In late May 2025, JetBlue and United announced plans to roll out a partnership, which is being marketed as Blue Sky. It’s a quirky partnership that seems odd on the surface.
For United, it’s clearly motivated by the desire to compete with Delta in Boston (BOS) and New York (JFK), and to prevent JetBlue from partnering with another major US airline. Meanwhile for JetBlue, it’s about partnering with whatever airline gives the company the most financial upside.
Along those lines, the first aspect of this collaboration has just been rolled out, and it involves loyalty programs.
In this post:
JetBlue & United roll out reciprocal points opportunities
Effective immediately (as of Tuesday, October 23, 2025), JetBlue TrueBlue and United MileagePlus have rolled out the first portion of their loyalty program partnership. With this, members of both programs can earn and redeem points for travel on the other airline. Here’s what the airlines said, in a joint statement:
“With reciprocal earning and redemption now available, Blue Sky is officially taking flight. We’re excited to give our loyalty members the ability to use the program of their choice when traveling across our complementary networks.”
Let’s go over how this works for each scenario, at least based on what’s available so far.
Earn JetBlue TrueBlue points for travel on United
You can now earn JetBlue TrueBlue points and tiles (the method of status qualification) on United flights when booking directly with United, and entering your TrueBlue number on the reservation.
TrueBlue members can earn 5x points per dollar spent on United, and on top of that, Mosaic members can earn an additional 3x points. That earning is calculated from the base airfare and carrier imposed surcharges, but excludes taxes.
That’s a slightly worse points earning rate than you’d have directly on JetBlue, where you earn a minimum of 6x points if booking direct, while not selecting the basic fare.
Redeem JetBlue TrueBlue points for travel on United
You can now redeem JetBlue TrueBlue points for travel on United, directly through JetBlue’s website. Just enter a route, select the “Use TrueBlue points” button, and you’ll see what’s available.
Generally speaking, United has become really restrictive about the award availability it gives to partners, plus places restrictions on partner award pricing (clearly in an effort to grow its own loyalty program). So it’s hard to get outsized value through partner programs.
Unfortunately this situation seems to be no exception. For example, I see virtually no Polaris business class award availability, following United’s recent trend with other partners. Still, there will no doubt be some situations where TrueBlue members appreciate being able to redeem on yet another partner.
Earn United MileagePlus miles for travel on JetBlue
You can now earn United MileagePlus miles on JetBlue flights when booking directly with JetBlue, and entering your MileagePlus number on the reservation.
MileagePlus members can earn 5x miles per dollar spent on JetBlue, and on top of that, elite members get their typical bonuses, meaning they can earn anywhere from 7-11x miles per dollar spent. That earning is calculated from the base airfare and carrier imposed surcharges, but excludes taxes. These are the same mileage earning rates you’ll find for travel on United.
There are just a couple of terms to be aware of:
- The following JetBlue fare classes are eligible for MileagePlus accrual: A, B, C, D, E, G, H, J, K, L, M, O, P, Q, R, S, T, U, V, W, Y, and Z
- Members can’t earn miles for travel between Newark (EWR) Aruba (AUA), Cancun (CUN), Los Angeles (LAX), Las Vegas (LAS), and Punta Cana (PUJ)
Redeem United MileagePlus miles for travel on JetBlue
You can now redeem United MileagePlus miles for travel on JetBlue, directly through United’s website. Just search the same way you’d search for United award availability.
It’s possible that some award space is still being loaded, but as of now I’m seeing a fairly limited amount of award availability, and nothing in Mint business class. Nothing strikes me as being a particularly exciting deal, but still, more redemption options are always a good thing.
What’s next for the JetBlue & United Blue Sky partnership
With reciprocal points earning and redemption opportunities now rolled out, what should we expect next?
- As of the first quarter of 2026, the two airlines will introduce reciprocal revenue bookings, whereby you can book travel on either airline on either website, including with cash or points
- As of early 2026, the two airlines will introduce reciprocal elite perks and benefits, including priority boarding, preferred and extra legroom seating, and same day standby and flight changes
- As of early 2026, United’s travel extras, MileagePlus Travel, will transition to JetBlue’s Paisly, with expanded options for hotels, rental cars, cruises, packages, and travel insurance
- As early as 2027, JetBlue will support United’s JFK expansion, with access to slots for up to seven daily roundtrips from JetBlue’s new Terminal 6
Bottom line
JetBlue and United have introduced the first part of their Blue Sky partnership, which includes reciprocal opportunities to earn and redeem points. It’s cool to see this rolled out, as this provides lots of flexibility for both JetBlue and United partnerships.
I don’t think there’s anything too surprising here, and earning and redemption opportunities definitely don’t exceed expectations, at least based on what I’m seeing so far. As the next phase of this, we should see reciprocal elite perks rolled out as of early 2026.
What do you make of the JetBlue TrueBlue and United MileagePlus partnership being live?
This is good. It opens up Amex, C1, Txu points to United booking. Are award flights book with JetBlue awards refundable like United?
Still waiting for domestic 1st class and lounges from B6 (JFK, BOS, then maybe FLL & LAX).
Then the comparisons will be more apples to apples.
As of today, better to credit UA flights to JetBlue or Air Canada?
Why the exclusions of EWR, LAX, Aruba…?
Is it any flights to/from these airports or only between airports from the list?
P.S. Ben - a comma is missing before “Aruba”.
Interesting that earning on UA when booking on B6 (for B6 metal) is based on the JetBlue spend, rather than miles flown. This is different than other UA partners, when crediting partner metal flights to UA.
If you overlay the images from the JetBlue and United airplane tails it looks like a Delta tail. Delta will probably try to file an infringement lawsuit to get cash. This partnership will eliminate Delta's dominance at major NE airports. Delta is floundering - they need cash...
Hard pass. Decided to try JetBlue as a 1K a few weeks ago, and JetBlue refused to assign me a seat for free until exactly one hour before departure on a Basic Economy ticket. As a result, I couldn't go to any credit card lounges at JFK T4, which is only one stop from JFK's B6 terminal (T5).
Maybe your issue was purchasing 'basic' because with most airlines, if you purchase that least expensive fare, many of the elite privileges are limited. Gotta get the regular United Economy equivalent, which, on B6, it's called 'Blue (Core)'
You can go to a lounge with the ticket that doesn’t show an assigned seat - and seats on basic fares are often assigned at the gate. Don’t understand what the problem was.
The Capital One lounge in JFK would not allow me to enter without an assigned seat. Can't speak for the centurion or sapphire lounges, but a basic economy JetBlue ticket without an assigned seat was a no-go. I had to pay $40 for my seat to get into C1
Why bother Alex? Go sit in a terminal restaurant and spend the $40 on a better lunch.
I'm guessing there's no way to change a future jetblue reservation with my trueblue number to code to milage plus instead?
@ dn10 -- I think that should be possible. Have you tried logging into the reservation and seeing if the option is there to switch the frequent flyer number?
I will look, thank you!
Obviously very curious about earning United PQP while flying B6 metal (if this is even part of the gig) given TrueBlue members flying UA metal can earn Tiles. If so, could be a game changer if one is still loyal to UA/*A but don't want to deal with connections for non-hub fliers (BOS based here).
Agreed, as I fly out of BOS to the west coast a lot. Have a flight coming up next month. Already 1K for next year, and contemplating flying Jetblue instead for to skip EWR/ORD and fly direct.
Yeah I've got a MINT LAS->BOS end of next week as I did not want to deal with a 1-2hr layover at IAD/DEN and still loyal to UA but seems like earning PQP is not part of the arrangement thus far.
EDIT: Most likely this is moot.
I realize jetBlue's program is incredibly underrated, but there is real value there, such as after 10 Tiles, you can pick the extra 5K points (basically $50), which is not bad; whereas, United gives you practically nothing for earning PQPs until you reach Premier Platinum (then you can get worthless PlusPoints! ...I know, they recently changed that program, too, allowing redeeming PP for miles.)
As for Mosaic, there's also real value once you reach '3'...
I realize jetBlue's program is incredibly underrated, but there is real value there, such as after 10 Tiles, you can pick the extra 5K points (basically $50), which is not bad; whereas, United gives you practically nothing for earning PQPs until you reach Premier Platinum (then you can get worthless PlusPoints! ...I know, they recently changed that program, too, allowing redeeming PP for miles.)
As for Mosaic, there's also real value once you reach '3' which includes 'Move to Mint' certificates; those are the sweet spot of the program, because getting to purchase 'Blue (Core)' and redeem those for Mint (lie-flat) on transcon or TATL is excellent. Used mine for JFK-LHR. Very pleased.
Compared to the 'partnership' between jetBlue and American, which included reciprocal lounge access (a major benefit for B6 flyers), this one, between jetBlue and United, does not include such privileges (for now at least), which is a major disappointment; would be nice to go to a UnitedClub before a jetBlue flight (then again, I presume, United Club members would loathe that influx of 'filthy Mosaic, premium Barclays card members, and Mint passengers, eh?)
It was implied in the article that there will be more to this partnership
Premium cabin award inventory on United?
'I'll allow it...' LOL