JetBlue’s True Blue loyalty program has expanded its reach through a new partnership with TAP Air Portugal, allowing members to use points for TAP flights and earn miles when flying with Portugal’s national airline. This marks a significant step in JetBlue’s European expansion strategy, though the partnership comes with limitations – Mosaic elite status benefits won’t transfer to TAP flights, meaning no complimentary baggage or priority boarding perks.
JetBlue’s European Journey
Since launching its first London routes in 2021 via Heathrow (LHR) and Gatwick (LGW), JetBlue has steadily grown its European presence. However, unlike major U.S. carriers whose elite members enjoy benefits across international partner airlines, JetBlue customers have faced a gap in loyalty benefits when connecting to European flights. This has been a notable disadvantage compared to legacy carriers’ offerings through their global alliances.
Strategic Partnerships vs Alliance Membership
Unlike its major competitors – American Airlines in oneworld, Delta in SkyTeam, and United in Star Alliance – JetBlue has opted for a different approach. Rather than joining an alliance, they’ve built a network of strategic partnerships. Before TAP, their partner airlines for points earning and redemption included regional carrier Cape Air, Middle Eastern airlines Etihad and Qatar Airways, and Hawaiian Airlines, but notably lacked any European partners.
Competitive Redemption Rates
TAP Portugal’s award flight pricing through JetBlue’s program is notably competitive, with one-way flights between any U.S. city and Portugal priced at 19,000 TrueBlue points for economy and 59,000 points for business class. This flat-rate structure, combined with JetBlue’s policy of not adding carrier surcharges (passengers only pay mandatory taxes and fees), makes these redemptions particularly attractive compared to other programs like United’s MileagePlus, which charges significantly more miles for similar routes.
The TAP Portugal Experience
Flying with TAP offers several advantages for U.S. travelers heading to Europe. The airline combines relatively short flight times from the East Coast (under 7 hours from New York to Lisbon), comfortable business class cabins featuring lie-flat beds, and extensive connectivity throughout Europe and beyond through its Lisbon hub. These factors, along with competitive award pricing, make TAP an increasingly attractive option for transatlantic travel.
