JetBlue teams up with Brightline in new air-and-rail partnership

Just days removed from announcing a major new partnership with United Airlines, JetBlue is teaming up with another transportation partner — this time, on the rails.

The New York-based airline on Tuesday announced a new partnership with Brightline, the nation's first private, intercity rail operator. As part of the tie-up, JetBlue customers will be able to book itineraries that feature both a flight and a train trip.

Bookings were expected to go live right away on the airline's website.

Read more: JetBlue launches TrueBlue redemptions on Japan Airlines flights to Tokyo and beyond

Brightline looks to the skies

It's a big step forward for Brightline, less than two years after it launched a sizable extension of its Florida rail service, linking the Sunshine State's coast with the terminals at Orlando International Airport (MCO).

Brightline's close proximity to air passengers in Orlando should make this linkage particularly useful for JetBlue flyers: You could fly to Orlando, and then connect seamlessly to one of Brightline's five stations on the coast: West Palm Beach, Boca Raton, Fort Lauderdale, Aventura and downtown Miami.

JetBlue has a sizable presence in Florida, particularly in Orlando and at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL).

The partnership will also offer itinerary alternatives for JetBlue passengers who run into flight trouble in Florida, which can be all too common on spring and summer afternoons. For example, if you got stranded in Orlando and needed to get to Miami, you could hop on a Brightline train instead of waiting for a flight.

"Together we're expanding transportation options for all of our customers to get to where they want to go, whether they're starting their journey, heading to their final destination, or adjusting plans along the way," said Dave Jehn, JetBlue's vice president of network planning and airline partnerships, in a statement announcing the news.

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How the JetBlue-Brightline partnership will work

All you'll need to do to book a Brightline train connection on JetBlue is go to the airline's website or mobile app and plug in the city (not necessarily the airport) you're hoping to visit.

For example, let's say I wanted to travel from New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) to Aventura, on the Florida coast.

Check out the below itinerary from JetBlue, which includes a flight from JFK to Orlando, and then a connection to a Brightline train segment (you can see where it says "operated by Brightline").

As part of the linkage between airline and rail operator, JetBlue-Brightline connections will include complimentary shuttle service between airports and nearby stations.

Plus, there will be some carry-over in product, whether you're booking a coach seat on JetBlue, or a spot in its premium cabin.

Product consistency

On air and rail bookings, JetBlue economy tickets will be matched up with a standard "Smart" fare on Brightline. Passengers flying Mint will then shift into Brightline's premium cars.

Those bookings typically come with access to Brightline's lounge in Orlando.

Review: The future of 'high-speed' rail in America? Here's what it was like taking Brightline in Florida

"This partnership enables travelers to book a single ticket for both air and rail, offering a fast, reliable, and eco-friendly rail transportation option while seamlessly connecting to JetBlue's extensive network," Barbara Drahl, Brightline senior vice president of marketing and commercial strategy, said in a statement Tuesday.

No loyalty tie-in, for now

One downside? At least from the outset, JetBlue does not plan to offer TrueBlue earnings and redemptions on Brightline trips.

Expanding air-and-rail stateside

JetBlue and Brightline aren't the first U.S. airlines and rail operators companies to team up — but most of the existing arrangements involve air and rail connections overseas.

For instance, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines offer rail connections in Europe, and a myriad of international carriers offer joint plane and train itineraries, such as Lufthansa's Rail&Fly tickets that allow passengers to connect to Germany's Deutsche Bahn.

Brightline moves forward

Word of Brightline's first partnership with a U.S. airline came about two months after the rail operator rolled out its first loyalty program.

Meanwhile, it is also expanding westward with a new high-speed line under construction between Las Vegas and Southern California, slated to open later this decade.

Bottom line

Brightline's expansion in Florida set the stage for new connectivity opportunities with airlines, and that's what JetBlue is capitalizing on with this new partnership.

TrueBlue members won't be able to earn or redeem on train rides, for now — so it's worth watching whether the carrier explores some sort of loyalty tie-in down the road.

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