JetBlue and Qatar Airways introduce reciprocal mileage earning
JetBlue and Qatar Airways are expanding their existing relationship to include new loyalty benefits.
On Wednesday, the two carriers announced that members of each airline’s frequent flyer program can earn miles from flights on either airline, effective immediately. This news comes on the heels of an expanded codeshare agreement between JetBlue and Qatar, which was unveiled back in April 2021.
JetBlue and Qatar Airways add reciprocal mileage earning
You’ll earn Qatar Qmiles or JetBlue TrueBlue points based on a combination of fare class and distance flown, according to the charts below.
Here's the accrual chart for JetBlue flights when you credit them to Qatar Airways' Privilege Club. Notably, all JetBlue coach fares, except for Blue Basic, will earn at 100% of the miles flown, while Mint fares will earn a 25% bonus, bringing the total to 125% of miles flown.
For those crediting Qatar flights to JetBlue, expect to earn points at a rate between 25% and 150% of the miles flown, depending on the fare class purchased. Unfortunately, Qatar flights do not count toward JetBlue Mosaic elite status qualification.
In addition to earning miles, the airlines are teasing that reciprocal redemptions will start in the coming months. The details of how those redemptions will work are still under wraps. If redemptions are introduced at reasonable rates, this could be a big boost for TrueBlue, as the program has historically only offered redemptions on its own flights and with Hawaiian Airlines.
Does it make sense to credit Qatar flights to JetBlue?
U.S.-based travelers now have three major loyalty programs to which they can credit Qatar Airways tickets. The Doha-based airline is a member of the Oneworld alliance, of which American Airlines and Alaska Airlines are also members. As such, you can earn American AAdvantage miles or Alaska Mileage Plan miles from Qatar-operated flights.
Be sure to look at the fare code on your ticket — along with the mileage earning tables for Alaska, American and JetBlue — to help make the decision when determining how many miles you’ll earn on Qatar flights.
At TPG, we value American miles at 1.4 cents, Alaska miles at 1.8 cents and JetBlue points at 1.3 cents.
On the surface, you might think that crediting to Alaska would make sense, since those miles are worth more, all else being equal.
However, you’ll want to consider how you spend your miles and your current balances when determining where to credit. Both American and Alaska have a long list of international partners, so those redeeming for long-haul travel might be better off crediting there when compared to JetBlue.
For now, TrueBlue points are best used toward deep-discount domestic coach tickets with JetBlue — though this could change when reciprocal redemptions with Qatar Airways launch at a later date. Though the redemption rate is tied to revenue fares, if you’re looking to boost your account balance, crediting to JetBlue could make sense, too.
Read more: The complete guide to the JetBlue TrueBlue program
Bottom line
It's great to see JetBlue and Qatar Airways expand their existing partnership and give frequent travelers more options for earning points and miles. Only time will tell how lucrative the redemption rates will be, but we'll dig into those details once they are announced.
Additional reporting by Andrew Kunesh
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- 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.
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| 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. |
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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.