Rate JetBlue TrueBlue
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: COS
Posts: 120
Rate JetBlue TrueBlue
InsideFlyer magazine is reviewing JetBlue TrueBlue in our April issue and would like your input.
If you would like to participate, please post your response in the thread with the pros and cons of membership in JetBlue TrueBlue and grade the program from A to F (A being the highest grade). You can include a plus or minus with the rating.
You can also respond directly to the editors at InsideFlyer at [email protected] if you would prefer.
Thank you.
If you would like to participate, please post your response in the thread with the pros and cons of membership in JetBlue TrueBlue and grade the program from A to F (A being the highest grade). You can include a plus or minus with the rating.
You can also respond directly to the editors at InsideFlyer at [email protected] if you would prefer.
Thank you.
#2
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: PHX/SFO/LAX
Programs: AA-EXP (1.7MM), BA-Slvr, HH-Diamond
Posts: 7,784
I guess I will go first.
Pros:
Cons:
Overall I give the program a C+. TrueBlue isn't useful enough to be more than a secondary FF program alongside one of the legacy carrier FFP's.
Pros:
- Partnership with American Airlines
- Online bonus
- No blackout dates
Cons:
- Points based system
- Lack of an elite tiers
- Extremely poor parter selection... One hotel partner?
Overall I give the program a C+. TrueBlue isn't useful enough to be more than a secondary FF program alongside one of the legacy carrier FFP's.
#3
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Northern New Jersey
Programs: OnePass, AAdvantage, TrueBlue, HHonors
Posts: 2,709
A Con to your pro... No black out dates is good but its hard when there is only one or two available seats for redemption between given city pairs.
#4
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: long island,ny
Programs: starwood plat 5*elite svo, usair, delta, jetblue, southwest, nwa
Posts: 257
PROS
no blackout dates
Cons
do not like the new FF program
not enough partners
use it as secondary FF program
probably will get enough points for one great trip and then will get rid of the amex card and not worry about jetblue anymore. will use other programs.
C-
no blackout dates
Cons
do not like the new FF program
not enough partners
use it as secondary FF program
probably will get enough points for one great trip and then will get rid of the amex card and not worry about jetblue anymore. will use other programs.
C-
#5
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: ORD
Programs: UA MM, AA PPro
Posts: 1,480
I'm a brand new member, so perhaps I misunderstand some aspects of the system.
Pros
No blackout days
Point based
Plenty of bonus offers, at least for now
Partnership with AA
Cons
No fixed redemption levels (hard to have a target)
Short expiration window, and very few ways to keep points from expiring
No Elite levels = no perks
Partnership with AA limited to only some routes
Grade: C+
Pros
No blackout days
Point based
Plenty of bonus offers, at least for now
Partnership with AA
Cons
No fixed redemption levels (hard to have a target)
Short expiration window, and very few ways to keep points from expiring
No Elite levels = no perks
Partnership with AA limited to only some routes
Grade: C+
Last edited by legalalien; Feb 21, 2011 at 3:16 pm Reason: Added partnership with AA
#6
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: PSM
Posts: 69,232
TrueBlue seems to exist to make sure that they have a loyalty program and to reward the most profitable customers. It is not designed for the same sort of arbitrage games that the legacy programs were built around. The earning formulas are a bit convoluted to figure out but if you do understand them - and if you spend a lot of money flying on the carrier - you can make out quite well in terms of earning points and redeeming for a good return on the investment. If you don't spend much money you don't do as well on that RoI.
The "no blackout dates" thing is a bit of a red herring IMO because most programs do not have those but they can still choose to not release seats. They aren't blacked out but they still do not exist. Inventory/revenue management is much more sophisticated now than it was in the era of blackout dates. What is more significant is that JetBlue does not limit reward seats at all. If you have enough points you can buy every seat on the plane. Yeah, it would be a ton of points, but you can do it.
The main cons I see, in addition to the limited RoI opportunities for the discount fare purchaser - are:
Overall I'd say C- as the rating if you're flying on discount fares. If you are frequently traveling on higher fares or only on short hops that don't earn much on legacy programs it can be as high as a B or B+ but I don't think that applies to many of their customers.
The "no blackout dates" thing is a bit of a red herring IMO because most programs do not have those but they can still choose to not release seats. They aren't blacked out but they still do not exist. Inventory/revenue management is much more sophisticated now than it was in the era of blackout dates. What is more significant is that JetBlue does not limit reward seats at all. If you have enough points you can buy every seat on the plane. Yeah, it would be a ton of points, but you can do it.
The main cons I see, in addition to the limited RoI opportunities for the discount fare purchaser - are:
- Limited earning partners, airline or otherwise
- VERY limited redemption partners
- Short point expiry horizon and difficulty to extend (fly/AmEx only)
- Potential for extremely high redemption costs, though I suppose that's better than simply not available.
Overall I'd say C- as the rating if you're flying on discount fares. If you are frequently traveling on higher fares or only on short hops that don't earn much on legacy programs it can be as high as a B or B+ but I don't think that applies to many of their customers.
#7
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: CT/NY
Programs: UA 1K/1MM, AA EXP, Marriott LT Titanium, Hyatt Globalist, IHG Plat Amb
Posts: 6,011
Pros:
* Ancillary benefit for a great airline product
* Points based on fare paid, plus any EML purchases
* Go long and go frequent bonuses
Cons:
* No elite program
* Points expire unless you fly or keep a B6 Amex card
* Moving target redemption
* Difficult to request credit for missing points (I have one that's pending 28 days now)
* No dedicated customer service function for the program - you basically talk to a reservation agent, who's playing telephone between you and back-office.
Grade: C
* Ancillary benefit for a great airline product
* Points based on fare paid, plus any EML purchases
* Go long and go frequent bonuses
Cons:
* No elite program
* Points expire unless you fly or keep a B6 Amex card
* Moving target redemption
* Difficult to request credit for missing points (I have one that's pending 28 days now)
* No dedicated customer service function for the program - you basically talk to a reservation agent, who's playing telephone between you and back-office.
Grade: C
#8
Moderator: Southwest Airlines, Capital One
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: California
Programs: WN Companion Pass, A-list preferred, Hyatt Globalist; United Club Lietime (sic) Member
Posts: 21,617
I agree with your entire evaluation, PtahCha. As to the elite program, that was promised over a year ago, but it has never materialized. JetBlue really dropped the ball on this one.
#9
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: PSM
Posts: 69,232
I agree with your entire evaluation, PtahCha. As to the elite program, that was promised over a year ago, but it has never materialized. JetBlue really dropped the ball on this one.
#10
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 342
They could come up with other perks for an elite program. Priority baggage coming out first and perhaps additional bags allowed without additional fees. Maybe an elite phone number that you don't have to hold for 30 minutes. And even priority lines for check in and bag drop.
#11
Moderator: Southwest Airlines, Capital One
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: California
Programs: WN Companion Pass, A-list preferred, Hyatt Globalist; United Club Lietime (sic) Member
Posts: 21,617
They could come up with other perks for an elite program. Priority baggage coming out first and perhaps additional bags allowed without additional fees. Maybe an elite phone number that you don't have to hold for 30 minutes. And even priority lines for check in and bag drop.
#12
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Northern New Jersey
Programs: OnePass, AAdvantage, TrueBlue, HHonors
Posts: 2,709
No business lounge. Would be nice to have a place a little more quiet to get some work done, perhaps grab a snack or drink, and not have random kids kicking my bags while wait for the next flight.
(I know its not technically a TrueBlue item, but something I think goes hand in hand with a frequent flyer program).
(I know its not technically a TrueBlue item, but something I think goes hand in hand with a frequent flyer program).
#13
Join Date: May 2008
Location: new york
Programs: trueblue ,mileageplus skymiles, hilton honors silver
Posts: 965
Rating B6
I would give it a B . Finally I get rewarded for paying the top fares when flying to Florida in December If I flew on CO or DL I would get 2000 miles for this flight but on b6 I get 5000 points (which is good for a cheap 1 way flight) . My 8 year old has earned free flights this way . There is no way to get a trip to Europe to use points on other airlines .
#14
Join Date: Feb 2010
Posts: 801
No business lounge. Would be nice to have a place a little more quiet to get some work done, perhaps grab a snack or drink, and not have random kids kicking my bags while wait for the next flight.
(I know its not technically a TrueBlue item, but something I think goes hand in hand with a frequent flyer program).
(I know its not technically a TrueBlue item, but something I think goes hand in hand with a frequent flyer program).
#15
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Utah
Programs: TrueBlue
Posts: 69
Pros:
* Ancillary benefit for a great airline product
* Points based on fare paid, plus any EML purchases
* Go long and go frequent bonuses
Cons:
* No elite program
* Points expire unless you fly or keep a B6 Amex card
* Moving target redemption
* Difficult to request credit for missing points (I have one that's pending 28 days now)
* No dedicated customer service function for the program - you basically talk to a reservation agent, who's playing telephone between you and back-office.
Grade: C
* Ancillary benefit for a great airline product
* Points based on fare paid, plus any EML purchases
* Go long and go frequent bonuses
Cons:
* No elite program
* Points expire unless you fly or keep a B6 Amex card
* Moving target redemption
* Difficult to request credit for missing points (I have one that's pending 28 days now)
* No dedicated customer service function for the program - you basically talk to a reservation agent, who's playing telephone between you and back-office.
Grade: C
However, you have to go THRU the Res agent to get to one, and some TB agents get whiny about having to take the call. But you have every right to ask to talk to the TB agent, and they do exist, and they are more than capable of taking the call.