Mid-Launch Overhaul: JetBlue and Barclays Pile On Perks to Chase Premium Cardholders

The JetBlue Premier World Elite Mastercard, which is issued by Barclays U.S. Consumer Bank, is offering new and enhanced cardmember benefits just 14 months after the card’s initial launch.

These new benefits include companion pass statement credits of up to $500 in value and available when a member spends $15,000 in a calendar year on their card. Big spenders, those spending $75,000 a year on their credit cards, have an additional companion pass statement credit of up to $1,500 available to them.

TrueBlue Mosaic is the highest level in JetBlue’s loyalty program, and now cardmembers receive a 25-tile bonus at the beginning of each calendar year toward reaching that loyalty summit. Cardmembers also earn up to $300 in annual statement credits when using their credit cards to pay for car rentals, cruises, and hotel stays booked through TrueBlue Travel.

In addition, cardmembers receive a 15% rebate of their TrueBlue points when they make an awards flight redemption on JetBlue or a partner airline. 

JetBlue is new to the lounge game, but it is opening a second BlueHouse lounge location in Boston’s Logan International Airport. Located in Terminal C, the lounge is designed to capture the character of Boston.

Later this spring, cardmembers can receive up to 14 monthly credits for use on fitness classes and wellness experiences in salons, gyms, spas, and studios around the country through ClassPass.

The JetBlue Premier Card has an annual fee of $499, and the fee will stay that way despite an introduction of new benefits this spring. Bolstering benefits without changing prices is bound to appeal to current JetBlue Premier cardmembers, and no doubt JetBlue is hoping these new benefits will attract more JetBlue customers to the credit card.

Co-branded airline credit cards appeal to travelers who routinely fly for business or pleasure on  a specific airline. Giving these travelers more of what they want, including access to airport lounges they can relax in before flights, is a good strategy for keeping travelers happy.

And now JetBlue is opening its second such airport lounge specifically for JetBlue travelers. 

JetBlue is far from alone in designing and opening new airport lounges for travelers. American Express recently announced plans to open three new Centurion Lounge locations in Boston, Charlotte, and Dallas Fort Worth. 

The JetBlue Premier Card as a premium card with its $499 annual fee is more expensive than many of its airline card competitors. The Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card charges no annual fee for the first year and then charges a $150 annual fee. 

The Delta SkyMiles Blue American Express Card charges no annual fee. The American Airlines AAdvantage Mileup Card also charges no annual fee. The United Explorer Card charges no annual fee for the first year and then charges $150 annual fee. 

The closest competitors on price to the JetBlue Premier Card is the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card with a $229 annual fee, and the Capital One Venture X card with a $395 annual fee. 

Travelers who prefer no annual fee or lower annual fee cards may think twice about signing up for a JetBlue Premier Card.

But the JetBlue Premier Card looks like a bargain when compared to other premium travel cards such as the Delta SkyMiles Reserve with a $650 annual fee and the Citi AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard with a $595 annual fee though their benefits and points structures vary. 

The more recent batch of benefits is a way to add value to the JetBlue Premier Card making it more valuable to new and current customers and more worthy of its $499 annual fee. The ultimate aim is finding new elite customers who are comfortable paying a hefty annual fee and who prefer to fly JetBlue. 

Another reason for adding new benefits so soon could be an underperformance at the time of the card launch and throughout the following year. With the new benefits, Barclays and JetBlue get the chance to woo new customers and encourage current customers to spend more on their cards.

For Barclays, the JetBlue Premier Card is a new opportunity for a co-branded airline credit card after losing the American Airlines AAdvantage Card to Citi. 

The JetBlue Premier Card is rolling out new and enhanced benefits just 14 months after its card launch. Benefits include companion pass statement credits and up to $300 in annual statement credits when using credit cards to pay for travel such as car rentals, cruises, and hotel stays through TrueBlue Travel. 

Other new benefits include the opening of a second location for its airport lounge BlueHouse in Boston’s Logan International Airport. Later this spring, JetBlue Premier Card members will receive up to 14 monthly credits for fitness classes and wellness experiences through ClassPass.