JetBlue TrueBlue is increasingly adding award redemptions on partner airlines, which is exciting. In the past year or so, we’ve seen TrueBlue add online redemptions for Hawaiian Airlines, Qatar Airways, and TAP Air Portugal. Now we’ve seen TrueBlue add redemptions on Icelandair, giving members more opportunities to redeem their points (thanks to AwardWallet for reporting this).
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JetBlue adds online award redemptions on Icelandair
JetBlue and Icelandair have had a partnership for a long time, whereby JetBlue provides feed for some of Icelandair’s gateways in the United States. It’s now possible to redeem JetBlue TrueBlue points for travel on the airline as well. Here are the basics of these redemption opportunities:
- These awards are bookable directly on JetBlue’s website, on the homepage, by selecting the “use TrueBlue points” button
- There are no carrier imposed surcharges on these redemptions
- Redemptions on Icelandair are possible in both business class (Saga Class) and economy class throughout Icelandair’s network
- While there’s not an award chart, award pricing seems to be a combination of zone based and segment based; that means you pay more if you have an itinerary that includes more than one segment
So, what is award pricing like? There’s definitely some variability. If you want to fly one-way from Boston to Keflavik, awards start at 17,000 points in economy or 69,900 points in business class.
If you want to fly one-way from New York to Copenhagen via Keflavik, awards start at 31,700 points in economy or 108,900 points in business class.
If you want to fly one-way from Nuuk to Keflavik (a unique market!), awards start at 9,800 points in economy or 26,000 points in business class.
Redemptions here aren’t exactly a great deal, given that Icelandair often has reasonable fares to begin with. It almost looks like pricing is somehow revenue based. That being said, otherwise there are no ways to redeem partner points for travel in Icelandair business class, so at least it’s an option (Alaska Mileage Plan has an Icelandair partnership, but only economy redemptions are possible).
More JetBlue partner awards are long overdue
JetBlue is really trying to make its TrueBlue loyalty program more of a profit center. Historically I’d say the program has just been kind of lazy in terms of perks, and hasn’t done much to encourage incremental engagement (flying or credit card spending) in terms of elite benefits. On top of that, JetBlue hasn’t put any effort into offering partner award redemptions.
The airline has been mostly headed in a great direction in recent times, as the current management team is trying to return the airline to profitability. A big part of that is better leveraging the loyalty program. I think partner redemptions can unlock significant value, so here’s to hoping we see more of these partner awards added in the future.
Bottom line
JetBlue TrueBlue has just rolled out award redemptions on Icelandair. This is the fourth new partner redemption we’ve seen from the program in the past year or so, as we’ve previously seen redemptions added on Hawaiian Airlines, Qatar Airways, and TAP Air Portugal.
I wouldn’t consider these redemptions to be a great value, but given the lack of better options for Icelandair redemptions, more options are a good thing.
What do you make of JetBlue TrueBlue redemptions on Icelandair?
Nice to see, but tough to believe that they're just now getting around to doing this with partners.
Prime position in the nation's busiest international gateway, yet their program didn't take advantage (monetize) it for years.
If some has enough JB points, perhaps they could make a dummy booking and see if seat assignments are free under a Jetblue award flight on Icelandair. Alaska awards do not include seat assignments, and its unclear whether it includes a checked bag (Flyertalk says yes, but I see nothing in writing)
I see the following on the search results page: "Award travel is subject to an additional $102.10 one-way for 1 person." So there may be no "official" surcharges but they do seem to be charging something beyond just points. Also I am seeing Saga Class availability from Seattle-KEF for 104,000 points through the Fall, which (1) is definitely not "high season" thus (2) appears to be base level pricing. Not terribly competitive, therefore, for US...
I see the following on the search results page: "Award travel is subject to an additional $102.10 one-way for 1 person." So there may be no "official" surcharges but they do seem to be charging something beyond just points. Also I am seeing Saga Class availability from Seattle-KEF for 104,000 points through the Fall, which (1) is definitely not "high season" thus (2) appears to be base level pricing. Not terribly competitive, therefore, for US West Coast since cash fare is <$2K. It is nice to have a points option for pseudo-business class on FI regardless.
What are the taxes and fees for a flight from the east coast to KEF?
From the East Coast, this is better than Alaska Airlines's promotional pricing on flights to KEF, which is 17,500 points.