B6 points are basically an international dead end, no?
Nov 12, 2017, 9:54 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 1999
Location: if it's Thursday, this must be Belgium
Programs: UA 1K MM
Posts: 6,483
B6 points are basically an international dead end, no?
Hi all -- I'm usually a UA flier but at end of this year am defecting to a yet-to-be-chosen carrier, based on info I'm trying to gather now.
I've flown on B6 a few times, I did their 75,000 match challenge last year and have a significant points balance, enough that would on some other airlines give me multiple award trips to EU, Asia, etc. (I fly a little bit domestically for business/personal, more for international, ~1x per month).
But from all that I can see in the Jetblue partners info pages, there are basically no international carriers to spend my points on, is that correct? Even to figure out that you can redeem on Hawaiian was difficult to understand. I basically am stuck with flying on Jetblue and noone else, is that right?
Miles come in from international partners, but can't go anywhere?
edit: I am on the West Coast, fly SFO-NYC(EWR) usually when domestic, otherwise international. So also JFK is a bit less convenient, adding to my evaluation against switching to B6...
I've flown on B6 a few times, I did their 75,000 match challenge last year and have a significant points balance, enough that would on some other airlines give me multiple award trips to EU, Asia, etc. (I fly a little bit domestically for business/personal, more for international, ~1x per month).
But from all that I can see in the Jetblue partners info pages, there are basically no international carriers to spend my points on, is that correct? Even to figure out that you can redeem on Hawaiian was difficult to understand. I basically am stuck with flying on Jetblue and noone else, is that right?
Miles come in from international partners, but can't go anywhere?
edit: I am on the West Coast, fly SFO-NYC(EWR) usually when domestic, otherwise international. So also JFK is a bit less convenient, adding to my evaluation against switching to B6...
Last edited by TA; Nov 12, 2017 at 10:29 am
Nov 12, 2017, 5:46 pm
#3
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: PSM
Posts: 69,232
Or HA, but yes.
Also, JetBlue has a lot of international routes, but they are all Caribbean/LatAm, not Europe/Asia.
Correct.
Sounds like it is not a great program for your needs.
Also, JetBlue has a lot of international routes, but they are all Caribbean/LatAm, not Europe/Asia.
Correct.
Sounds like it is not a great program for your needs.
Nov 13, 2017, 8:39 am
#4
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Cape Cod
Programs: Free agent
Posts: 1,535
The HA redemptions are a good value imo.
Internationally, you've got a pretty good size route into CA/SA. You can also toss those miles on a Mint seat to the islands when they swap the A321TC over during the winter months.
Internationally, you've got a pretty good size route into CA/SA. You can also toss those miles on a Mint seat to the islands when they swap the A321TC over during the winter months.
Nov 13, 2017, 2:05 pm
#5
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 610
What's the value they assign on HA? How much do they value each TrueBlue point towards the cost of the HA ticket?
Nov 13, 2017, 2:28 pm
#6
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Cape Cod
Programs: Free agent
Posts: 1,535
Seems to be about 1.2 for JFK-HON
It should be noted you can still redeem B6 miles for HON-SYD flights as of last year so you can get JFK->HON->SYD with miles (Although the connection is NOT ideal iirc)
It should be noted you can still redeem B6 miles for HON-SYD flights as of last year so you can get JFK->HON->SYD with miles (Although the connection is NOT ideal iirc)
Nov 13, 2017, 2:51 pm
#7
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Cape Cod
Programs: Free agent
Posts: 1,535
Just called in.
Random July 2018 dates for JFK SYD yielded ->
152900 miles total, JFK->HON->SYD. The CSR indicated that the connection was long (22 hours) and that the flights were priced as single legs and thus quite a bit higher.
It's also possible to route JFK->LAS (In Mint)->HON->SYD but I didn't go too far down that rabbit hole.
Random July 2018 dates for JFK SYD yielded ->
152900 miles total, JFK->HON->SYD. The CSR indicated that the connection was long (22 hours) and that the flights were priced as single legs and thus quite a bit higher.
It's also possible to route JFK->LAS (In Mint)->HON->SYD but I didn't go too far down that rabbit hole.
Jan 16, 2018, 1:53 pm
#9
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: JFK/LGA
Posts: 21
Frankly, I think the value in TrueBlue is on their domestic and Caribbean nonstop flights. They don't require a lot of points to redeem (especially on vacation packages--seems like you get a bit of a point discount) and they're also easy to earn. 6 points when using the website + 6 points when using their card. I think the best way to use the TrueBlue program for the average consumer is to take one or two Caribbean or Domestic vacations every year using their Plus card (for the free checked bags, $100 vacation credit, 10% redemption bonus and 5,000-point annual bonus). You'll save yourself $400-$600 dollars on a vacation every year and earn points.
Jan 17, 2018, 2:04 pm
#10
Join Date: Dec 2017
Posts: 42
In addition to what all have said, B6 has recently published a standard award chart for Hawaiian redemptions - still need to call though.
Also, there is a very high likelihood that they will add flights to Europe (think London, Paris, Amsterdam) from JFK (also BOS, maybe FLL) when they take delivery of the ER a321's in the next few years.
Also, there is a very high likelihood that they will add flights to Europe (think London, Paris, Amsterdam) from JFK (also BOS, maybe FLL) when they take delivery of the ER a321's in the next few years.
Jan 17, 2018, 7:59 pm
#11
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 610
In addition to what all have said, B6 has recently published a standard award chart for Hawaiian redemptions - still need to call though.
Also, there is a very high likelihood that they will add flights to Europe (think London, Paris, Amsterdam) from JFK (also BOS, maybe FLL) when they take delivery of the ER a321's in the next few years.
Also, there is a very high likelihood that they will add flights to Europe (think London, Paris, Amsterdam) from JFK (also BOS, maybe FLL) when they take delivery of the ER a321's in the next few years.
