How is JetBlue for Boston to DCA weekly commute?
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2019
Posts: 5
How is JetBlue for Boston to DCA weekly commute?
hi! I will be flying frequently between Boston (Logan) and D.C. (DCA) because I will work in DC and fly home to see my fiancé on the weekends (sometimes flying back to boston on Thursday and returning on Tuesday to D.C) Which airline has the better value to do this? Jet blue and American Airlines seem to have the most direct D.C. -Boston roundteip flights....which is cheaper and/or more reliable (in terms of cancelations and delays)?
Also, depending which airline is better if any, which credit card should I get to get the most reward points to pay the least in flights for whichever airline? Should I get a jet blue credit card or an AA credit card? Or a generic travel rewards card?
Also, my fiancé has platinum status with AA...does that mean I should try to get status with AA as well or is it better to have status with a different airline so we can both take advantage?
Any information would be helpful! Thanks!!!
Also, depending which airline is better if any, which credit card should I get to get the most reward points to pay the least in flights for whichever airline? Should I get a jet blue credit card or an AA credit card? Or a generic travel rewards card?
Also, my fiancé has platinum status with AA...does that mean I should try to get status with AA as well or is it better to have status with a different airline so we can both take advantage?
Any information would be helpful! Thanks!!!
#2
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 49,433
Unless you have access to a negotiated corporate discount on AA, you will likely find B6 significantly cheaper. Changes are also free once you achieve status. The current thinking is that you will do better with a card not associated with a specific carrier, but you can look at the various cards to figure out what you want out of the program.
#3
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: PSC
Programs: Hilton Diamond/IHG Platinum/DL Plutononium
Posts: 1,489
Best card is definately the Amex Platinum or Citi Prestige which will earn 5x on Airfare/travel. Both cards will also give you priority pass lounge access that you will be able to use in Boston or Washington.
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Somewhere between here and there...
Programs: WWF, Appalachian Mountain Club
Posts: 11,544
I prefer B6 E190's to ex-US planes on that route. You'd have to fly that route a LOT to get to Mosaic because they are usually cheap. Ditto to lounge access tho, but in BOS, those flights usually depart from the other side of the terminal. On those short flights I am showing up at the last possible second so not really useful to me.
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 1999
Posts: 23,243
If the OP will fly JB then Id say then 1st CC s/b the Barclay JB CC (with the AF) that way once $50k is spent theyd be Mosaic and can CX any res any time, and 2 free bags per person when using the ,pts for award tkts. Besides when stuff hits the fan the Mosaic folks are great.Once the $50k is reached then Id use the other CCs also if Mosaic day of flight the extra extra leg room seats are $0
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2019
Posts: 5
Unless you have access to a negotiated corporate discount on AA, you will likely find B6 significantly cheaper. Changes are also free once you achieve status. The current thinking is that you will do better with a card not associated with a specific carrier, but you can look at the various cards to figure out what you want out of the program.
#8
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2019
Posts: 5
If the OP will fly JB then Id say then 1st CC s/b the Barclay JB CC (with the AF) that way once $50k is spent theyd be Mosaic and can CX any res any time, and 2 free bags per person when using the ,pts for award tkts. Besides when stuff hits the fan the Mosaic folks are great.Once the $50k is reached then Id use the other CCs also if Mosaic day of flight the extra extra leg room seats are $0
#9
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: DCA
Posts: 282
B6 = JetBlue. It's their official IATA (International Air Transport Association) two character abbreviation, like AA for American or DL for Delta. Being a relatively new carrier they didn't really get the pick of the litter so they got stuck with B6.
#10
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: BOS
Programs: Marriott Titanium / LTG, HHonors Gold, JetBlue Mosaic, Nat'l Exec
Posts: 3,412
#11
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Fort Lauderdale, FL
Posts: 2,917
It's also frustrating when people misuse acronyms or terms. In this thread, you'll notice people using both the correct airline code (B6) and the incorrect one (JB). Based on context, we know that means JetBlue...but in reality the JB code means Helijet International.
Most people here are willing to share knowledge, so feel free to do exactly what you did by asking for an explanation. Another option is to check the Glossary. If you scroll to the bottom of the page (at least on a standard webpage), you'll find this Glossary link:
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/glossary.php
#12
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Boston, MA
Programs: AA PLT, B6 Mosaic, UA Gold, Bonvoy Plat, Le Club Accor Silver, Hertz 5 Star
Posts: 1,660
I am a huge JetBlue fan overall (Mosaic for several years) but would hesitate to bet on them for a weekly commute. Their achilles heel, IMHO, is operational reliability. As someone else noted, afternoon flights are often late, and when there are weather or mechanical issues, they generally handle them much worse than all the legacy airlines (e.g. cancelling the entire schedule more often, not being able to rebook you on other flights for days, having to fight to rebook on other airlines, and communicating very poorly about the nature of delays). For a single round trip I'd take my chances, but if you are flying every week you will almost certainly run into some or all of these issues on a regular basis.
#13
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 1999
Posts: 23,243
Barclay has a few credit cards for JetBlue, the personal one that has an annual fee gets you 1 bag free , however once you spend $40k on the card (after any returns and not including the fee (I believe), you will attain JBs highest (only) Elite level Mosaic. Which gets you 2 free bags, and you can change your res anytime for $0, eg I booked a tkt using my pts, then a week later the fare was 1/3 less I called up and they rebooked me at the new level and refunded my old tkt
What folks say about their on time departures is true but flying a few AA trips lately I found them to be no better.
Once Mosaic they ahv eno idea how you got it and your treated as if you got it by flying them the needed amount and spent the $$ as well on them