In 2023, JetBlue TrueBlue totally overhauled its Mosaic elite status. The changes were a mixed bag — those who just barely qualified for Mosaic status saw some cuts, while those who overqualified saw many cool new benefits added.
Along those lines, JetBlue has announced a further evolution to its Mosaic elite program for 2024, and it’s entirely good news. It’s great to see JetBlue’s focus on improving its loyalty program.
In this post:
Changes coming to JetBlue Mosaic program
Changes are coming to JetBlue TrueBlue’s Mosaic status in 2024, and this will include a few different things. Let me just first remind everyone of the basics of how JetBlue’s elite status works. JetBlue Mosaic has four different tiers, and the method of elite qualification is known as “tiles.” Here are the details of each, in terms of required JetBlue spending or co-branded credit card spending:
- The first Mosaic tier requires 50 tiles, which equates to $5,000 of spending on JetBlue or $50,000 of credit card spending
- The second Mosaic tier requires 100 tiles, which equates to $10,000 of spending on JetBlue or $100,000 of credit card spending
- The third Mosaic tier requires 150 tiles, which equates to $15,000 of spending on JetBlue or $150,000 of credit card spending
- The fourth Mosaic tier requires 250 tiles, which equates to $25,000 of spending on JetBlue or $250,000 of credit card spending
JetBlue Mosaic status offers two kinds of perks:
- Signature Perks are automatically awarded with each Mosaic tier
- Perks You Pick allow you to choose an extra benefit when you reach each new Mosaic tier, so you can potentially earn up to four of these
We’re seeing improvements to both Signature Perks and to Perks You Pick, so let’s go over the details of each.
Several new Mosaic Signature Perks
Starting in 2024, JetBlue will offer new and improved Mosaic Signature Perks, in addition to the ones that members already receive:
- All Mosaic members will receive an Avis status match; this is expected to roll out later in 2024
- The third and fourth tier of Mosaic members will receive next-level customer service with a priority support phone line
- The third and fourth tier of Mosaic members will be able to redeem their Move to Mint upgrade certificates in advance, upon booking, and the number of certificates required to confirm an upgrade will vary between one and four; currently you can only confirm an upgrade 24 hours before departure, so that’s exciting (it’s not clear if there will be capacity controls)
- The fourth tier of Mosaic members will be able to gift Mosaic status to a member of their choice; this gifted selection doesn’t include a Perks You Pick selection, 5,000 bonus points, or the JetBlue Vacations bonus
Two new Mosaic Perks You Pick options
In addition to improvements to Mosaic Signature Perks, we’re also seeing new Mosaic Perks You Pick options introduced. Keep in mind you can select one of these each time you pass one of the four Mosaic thresholds. Up until now, these options have included the following:
- FoundersCard Blue membership — 150+ premium travel, business, and lifestyle benefits
- Pet fee waiver — travel with your pet at no extra charge, which ordinarily costs $125 per flight
- $99 statement credit on JetBlue Card — get a $99 one-time statement credit on your JetBlue Plus or JetBlue Business Card
- A 20-tile bonus — this helps you get closer to the next elite tier
- 15,000 bonus points — this will boost your points balance
- Mint Suite priority — starting later in 2023, priority access to Mint Suite selection on select aircraft, subject to availability
Starting in 2024, two new options will be added:
- IHG One Rewards Platinum Elite status — receive extra perks for stays at IHG’s 19 brands and 6,000+ properties
- Gift a 20-tile bonus — while you can currently choose a 20-tile boost for yourself, you’ll also be able to choose to gift another member a 20-tile bonus, to give you even more flexibility
My take on these JetBlue Mosaic changes
These changes to JetBlue Mosaic are entirely positive, so what’s not to love? Now, I wouldn’t say most of these improvements move the needle all that much in terms of the value of going for Mosaic. I mean, don’t go for Mosaic status because you want an Avis status match.
I think the one thing that adds significant value is the ability to confirm upgrades to JetBlue Mint in advance. Currently you need one upgrade certificate to move to Mint on a flight within North America, and two to upgrade a transatlantic flight, though it can only be done within 24 hours of departure.
Going forward, you’ll be able to confirm an upgrade at the time of booking — I suspect this will cost twice as many upgrade certificates. That adds considerable value and certainty. The question is just what capacity controls there will be.
It’s nice to see the way that the JetBlue TrueBlue program is evolving. While the elite program is quite robust, there are still some ways the program is lagging, in my opinion, at least compared to competitors:
- JetBlue Mosaic doesn’t offer elite perks on any other airlines, largely because JetBlue doesn’t belong to a global alliance
- JetBlue doesn’t offer any partner award redemptions, which seems like a major missed opportunity
- I still feel strongly that JetBlue would benefit from having a premium cabin throughout its fleet, and that would also make loyalty to the airline more compelling for many
Bottom line
JetBlue Mosaic perks are improving in 2024. The airline is adding both some new Signature Perks for Mosaic members (offered automatically), as well as new Perks You Pick benefits (which you can select when you pass each Mosaic threshold). The most substantial thing happening here is that we’re seeing the introduction of confirmed upgrades to Mint more than 24 hours in advance, which is a huge step in the right direction.
What do you make of these new JetBlue Mosaic perks?
Just looking at one way fll to lax- price for certainty is 4x (4 move to mint certs). Seems extreme that a Mosaic 4 can’t even get one confirmed round trip Mint trip… is there still the option to risk it until 24 hours before and just have one Move to Mint cert pulled rather than use 3 additional certs for the peace of mind of having it confirmed?
So the is the pet waiver a one-time (or once a year) benefit? Please clarify!
Does anyone know when upgrade to mint certs expire?
@Ben How to mileage/upgrade certs/UA plus points work on UK flights subject to the APD. You book a coach ticket and pay coach APD. Once you upgrade do you have to pay the difference up to the higher premium cabin APD?
While I haven't done this on UA specifically, I am not aware of any airline/loyalty program in which a premium cabin redemption or upgrade certificate from LHR does not require payment of the difference between the taxes and fees actually paid vs the ones levied based on the upgraded class of service.
Using e-upgrade credits on Air Canada out of LHR does not require paying a difference in taxes and depending on the Y or PY fare you book can be done from the time of booking.
I would switch to JetBlue in a minute IF it had a domestic first-class in addition to Mint business-class for international and transcontinental routes.
Their operation was a mess this summer. Only half their flights operated ontime. I was stranded a couple times. Would be great if B6 put in effort to fix its operational reliability to that of DL or AA.
Ben, where did you see that the number of certificates to move ot Mint will be between one and four? Is that simply based on the terms that four is the maximum number of certificates members will receive?
I read the email and the link with the fine print, and JetBlue simply says the number of certificates needed will "vary" and pricing will be dynamic. It's also irritating because you must first buy your coach...
Ben, where did you see that the number of certificates to move ot Mint will be between one and four? Is that simply based on the terms that four is the maximum number of certificates members will receive?
I read the email and the link with the fine print, and JetBlue simply says the number of certificates needed will "vary" and pricing will be dynamic. It's also irritating because you must first buy your coach ticket and THEN go to a separate page on JetBlue's site to see what the cost will be to upgrade. You have no way of knowing at the time you purchase your coach ticket how many certificates you will need (and therefore whether you will even have enough). If you're flying with companions, that makes the booking even more challenging.
Under the old program with just one level of Mosaic, I could book Even More Space seats and Mint Suites at booking for free. Both of those benefits are gone for Mosaic 1 status. I love JetBlue, but this program has worsened considerably unless you qualify for the absolute highest tiers, just like with Delta.
@ Bob -- Here's what JetBlue told me in an email:
"Starting January 4, 2023, choose to redeem your Move to Mint certificate(s) in advance by heading to jetblue.com/manage-trips after booking a flight in Core. Confirm your move any time before you check in (up to two hours before departure). The number of certificates required for a given flight will vary between 1 and 4."