This short-lived partnership ended mid-2023.
In early 2021, American Airlines and JetBlue Airways launched a strategic alliance in the Northeast. The concept behind this partnership is that JetBlue has amazing connectivity in the Northeast, and American wants to grow its long haul presence out of New York, but needs connecting traffic.
As part of this collaboration, the two airlines offer reciprocal perks for frequent flyers. This includes the ability to earn and redeem points, as well as take advantage of elite perks, when flying with the other airline. In this post I wanted to take an updated look at how those reciprocal elite perks work (and in a separate post I’ll cover reciprocal points earning and redemptions).
In this post:
American AAdvantage elite benefits on JetBlue
American AAdvantage elite members receive select perks when flying with JetBlue. To take advantage of these perks, just make sure you add your AAdvantage number to your reservation with JetBlue. It’s fine if you booked directly with JetBlue, as long as your AAdvantage number is attached to the reservation.
AAdvantage elite members receive the following perks when flying with JetBlue (this applies to all elite tiers — Gold, Platinum, Platinum Pro, and Executive Platinum — unless otherwise explicitly noted):
- Priority check-in at the JetBlue Mosaic counter
- Priority security, with JetBlue’s Even More Speed feature
- Priority boarding, with JetBlue Mosaic members
- Priority baggage handling (not for AAdvantage Gold members)
- Two free checked bags weighing up to 50 pounds each (one free checked bag for AAdvantage Gold members)
- Complimentary Even More Space seats within 24 hours of departure; these can be selected during the online check-in process, or at the airport
- Complimentary same-day switch flight change when your flight is marketed and operated by JetBlue (not for AAdvantage Gold and AAdvantage Platinum members)
- Admirals Club members can access Admirals Clubs when flying JetBlue the same day
JetBlue TrueBlue Mosaic benefits on American
JetBlue TrueBlue Mosaic members receive select perks when flying with American. To take advantage of these perks, just make sure you add your TrueBlue number to your reservation with American. It’s fine if you booked directly with American, as long as your TrueBlue number is attached to the reservation.
TrueBlue Mosaic elite members receive the following perks when flying with American:
- Priority check-in with AAdvantage Gold members and/or business class
- Priority security
- Priority boarding (with Group 4)
- Priority baggage handling
- Two free checked bags weighing up to 50 pounds each
- Complimentary Main Cabin Extra seats within 24 hours of departure; these can be selected during the online check-in process, or at the airport
- Complimentary same-day flight changes
My take on the American & JetBlue partnership
Personally I’ve found the reciprocal elite perks between American and JetBlue to be extremely useful. As someone who usually flies with American, the reality is that there are many routes where the airlines don’t overlap.
In the past I probably wouldn’t have flown JetBlue due to not having status, but I’m happy to fly JetBlue when I can get free checked bags, priority boarding, complimentary Even More Space seats, etc. I’d say this partnership is well executed in terms of the elite perks being offered.
Should we expect any further elite perks between the two airlines? At this point the only reciprocal elite perks potentially missing are the following:
- JetBlue Mosaic members and American Executive Platinum members receive a free alcoholic drink in economy, so perhaps that could be reciprocal on the other airline as well (though American offers complimentary alcohol in Main Cabin Extra, while JetBlue doesn’t in Even More Space)
- While I suppose anything is possible, I highly doubt we’ll see reciprocal first class or Mint upgrades; JetBlue doesn’t offer Mosaic members Mint upgrades as an elite perk (well, except as a temporary perk for those who overqualify), and I can’t imagine American would offer first class upgrades without reciprocity
- The one potential upgrade perk I could see would be some systemwide upgrades for Mosaic members; I think this would be offered in a limited capacity, and would be intended to encourage JetBlue Mosaic members to fly American long haul, though there’s not much that JetBlue could offer reciprocally
Bottom line
American and JetBlue have a partnership, and as part of that they offer reciprocal elite perks when flying with the other airline. This doesn’t just apply when you’re traveling on a multi-carrier or codeshare itinerary, but also applies if you just directly book travel with the other airline.
With this, you can expect perks like a free checked bag, priority boarding, extra legroom seating, and much more. Personally I’m quite impressed by the execution of this partnership.
If you’ve taken advantage of the American and JetBlue partnership, what was your experience with reciprocal elite perks?
JetBlue reps would not honor my AAdvantage Platinum status perks and tried to charge a checked bag fee, even though I booked on the AAdvantage site. They seemed to have no knowledge of this policy.
I was also supposed to get Admirals Club access (international itinerary through AAdvantage w/ Platinum status), but since the international segment was JetBlue, the Admirals Club would not consider it an international itinerary. The lounge manager was wonderful and understanding...
JetBlue reps would not honor my AAdvantage Platinum status perks and tried to charge a checked bag fee, even though I booked on the AAdvantage site. They seemed to have no knowledge of this policy.
I was also supposed to get Admirals Club access (international itinerary through AAdvantage w/ Platinum status), but since the international segment was JetBlue, the Admirals Club would not consider it an international itinerary. The lounge manager was wonderful and understanding and let me in, but she told me that the system said otherwise.
Frustrating all around - I hope they have since improved.
The advertised benefits are a hoax. I booked my flights through Jet Blue and flight ended up being on AA. They would not honor the free checked in luggage and I am AA Advantage Platinum card holder. AA gets worse and worse.
I am a mosaic member and have tried multiple times to do a sande day flight change on AA and every time was told no. Additionally, the customer service reps have no knowledge of the partnership. Very irritating.
I am an AA gold member and looking for something in writing that suggest that if I buy blue basic fares, I am still able to get all the perks including the free bags. I'm looking to save money and still get my perks, but if I cannot buy blue basic and get perks, I'd rather know upfront so that I can buy blue or blue extra.
"Fly an eligible route. Transatlantic flights operated by JetBlue are not eligible."
What was the easy way to add the AA number to the record after the ticket has been cut? Thanks.
Note that the ability to change seats to "Even More Space" for AAdvantage Elites is 24 hours - by flight (not all flights at the time of check-in for your first flight.) To "upgrade" a seat on subsequent flights, you must play the Southwest game and try to log back in exactly 24 hours prior to each flight to try to get a better seat.
I booked a flight Boston to St Thomas months ago with my jet blue plus card for my husband and me with a basic blue fare. This allows 1 checked bag each. Did not realize this does not allow a carry on only an under the seat personal item. We payed additional money $18 each seat to pick our seat assignment.
So far so good...except My husband has
AA elite gold status(lifetime) which...
I booked a flight Boston to St Thomas months ago with my jet blue plus card for my husband and me with a basic blue fare. This allows 1 checked bag each. Did not realize this does not allow a carry on only an under the seat personal item. We payed additional money $18 each seat to pick our seat assignment.
So far so good...except My husband has
AA elite gold status(lifetime) which we
have used to board early on Jet Blue. When calling customer service for help in getting his american ff number added I met with a wall of
incorrect information. I did manage to add the number
myself. It turns out to be very easy. I can not get an answer (after
waiting multiple times on hold...another story) as to weather he can
take a small suitcase for the overhead...The answer this morning
(after another long wait) was "I can not answer your question you will have to find out at the airport" if I gamble and lose it will cost
at least $65 and a rather bad start to what should be a long needed
restful vacation. Shame on Jet Blue and lousy customer service.
I am assured my airline pilot brother (American) that they do a
better job with pilot training and maintenance. I hope so because this process is awful. We got caught up in the Southwest fiasco in
Dec. and so far my rankings of best airlines has Jet Blue at the bottom. In the last year we have flown American, United, Delta,
Southwest and Jet Blue. Sorry for such a longwinded post but I hope
this helps.
I do not have elite status. When this alliance first started, I used my AA credit card to book a flight operated by Jet Blue. The credit card usually gives me a free checked bag for each person, up to 4 companions on the same locator. On the AA app, it indicated that I had one free checked bag. I called to talk to an agent to find out if I still got 1 free...
I do not have elite status. When this alliance first started, I used my AA credit card to book a flight operated by Jet Blue. The credit card usually gives me a free checked bag for each person, up to 4 companions on the same locator. On the AA app, it indicated that I had one free checked bag. I called to talk to an agent to find out if I still got 1 free checked bag. She said “yes”. She made sure that I had it. It only worked on the flight from Boston to San Francisco. I had to pay for my checked bag on the way back. I later found out, free checked bag only applies to platinum status. That is not the same benefit as AA.
This is a great partnership. I have elite status on three airlines but am more likely to focus on AA now because of this combination since I also fly JetBlue a lot with my family.
I have Platinum status on American, which should give me the ability to pick an Even More Space seat a day before the flight. Does anybody know if this works with Blue Basic fares, which don't otherwise offer advanced seat selection?
Yes blue basic gets benefits. I'm currently on a blue basic flight as an AA elite member. Other than having the AA frequent flyer number on the reservation, zero indication that there were any benefits until I checked in.
DpDoes everyone on your itinerary get to check a bag for free on Jetblue, or only the AA Gold member and everyone else on the locator would have to pay ?
My apologies for the long winded explanation but I have been successful on a weekly basis booking jet blue flights with my American advantage number. I have done this since the beginning of the sharing program and I can say with certainty that it works for me.
Here is what I've found.
Most of my tickets are purchased through either airlines app. If I book a JetBlue flight through the American app it...
My apologies for the long winded explanation but I have been successful on a weekly basis booking jet blue flights with my American advantage number. I have done this since the beginning of the sharing program and I can say with certainty that it works for me.
Here is what I've found.
Most of my tickets are purchased through either airlines app. If I book a JetBlue flight through the American app it will not let me pick a seat. AA also gives me their own record locator number. But I will soon recieve an email from jet blue with their record locator number. I then open the JetBlue app, go-to my trips, press the plus sign to add a trip and enter the JetBlue record locator and my last name. The jet blue app then holds my boarding pass needed and allows me to pick and switch my seat. Extra legroom can only be booked 24 hours before boarding if Gold. I'm about 3 weeks from platinum so I can not say exactly what the timeframe will be with JetBlue.
But I have stopped booking my JetBlue flights with the process above. I know book my jet blue flight directly in the JetBlue app. When I get to the customer details section I remove my trueblue number from the frequent flyer section, choose American airlines and enter my elite number. Then continue on the the purchase screen. Right after you press the purchase button you flight will be confirmed with your record locator available to copy. I then go to my trips page in the jet blue app and for some reason the trip is not there, but if you hit the add button you can enter your record locator and name where it will populate your reservation details as needed. You can then choose your extra leg room seat from there. It is a bit of a hassle but considering JetBlue has 4 flights from DC to BOS between 6pm and 10pm it will serve my purpose of getting home.
One thing to consider is if you use JetBlue points to purchase a ticket and add your American info into the traveler details it will not let you take advantage of your elite status. I've done this 3 time, ironically I'm sitting on a flight I just purchased with points, and I speak with the gate agent. Theyve been able to add my advantage number to the flight and put give me an extra legroom seat.
I am currently at LGA going to MCO on JetBlue. I booked on AA, so JetBlue has my AA Platinum Pro number. When I booked I had to pick a regular seat. When I checked in on JetBlue, their system let me pick the front. When I checked in I was able to use Mosaic priority line. They placed a priority tag and thanked me for being a loyal customer. The boarding pass had AAElite,...
I am currently at LGA going to MCO on JetBlue. I booked on AA, so JetBlue has my AA Platinum Pro number. When I booked I had to pick a regular seat. When I checked in on JetBlue, their system let me pick the front. When I checked in I was able to use Mosaic priority line. They placed a priority tag and thanked me for being a loyal customer. The boarding pass had AAElite, which will let me board first. I also read you can use Admirals Club if you have access, which I did. So far, the experience has been superb.
Jet blue out and out sucks. Will never fly them again.
We used AA miles for a flight on Jet Blue. Our home airport gave us all the benefits/perks and that was delightful flying out. On our return flight, no perks were acknowledged/offered. Not sure if we would get a Jet Blue ticket with AA miles again, but every Jet Blue flight I have taken this past year. (8), have been great.
I’m Platinum Pro with AA and have a trip tomorrow on JetBlue. Although my AA number is on my reservation (and verified by a JetBlue agent), the JetBlue app and website is still trying to charge me for one of the few remaining Even More Space seats, even though it’s less than 24 hours from now and I’ve checked in. So far I’ve seen zero benefits from going with JetBlue, so this will likely be my last flight with them if I can avoid them. I’m disappointed.
You must booked directly through AA to receive the benefits. I’m currently on a Jet Blue flight that I booked through AA. Cannot book through Jet Blue directly, hopefully this helps.
AA Platinum Pro member but the JetBlue website is not allowing me to enter my AA number to secure the reservation and the alleged perks that go along with it.
So you only get a complimentary extra room seat at checkin. Kind-of useless. Booked a roundtrip with American with one segment on Jet Blue. Went back and rebooked Jet Blue segment.
I'm intending to fly Jet Blue and am a Gold PReferred Americna airlines customer. since they are now supposed to honor each other in general, has anyone with the same AA status as me done this and what was the result?
Jet Blue sucks, their planes suck, the seats are uncomfortable, They don’t give free alcohol in premium seats. I only fly jet blue when forced to by American, try never to have to though
I am an AA Executive Platinum member. I recently purchased a LAX/JFK round trip airfare on JetBlue’s website. The departure flight is on JetBlue and the return flight is on AA. Regarding using systemwide/mileage/business extra certificate upgrades, the AA agent said AA flights purchased on JetBlue’s website cannot be upgraded. Is this an AA written policy? Thank you.
I flew JetBlue back in May, and basically my American Gold status did nothing for me. I needed to at least be Platinum. Maybe it's changed?
I flew JetBlue just this morning, and as an AA Gold, was not able to select Even More Space seats online ahead of time (as the description here in the post suggests you can). I chatted with a JetBlue agent about it and was told this would have to occur in person.
Making matters worse, I also couldn't arrange to check a bag for free when checking in online (which I would have been able...
I flew JetBlue just this morning, and as an AA Gold, was not able to select Even More Space seats online ahead of time (as the description here in the post suggests you can). I chatted with a JetBlue agent about it and was told this would have to occur in person.
Making matters worse, I also couldn't arrange to check a bag for free when checking in online (which I would have been able to do if I'd just not tried to use my AA status and had used my True Blue number with my JetBlue card!). Because I'd booked a Blue Basic fare -- assuming that I would just be able to check bags/carry on for free -- I also couldn't just carry on! This is my fault for booking a Blue Basic fare, I guess, but I just assumed I wouldn't have to deal with the restriction because of my status. The agent I chatted with informed me that once I had moved to an Even More Space seat, then I could carry on and it wouldn't be a problem.
So I feel like the partnership does have some kinks to work out still -- most significantly, having to talk to an agent in person to get the Even More Space benefit. Unless I missed something about how it's supposed to work?
Have to wonder the fate of this alliance once due diligence starts on the JetBlue/Spirit merger. Hard to imagine it won’t be impacted
I have been trying to credit a JetBlue flight from April and have submitted it to American no less than three times. I was able to get them to honor my elite perks in-flight, but pairing that with no first class I think I’ll stick with AA connecting flights.
Would like to use JetBlue points on aa.com
I chose JetBlue for a one way flight hoping I would hit AA elite status prior to take off. I achieved status and enjoyed the checked bags for my family of four and boarding with Mosaic members. This was my first flight with JetBlue, and I will happily fly with them again.