It's Even Easier to Make Free Same-Day Changes with JetBlue

Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available – JetBlue Plus Card

Update (April 8, 2016): JetBlue emailed Mosaic members about the new 24-hour change policy, which will work as follows:

If your departure city has multiple flights per day:

• You must contact JetBlue prior to the departure of your original flight.
• You can make your confirmed same day changes via the Mosaic Customer Service Line at 1-877-JET-TRUE or at the airport beginning 24 hours prior to your original scheduled flight (in the time zone of the departing flight).
• You must travel on an earlier or later flight the same day.
• You must travel between the same city pairs or designated co-located airport.

If your departure city only has one flight per day:

• The same day change option is not available for cities with one flight a day.

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For a while now, JetBlue has offered customers the ability to change to an earlier or later flight without paying a difference in fare. The airline's Same Day Flight Change policy lets any customer pay $50 to move to an earlier or later flight the same day beginning at midnight on the date of departure, but Mosaic elites get to make this change for free.

Recently, however, JetBlue eased the requirement for Mosaic members, letting elites change their flight for free up to 24 hours before the scheduled departure time, as early as one calendar day before their original flight. But it gets even better than that — JetBlue also waives change and cancellation fees for Mosaic members, although a difference in fare may apply (Virgin America just introduced a similar benefit). That means you'll be able to make any changes to a non-refundable reservation for you and travel companions (on the same reservation) without paying an additional fee, saving between $70 and $135 per person, depending on the fare booked.

Both policies also apply to award tickets booked with TrueBlue points, and flights booked in JetBlue's fantastic Mint business-class cabin. This is in addition to standard elite perks, like a free first and second checked bag, Even More Speed and priority boarding, priority check-in, 15,000 bonus points upon qualification and 3 additional points per dollar spent on JetBlue flights. Mosaic members also get free alcoholic beverages when flying in coach and phenomenal rates when redeeming points to upgrade to JetBlue's Even More Space section. You can get a lot of value from the program — assuming regular travel, we value Mosaic at $1,495 (as of February 2016).

Fast Track to JetBlue Mosaic

Typically, you need to earn either 15,000 base flight points or 12,000 base flight points plus 30 flown flight segments in a calendar year to move up to Mosaic. Assuming you're purchasing the lowest Blue fare class, you'll need to spend $5,000 to earn 15,000 base points or $4,000 to earn 12,000 base points. If you fly JetBlue quite often for work (purchasing pricer fares), you shouldn't have much difficulty qualifying. However, if you focus on personal travel or tend to spread your loyalty between multiple programs, there's an excellent alternative to consider.

If you spend quite a bit on your personal or business credit cards each year (or even if you don't), it might be worthwhile to consider two new cards from JetBlue. The JetBlue Plus Card and JetBlue Business Card both award Mosaic elite status after you spend $50,000 or more within a calendar year, putting Mosaic well within reach even if you fall far short of the airline's revenue requirements.

Both cards also offer 30,000 bonus points after you spend $1,000 within the first 90 days, and you'll earn 6 points per $1 spent on JetBlue purchases, 2 points for every $1 spent at restaurants and grocery stores (restaurants and office supply stores for the business card) and 1 point for every $1 spent on all other purchases. Both cards come along with a $99 annual fee, but you'll get 5,000 bonus points every year after your account anniversary, 10% back when you redeem points, plus a 50% discount on many in-flight purchases, including drinks and food.

Thanks to TPG reader Mark O., who shared this news tip by emailing tpgtips@thepointsguy.com. We'll be sending out a $200 Visa gift card as a token of our appreciation.

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