Deal alert: Fly JetBlue Mint on America’s most premier routes from $368 one-way
Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here.
Editor’s note: As the travel industry reopens following COVID-19 shutdowns, TPG suggests that you talk to your doctor, follow health officials’ guidance and research local travel restrictions before booking that next trip. We will be here to help you prepare, whether it is next month or next year.
JetBlue is launching its new transcontinental flights out of Newark (EWR) with a bang.
Last month, JetBlue announced that it would begin flying from Newark to Los Angeles (LAX) and San Fransisco (SFO) and offer its TPG award-winning Mint business class service on these premier routes. Well, these flights are already for sale and JetBlue is offering Mint fares from just $368 one-way.
The low fares are available from when the flights launch in late July through early October. Of course, these dates aren't ideal given the current situation, but if you need to travel cross-country in the coming weeks, then this deal is definitely worth considering. Business-class flights between the New York area and Los Angeles and San Fransisco typically start around $600 each way.
We're also seeing flights between Boston (BOS) and San Diego (SAN) from $459 each way.
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JetBlue Mint is perhaps the best domestic premium cabin for onboard social distancing. Of the 16 seats in the Mint cabin, four of them are suites. Rows 2 and 4 are arranged in a 1-1 configuration and each suite has two large tables, as well as a door. Compared to the premium transcontinental products offered by American, Delta and United, Mint suites are definitely the most private.
Even if you don't end up booking this deal, it's likely we'll see more fare sales on this route in the future. As was the case when JetBlue entered other transcontinental markets, Mint's Newark expansion may pressure United (which has a mega-hub in Newark) into a fare war.
Related: Why I’m excited about JetBlue’s Mint expansion — and you should be too
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Should I book travel now?
There is a risk with booking travel now since there is no way to guarantee when it will be safe to travel again. The CDC has a strong warning against any nonessential travel within the United States. While we hope things will return to normal quickly, there has been a surge in COVID-19 cases in the U.S.
While all states have at least partially reopened, several have a mandatory 14-day quarantine order in effect. If you're booking this deal, know that New York and New Jersey have mandatory quarantines for travelers entering from high-risk states, including California. Massachusets is asking travelers to quarantine as well. If the situation does not get better soon, you may end up being forced to change or cancel your trip.
It's also important to understand the cancellation and rebooking policies for any airfare you book. Fortunately, with any new JetBlue bookings made by Sept. 8, 2020, there is a good amount of flexibility:
- Tickets can be changed or canceled for no fee
- If rebooking, you'll pay the difference between the original and new fare
- Canceling or changing to lower-fare tickets will result in the issuance of a travel credit valid for 24 months from the date of issue
Related: Airline coronavirus change and cancellation policies
JetBlue Mint flight deals currently available
Airlines: JetBlue
Routes: Boston (BOS), Newark (EWR) to/from Los Angeles (LAX), San Diego (SAN), San Francisco (SFO)
Cost: $368+ one-way in Mint business class
Travel Dates: July – Oct. 2020
Pay With: The Platinum Card® from American Express (5x on airfare booked directly with the airline; starting Jan. 1, 2021 earn 5x points on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year), Citi Prestige® Card (5x on airfare), Chase Sapphire Reserve (3x on travel), American Express® Gold Card (3x on airfare booked directly with the airline or amextravel.com) or Chase Sapphire Preferred Card (2x on travel)
The information for the Citi Prestige card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Sample itineraries
Here’s a look at some of the best deals you could book. This isn’t an exhaustive list, so you may be able to find deals between other cities as well.
Newark (EWR) to Los Angeles (LAX) for $368 one-way nonstop on JetBlue Mint
San Francisco (SFO) to Newark (EWR) for $398 one-way nonstop on JetBlue Mint
Boston (BOS) to San Diego (SAN) for $459 one-way nonstop on JetBlue Mint
How to book
There are no tricks to find these fares. Head to Google Flights and plug in your desired departure and destination cities. Filter your search to only show JetBlue flights and select business class. Then, use the calendar function to find dates and prices that work for you and then click through to book with the airline directly or an OTA such as Expedia or Priceline.
You can also head to Jetblue.com to book these fares using points. Fares start at $368 each way or 35,800 JetBlue points. Taxes come in at just $5.60 each way. Don't have enough JetBlue points? You can transfer Citi ThankYou points, Chase Ultimate Rewards and Amex Membership Rewards.
Maximize your purchase
Don’t forget to use a credit card that earns bonus points on airfare purchases, such as The Platinum Card® from American Express (5x on flights booked directly with airlines or American Express Travel), Citi Prestige® Card (5x on airfare), Chase Sapphire Reserve, American Express® Gold Card, or the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card (2x on all travel purchases). Check out this post for more on maximizing airfare purchases.
All screenshots from JetBlue.com