Earn 40,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $2,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.

$0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $150

20.99% - 29.99% variable

See rates and fees , terms apply.

On the other hand, if you don't want to be tied to one airline, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® card offers a annual statement credit worth up to $300 that can be applied toward checked bag fees on any carrier. Sapphire Reserve cards also come with a complimentary Priority Pass Select membership, a credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck and bonus points for Lyft rides (through 3/31/25).

Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Earn 5X total points on flights and 10X total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3X points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases plus, 10X points on Lyft rides through March 2025

Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $900 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.

22.49% - 29.49% variable

Foreign transaction fee

Read our Chase Sapphire Reserve® review.

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Why trust CNBC Select?

At CNBC Select, our mission is to provide our readers with high-quality service journalism and comprehensive consumer advice so they can make informed decisions with their money. Every article is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors with extensive knowledge of financial products .  While CNBC Select earns a commission from affiliate partners on many offers and links, we create all our content without input from our commercial team or any outside third parties, and we pride ourselves on our journalistic standards and ethics.

Catch up on CNBC Select's in-depth coverage of  credit cards ,  banking  and  money , and follow us on  TikTok ,  Facebook ,  Instagram  and  Twitter  to stay up to date.

For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card, click here.

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The beginner’s guide to frequent flyer programs: How to earn, redeem and maximize airline miles

Fortune Recommends™ has partnered with CardRatings for our coverage of credit card products. Fortune Recommends™ and CardRatings may receive a commission from card issuers.  

Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.  

Booking flights with airline miles can be intoxicating—it allows you to experience travel you may not otherwise be willing or able to shell out the cash to do.  Award travel can open up the door to nearly unlimited opportunities, but it takes some understanding to learn how to maximize both earning and redeem airline miles. One of the key ways to earn airline miles is through responsible use of the right credit card. Our guide will walk through what you need to know.

What are airline miles?

Airline miles are a rewards currency you can earn after joining an airline’s loyalty program. For example, American Airlines operates the AAdvantage program and United Airlines operates the MileagePlus program. Miles in this usage is essentially another term for “points,” as earning and redeeming miles really isn’t tied to the mile as a physical measurement of distance. 

These miles can typically be redeemed for a variety of options, but using them to book flights on the airline you earned them with (or partners in the same alliance) usually nets the best value.

Pros and cons of earning airline miles with credit cards

• Can help you reach flights otherwise out of reach
• Rewards loyalty to specific airlines
• Some cards offer perks such as a free checked bag
• Not as versatile as flexible rewards
• Requires effort to maximize

Types of airline credit card miles

There are many multiple types of credit card rewards that you can redeem for air travel. But they primarily fall under two categories: airline miles and flexible points.

One distinction between airline miles and flexible points is where the rewards accrue. A card like the United SM Explorer Card deposits the miles you earn via spending on the card directly into your linked United Airlines MileagePlus account. In other words, the miles don’t “live” on your card. Even if you were to close your airline card, you wouldn’t lose the miles (though an expiration date may apply depending on the terms of the specific airline’s loyalty program). 

Below are some examples of airline miles from popular U.S.-based airlines:

• Alaska Airlines MileagePlan miles
• American Airlines AAdvantage miles
• Delta SkyMiles
• Frontier Miles
• Hawaiian Airlines HawaiianMiles
• JetBlue TrueBlue points
• Southwest Rapid Rewards points
• Spirit Airlines Free Spirit points
• United Airlines MileagePlus miles

Importantly, you can redeem your miles for flights on more than just the airline with which you are collecting rewards. You can book flights with its airline alliance partners, too. For instance, United Airlines is part of the Star Alliance, so a United Airlines miles collector can book flights on Air Canada, SWISS, Singapore Airlines, and more through the United website. You can get to just about anywhere in the world with most airline rewards currencies. More on this later.

A potential downside of airline cards are that the rewards can typically only be redeemed with the airline for flights or upgrades. There isn’t an option to use your rewards for cash back. Some popular flexible credit card points give you an option to cash out your points—and while we typically recommend using your rewards for travel, having a backup option can be nice.

Airline miles vs. flexible travel rewards

With flexible travel rewards credit cards, the rewards collect on your card until you redeem them. You’ll typically either transfer your points to an airline or hotel partner and then book travel directly, or use your points to book travel through the issuer’s portal. Examples of flexible rewards programs include:

• American Express Membership Rewards® points
• Bilt Rewards
• Capital One Miles
• Chase Travel℠ 
• Citi ThankYou points

Flexible rewards allow you to use your rewards to directly book flights on a variety of airlines, depending on who the issuer partners with. For example, Chase has 11 airline partners you can transfer your rewards to at a 1:1 ratio, which means if you have 20,000 Chase Ultimate Reward points you can transfer them into your Air Canada Aeroplan account resulting in 20,000 Aeroplan miles. This can be an excellent way to maximize the value of your rewards. 

Here’s how. Let’s say you wanted to fly from Toronto to Dallas in early June 2024. The cash price for a business class ticket is $787 on Air Canada’s website at the time of this writing. But paying for it with points would cost just 35,000 Aeroplan points. If you own a card that earns Chase Ultimate Rewards points, redeeming those points for cash back is worth a penny a point. But transferring 35,000 Ultimate Rewards points at a 1:1 ratio to the Aeroplan program to redeem for that business class ticket nets you a value of nearly 2 cents per point taking taxes and fees into account. 

A downside to using a flexible travel rewards card rather than an airline card is that you won’t get airline-specific perks such as a free checked bag or priority boarding.

How to earn airline miles

Here’s a look at some of the most effective ways to earn airline miles on purchases you’d need to make anyway. 

Sign up for a co-branded credit card

A co-branded airline credit card is one that contains the name of an airline (e.g. the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card ). Similar to a store credit card, a co-branded airline credit card will offer benefits that are specific to that brand. This could mean free checked bags, preferred boarding, discounts on in-flight food and beverages, and more.

An American Airlines earns AAdvantage miles, a United Airlines credit card earns United MileagePlus miles, and so on. The exact earning structure will vary by card, so make sure you opt for a card that fits your lifestyle well. For example, foodies who travel frequently will appreciate the United Explorer Card’s rewards structure, with 2 miles per dollar spent on United purchases, dining, and hotel stays booked directly, 1 mile per dollar on other purchases. 

To view rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card, see this page  

United SM Explorer Card

Intro bonus.

Rewards Rates

• 2x 2x miles on dining (including eligible delivery services), hotel stays, and United® purchases (including tickets, inflight food, beverages and Wi-Fi, Economy Plus® and more)
• 1x 1x miles on all other purchases
• Free first checked bag benefit.
• Expanded award availability on United Saver flights.
• No foreign transaction fee.
• $0 introductory annual fee for the first year (then $95) annual fee
• Subject to Chase 5/24 rule.
• United perks: 25% back on in-flight purchases checked bag benefit, expanded Saver award ticket availability
• Travel perks: TSA/Global Entry credit, trip cancellation and interruption protection
• Foreign transaction fee: None

Open a flexible travel rewards card with airline transfer partners

If you don’t need the benefits that come with an airline-specific card—for example, maybe you travel light with just a carry-on and a personal item so a free checked bag isn’t much use to you—perhaps you’d prefer a flexible travel card that lets you transfer points to whichever airline partner you find the best deal on.

When using a flexible travel card, it will behoove you to learn how to leverage airline alliances. You might not always be able to transfer your points directly to the airline you’d like to book a flight with, but if you can transfer them to a partner and book through that partner’s website, you’ll substantially extend your travel reach.  For example, maybe you’re able to transfer rewards from the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card to British Airways then book a ticket through British Airways on an American Airlines-operated flight. Or perhaps you transfer your Capital One Miles to Virgin Atlantic, then book a flight on Delta through Virgin. Just beware such partner seating may be in limited supply, so find the flight you want through the partner airline (British Airways or Virgin in the above examples) before transferring your points.

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

• 10X 10x miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
• 5X 5x miles on flights booked through Capital One Travel
• 2X 2x miles on everyday purchases
• Annual $300 travel credit and 10,000 Miles upon card anniversary make up for the annual fee
• Airport lounge access
• Capital One Miles require effort to maximize
• Limited cash redemption options

Other benefits

• Travel protections including car rental insurance, trip cancellation/interruption and travel delay protection
• Consumer protections including extended warranty and return protection

Earn welcome bonuses

The fastest way to earn airline miles (and flexible points, for that matter) is typically through credit card welcome bonuses. You could potentially earn thousands of dollars worth of travel from a single offer—and there are scores of different options.

For example, the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card comes with 60,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $5,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. This is likely enough to get you to London and back, particularly if your dates are flexible and you utilize Delta’s award deals page . Plus, the SkyMiles Reserve offers a “TakeOff 15” benefit, where award tickets on Delta cost cardholders 15% fewer miles to redeem. 

Keep in mind that to earn a welcome bonus, you’ll usually need to meet a minimum spending requirement within a specific amount of time. Make sure that you’re able to complete the spending requirement on a potential new card before you open it—or you could forfeit a great opportunity. 

Also beware that applying for too much new credit in a short period of time can signal to issuers that you’re desperate for credit, so be strategic when it comes to applying for new cards to earn welcome bonuses. 

To view rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card , see this page  

Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card

See Rates and Fees

Intro Bonus

Reward Rates

• 3x Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases
• 1x Earn 1X Mile on all other eligible purchases.
• Premium benefits for Delta flyers, like first checked bag free and access to the Delta Sky Club
• Companion certificate good for a round trip domestic Main Cabin, Comfort+ or First Class flight each year upon renewal of your card
• Access to Centurion Lounge network
• High annual fee
• Access to Delta Sky Club limited to 15 passes a year after February 2025
• Base earnings rate is low compared to other cards
• 15% discount on Delta award flights
• Travel protections including accident insurance, rental car coverage, trip cancellation and delay insurance
• Consumer protections including cell phone insurance, extended warranty, purchase and return protection

Shop through online portals

Many airlines also operate their own proprietary shopping portals which will award bonus miles for purchases you planned to make anyway. through the airline portal’s link, your purchases will be tracked and bonuses accordingly.

You could potentially receive over 5 miles per dollar at popular merchants such as Dell, Best Buy, Home Depot, and more. These bonus miles are in addition to the credit card rewards you’ll earn for spending.

How to redeem airline miles for travel

The process of redeeming airline miles is easy. The challenge can be finding ways to squeeze every last drop of value from them.

The main way to use your airline miles for flights is through that respective airline’s website (or mobile app). You’ll notice before you search for flights an option to view prices in money or miles. Select miles to see if you’ve got enough awards for your desired itinerary.

Airlines have different methods for pricing their award flights. Some examine the distance you fly, others charge according to the cash value of the ticket, and still others use something called dynamic award pricing—which is where the number of points required to book a flight rises and falls with demand. In that last case, peak flight times such as Thanksgiving will require more points than a less-frequently traveled time.

Maximizing your airline miles

The world of award travel can feel complicated at first. Each airline comes with its own tricks and sweet spots. Here are six principles to guide you as you earn and redeem miles with your airline credit card.

Always enter your frequent flyer number

Every time you purchase a ticket, you should enter your airline loyalty number to earn miles for your flight. If you don’t have a loyalty account with the specific airline you’re flying, it’s free to sign up and takes just a few minutes.

Compare the cash price of your ticket

Just because you can cover your flight with miles doesn’t necessarily mean you should. This is an oversimplification, but you should generally aim to get over 1 cent in value per airline mile. 

Most airline miles tend to offer a consistent value between 1.2 and 1.5 cents each to savvy travelers, but can be worth significantly more in some cases. As mentioned  earlier, not all airlines price their award flights based on the cash value of the ticket. A flight to Europe may cost $250 one day and $500 the next—but its award price may be 30,000 miles for both dates.

Divide the cash cost of the airline ticket by the number of miles you’re using and then multiply the result by 100 to find how many cents per mile you’re getting. If it’s under 1 cent, it’s generally not a good deal. If you’re only getting a penny (or less) in value, you’d likely be better off paying cash for the flight, earning miles on that purchase and if possible using your rewards to take a statement credit to offset the cost of the flight.

Remember to take any taxes or fees out of the cash price when doing for value. For instance, If a ticket costs $400 and the miles price is 20,000 plus $100 in fees, the net value of the ticket in miles is actually $300. So you are actually getting 1.5 cents in value per mile, not 2 cents. 

Be flexible with dates

Flexibility with your travel dates is key to getting a solid value for your airline miles. If you can only travel during the holiday season, award seats are likely going to be either expensive or sold out. But if you’re able to look at the price calendar and let the deals or lower prices guide your travel, it’s possible to get much greater value for your rewards.

Be flexible with your origin and destination airports

Consider award flight deals from major U.S. hubs that don’t exist from smaller airports. If you’re willing to first fly from your home airport to an international gateway hub, you could potentially save a lot. For example, a flight from Newark to Paris might be tens of thousands of miles cheaper than a flight from Rochester to Paris.

You should also research the prices of airports near your destination. The inconvenience of an extra stopover could yield enormous savings. For example, if you want to visit London, take a look at award prices to Edinburgh, Dublin, Paris, and other major European airports nearby. If the prices are dramatically lower, you might be able to simply book your flight to one of these cities and then hop on an inexpensive flight to your actual destination. You can often fly within Europe for around $30 on a low-cost airline.

Book in a premium cabin

You’ll generally get the highest value for your rewards by booking in international business class or first class. These seats tend to cost many thousands of dollars and come with lie-flat seats, free alcohol, extensive dine-on-demand menus, and even pajamas.

Be honest with yourself about how much worth you personally place on more luxurious flights. If the perks of flying business or first class are something you’d like to enjoy, miles can help you attain that. But if you just care about getting from point A to point B, it’s probably not worth spending more miles in total just to feel like the math shows a higher cent-per-mile valuation.

There’s a difference between “value” and “savings.” While your miles can earn you a $7,000 first class seat, it’s not really the same as saving $7,000 unless you would have otherwise paid that money for your flight.

Diversify your miles

It’s a good idea to earn more than one type of airline miles. Sometimes one airline may charge exorbitant rates while another may offer rock-bottom prices. It’s always good to give yourself options.

You can achieve this by owning credit cards from different airlines. You can also open flexible travel cards with transferable points, such as the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card , which empowers cardholders to transfer rewards to numerous airline loyalty programs.

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

• 5x Earn 5x miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
• 2x Earn 2x miles on every purchase
• Flexible travel rewards
• No foreign transaction fee
• Maximizing Capital One Miles requires a learning curve
• Cash redemption value is limited
• The Venture offers travel accident insurance, rental car coverage, extended warranty protection, exclusive access to events through Capital One Dining and Capital One Entertainment

Use award search websites

Award sites automate much of the legwork when hunting for the best miles value for a flight.  Sites like point.me, Award Nexus, seats.aero and AwardHacker allow you to search for availability across a large range of global airlines and transfer points to the program that gives the best value for your miles. Some of these services charge a fee, but they can be an invaluable tool for frequent flyers.

How to choose the best airline credit card for you

Choosing the right airline credit card isn’t as difficult as it might seem. Consider the following when trying to narrow down your selection::

• Does the airline serve your home airport? If you’re opening an airline credit card, be sure that the miles aren’t a hassle to use. Airlines don’t fly to every airport, after all.
• Does the airline or one of its partners travel where you want to go? If your dream is to visit Asia, a Southwest Airlines card may not help you. 
• Can you achieve the welcome bonus minimum spending requirement? Again, welcome bonuses are a shortcut to earning enough miles for a flight. If you can’t realistically meet the spending requirement to earn a new card’s welcome bonus, you’re leaving miles on the table. But don’t make expenses outside your budget just to lock in a welcome offer, either. Look for a card with an offer that fits your budget and your life.
• Does the rewards structure on the card complement your spending patterns? Airline credit cards come with varying bonus categories for spending. Find one that offers bonus points in the areas where you typically spend.
• Does the airline credit card deliver benefits you’ll actually use? Airline credit cards can offer perks like companion certificates, airport lounge access, free checked bags and more. If you can’t use your prospective card’s benefits, it’s probably not a good fit for your needs. Economy-minded travelers may not find it worthwhile to pay for a premium credit card with lounge access, but business travelers who need to work while on the go might. 
• Is the annual fee worth it? Don’t let an annual fee scare you off. If the card comes with valuable perks you know you can use, it can be worth the price tag.

The takeaway 

Using airline credit cards to earn miles and then booking award travel can help you go places you thought were only a distant dream. Just make sure you’re not taking on debt you can’t repay with the goal of earning rewards—incurring interest charges will wipe out any value you get from rewards pretty quickly.

If you’re ready to take the next step in learning about what you can do with award travel, consider the cards on our list of best credit cards for travel and see if one might help you achieve your next vacation.

Please note that card details are accurate as of the publish date, but are subject to change at any time at the discretion of the issuer. Please contact the card issuer to verify rates, fees, and benefits before applying.  

Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefits guide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.  

EDITORIAL DISCLOSURE : The advice, opinions, or rankings contained in this article are solely those of the Fortune Recommends ™ editorial team. This content has not been reviewed or endorsed by any of our affiliate partners or other third parties.

Guide to airline credit cards

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BarkBox’s next big delivery: Charter flights for dogs

Starting in may, bark air will fly dogs and their owners from new york to l.a. or london.

BarkBox, the service that assembles and ships care packages for dogs to millions of subscribers each month, is expanding into a new market: pet-friendly charter flights. This spring, the company will begin transporting dogs (and their owners) on private planes via Bark Air.

Starting on May 23, Bark Air will fly weekly between Westchester County Airport in White Plains, N.Y., and Van Nuys Airport in Los Angeles. The following week, it will kick off bimonthly service between Westchester and London Stansted Airport. Reservations at dogsflyfirst.com will go live Thursday, on National Pet Day. The one-way cross-country flight costs $6,000 for one dog and one owner; the transatlantic flight goes for $8,000.

By comparison, for the same date as the launch, nonstop air on a major carrier starts at $220 one way from New York to Los Angeles and from $525 to London. Adding a dog would cost more.

Bark chief executive and co-founder Matt Meeker said the inspiration for Bark Air came from his Great Dane. Hugo visited nearly two dozen states and Canada during his 12-year lifetime, but he never pranced around the West Coast or Europe because of the challenges of flying pets, especially of his size.

Options are limited for pets too large for the cabin. Depending on the season, destination and airline, owners can transport their dogs as checked luggage or cargo, an arrangement that comes with risks. According to Transportation Department data, U.S. carriers reported nine incidents involving animals, including seven deaths, in 2022. (The agency has not published its annual 2023 numbers for these incidents).

To understand the experience of traveling as baggage, Meeker packed himself into a crate and was rolled across the tarmac and loaded onto a plane, where he stayed in his enclosure for 45 minutes to an hour. His experiment confirmed his suspicions: Flying in the belly of a plane can be traumatizing.

“It was very cramped, very dark. Loud noises. Disorienting. No food or water. Nowhere to go to the bathroom,” said Meeker. “It was very, very terrible.”

Moneyed travelers can book a private or charter plane. However, noncommercial air can be prohibitively expensive or unpredictable. K9 Jets , a private charter operator that started offering pet-friendly flights last year, flies to 13 destinations, including Dallas, Paris and West Palm Beach, Fla. It has similar prices to BarkAir — $6,650 from New Jersey to Los Angeles — but will cancel the flight if it is not at least 75 percent full.

“There’s a huge amount of interest and demand, and really frustration,” Meeker said. “People are looking for a reasonable solution to transport their dog if they’re moving or taking a summer vacation or weekend trip.”

Meeker said the company partnered with Talon Air , a New York-based charter company that will fly two Gulfstream G550s under the Bark Air banner. The plane can accommodate 14 passengers, but the company will cap the number at 10.

After the traveler books the flight, a concierge will contact the family to learn about the dog’s temperament and to help with logistics, including the documents required to enter England. The fare includes complimentary car service within a 30-mile radius of the arrival destination.

Meeker recommends passengers arrive 45 minutes to an hour before departure. Guests will wait in a private area inside the terminal, where a chef will prepare a hot meal for the human travelers to avoid any in-flight tray-table surfing. Before boarding, the dogs will have a chance to sniff each other out.

Onboard, pets can fly without a leash as long as they behave. During a test run, Meeker said the dogs were very courteous, with no unruly outbursts.

“They would say hello to the other dogs and say hello to the other people. Everyone was very calm about it,” he said. “For dogs who were a little more nervous, or people who were more nervous for their dogs, we have a place on the plane for them to sit without anyone bothering them.”

Since the pups are the top dogs onboard, the carrier will cater to their tastes. The menu will feature “Doggie Champagne” (actually chicken broth), doughnuts made for dogs and meaty snacks served on a silver tray. The flight crew will include professionals trained in veterinary care and dog behavior. At the end of the trip, the four-legged fliers will earn their wings, which they can proudly pin to their collar or harness.

If Bark Air does well, Meeker hopes to add larger planes to the fleet, which could help lower the fare. He also dreams of building the world’s first in-flight dog park.

“The dogs for those longer journeys will have a park where they can play with other dogs while their humans enjoy a drink at the bar around the edge of the park,” he said.

Henry Harteveldt, a travel industry analyst with the Atmosphere Research Group, said pet airlines are more apt to fail than succeed. (RIP, Pet Airways.) However, Bark Air has a few advantages. It is not building an airline from scratch. It has brand recognition. And it oversees a mailing list with the names of millions of pet lovers willing to drop a small fortune on their pooches.

“Some people will absolutely do this,” Harteveldt said. “The question is: Will there be a enough people who love their pets enough to pay $6,000 or more to transport them coast-to-coast or from New York to London?”

Trains Moscow to Elektrostal: Times, Prices and Tickets

• Train Times
• Seasonality
• Accommodations

Moscow to Elektrostal by train

The journey from Moscow to Elektrostal by train is 32.44 mi and takes 2 hr 7 min. There are 71 connections per day, with the first departure at 12:15 AM and the last at 11:46 PM. It is possible to travel from Moscow to Elektrostal by train for as little as or as much as . The best price for this journey is .

Get from Moscow to Elektrostal with Virail

Virail's search tool will provide you with the options you need when you want to go from Moscow to Elektrostal. All you need to do is enter the dates of your planned journey, and let us take care of everything else. Our engine does the hard work, searching through thousands of routes offered by our trusted travel partners to show you options for traveling by train, bus, plane, or carpool. You can filter the results to suit your needs. There are a number of filtering options, including price, one-way or round trip, departure or arrival time, duration of journey, or number of connections. Soon you'll find the best choice for your journey. When you're ready, Virail will transfer you to the provider's website to complete the booking. No matter where you're going, get there with Virail.

How can I find the cheapest train tickets to get from Moscow to Elektrostal?

Prices will vary when you travel from Moscow to Elektrostal. On average, though, you'll pay about for a train ticket. You can find train tickets for prices as low as , but it may require some flexibility with your travel plans. If you're looking for a low price, you may need to prepare to spend more time in transit. You can also often find cheaper train tickets at particular times of day, or on certain days of the week. Of course, ticket prices often change during the year, too; expect to pay more in peak season. For the lowest prices, it's usually best to make your reservation in advance. Be careful, though, as many providers do not offer refunds or exchanges on their cheapest train tickets. Unfortunately, no price was found for your trip from Moscow to Elektrostal. Selecting a new departure or arrival city, without dramatically changing your itinerary could help you find price results. Prices will vary when you travel from Moscow to Elektrostal. On average, though, you'll pay about for a train ticket. If you're looking for a low price, you may need to prepare to spend more time in transit. You can also often find cheaper train tickets at particular times of day, or on certain days of the week. Of course, ticket prices often change during the year, too; expect to pay more in peak season. For the lowest prices, it's usually best to make your reservation in advance. Be careful, though, as many providers do not offer refunds or exchanges on their cheapest train tickets.

How long does it take to get from Moscow to Elektrostal by train?

The journey between Moscow and Elektrostal by train is approximately 32.44 mi. It will take you more or less 2 hr 7 min to complete this journey. This average figure does not take into account any delays that might arise on your route in exceptional circumstances. If you are planning to make a connection or operating on a tight schedule, give yourself plenty of time. The distance between Moscow and Elektrostal is around 32.44 mi. Depending on the exact route and provider you travel with, your journey time can vary. On average, this journey will take approximately 2 hr 7 min. However, the fastest routes between Moscow and Elektrostal take 1 hr 3 min. If a fast journey is a priority for you when traveling, look out for express services that may get you there faster. Some flexibility may be necessary when booking. Often, these services only leave at particular times of day - or even on certain days of the week. You may also find a faster journey by taking an indirect route and connecting in another station along the way.

How many journeys from Moscow to Elektrostal are there every day?

On average, there are 71 daily departures from Moscow to Elektrostal. However, there may be more or less on different days. Providers' timetables can change on certain days of the week or public holidays, and many also vary at particular times of year. Some providers change their schedules during the summer season, for example. At very busy times, there may be up to departures each day. The providers that travel along this route include , and each operates according to their own specific schedules. As a traveler, you may prefer a direct journey, or you may not mind making changes and connections. If you have heavy suitcases, a direct journey could be best; otherwise, you might be able to save money and enjoy more flexibility by making a change along the way. Every day, there are an average of 18 departures from Moscow which travel directly to Elektrostal. There are 53 journeys with one change or more. Unfortunately, no connection was found for your trip from Moscow to Elektrostal. Selecting a new departure or arrival city, without dramatically changing your itinerary could help you find connections.

Book in advance and save

If you're looking for the best deal for your trip from Moscow to Elektrostal, booking train tickets in advance is a great way to save money, but keep in mind that advance tickets are usually not available until 3 months before your travel date.

Stay flexible with your travel time and explore off-peak journeys

Planning your trips around off-peak travel times not only means that you'll be able to avoid the crowds, but can also end up saving you money. Being flexible with your schedule and considering alternative routes or times will significantly impact the amount of money you spend on getting from Moscow to Elektrostal.

Always check special offers

Checking on the latest deals can help save a lot of money, making it worth taking the time to browse and compare prices. So make sure you get the best deal on your ticket and take advantage of special fares for children, youth and seniors as well as discounts for groups.

Unlock the potential of slower trains or connecting trains

If you're planning a trip with some flexible time, why not opt for the scenic route? Taking slower trains or connecting trains that make more stops may save you money on your ticket – definitely worth considering if it fits in your schedule.

Best time to book cheap train tickets from Moscow to Elektrostal

The cheapest Moscow - Elektrostal train tickets can be found for as low as $35.01 if you’re lucky, or $54.00 on average. The most expensive ticket can cost as much as $77.49.

Find the best day to travel to Elektrostal by train

When travelling to Elektrostal by train, if you want to avoid crowds you can check how frequently our customers are travelling in the next 30-days using the graph below. On average, the peak hours to travel are between 6:30am and 9am in the morning, or between 4pm and 7pm in the evening. Please keep this in mind when travelling to your point of departure as you may need some extra time to arrive, particularly in big cities!

Moscow to Elektrostal CO2 Emissions by Train

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Watch CBS News

Delta is changing how it boards passengers starting May 1

By Megan Cerullo

Edited By Aimee Picchi

Updated on: April 12, 2024 / 12:35 PM EDT / CBS News

Delta Air Lines is changing its boarding process beginning May 1 in an effort to speed up loading passengers onto planes. 

If you're flying on the airline, you'll have to know what zone number you're in to board in the correct sequence. The move is hardly innovative, experts say, and instead reflects a return to the traditional way of boarding passengers followed by most airlines. 

That's because Delta is introducing numbered boarding zones for all flights, meaning that customers will have a zone number assigned to them instead of boarding groups labelled by airline status or fare class, such as "Sky Priority." The airline stressed that boarding orders will not change, but the group names will.

When Delta introduced its branded fare boarding process in 2018, it called zone boarding "a thing of the past." But the airline is now reverting to the traditional way of boarding people, in what some experts call an unusual move for an innovative airline.

Customers who need more assistance will still pre-board as usual before passengers in Zone 1, which will comprise Delta One and First Class customers. Zone 2 will include Diamond Medallion Members and Delta Premium Select ticket holders. 

Delta Comfort+ customers will board in Zone 3, followed by Sky Priority in Zone 4, according to a  chart  on the airline's website. Zone numbers will go up to 8, when basic economy passengers will board. 

Delta said the change is small, but could make the process easier for infrequent fliers and non-English speakers who only have to listen for a number to know when it's their turn to board. The change will also make the process less stressful for gate agents, Delta added. 

Still, some travel experts questioned whether the change would meaningfully speed up the boarding process. 

"They're not changing who boards when or the sequence," Clarkson University professor John Milne, an expert on airline boarding, told CBS MoneyWatch. "All they are changing is the names of what passenger group boards next." 

In a statement to CBS MoneyWatch, Delta said the "simple change" will "provide customers more clarity into the boarding sequence and make the boarding process more intuitive—especially for infrequent travelers and/or customers who might face a language barrier at the gate."

Delta added, "Numbered zones will also align more closely with our joint venture and international partners, providing international customers a more simplified, consistent experience when traveling on mixed-metal itineraries. "  

CEO Ed Bastian addressed the change on the company's first quarter earnings call Wednesday. "When you have a number and you're standing in line, we are all trained to know when it's our turn," Bastian said.

Superficial changes?

The change is fairly superficial, Milne said, noting there are other changes Delta and its competitors could make to boarding processes that would make them more efficient. 

The airline still prioritizes passengers with airline status or who paid for a higher class fare on a particular flight. Instead, it would be more efficient to board passengers based on where on the aircraft they are seated, Milne said. 

For example, boarding window seat customers in the back half of the plane first would speed up the process. "That way you would minimize some of the congestion," he said. 

Delta instead assigns passengers to boarding groups based on their loyalty to the airline and ticket prices. 

Travel expert Scott Keyes also emphasized that the change does little to meaningfully improve or expedite the boarding process. All Delta is doing is reverting to the traditional way of boarding passengers and scrapping its branded boarding process that began in 2018, he noted.

"The fact that they've reverted to numbered zones, like those employed by virtually all other airlines, speaks volumes," Keyes said. "Traditionally, Delta has been seen as the innovative airline and others have followed suit. In this case, Delta's innovation didn't pan out, and they've been forced to once again mimic American and United's boarding processes."

To be sure, any move that would actually speed up passenger boarding could give an airline a leg up on competitors.

"Speeding up the boarding process by even 10 minutes can prevent delays, and if sustained, allow airlines to add an additional daily flight to the schedule," Keyes said.

The airline posted a $37 million first-quarter profit on Wednesday and said demand for air travel is strong heading into the busy summer travel season. Travelers are flocking to book trips despite a string of recent air safety incidents, including a panel blowing off a Boeing 737 Max aircraft during an Alaska Airlines flight.

• Delta Air Lines

Megan Cerullo is a New York-based reporter for CBS MoneyWatch covering small business, workplace, health care, consumer spending and personal finance topics. She regularly appears on CBS News Streaming to discuss her reporting.

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