JetBlue is making a big splash in the premium travel space with its first-ever airport lounge. The New York-based carrier will open two lounges starting in 2025, JetBlue said Thursday — one at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and the other at Boston Logan International Airport (BOS).
Access will be a key benefit for JetBlue loyalists, from fliers with top-tier Mosaic Elite status to customers flying its Premium Mint cabin on transatlantic routes.
It will also be a complimentary benefit for future cardholders of the soon-to-be-announced Premium JetBlue Credit Card.
It’s a bold move for JetBlue, which was clearly meant to compete more forcefully with larger carriers in the Northeast, such as Delta Air Lines, which has a large presence at both JFK and Logan — and which recently cut the ribbon on high-end Delta. A lounge this summer.
“Customers have asked for a JetBlue lounge for years, and we can’t wait to unveil our tech in New York and Boston,” President Marty St. George said in a statement announcing the news Thursday.
A change in plans
Adding a lounge to its portfolio is also a stunning reversal for JetBlue.
As recently as this summer, officials downplayed the possibility of adding a lounge network and pointed to other areas of JetBlue’s operations (such as its popular inflight food-and-beverage service) as primary focus areas for the carrier to keep a competitive edge.
“Yes, people prefer lounges. Obviously, lounges are better than no lounges … lounges are also extremely expensive,” St. George said in a June interview with TPG. “The question is, is the lounge [profit and loss] Positive for this large transatlantic lounge network? No.”
Since then, however, JetBlue leaders have devised an elaborate strategy to push the airline back to profitability for the first time since the coronavirus pandemic began.
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The plan called “JetForward” involves investing $400 million in premium products between 2025 and 2027.
JetBlue executives publicly teased a major premium-product announcement in late July, detailing the path forward. Some on Wall Street predicted domestic first-class-style onboard production.
Instead, however, the carrier has chosen to dive headfirst into the airport lounge sector with two clubs at its largest hub.
Once open, the lounge should prove to be a major draw for customers seeking top-level status in JetBlue’s TrueBlue program or planning mint flights on the carrier’s growing European route network.
Here’s what we know about the new JetBlue lounge
JetBlue’s first airport lounge, spanning 8,000 square feet, will open in late 2025 inside JFK’s Terminal 5, the carrier announced Thursday.
Its second, an 11,000-square-foot facility at Terminal C in Boston, will open soon.
We don’t have any renderings to show you yet; The design of the lounge is still in development, a spokesperson told TPG.
Unsurprisingly, though, the amenities will weave the airline’s blue brand aesthetic, the company said — with local and regional artwork and other personal touches.
JetBlue’s lounges will have three unique areas or themes, known as “Play,” “Work” and “Lounge.”
Each facility will offer a full-service bar and barista-staffed coffee bar, along with relaxation areas and private workstations, JetBlue said. The lounge will also feature fast, free Wi-Fi, charging outlets and complimentary food and beverage offerings.
“Customers love the JetBlue experience,” St. George said Thursday. “We’re pulling from the thoughtful touches you get on our flights into the lounge experience.”
Who will have access to the new JetBlue lounge?
As you’ll find with many airline lounge networks, there are a variety of ways you can earn JetBlue lounge access – from booking high-end tickets to getting access with a credit card or paying for a membership in full.
Mosaic has 4 positions
Complimentary lounge access will be a new signature perk for members of Mosaic 4, the highest premium level in the TrueBlue program. Those members will be allowed to bring an accompanying guest into the lounge free of charge.
Carry a future premium JetBlue credit card
JetBlue will soon release details on a new, higher-end credit card, the company announced Thursday. That card will likely feature a higher annual fee than the airline’s existing cobranded card portfolio but will also have additional perks — one of which will be free access to its new lounge network.
Accompanying guest will also be allowed for these members.
Mint Travels in Europe
Booking a transatlantic flight in the Premium Mint cabin will offer an added benefit in the form of preflight JetBlue lounge access (this will be limited to travelers flying on a Mint ticket; any guests booked in the main cabin will not be admitted).
Buy an annual pass
Finally, like many airline lounges, you can purchase an annual pass. The airline has not yet shared pricing details, but other carriers’ (larger) lounge networks typically have annual membership fees totaling several dollars.
Also, JetBlue says it will offer day passes for purchase based on space and availability.
Read more: Best Credit Cards for Airport Lounge Access
An additional mosaic benefit was announced
A new lounge network and premium cobranded credit card weren’t the only new TrueBlue offerings announced Thursday.
The carrier also unveiled an additional perk for its top-level elite status members.
Starting in 2025, the airline will offer a new incentive for Mosaic 4 members to earn elite status tiles.
Members with at least 250 tiles will earn an extra two “Mov to Mint” certificates for every 100 tiles earned. That’s in addition to the certifications already earned to earn Mosaic 3 and Mosaic 4 status.
As a reminder, TrueBlue members earn one tile for every $100 spent with the airline and one tile for every $1,000 spent on cobranded credit cards under the program’s current terms.
The bottom line
Just months after ruling out the possibility of opening an airport lounge in the near future, JetBlue has reversed course with two planned, starting in late 2025 at its two largest hubs – JFK and Boston.
JetBlue will certainly enter a competitive airport lounge landscape given the rise of a new and exciting club portfolio, including the Delta One lounge at JFK and a credit card issuer portfolio. Chase Sapphire, Capital One and American Express Centurion lounges are popping up at airports across the country.
At the same time, adding the lounge should be an attractive prospect for travelers who fly JetBlue to and from the Northeast — and draw their attention to its TrueBlue loyalty program.
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