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).
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?
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