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Back in May, I wrote about United Airlines and JetBlue entering a partnership that would launch this month. It’s not a codeshare, joint venture, or merger, but a unique collaboration called “Blue Sky” that is without shared pricing, branding, or coordinated schedules. The agreement means that passengers will be able to book flights on both airlines on one ticket. This partnership will also include reciprocal benefits between the two programs, mileage earning and redemption, as well as slots at New York John F Kennedy International Airport (JFK) for United to run up to seven daily roundtrip flights. Today, the ability to earn and redeem miles across carriers went live.
Members of JetBlue’s TrueBlue® program and United’s MileagePlus® program can earn and redeem rewards when flying on either airline. This new partnership unlocks more opportunities for travelers to use their preferred loyalty currency across a broader network of destinations in the US and around the world.
- TrueBlue® members can now earn points and redeem them for flights across United’s global network (including United Express-operated routes).
- MileagePlus® members can earn and redeem miles on most JetBlue-operated flights (accessing JetBlue’s extensive leisure destinations across the Americas).
When booking flights, travelers will now see flight options from both carriers when searching for trips using points or miles. This integration simplifies the booking process and allows customers to plan their journeys based on convenience and price. To earn rewards, TrueBlue® members can enter their loyalty number when booking United-operated flights, and MileagePlus® members can do the same when booking JetBlue flights. Redemptions remain available directly through each airline’s respective websites. I see this live on JetBlue’s site, but am struggling to find it on United.com.
Earnings are only possible for the following fare classes with United: A, B, C, D, E, G, H, J, K, L, M, O, P, Q, R, S, T, U, V, W, Y, and Z.
Travel between Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) and these destinations is also excluded: Aruba’s Queen Beatrix International Airport (AUA), Cancún International Airport (CUN), Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), Las Vegas Harry Reid International Airport (LAS), and Punta Cana International Airport (PUJ).
Earnings rates for United MileagePlus® members are as follows:
- Member: 5x miles per $1
- Premier Silver: 7x miles per $1
- Premier Gold: 8x miles per $1
- Premier Platinum: 9x miles per $1
- Premier 1K®: 11x miles per $1
Earnings rates for JetBlue TrueBlue® members are as follows:
- TrueBlue: 5x points per $1
- Mosaic 1 to 4: 8x points per $1
The launch of reciprocal earning and redemption represents the first tangible benefit of the Blue Sky collaboration. Both airlines emphasized that this milestone is only the beginning of what will become a deeper, multi-phase integration. Here’s what is next:
- Revenue Booking (Q1 2026): Travelers will be able to book itineraries on either airline using cash or their loyalty points or miles, creating a unified booking experience across both networks.
- Reciprocal Perks and Benefits (Early 2026): Members will enjoy cross-airline benefits such as priority boarding, extra legroom seating, and same-day standby and flight changes.
- MileagePlus® Travel Transition (Early 2026): United’s MileagePlus® Travel platform will transition to Paisly, LLC, JetBlue’s travel product company. This move will enhance booking options for hotels, rental cars, cruises, vacation packages, and travel insurance.
- Support for United’s JFK Expansion (2027): JetBlue will provide access to slots for up to seven daily United roundtrip flights at the airline’s new Terminal 6 at New York John F Kennedy International Airport (JFK).
Through Blue Sky, JetBlue and United aim to bridge their complementary networks. Together, they are redefining what this loyalty program partnership can deliver: more destinations, more flexibility, and more recognition for earned status.
Anthony’s Take: It has been many years since I have flown JetBlue. If I can now earn United miles, it might be time to try out Mint. Looking forward to this partnership fully rolling out.
(Image Credits: JetBlue and United.)
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Advertiser & Editorial Disclosure: The Bulkhead Seat earns an affiliate commission for anyone approved through the links above This compensation may impact how and where links appear on this site. We work to provide the best publicly available offers to our readers. We frequently update them, but this site does not include all available offers. Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed, or approved by any of these entities.
