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American and JetBlue are getting sued, but your travel plans are safe

Sept. 23, 2021
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3 min read
JetBlue American Airlines A321 Zach Griff - 2
American and JetBlue are getting sued, but your travel plans are safe
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You might've seen some splashy headlines this week about American Airlines and JetBlue getting sued by the Department of Justice.

Specifically, the department filed a 42-page anti-trust suit challenging the 14-month-old Northeast Alliance between the two carriers, which includes 58 new routes and 175 codeshares to and from the New York and Boston metropolitan areas, along with frequent flyer benefits and increased coordination to better compete against the region's two dominant airlines, Delta and United.

Now, in light of the suit, you might be worried about booking one of the codeshares or spooked about what'll happen to your reciprocal elite perks.

Well, the good news is that nothing's changing from the passenger experience perspective; despite the lawsuit, it's business as usual for the two carriers for now.

Codeshare flights will continue to operate, new routes, including the much-anticipated JFK to New Delhi long-haul will take off and all existing frequent flyer benefits will remain unchanged. If you're planning to book flights through the alliance, rest assured that nothing is changing in the short term. Nothing is likely to be rolled back until DOJ gets its day in court, and – even then – only if it’s able to prove its case.

You can still book codeshares on either airline's website, credit miles for AA and JetBlue flights to either carrier and enjoy streamlined connections in New York-JFK.

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In fact, both carriers have reiterated that they're moving forward with adding new flights, expanding codeshare options, introducing additional loyalty perks and more. As promised, travelers can expect reciprocal elite benefits to begin in the fall. Additionally, the airlines are slated to introduce the ability to redeem points and miles on either carrier in the coming months.

"What we will do is continue to deliver on the promise of growth. This winter, the NEA will offer more than 700 daily flights from New York and Boston and continue investment to provide a seamless travel experience to customers," Vasu Raja, American's chief revenue officer, wrote in an email sent to employees regarding the lawsuit.

JetBlue CEO Robin Hayes shared a similar sentiment in an email sent to the airline's 20,000 staffers. "We cannot let this lawsuit slow our momentum in bringing the NEA to life. Because of growth from the NEA, we are on track to hire 1,800 new Crewmembers this year. We fully intend to launch the new routes and BlueCities we have announced, as well as expand codeshare options."

To further assuage doubts about the airlines' commitment to the alliance, the carriers put together a new website, neaflies.com, to rebut the DOJ suit and argue that customers benefit. In the last section, "Next Steps," it's clear that it's full steam ahead on implementing the alliance, despite the lawsuit.

Once the case makes it to court, things could change, but for now, fear not — the lawsuit isn't going to upend your travel plans in the short term.

Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

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  • Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
  • Solid welcome bonus

Cons

  • Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
  • Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
  • You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
  • $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
  • $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
  • $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
  • $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
  • Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • Annual Fee is $325.
  • Terms Apply.