JetBlue TrueBlue - Questions About Transferring Points from American Express to JetBlue

I am new to American Express and have 53K points, with which I am interested in having ticketed 2 tickets from JFK-LAS. I checked the dates I was looking for on jetblue.com/awards and the awards are available. However, I was reading Amex's rules and I have a few questions:

1) Can I do all of this online, or will I have to speak to someone at JetBlue in order to have the tickets ticketed?
2) Does anyone know what my total cost will be for having 2 tickets ticketed, including the .0005 cost per mile to offset Amex's excise tax. How much do you pay on award tickets with jet blue? Do I need to speak to someone to book it, and if so, will I have to pay a fee for that?

Any other info that someone who has done this before can give me would be appreciated.

Thank you.

You can book award tickets on jetblue.com, without speaking to an agent. Just go to where you saw the availablity, and continue through the booking process. The way I understand it, is that you first convert your Amex points to Trueblue Points (250:1), the points are converted into an award automatically, and then you can use the TruePasses (2 per award of 100 points) to book a one-way ticket on jetblue.

There are no award booking fees, other than the Sep 11 Security Fee (or whatever it's called now) of $2.50 per segment per passenger.

With 53K points, you will have a balance of 3K in your Membership Rewards account after the transfer (assuming your TrueBlue balance is 0).

1. You don't need to call anyone. Just transfer the points from the Amex MR site and then book at jetblue.com. Be sure you enter the correct TB #s.

2. I am not sure of the exact cost, but I can tell you (having done this many times) that it won't be more than a few dollars (probably something like $8 per person, give or take a tiny bit). That goes to Amex. For the actual award booking with JetBlue, you will only be paying a $2.50 security fee per person each way, so $5 roundtrip and $10 total for both of you.

The Amex site will say allow something like 24-48 hours for the points to transfer, but IME, it takes no longer than 30 seconds. If that's the case, be sure to book your tix the second the points transfer to secure your TB seats.

Hope this helps! Feel free to ask any other Qs...

In addition to the 9/11 security fee you will also have to pay all Passenger Facility Charges (PFCs) and I believe that you also have to pay the per-segment flight tax. The main tax you don't pay is the 7.5% tax on the airfare since that is $0.

The PFCs for a JFK-LAS round-trip should be $8.50 per person and the Flight segment tax should be $7 per person, plus the $5 9/11 fee.

In addition to the 9/11 security fee you will also have to pay all Passenger Facility Charges (PFCs) and I believe that you also have to pay the per-segment flight tax. The main tax you don't pay is the 7.5% tax on the airfare since that is $0.

The PFCs for a JFK-LAS round-trip should be $8.50 per person and the Flight segment tax should be $7 per person, plus the $5 9/11 fee.

I have never seen a PFC added to a TB booking. For domestic travel, the total fare paid has always shown $5 roundtrip per person. I've also never seen segment taxes on TB tickets.

FOR 2 PEOPLE:

Adult Lowest Fare $0.00 USD



Wed, 15 Oct 08
Flight 197 9:45 AM Depart New York, NY (JFK)
12:26 PM Arrive Las Vegas, NV (LAS)

Adult Lowest Fare $0.00 USD



Wed, 22 Oct 08
Flight 192 11:20 AM Depart Las Vegas, NV (LAS)
7:27 PM Arrive New York, NY (JFK)




Going Out

Airfare / Adult $ 0.00 USD
Taxes / Adult ( details) $ 2.50 USD
Subtotal / $ 2.50 USD
X 2 Adults $ 5.00 USD


Coming Back

Airfare / Adult $ 0.00 USD
Taxes / Adult ( details) $ 2.50 USD
Subtotal / $ 2.50 USD
X 2 Adults $ 5.00 USD


Total Cost of Flight $ 10.00 USD

I have never seen a PFC added to a TB booking. For domestic travel, the total fare paid has always shown $5 roundtrip per person. I've also never seen segment taxes on TB tickets.

Wow...I'm surprised by that. I wonder if they have come up with a way to not get nicked for those fees from the feds or if they just eat the costs.

You never see a PFC charged because it is illegal to charge a PFC on an award ticket.

For your reference..check out #3

http://ecfr.gpoaccess.gov/cgi/t/text/text-idx?c=ecfr&sid=bf1762aa37466143fa75aa4297f6fce5&rgn=div8&view=text&node=14:3.0.1.2.13.1.1.5&idno=14