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JetBlue to launch 2 new Fort Lauderdale routes, bring back 2 more
Sean Cudahy
Senior Aviation Reporter
Sean Cudahy is an aviation reporter covering news about airlines, frequent flyer programs and consumer travel issues.
July 23, 2025
•
5 min read
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JetBlue is planning to do a lot more flying out of South Florida this winter.
The airline on Wednesday announced it’s bringing back a couple of flights it cut last year out of Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL). And, it’s preparing to launch two all-new routes out of FLL in the process — one to the Gulf Coast of Florida, and another to the East Coast of Virginia.
That’s on top of additional daily departures the New York-based carrier is planning out of its biggest Sunshine State airport, including more transcontinental flights featuring its premium Mint cabin.
JetBlue's 'immense change': First class, lounges and credit card highlight airline's pivot
2 all-new FLL routes
Headlining Wednesday’s Fort Lauderdale expansion for JetBlue were two routes it has not previously flown out of its South Florida focus city.
In the coming months, the carrier will launch nonstop service to two southeast airports:
- Norfolk International Airport (ORF) in Virginia, with twice-daily service.
- Tampa International Airport (TPA), with daily nonstop intra-Florida service to the Gulf Coast airport less than 200 miles from FLL.
Both routes launch Dec. 4.
Bringing back 2 additional routes
Plus, JetBlue announced it will restore service to two Sun Belt airports that previously got caught up in cuts the airline made amid a larger network shakeup since early 2024: Austin Bergstrom International Airport (AUS), with twice-daily service, and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL), with daily service.
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The Austin route will return on Nov. 20, with Atlanta launching Dec. 4.
More flights, and Mint
On top of those new and restored routes, JetBlue is also dialing up daily departures from Fort Lauderdale to handful of major airports on the East and West Coasts.
Those include additional daily flights to:
- Las Vegas’ Harry Reid International Airport (LAS)
- Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
- Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX)
- Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU)
- Richmond International Airport (RIC) in Virginia
Meanwhile, passengers hoping to fly between the West Coast and South Florida in the carrier’s premium cabin will have more options: JetBlue noted that it’ll offer its lie-flat Mint accommodations on every FLL flight to LAS, LAX, PHX and San Francisco International Airport (SFO).
Growing again in Fort Lauderdale
It’s a notable scaling up of the airline’s Fort Lauderdale footprint. Last winter, between October and March, JetBlue operated about 6.5% fewer departures than the year prior, according to data from aviation analytics firm Cirium.
But the carrier’s FLL presence was on track to bounce back this winter, even prior to Wednesday’s announcement.
“Fort Lauderdale has long been a key market for JetBlue, and we’re excited to keep growing with the region,” said Dave Jehn, JetBlue vice president, network planning and airline partnerships, in a statement announcing the news.
Fort Lauderdale was JetBlue's first-ever destination from its John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) home base — a notable stature for the airport during the airline's 25th anniversary year. In February, I was on board a commemorative anniversary flight between the two airports in celebration of the occasion.
Offer of the year: Earn up to 350K JetBlue TrueBlue points and Mosaic elite status for 25 years
Best ways to book JetBlue flights with points
Travelers hoping to book JetBlue flights with points have a few options:
- Book directly with TrueBlue points
- Transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards to JetBlue’s TrueBlue loyalty program
- Some cardholders who have Citi ThankYou Rewards can also transfer to JetBlue
- Transfer Capital One miles to TrueBlue, though at a 5:3 ratio — so 10,000 Capital One miles would get you 6,000 TrueBlue points
- American Express Membership Rewards transfer to TrueBlue at a 250:200 ratio, so 10,000 Amex points would translate to 8,000 TrueBlue points.
United partner redemptions are coming
We should also point out that in the coming months, you'll be able to book JetBlue flights using United MileagePlus miles after the two carriers announced in May that they're teaming up in a new alliance called Blue Sky.
The partnership will allow JetBlue TrueBlue loyalists to earn and redeem points on United-operated flights, and vice versa. The two carriers have not announced a start date for the tie-up.
Related reading:
- When is the best time to book flights for the cheapest airfare?
- The best airline credit cards
- What exactly are airline miles, anyway?
- 6 real-life strategies you can use when your flight is canceled or delayed
- Maximize your airfare: The best credit cards for booking flights
- The best credit cards to reach elite status
- What are points and miles worth? TPG’s monthly valuations
Featured image by ZACH GRIFF/THE POINTS GUY
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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- $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.
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- Annual Fee is $325.
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Apply for American Express® Gold Card
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Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees
Best for dining at restaurants
TPG Editor‘s Rating
Go to reviewCard Rating is based on the opinion of TPG‘s editors and is not influenced by the card issuer.
Rewards Rate
| 4X | 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. |
| 4X | 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. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro Offer
You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
$325Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.Excellent to Good
Why We Chose It
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.