JetBlue Premier Credit Card Review
Key Takeaways
The benefits of this card don't justify the high $499 annual fee. A higher sign-up bonus would help, as would more unique benefits that other premium cards don't already offer (like TSA Precheck and Priority Pass). However, the most problematic feature is the $300 statement credit offered on Paisly, JetBlue's travel booking portal. The restrictive rules for using this credit make it nearly worthless. If you're looking for a co-branded JetBlue card, we recommend the JetBlue Plus card with its $99 annual fee instead of the JetBlue Premier card.
Why This Card Could Be Right For You
The JetBlue Premier card is the airline's premium offering, with a substantial $499 annual fee. The 70,000-point sign-up bonus, along with 5 tiles towards status, can be earned after spending $5,000 on purchases within the first 90 days of card ownership.
Many of the other benefits are comparable to other airlines' cards of similar caliber:
- Free first checked bag for you and up to 3 eligible travel companions
- Group A boarding on JetBlue operated flights for up to 4 companions
- 50% savings on inflight food and beverage purchases
- A $120 credit towards TSA Precheck or Global Entry
- Complimentary Priority Pass Select membership for the cardmember and 1 guest
- 5,000 TrueBlue points each anniversary
- 10% back on points after you redeem points for a flight
- 6x points on JetBlue and Paisly purchases
- 2x points at restaurants and grocery stores
The biggest perk meant to offset the high annual fee is quite deceptive. While it's listed as a benefit, you need to examine the terms and conditions to discover its significant limitations. Cardmembers receive up to $300 in statement credits on Paisly, JetBlue's travel portal, but these can only be redeemed in $50 increments on purchases of at least $250. This means you must spend $1,500 to receive the full $300 in statement credits, offering minimal value compared to perks on other cards with high annual fees.
When The Usual Advice Doesn't Apply
Here are some situations where this card might not be suitable for you:
- You don't fly JetBlue frequently enough or with companions, making the boarding and baggage benefits insufficient
- You don't book enough travel through portals to utilize the $300 credit with Paisly, especially considering the high spending requirement to access the discount
What to Know About jetBlue trueBlue
JetBlue is particularly attractive if you live in New York City and it’s a convenient hub to your frequent destinations.
- More limited routes that all run through one hub make it a less attractive utility airline option than American or Southwest.
- Points are relatively easy to collect with good transfer options and a nice airline. We just hate layovers.
How The JetBlue Premier Credit Card Fits In The jetBlue trueBlue Ecosystem
The JetBlue Premier card sits at the top of the airline's card hierarchy, but offers questionable value compared to alternatives. Here's how it compares:
- JetBlue Plus Card ($99 annual fee) provides significantly better value with:
- Sign-up bonus of 70,000 points (versus Premier's 50,000)
- Free checked bags for you and up to 3 companions
- Identical 5,000 anniversary points and 10% points back on redemptions
The Plus card includes nearly all core benefits that matter for most travelers. While the Premier does add Priority Pass membership and TSA Precheck/Global Entry credits, these benefits are commonly available on many other rewards cards.
For those concerned about 5/24 status, consider these alternatives:
- The no-annual-fee JetBlue Card offers minimal value with its low 10,000-point welcome bonus
- The JetBlue Business card mirrors the Plus card's benefits for those who qualify
When evaluating the substantial annual fee difference between the Premier and Plus cards against the added benefits, the Premier simply doesn't deliver enough additional value to justify the premium cost.
Card Information
| Bonus Points | Minimum Spend | Point Value | Annual Value | Annual Fee |
1st Year Value
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 70,000 | $5,000 | 1.2 ¢ | $0 | $499 |
$401
|
| Best Value | Differentiating Perks | Rules |
|---|---|---|
| JetBlue Flights | 6x Points on JetBlue purchases & Free first checked bag | No 5/24 , Barclay 0/6 |
Spend Categories
6X points
7.2¢ Per Dollar Spent
1X points
1.2¢ Per Dollar Spent
2X points
2.4¢ Per Dollar Spent
2X points
2.4¢ Per Dollar Spent
Card Benefits
Earn up to $300 in annual statement credits for Paisly travel purchases.
Access more than 1,500 lounges.
Get up to $120 statement credit for Global Entry, or TSA PreCheck.
You get 5,000 bonus points each year after your account anniversary.
Get priority boarding for you and up to 4 travelers listed on the same reservation.
50% Savings on Inflight Food and Drink Purchases
You will pay no foreign transaction fees when you use your card for purchases made outside the United States.
Your first checked bag is free on JetBlue and includes up to 3 travelers on the same reservation. The primary cardholder must be on the reservation.
Point Transfer Options
Transfer To Spouse/Partner Yes
Transfer To Friends Yes
Travel Partner Transfers
Outside Point System jetBlue trueBlue
Transfers In From
1:0.8 69% value retained
1:1 75% value retained
1:0.8 80% value retained
5:1 40% value retained
JetBlue Premier Application Rules
Card approval not subject to 5-personal-cards-in-24-months rule
You're more likely to be declined on a Barclay application if you currently have a Barclay card that has not been used in the past 6 months
