How Much Are These JetBlue Sign-Up Bonuses Actually Worth?
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Update: One or more card offers in this post are no longer available. Check our Hot Deals for the latest offers. Trying to figure out the dollar value of an airline credit card sign-up bonus can be tricky. This is especially true for airlines that use zone or distance based award charts, because the price of an award flight isn’t tied to the cash price of a ticket.It’s easier to figure out with airlines like JetBlue and Southwest. Because the number of points you’ll need for an award is based on the paid fare.
Million Mile Secrets Agent Dee commented:
Do you think the Barclaycard JetBlue Card is worth it? You get 15,000 points after spending $1,000 within the first 90 days. I want to fly to Chicago from Albany or Syracuse. How much are 15,000 JetBlue points worth toward flights? I am comfortable spending $350 a month to earn points & miles.
Good question, Dee! It looks like you’ve done your research.
About the JetBlue Card
Link: The JetBlue Card
Link: My Review of the JetBlue Cards
Dee is looking to get The JetBlue Card, which comes with 15,000 JetBlue points after spending $1,000 on purchases within the first 90 days. She’ll also get:
- 3 JetBlue points per $1 spent on JetBlue purchases
- 2 JetBlue points per $1 spent at grocery stores & restaurants
- 1 JetBlue point per $1 spent on all other purchases
- A 50% discount on eligible in-flight purchases (drinks, food, movies, etc.)
- No annual fee
Let’s take a look at what might make this offer a great deal, and other options for free flights from Albany or Syracuse to Chicago.
How Much Is the Sign-Up Bonus Worth?
JetBlue does not have an award chart like most airlines. Instead, the number of points an award costs is tied to the cash price of the flight.
JetBlue points are worth an average of ~1.4 cents per point. Which would make the sign-up bonus worth ~$210 (15,000 JetBlue points X 1.4 cents). But how far will 15,000 JetBlue points actually get Dee?
The cheapest award flights from Syracuse to Chicago in May 2018 cost 5,200 JetBlue points plus taxes & fees.
Including the minimum spending and sign-up bonus, Dee would earn 16,000 JetBlue points. If she is flexible with her travel dates, that’s enough for 3 one-way award flights! These flights cost ~$92 each, so she could get ~$276 worth of airfare from the sign-up bonus!
Pay a Little Extra and Get a LOT More!
Link: Barclaycard JetBlue Plus Card
Link: Increased Sign-Up Bonus Worth ~$840 in Airfare
The Barclaycard JetBlue Plus Card now has the highest sign-up bonus ever! You’ll earn 60,000 JetBlue points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 90 days. So for the same minimum spending as the JetBlue Card, you could get an extra 45,000 points!
The JetBlue Plus Card does have a $99 annual fee which is NOT waived the first year. But you’ll also get:
- 6 JetBlue points per $1 spent on JetBlue purchases
- 2 JetBlue points per $1 spent at grocery stores & restaurants
- 1 JetBlue point per $1 spent on all other purchases
- 5,000 JetBlue points each year on your account anniversary
- Free checked bag for the cardholder and up to 3 companions
- 50% off eligible in-flight purchases
- 10% back on points redemptions
- No foreign transaction fees
This sign-up bonus is worth at least ~$840. That’s even before you count the 10% points rebate you’ll get on award flights. Or the $25 per one-way flight you’d save for checked baggage fees.
So by paying the $99 annual fee, you could save many times more on flights and fees. And the 5,000 JetBlue point anniversary bonus is worth ~$70, which would almost make up for the annual fee by itself.
Emily and I don’t earn a commission on the JetBlue cards. But we’ll always share the best deals with you!
Other Options for Dee to Get to Chicago
Link: Chase Sapphire Preferred Card
JetBlue doesn’t fly non-stop from Albany or Syracuse to Chicago. But other airlines like United Airlines and Southwest do!
Chase Ultimate Rewards points transfer at a 1:1 ratio to both United Airlines and Southwest
The minimum spending requirement on this card is higher than the JetBlue cards’ spending requirements. But by using a service like Plastiq, you could meet your minimum spending requirement with bills you’re already paying like rent or student loans.
Bottom Line
The Barclaycard JetBlue Card comes with a 15,000 JetBlue points after spending $1,000 in the first 90 days. JetBlue points are usually worth ~1.4 cents each. So this bonus is worth ~$210 toward JetBlue flights!
But the JetBlue Plus Card comes with a 60,000 point sign-up bonus with the same minimum spending requirements. And this sign-up bonus is worth ~$840!
The JetBlue Plus Card has a $99 annual fee. But perks like free checked bags and a 10% points rebate on awards can easily make up for it.
Dee might also consider the Chase Sapphire Preferred card. It comes with 50,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points after spending $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months of account opening.
Have fun in Chicago, Dee! 🙂
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