This week, there was great news for Etihad Guest members. We can now earn and redeem Etihad Guest Miles across the entire JetBlue network. This opens up some exciting new redemption opportunities across North America and the Caribbean.
Etihad Airways and JetBlue have had a longstanding codeshare partnership and announced the new reciprocal loyalty benefits during the Arabian Travel Market in Dubai.
What is JetBlue?
JetBlue is a low-cost North American airline with its biggest hubs at JFK and Boston. Both of those happen to be destinations Etihad Airways flies to from Abu Dhabi.
Although it is only the 8th largest airline in North America by passenger numbers, it still has a fleet of nearly 300 aircraft and operates over 1,000 daily flights.
Where does JetBlue fly?
The JetBlue network currently serves over 100 destinations. The vast majority are US domestic routes.
However, the network also includes destinations in the Caribbean, Central and South America, and several European cities, including London, Paris, Dublin, Amsterdam and Edinburgh.
Is Mint the best business Class in North America?
JetBlue is a bit peculiar. While it is considered a low-cost carrier, it also offers what many consider to be the best business-class product in North America. They call it Mint and it is available on certain transcontinental, Caribbean, and transatlantic flights.
The Mint cabin has a flatbed seat with direct aisle access for everyone. It has a reputation for great food and drink, good amenities, and generally friendly service—the latter is not a given on North American airlines.
How many Etihad Guest Miles will you earn on JetBlue?
The number of Guest Miles earned flying JetBlue will vary by cabin and booking class:
- Mint earns 125% (J, C, D) or 130% (I)
- Economy earns 100%
- Basic Economy earns 25%
Miles should post to your account within two weeks. If they do not, read how to claim for missing Etihad Guest Miles here.
You will not earn any Etihad Guest Tier Miles on JetBlue. Full details can be found here.
How much do redemptions cost?
The cost of reward bookings on JetBlue is distance-based, with the price increasing every incremental 500 miles.
For instance, a flight from Boston to San Francisco in Economy costs 34,000 Guest Miles in Economy and 60,000 Guest Miles in Mint.
A transatlantic flight from New York JFK to London Heathrow costs 45,000 Guest Miles in Economy and 80,000 Guest Miles in Mint.
There are also taxes and fees to pay. These are low for domestic and North American routes. For example, you will only pay $38 for an Economy flight from Boston to San Francisco or $56 in Mint.
However, the taxes and fees for transatlantic redemptions in Mint are astonishing. For example, a Boston to London Heathrow redemption in Mint will cost $1,000.
Full details can be found here.
How do I book a JetBlue reward using Etihad Guest Miles?
It is very straightforward. You can search for availability and book JetBlue rewards online at Etihad.com or Etihad Guest.
My take
Overall, this expanded partnership with JetBlue offers Etihad Guest members more opportunities to earn and redeem miles across a wider network, particularly within North America and the Caribbean.
The potential to experience JetBlue’s highly-rated Mint product using your Etihad Guest Miles makes this a win. I’m looking forward to my first Mint flight between the East and West Coast.