Back In The New York Groove
- George Nicon Andritsakis
- 2 hours ago
- 6 min read
There's an old adage that goes "the more things change, the more they stay the same". This was the first thing to cross my mind upon hearing that United Airlines and jetBlue Airways have expanded their Blue Sky partnership.
Let me explain.
Back in October of 2025, United Airlines and jetBlue Airways came together with a small partnership that included booking either carrier’s flights but opting for credit on the other's loyalty program. You were also able to redeem TrueBlue points or United MileagePlus miles on either carrier. These are still in place, but now the partnership has deepened.
On paper, it looks innocent enough, but as I've mentioned multiple times online and in print, there's bound to be more in between the lines. But I digress. Changes that began this week now include the ability to book most jetBlue operated flights directly from United's website, either for revenue tickets, or award bookings. You can also now book United flights worldwide directly from jetBlue's site. Most of these are for direct, nonstop flights on the respective carrier, but connections are coming further down the line as both airline coordinate schedules and itineraries across both networks (for instance, you could book a trip from Ft. Lauderdale (FLL) to Athens, Greece (ATH) via Washington/Dulles (IAD) with jetBlue operating the domestic portion, then connecting to United for the intercontinental long haul segment).
How many miles can one earn in this tie-up?
If you are loyal to jetBlue's TrueBlue, you kind of get the better end of the deal right now. TrueBlue earnings begin at 5 points per dollar spent, AND TrueBlue members have the ability to earn Mosaic status flying on United flights.
If you're loyal to MileagePlus, you still get the 5 miles per dollar spent (plus standard bonuses for Premier Elites). There are a few restrictions though:
* MileagePlus members are ineligible for earning Premier Qualifying Flights (PQF) or Points (PQP's) towards their status on jetBlue operated flights.
* United will not award miles on jetBlue operated flights from Newark Liberty Airport (EWR) to Cancun (CUN), Aruba (AUA), Los Angeles (LAX), Las Vegas (LAS), or Punta Cana (PUJ).
* United is limiting MileagePlus earnings on all fare classes except in F or N.
That United is not awarding mileage on the cities above from Newark makes complete sense as these are some of the busiest, and higher revenue money makers for united from Liberty International, going back to Continental Airlines days. They're not about to let any airline, partner or not, siphon revenue off these segments from its most profitable fortress hub. Not only that, but several of these routes are in direct competition with jetBlue, and (remember how I said to read between the lines?) if there's a possibility for some form of consolidation further down the road, the fewer of these routes that draw regulatory scrutiny on any antitrust or overlap reasons, the better.
What's Next?
So, reciprocal ticket sales between United and jetBlue are now a thing, elite benefits are not fully aligned quite yet. Both carriers have indicated that more reciprocal perks are expected to roll out sometime in the 2nd Quarter of this year, minus reciprocal upgrades or even lounge access, considering jetBlue just opened its first lounge at New York/Kennedy. What this entails is the following:
* Priority Check-In access for United Premier and jetBlue Mosaic members when flying the partner airline (minus the Newark exclusion routes).
* Priority Security Access where available.
* Priority Boarding Privileges across both carrier's networks.
* Complimentary access to preferred or extra legroom seating, of course being subject to availability.
* Same day standby, or same day change reciprocity on eligible fares.
Looking to The Near Future
jetBlue and United passengers will be able to collectively book entire vacation packages, hotel stays, rental cars, cruises, and even travel insurance now that MileagePlus Travel is making the transition to Paisly, the complete one-stop shop for all things travel that was launched by jetBlue back in 2021, and relaunched in Summer 2025.
The biggest thing of all though, and this is where it becomes glaringly obvious as to why United approached jetBlue for this partnership, is access to New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK). It was one of the biggest, most face-palming blunders in airline history. United, after decades of being one of the crown jewels in Premium Transcontinental travel with some of the most historic high dollar value corporate contracts on both coasts of the United States, pulled up stakes and moved ALL premium flying to its recently acquired hub across the river in Newark, NJ.
Then CEO Jeff Smisek, in the middle of the tumultuous merger with the much-beloved Continental Airlines, figured United had the upper hand after this merger, and claimed to say that corporate travelers would pay a higher premium for the supposedly more convenient Newark over the tired and confusing mess JFK had become. He couldn't have been more wrong. Corporate Travel contracts were canceled or not renewed in droves, leaving second-rate carriers like jetBlue and Delta to eat United's lunch from the corporate travel side. It was an unmitigated disaster from which United has not recovered from, hence this new partnership with jetBlue. According to latest press releases, United will return to JFK (for a third time, following a lackluster second attempt in 2021) as early as 2027, depending on when the new Terminal 6 will be completed, with slots for up to 7 daily roundtrips (routes to be determined, but you can bet LAX or SFO will be included).
Financial Standing Postscript
Both carriers common stock prices have been fairly active today, but on a downward trend, and at last look just a few minutes before posting, jetBlue’s price has dropped 14 cents per share so far today, after opening at $6.09 per share. Now, jetBlue has, for the last number of years, been fighting an uphill battle for financial stability after several failed merger attempts and lackluster results both financially and operationally. Only just recently has it been able to get its financial house in somewhat more stable order, after rounds of network chopping and delayed or cancelled aircraft orders and deliveries. Operationally, there is still quite a bit of work that needs to occur, but the beleaguered carrier is showing signs of rebounding with lower losses and a far more upbeat outlook for the rest of 2026.
United's stock today though, after opening at $116.36 per share, has descended almost 3 dollars at the time of this writing, and is currently at $113.51 per share. Normally, I would stay away from airline common stock as an investment. Back from when I was a teen all the way up till 2008 or so, I had been constantly burned by various holdings in airlines. Now, however, I see someone like United, with their more stable operations and revenue forecasts, as a decent long-term investment, especially after Citi and Alliance Bernstein continuing to place the parent company, United Airlines Holdings, Inc, in the outperform category, giving credence to the Wall Street's bullish view on the enterprise.
The Travel Genius Opinion
Somewhere along the way in my travels, I learned the devil is in the details of anything I read or learn. As much as I can't stand speculation, I simply can't help it in this case. This tie-up primarily, in the eyes of United's strategists, is the prize of getting back into the holy grail of airports, JFK. This has been the number one domestic goal for United's network gurus since the disastrous exit a decade and a half ago. The issue is, can they regain some of that corporate travel back to make JFK a worthwhile investment? Or, as I'm led to ponder, does United have something far bigger in store regarding this partnership?
What I'm alluding to is another round of consolidation involving United. This time tying up with jetBlue and adding their respective network to their own worldwide access, with the jetBlue name and brand eventually disappearing from the scene (This is almost the same scenario as back in 2000 when America West Airlines and the iconic Trans World Airlines (TWA) began code-sharing, with back room closed door discussions on a potential merger after stregthening both networks from the code-share). If that happens, and that is one massive if, we just might see United regain its status of the world's largest airline, and one that can easily become the Number 1 choice in premium airline travel within the US, and across the globe that adorns the hundreds of tails worldwide.
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