JetBlue begins nonstop JFK to Vancouver service
This post contains references to products from one or more of our advertisers. We may receive compensation when you click on links to those products. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. For an explanation of our Advertising Policy, visit this page.
JetBlue has expanded its international footprint to the Caribbean, Central and South America, and Europe in recent years. Now it has added nonstop service to Canada.
Thursday evening, JetBlue completed its first flight from New York-John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) to Vancouver (YVR).
Wahoo! It’s true — we’ve got @JetBlue! We’re thrilled to welcome JetBlue to the YVR family today as its first Canadian destination. The airline will fly between @JFKairport and YVR daily on its A320 aircraft. More: https://t.co/JNsBLASDL3 pic.twitter.com/sxEHZMpRuo
— YVR (@yvrairport) June 9, 2022
For more TPG news delivered each morning to your inbox, sign up for our daily newsletter.
JetBlue’s vice president of network planning called the expansion to Canada an “important milestone” for the airline, which now flies to more than two dozen countries.
The service will include an evening westbound flight from JFK to Vancouver, with a red-eye flight eastbound. The westbound trip is scheduled to depart New York at 6:59 p.m. and land in Vancouver at 10:26 p.m. (PT). The overnight trip back east is at 11:30 p.m. (PT), arriving at JFK at 7:48 a.m.
This expansion in service currently is Vancouver’s only link to JFK, but although the airport does have service to New York area airports. You can get to Newark/Liberty International Airport (EWR) from Vancouver on United Airlines and Air Canada, according to the airport’s destination map.
Related: Reviewing JetBlue’s business class from London to New York
Deals on flights
JetBlue marked the occasion by offering some pretty good deals to the British Columbia city for later this year with $119 one-way fares for some late summer and early fall trips. That was a limited time offer that seems to have disappeared already, but keep an eye out — some of the prices in September, for instance, aren’t too high above that, and certainly are better than what you’d pay for a round trip in July or August.
Northeast Alliance impact
JetBlue mentioned the strengthening of its Northeast Alliance as a major reason this service will help travelers, and that certainly could be the case for American Airlines flyers looking for a direct link to British Columbia.
You can now go on the American website and book travel on board the new nonstop JetBlue flights. That includes award travel. Like with the JetBlue cash fares, it’s pretty expensive through the summer months (80,000 to 100,000 miles round trip in many cases) but you can get a round trip in September for the standard award chart fare of 25,000 miles AAdvantage miles round trip. I found one such option the weekend after Labor Day – a nice opportunity to visit the city before things start to cool off too much.
Where to stay
Looking at that same weekend in September, the best redemption I could find on points was at a World of Hyatt property right in the heart of downtown Vancouver.
The Hyatt Regency Vancouver goes for $299 per night, or you can get it for 15,000 points, which TPG values at about $255. Not a mind-boggling redemption, but, hey, not terrible, either.
I didn’t find too many Marriott Bonvoy points redemptions worth trying that weekend, but you can get a room at several properties downtown for around $300 per night.
Personally, I’d probably go with the Marriott Vancouver Pinnacle Downtown for $298 per night, which looks to have the feel of a classic, city center Marriott.
Related: Booking the perfect Northwest summer vacation with points and miles
Bottom line
JetBlue’s new, nonstop service between JFK and Vancouver is just the latest example of the airline expanding its footprint beyond the U.S.
In addition to simply meaning more seats between the two regions, the Northeast Alliance means it’s also an opportunity for American Airlines AAdvantage members to book the nonstop flights with their miles.
Featured image by Zach Griff/The Points Guy.
Sign-up Successful!
Welcome to The Points Guy!
Earn 90,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 3 months. Offer ends 8/3/2022.
With Status Boost™, earn 10,000 Medallion Qualification Miles (MQMs) after you spend $25,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year, up to two times per year getting you closer to Medallion Status. Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels, 2X Miles at restaurants and at U.S. supermarkets and earn 1X Mile on all other eligible purchases. Terms Apply.
- Limited Time Offer: Earn 90,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 3 months. Offer ends 8/3/2022.
- Earn up to 20,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) with Status Boost® per year. After you spend $25,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year, you can earn 10,000 MQMs up to two times per year, getting you closer to Medallion® Status. MQMs are used to determine Medallion® Status and are different than miles you earn toward flights.
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels.
- Earn 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide including takeout and delivery in the U.S., and at U.S. supermarkets.
- Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
- Receive a Domestic Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year upon renewal of your Card. Payment of the government imposed taxes and fees of no more than $80 for roundtrip domestic flights (for itineraries with up to four flight segments) is required. Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. See terms and conditions for details.
- Enjoy your first checked bag free on Delta flights.
- Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® after you apply through any Authorized Enrollment Provider. If approved for Global Entry, at no additional charge, you will receive access to TSA PreCheck.
- Enjoy an exclusive rate of $39 per person per visit to enter the Delta Sky Club® for you and up to two guests when traveling on a Delta flight.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- $250 Annual Fee.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees
Disclaimer: The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser. Responses have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the bank advertiser. It is not the bank advertiser’s responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered.
Editorial Disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.