JetBlue made a big splash last week when it announced it would open its first-ever airport lounges in New York and Boston, a move that will bolster the top-tier elite status attraction in its TrueBlue loyalty program.
But Mosaic status is also coming with some cutbacks, JetBlue revealed, including the elimination of one of the more exclusive elite status benefits currently offered by any US airline.
JetBlue’s Blade helicopter advantage will end at the end of 2024, the New York-based carrier said in an email to customers.
Also, starting in 2025, JetBlue will eliminate some perks offered to Mosaic members traveling on a no-frills Blue Basic ticket, including free access to its extra legroom seats.
Here’s what to know about the upcoming changes.
JetBlue Mosaic Blade Perk to expire
Currently, TrueBlue members with top-tier Mosaic 4 Elite status are Manhattan and New York’s John F. Get credit for four one-way transfers on Blade’s chopper between Kennedy International Airport (JFK) or Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR).
This perk offers Mosaic Elite members hundreds of dollars in annual value, and — as Northeast travelers know all too well — a five-minute helicopter ride avoids potentially hours of traffic.
But the benefit will end after 2024, JetBlue said in an email to TrueBlue members.
If you have Blade Credits, don’t worry — but read carefully: You can still use your credits after 2024. However, you will need to transfer those credits to your Blade account by December 31, 2024, or they will be forfeited.
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Mosaic 4 ‘Give and Take’
The removal of the Blade perk represents something of a give and take for the Mosaic 4 status tier.
While Mosaic 4 elite members will lose the Blade as a status benefit, they will receive complimentary access to JetBlue’s upcoming lounges at JFK and Boston Logan International Airport (BOS), scheduled to open in late 2025. (Transatlantic Mint passengers and cardholders of the soon-to-be-announced Premium JetBlue credit card will also get free lounge access.)
Related: A look at Chase’s splashy Sapphire Lounge in Boston
Strict blue basic rules
Also announced as part of JetBlue’s TrueBlue program tweak: a few additional restrictions for basic economy passengers — specifically, premium members traveling on basic tickets.
Starting March 1, 2025, Mosaic members traveling on Blue Basic fares will lose some of their benefits and flexibility.
Mosaic members will no longer be eligible for free even more space seats, free preferred seats or free same-day switches.
Those three benefits are signature benefits for all Mosaic members. In the past, they have also offered Mosaic passengers a way to pay less for a Blue Basic ticket, while still waiving some of the restrictions most customers face when flying Basic fare.
That “break” will end in 2025.
This change also has a give-and-take theme: A few weeks ago, JetBlue For blue basic restrictions loosened All By allowing passengers a free full-size carry-on bag to those customers.
Additional Mint Upgrade Certificates
Last week there was some positive TrueBlue news outside of the new lounge.
Mosaic 4 members will receive two Move-to-Mint certificates for every 100 tiles. out Mosaic 4 qualifications.
In addition to the four certificates you get as a Mosaic 3 member, you earn two more when you reach Mosaic 4.
Keep in mind, though, that JetBlue shifted to a dynamic redemption model for mint upgrade certificates in 2024, so the number of certificates you need to upgrade may vary from flight to flight.
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