United and JetBlue are broadening their Blue Sky alliance with reciprocal elite benefits, including priority boarding and free checked bags for eligible members.
The Blue Sky partnership is turning its attention from mileage earning to what elite travelers care about most: the perks that can make a trip feel smoother at every step.
As of Thursday, eligible JetBlue TrueBlue and United MileagePlus members can access reciprocal loyalty benefits when flying either carrier.. The expansion includes familiar upgrades for frequent flyers. such as priority boarding and free checked bags. alongside a range of status-style privileges that depend on each traveler’s tier.
For elite members, the reciprocal benefits begin with the basics of moving through the airport faster.. Those who add their frequent flyer number when traveling on the other airline are eligible for priority check-in and security access. preferred seat selection after booking. and one free checked bag with priority bag handling.. Same-day standby options are also included.
Priority boarding is the most visible part of the rollout, but it is not one-size-fits-all.. United Premier Platinum and Premier 1K members traveling on JetBlue can board in Group 1. Premier Gold members board in Group 2. and Premier Silver members board in Group 3.. JetBlue Mosaic travelers receive matching priority boarding slots in the opposite direction: Mosaic 2. 3 and 4 members boarding on United can board in Group 1. while Mosaic 1 members board in Group 2.
The airlines are also making extra-legroom seats available across the alliance at check-in. Complimentary extra-legroom seating is offered to travelers from each carrier, effectively opening access to JetBlue’s EvenMore seats and United’s Economy Plus seats for eligible elites.
For United MileagePlus members flying on JetBlue-operated flights, the partnership’s new phase sits alongside existing integration.. Travelers can book JetBlue-operated flights directly on United’s website using cash or MileagePlus miles.. MileagePlus members also earn 5 MileagePlus miles per dollar spent on JetBlue-operated flights.
There is a clear tradeoff for those aiming to build United status. JetBlue-operated flights do not earn Premier qualifying flights or Premier qualifying points, meaning those segments will not count toward earning or maintaining United Premier elite status.
United MileagePlus earnings are also limited on specific competing routes and select fare types.. Mileage earning is not available on routes between Newark and Cancun. Newark and Aruba. Newark and Los Angeles. Newark and Las Vegas. and Newark and Punta Cana. Dominican Republic.. Additionally, mileage earning is limited to certain JetBlue fare classes.
On the JetBlue side, TrueBlue members can also take advantage of the expanded partnership. JetBlue TrueBlue members can book United-operated flights directly through JetBlue’s website using cash or TrueBlue points.
With the new reciprocal elite perks in place, JetBlue TrueBlue members flying United can earn 5 TrueBlue points per dollar spent. That rate is slightly below what travelers typically earn on JetBlue-operated flights, where the standard is 6 points per dollar.
Unlike MileagePlus flyers on JetBlue, JetBlue TrueBlue members can credit qualifying United flights toward Mosaic status by adding the flights to their TrueBlue account, building tier eligibility through the partnership.
Still, not all elite benefits cross over. Lounge access is not part of the reciprocal package. Blue Sky does not provide United Club lounge access to JetBlue flyers, and it does not allow United flyers to access JetBlue lounges.
JetBlue’s lounge footprint is growing, though. The carrier has already opened its first airport lounge at John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), and it is set to open another at Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) late this summer.
First-class upgrades are also absent from the current reciprocal arrangement. Blue Sky does not yet offer complimentary first-class upgrades, and JetBlue does not currently sell first class, though it plans to add it to some planes by the end of the year.
Looking ahead. United and JetBlue say a future improvement to Blue Sky will allow travelers to book multi-leg itineraries across both airlines’ networks more easily.. The goal is to enable one-stop ticketing across carriers. such as booking a United flight from point A to point B and then a JetBlue flight from point B to point C under a single itinerary.
JetBlue United Blue Sky partnership elite perks MileagePlus TrueBlue priority boarding checked bags