JetBlue enters lounge space with JFK, Boston clubs planned for 2025 — a stunning shift
JetBlue is making a major splash in the premium travel space with its first-ever airport lounges. The New York-based carrier will open two lounges starting in 2025, JetBlue said Thursday — one at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and another at Boston Logan International Airport (BOS).
Access will be a prime perk for JetBlue loyalists, from flyers with top-tier Mosaic elite status to customers flying its premium Mint cabin on transatlantic routes.
It’ll also be a complimentary benefit for future cardholders of a soon-to-be-announced premium JetBlue credit card.
It’s a bold move for JetBlue, one clearly meant to compete more forcefully with larger carriers in the Northeast, such as Delta Air Lines, which has a sizable presence at both JFK and Logan — and which recently cut the ribbon on a high-end Delta One Lounge this summer.
“Customers have asked for a JetBlue lounge for years, and we can’t wait to unveil our take in New York and Boston,” President Marty St. George said in a statement announcing the news Thursday.
A reversal in plans
That JetBlue is adding lounges also comes as a bit of a surprise.
As recently as this summer, executives noted that research had, historically, pointed the company away from lounges because of cost — and inspired JetBlue to focus on other aspects of its operation (like its renowned inflight food-and-beverage service) as primary focus areas for the carrier to hold a competitive edge.
“Yes, people like lounges. Obviously, a lounge is better than no lounge ... lounges are also extremely expensive,” St. George said in a June interview with TPG. “The question is, are lounges [profit and loss] positive to do this big transatlantic lounge network? No.”
Still, the carrier has continued to study the possibility of adding lounges all the while, leaders said Thursday.
More recently, JetBlue executives devised an elaborate strategy meant to push the airline back to profitability for the first time since the coronavirus pandemic began.
The plan, called “JetForward,” includes a $400 million investment between 2025 and 2027 in premium products.
Detailing that path forward in late July, JetBlue leaders publicly teased a major premium-product announcement. Some on Wall Street predicted a domestic first-class-style onboard product.
Instead, though, the carrier is kicking off that investment by diving headfirst into the airport lounge realm with two clubs at its biggest hubs.
Once open, the lounges should prove to be a major draw for customers aiming for high-level status in JetBlue's TrueBlue program or planning a Mint flight on the carrier’s growing European route network.
"We thought about it with the loyalty program, and the enhancements we can make for our customer experience, a future credit card product that we’re looking at launching, it all just fit together really nicely," said Christopher Buckner, vice president of loyalty and partnerships, in an interview with TPG Thursday.
What we know about the new JetBlue lounges
JetBlue’s first airport lounge, spanning 8,000 square feet, will open in late 2025 inside JFK’s Terminal 5, the carrier announced Thursday.
Its second, an 11,000-square-foot facility at Boston’s Terminal C, will open soon after.
We don’t have any renderings to show you just yet; the lounge design is still in development, a spokesperson told TPG.
Unsurprisingly, though, the facilities will prominently weave in the airline’s blue brand aesthetic, the company said — along with local and regional artwork and other personal touches.
JetBlue’s lounges will feature three unique areas, or themes, known as “Play,” “Work” and “Lounge.”
The facilities will each offer a full-service bar and barista-equipped coffee bar, JetBlue said, along with areas to relax and private workstations. The lounges will also feature fast, free Wi-Fi, a bevy of outlets for charging, and complimentary food and beverage offerings.
“Customers love the JetBlue experience,” St. George said Thursday. “We’re pulling through those thoughtful touches you find onboard our flights into the lounge experience.”
Who will get access to the new JetBlue lounges?
As you’ll find with many airline lounge networks, there are a variety of ways you can earn JetBlue lounge access — from booking a high-end ticket to gaining access with a credit card or outright paying for a membership.
Have Mosaic 4 status
Complimentary lounge access will be a new signature perk for members of Mosaic 4, the highest elite status tier in the TrueBlue program. Those members will be allowed to bring an accompanying guest into the lounge for free.
Carry the future premium JetBlue credit card
JetBlue will soon announce details of a new, higher-end credit card, the company announced Thursday. That card will presumably feature a higher annual fee compared with the airline's existing cobranded card portfolio but also added perks — one of which will be free access to its new lounge network.
An accompanying guest will also be permitted for these members.
Travel Mint to Europe
Booking a transatlantic flight in the premium Mint cabin will carry an added perk in the form of preflight JetBlue lounge access (this will be limited to travelers flying on a Mint ticket; no guests booked in the main cabin will be allowed inside).
Buy an annual pass
Finally, as with many airline lounges, you’ll be able to purchase an annual pass. The airline has not yet shared pricing details, but other carriers’ (larger) lounge networks typically have an annual membership fee totaling several hundred dollars.
Preventing overcrowding
Are there more opportunities to expand lounge access to more travelers — such as transcontinental Mint flyers?
“We will continue to evaluate the access policy," Buckner said, while noting the airline hopes to guard, from the outset, against overcrowing that's plagued all too many airport lounges across the country.
"We really want to learn from others, and make sure that the customers that are getting access to the lounge are having an amazing JetBlue experience, and not have to worry about overcrowding or anything like that," Buckner added.
Read more: Best credit cards for airport lounge access
Additional Mosaic perk announced
A new lounge network and a premium cobranded credit card weren’t the only new TrueBlue offerings JetBlue revealed Thursday.
The carrier also unveiled an additional perk for its high-level elite status members.
Starting in 2025, the airline will offer a new incentive for Mosaic 4 members to keep earning elite status Tiles.
Members with at least 250 Tiles will earn an additional two “Move to Mint” certificates for every 100 Tiles earned. That’s beyond the certificates already accrued for earning Mosaic 3 and Mosaic 4 status.
As a reminder, TrueBlue members earn one Tile for every $100 spent with the airline and one Tile for every $1,000 spent on a cobranded credit card under the program’s current terms.
Bottom line
Just months after downplaying the possibility of opening airport lounges in the near future, JetBlue has changed course with two planned, starting in late 2025, at its two biggest hubs — JFK and Boston.
JetBlue will certainly be entering a competitive airport lounge landscape, considering the rise of new and swanky club portfolios, including the Delta One Lounge at JFK, and credit card issuer portfolios, including the Chase Sapphire, Capital One and American Express Centurion lounges popping up at airports around the country.
At the same time, adding lounges should be an enticing prospect for travelers who might be inclined to fly JetBlue to and from the Northeast — and turn their attention to its TrueBlue loyalty program.
Meanwhile, about that $400 million the airline has allocated for premium enhancements in the coming years? Expect more future announcements beyond these lounges, executives say.
“Our lounge products and loyalty are a pillar in that overall $400 million," Buckner said. "So there will be other initiatives as well.”
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There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- 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.