New JetBlue Premier card launches, but isn’t ready to take off

Barclays has introduced a new JetBlue Premier credit card today, and in its current state, this may be the worst new rewards credit card launch since the Barclays Arrival Premier card (which lasted for about 6 months before they pulled the card). According to the press release, this card will get JetBlue business class lounge access when those launch — but the first of the two planned JetBlue lounges (New York JFK) isn’t expected to happen until late 2025 and the second (Boston BOS) is expected “soon after”, so I can’t imagine why anyone would get this card now.

The Offer & Key Card Details

Card Offer and Details

Barclays JetBlue Premier Mastercard ⓘ $349 1st Yr Value Estimate 70K Miles + 5 tiles ⓘ Non-Affiliate 70K miles + 5 tiles after $5K in spend in 90 days and payment of annual fee. $499 Annual Fee Information about this card has been collected independently by Frequent Miler. The issuer did not provide the details, nor is it responsible for their accuracy. FM Mini Review: This card is difficult to justify, even for the welcome bonus. Note also the $150 fee per authorized user. While cardholders will get access to JetBlue lounges when those open, the first of two that have been announced is scheduled to open in late 2025. Until JetBlue lounges open, the perks just don't justify the annual fee. Consider the JetBlue Plus card instead, though note that those who have or have had the Plus card aren't eligible for the Premier card. Earning rate: 2X restaurants and grocery ✦ 6X JetBlue & Paisley ✦ 1X everywhere else Base: 1X (1.33%) Dine: 2X (2.66%) Grocery: 2X (2.66%) Brand: 6X (7.98%) Card Info: Mastercard World Elite issued by Barclays. This card has no foreign currency conversion fees. Big spend bonus: Earn 1 tile for every $1,000 in purchases. Noteworthy perks: ✦ Free checked bag ✦ Group A boarding ✦ 5000 bonus points every anniversary ✦ Priority Pass Select membership ✦ 10% point rebate on awards ✦ Up to $300 in annual statement credits: $50 for each Paisly purchase of $250 or more up to $300 per calendar year ✦ 50% savings on in-flight purchases ✦ Up to $120 every four years for TSAPreCheck or Global Entry application fee See also: Barclaycard JetBlue offers are live and worth a look Learn more or apply

Quick Thoughts

The welcome bonus on this card would be ordinary on a card costing a fraction of the price. At a $499 annual fee plus $150 per authorized user, I would expect a more generous intro offer. Perhaps JetBlue is waiting until their lounges open to give this card an exciting offer.

Speaking of those lounges, the press release notes that cardholders and one guest will get access to the JetBlue lounges. The first of those is scheduled to open at New York JFK in “late 2025”, with the lounge at Boston BOS expected to open “soon after”. JetBlue lounge access isn’t mentioned anywhere on the landing page, presumably because Barclays knows that it can’t make a promise of access to something that isn’t even open. Construction delays aren’t exactly rare, so I wouldn’t put $499 on either of the lounges open this year. They certainly might, but I wouldn’t be getting a $499 credit card for access to something that doesn’t yet exist unless it was packed with other perks.

Unfortunately, this card is most definitely not packed with other perks. In fact, the perks are almost a carbon copy of benefits available on other JetBlue cards with a couple of add-ons. The Premier card will have:

• Priority Pass Lounge access for the cardmember and one guest “at more than 1,500 lounges, Minute Suites, Be Relax Spas and more”.
• Paisly Statement Credits: Earn a $50 statement credit for each qualifying transaction of $250 or more through Paisly up to 6 transactions per calendar year (up to $300 in total statement credits per calendar year).
• Group A boarding (note that this is also available on the JetBlue Business card)
• Global Entry & TSA PReCheck: Receive an application fee statement credit of up to $120 every four years

There are other benefits like 5,000 bonus points each year after account anniversary and payment of the annual fee and 10% of redeemed points back after traveling on a JetBlue-operated award flight or the ability to earn 1 tile for every $1,000 spent on the card, but those are features that are also available on the JetBlue Plus card, which has a $99 annual fee.

The Paisly statement credits aren’t worth anywhere near face value since you’d have to make six separate purchases that are each $250 or more in order to get full value. Spending $1500 that has to be divided evenly over six purchases in order to fully use that benefit is just not something that would attract me to the card.

While lounge access is nice, I just can’t see much of a market for this card outside of New York and Boston and then only customers who aren’t going to have access already because they are in transatlantic business class, are top-tier Mosaic 4 elites, or have a lounge membership. I can guess that this card will probably make sense if you were otherwise considering buying a lounge membership, but we won’t know until JetBlue begins selling those memberships.

For the time being, I can’t see picking this card over either the JetBlue Plus card or the JetBlue business card unless you really value the Paisly credits and Priority Pass membership. Otherwise, I’d hold off until they launch the lounges. Speaking of the JetBlue Plus card, those who have or have had the JetBlue Plus credit card are not eligible for this card. Frankly, I’m surprised that Barclays and JetBlue want to limit the pool of potential applicants even further than the weak intro offer will naturally.

The post New JetBlue Premier card launches, but isn’t ready to take off appeared first on Frequent Miler. Frequent Miler may receive compensation from CHASE. American Express, Capital One, or other partners.