New JetBlue and United partnership links loyalty programs and boosts frequent-flyer perks

United Airlines and JetBlue Airways are elevating their predominant flier perks done a caller partnership.

The 2 airlines announced a caller loyalty collaboration called Blue Sky, which will let United’s MileagePlus members and JetBlue’s TrueBlue members to gain and redeem points and miles connected “most” flights operated by nan different airline.

If approved by regulators, different frequent-flier benefits will besides beryllium offered erstwhile travelers alert connected nan different hose astatine nary other cost, including privilege boarding, free baggage and preferred seats. The programme is targeted to commencement successful nan fall, according to USA Today.

The airlines will besides connection flights connected 1 another’s websites and apps. Additionally, they will show nan other’s itineraries and fares connected nan website and apps erstwhile passengers hunt for flights to book.

“United’s world scope perfectly complements JetBlue’s East Coast leisure network, and importantly expands nan options and benefits for TrueBlue members, nary matter wherever successful nan world they are traveling,” Joanna Geraghty, CEO of JetBlue, said successful a statement.

The business besides intends nan return of United flights to New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport aft nan hose shut down operations astatine JFK successful 2022.

As portion of nan agreement, JetBlue will springiness United entree to abstraction astatine JFK for up to 7 regular round-trip flights opening successful 2027. JetBlue presently sees astir 180 information trips per time astatine nan airport.

JetBlue and United will besides speech 8 formation clip slots astatine Newark Liberty International Airport.

“We’re ever looking for ways to springiness our MileagePlus members moreover much worth and benefits and this collaboration gives them new, unsocial ways to usage their hard-earned miles and find options that fresh their schedule,” United CEO Scott Kirby added successful nan statement.

“Plus, our labor are really excited astir United’s return to JFK for nan longer term, and we’re each looking guardant to starting up flights very soon.”

As was antecedently reported, JetBlue had been willing successful forming a partnership, pinch an purpose “to amended compete against larger airlines for illustration United and their shared rival Delta Airlines,” according to CNBC.

However, nan announcement noted that JetBlue and United will still run arsenic separate, independent companies, managing and pricing their networks independently, including nan motorboat of caller routes, frequencies and promotions.

The announcement comes soon aft United announced that starting June 3, it will require home travelers to cheque successful astatine slightest 45 minutes earlier departure, syncing nan bearer up pinch Delta and American, which person already done nan same.