Kyle Olsen is the former points and miles reporter at TPG. He specializes in maximizing points and miles, elite status and credit cards so readers travel more comfortably and at a lower cost.
August 18, 2022 • 14 min read
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Quick summary
A potential merger between JetBlue and Spirit could significantly impact frequent flyer members of both airlines, especially regarding loyalty program integration.
Historically, airline mergers in the U.S. have honored existing points and elite statuses, often with conversion bonuses if point values differ.
TPG currently values Spirit points at 1.1 cents each and JetBlue points at 1.3 cents each as of August 2022, suggesting a likely 1:1 conversion if the merger proceeds.
Elite status tiers and benefits differ between the two airlines, with JetBlue generally offering more comprehensive perks, though some Spirit policies, like generous luggage allowances, stand out.
What to consider
Award ticket pricing is dynamic for both airlines, with JetBlue linking point value to the cash cost of flights.
Elite status qualification and benefits may change post-merger, especially if JetBlue revises its status tiers or benefit structure.
Transitioning systems and reconfiguring aircraft could take significant time, potentially affecting when new benefits are available.
What you'll miss from the article
A detailed comparison of elite status perks, seat selection policies and how previous airline mergers have handled point conversions and member benefits.
Generated by AI with support from our editorial team.
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Pending regulatory approval, JetBlue will likely be purchasing Spirit in the coming years. A merger between the two carriers would have significant implications for customers, particularly given the different frequent flyers of the two airlines.
A couple of weeks ago, TPG's Zach Griff provided a snapshot of the numbers involved for JetBlue and Spirit, including their largest airports, fleet sizes and routes operated. A combined airline would make for a large carrier set to rival the "Big Four" U.S. carriers, especially for domestic travel.
Let's compare the two airlines' loyalty programs and speculate about what a combined Spirit-JetBlue loyalty program could look like.
How might previous airline mergers dictate what will happen to Spirit points?
Virgin America and Alaska Airlines announced their merger in 2016. (Photo courtesy of Alaska Airlines)
Historically, when U.S. airlines have merged, frequent flyer miles and status in the outgoing program are honored in the new program.
To sweeten the welcome to Alaska — or mitigate the elimination of snazzy Virgin America — Virgin America's upper elite members were welcomed with either 10,000 Mileage Plan miles or a $100 credit.
TPG values Free Spirit points at 1.1 cents apiece, while we value JetBlue TrueBlue points at 1.3 cents apiece. Hopefully (for Spirit flyers), since these valuations are close to one another, we expect JetBlue will covert each Free Spirit point to 1 TrueBlue point.
Further, we expect TrueBlue points to act the same after the merger. Right now, both airlines dynamically price award tickets, but JetBlue pegs the value of points to the cash cost of a flight. Since Spirit will fold into JetBlue, this will likely stay the same post-merger.
It gets a little trickier with elite status, however.
JetBlue vs. Spirit elite status
JetBlue recently began service from Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) to London Gatwick Airport (LGW). (Photo by Sean Cudahy/The Points Guy)
Spirit has two status levels: Free Spirit Silver and Free Spirit Gold. JetBlue also has two status tiers: Mosaic and Mosaic+. However, Mosaic+ is a limited-time status tier only offered in 2022.
Here's a look at how you qualify for each tier:
Spirit
JetBlue
Lower-tier status
Free Spirit Silver
2,000 status qualifying points on flights operated by Spirit Airlines or spending on the Free Spirit Travel More World Elite Mastercard:
1 SQP for every $1 you spend with Spirit Airlines (flights, baggage, seat assignment, etc.).
1 SQP per $10 spent on the Free Spirit® Travel More World Elite Mastercard®.
The information for the Jet Blue Plus, Jet Blue Business Card and Free Spirit Travel More Mastercard has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
If you look at the cobranded credit card spending requirements to earn status, Spirit requires $50,000 to earn its upper-tier status. JetBlue requires $150,000 of spending each year on its credit card(s) to earn its upper-tier temporary status level.
For this reason alone, I don't think JetBlue will be inclined to offer Mosaic+ status to Free Spirit Golds (if the tier sticks around after 2022). In some ways, Free Spirit Gold resembles Mosaic status, and Free Spirit Silver matches a Mosaic- (minus) tier (something the airline doesn't currently offer).
It's important to remember that Mosaic+ is only a temporary tier, but JetBlue might offer Mosaic+ in the future. A permanent second elite status tier for JetBlue might look different than what's on offer right now.
JetBlue Mosaic benefits are somewhat lackluster. After all, $50,000 of spending on a cobranded credit card should deliver better benefits.
For example, American Airlines Platinum status, which requires 75,000 Loyalty Points, offers benefits like Oneworld Sapphire (namely access to Oneworld business lounges) and 48-hour first-class upgrade priority on select routes.
In fairness, it requires $75,000 of cobranded credit card spending to earn the 75,000 Loyalty Points for American Airlines Platinum status. Still, it's high time for JetBlue to deliver generous, premium perks like upgrades and lounge access to its Mosaic members.
To get a better idea of what JetBlue might do with Spirit elite members, let's compare some of the benefits of each tier.
Earn an extra 2 points per $1 spent on Spirit flights.
Mosaic
Earn an extra 3 points per $1 spent on JetBlue flights.
Upper-tier status
Free Spirit Gold
Earn an extra 4 points per $1 spent on Spirit flights.
Mosaic+(temporary tier)
Earn an extra 3 points per $1 spent on JetBlue flights.
In this case, the Spirit elite mileage bonuses are close to JetBlue elite bonuses. Keep in mind, though, that Free Spirit points are worth about 15% less than JetBlue points, so if JetBlue keeps the same bonuses after the merger, this could be advantageous for Spirit elites.
100% points rebate on Even More Space points redemptions (only for 2022).
After 2022, free Even More Space seat selection 24-hours prior to departure.
Upper-tier status
Free Spirit Gold
Free seat selection at booking (including exit row, excluding Big Front seats).
Mosaic+(temporary tier)
100% points rebate on Even More Space points redemptions (effectively complimentary Even More Space).
For seating, JetBlue is more generous, particularly to lower-tier Mosaics, when compared with Spirit's lower-tier Silver members. Even More Space seats have more legroom than all of Spirit's fleet, so once the airline's fleet is reconfigured with the JetBlue experience, once-Spirit elites should have a much more enjoyable experience.
An exit-row seat on a Spirit Airbus A320. (Photo by Summer Hull/The Points Guy)
Spirit
JetBlue
Lower-tier status
Free Spirit Silver
Priority boarding.
Priority security.
0 checked bags.
Waived overweight luggage (up to 100 pounds).
Mosaic
Priority check-in.
Priority boarding.
Priority security.
2 checked bags (up to 50 pounds).
Free inflight alcoholic beverages.
Upper-tier status
Free Spirit Gold
Priority boarding.
Priority security.
1 checked bag.
Waived overweight luggage (up to 100 pounds).
Free nonalcoholic drink and snack on board.
Mosaic+ (temporary tier)
Priority check-in.
Priority boarding.
Priority security.
2 checked bags (up to 50 pounds).
Free inflight alcoholic beverages.
Unlike the previous elite perks that we've looked at, there are some significant differences here. For example, JetBlue offers priority check-in and alcoholic beverages as elite perks while Spirit does not.
However, Spirit waives the overweight luggage fee on checked bags up to 100 pounds (that's a heavy lift!). JetBlue, on the other hand, offers two complimentary checked bags to its elite members with a maximum weight of 50 pounds per bag.
Earn up to 70,000 bonus points:60,000 bonus points after spending $2,000 on purchases in the first 90 days, and an additional 10,000 bonus points after a purchase is made on an employee card.
Earning rates:
6 points per $1 spent on eligible JetBlue purchases.
2 points per $1 spent on eligible restaurant and office supply store purchases.
1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases.
Notable benefits:
Get 10% of your points back as a bonus after you redeem for and travel on a JetBlue-operated award flight.
$100 annual JetBlue vacations credit.
5,000 annual anniversary points.
Annual fee:
$99.
In terms of cards, Spirit has a competitive personal credit card, especially considering that the annual fee is waived for the first year. And after the first year, it's 20% less expensive than JetBlue's personal card.
Still, we're big fans of the JetBlue Plus Card and its 6 points per $1 spent on eligible JetBlue flights.
Spirit currently offers status matches to elite members from other major U.S. airlines. If approved, you'll receive status on Spirit for 90 days. During those 90 days, you'll have to earn 500 SQPs to extend Silver status or 1,250 SQPs to extend Gold status.
Interestingly, JetBlue doesn't currently offer a Mosaic or Mosaic+ status match. This could be a clever way to try your luck for a Mosaic status match from your Spirit status later down the line.
Many of the benefits of the combined program should be crafted around how quickly JetBlue can reconfigure the less-comfortable Spirit planes.
For example, since there's no equivalent of Even More Space on Spirit's planes, so JetBlue may offer Mosaics access to Big Front Seats and exit-row seating in the interim.
Of course, the new scheme should honor the current Free Spirit Gold benefits — particularly the luggage allowance policies.
As JetBlue begins to reconfigure Spirit's Airbus A321s, I'd like to see complimentary waitlisted upgrades to Mint, even if it means that a larger Mint cabin is added. Also, if JetBlue decides to continue Moasic+, the carrier should expand Mint upgrade certificates to allow for use on transatlantic flights.
While these requests might sound ambitious, they prevent Spirit Golds from feeling like they're being demoted to Mosaic. Of course, this brings up the elephant in the room: JetBlue should consider revamping Mosaic to better compete with the rest of the U.S. carriers, especially as it grows with a larger fleet.
There's no telling what JetBlue TrueBlue will do with Free Spirit points and elite status. However, I have a strong suspicion that JetBlue will convert Free Spirit points to TrueBlue points at a 1:1 ratio (considering that both programs use dynamic pricing and are comparable in value).
Free Spirit Silver and Gold members will likely receive Mosaic status with JetBlue. In the past, these sorts of mergers have been messy. There's a tremendous amount of time and capital needed to convert and link Spirit's reservations system to JetBlue. Not to mention the time required to train staff and repaint and reconfigure planes.
Still, with any luck, the JetBlue-Spirit merger will deliver more valuable perks to existing Spirit frequent flyers.
By commenting, you agree to our Community Guidelines to help create a positive space for conversation. The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser, our partners, or The Points Guy (“TPG”). They have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of these parties. All responses are submitted by individual contributors, and neither the bank advertiser, our partners, nor TPG are responsible for ensuring that all posts and/or questions are answered.
