JetBlue Premier Review

Overview

The JetBlue Premier is a category rewards card from Barclays, running on the Mastercard network. The JetBlue Premier earns up to 2x on dining and groceries, so it pays you the most exactly where you already spend. It carries a $499 annual fee, so the real question is whether its rewards, credits, and perks clear that bar for the way you spend. New cardholders can earn 100,000 bonus points after $5,000 in 90 days (and paying the annual fee) after $5,000 in 90 days.

It sits at the premium end of the market, trading a steep annual fee for lounge access, statement credits, and travel protections. That makes the decision less about the rewards rate and more about whether you will use the perks enough to come out ahead.

Our 3.0 out of 5 rating

Each score weighs the rewards rate, value after the annual fee, welcome offer, points flexibility, and perks, with every point valued at a flat 1 cent. This is our editorial assessment to help you compare cards, not a guarantee of approval or of the value you will get.

Rewards: how it earns

Where the JetBlue Premier earns its rewards is its bonus categories: 2x on dining (about $60 a year on the $3,000 a typical household spends there) and 2x on groceries (about $120 a year on the $6,000 a typical household spends there). Across a full year of average household spending, the card returns roughly $382 in rewards before any welcome bonus, so the more your spending overlaps those categories, the better it does.

Brand and bonus rates: beyond the everyday categories above, this card also earns:

• 6x points on JetBlue, JetBlue Vacations, and TrueBlue Travel purchases
• 15% rebate in points on award flights you book
• 50% savings on eligible in-flight purchases

Every point and mile above is valued at a flat 1 cent, the same honest standard we use for every card. Run your own spending through the calculator to see what this card would actually return for you.

Pros and cons

The welcome bonus

The current welcome offer is 100,000 bonus points after $5,000 in 90 days (and paying the annual fee), earned after you spend $5,000 in 90 days. Valued honestly at a flat 1 cent per point, that is worth about $1,000. Stacking the welcome offer on top of a typical year of rewards and accounting for the $499 annual fee, the first year is worth roughly $883.

Is the annual fee worth it?

To come out ahead on the JetBlue Premier you need to clear its $499 annual fee, and it leans on rewards rather than credits to get there. On typical spending it earns about $382 a year. On rewards and credits alone it is a close call, so it only makes sense if you will genuinely use the perks like lounge access, elite status, or travel protections.

Benefits and protections

Beyond the rewards, the perks and protections worth knowing about include:

• First checked bag free for you and up to 3 companions
• Global lounge access for the cardmember
• Annual elite status boost and anniversary bonus points
• Companion pass statement credits at higher annual spend
• No foreign transaction fees

Statement credits

This card does not come with recurring statement credits. Its value is in the rewards rate and welcome offer.

Who should get it, and who should skip it

It is best for frequent flyers loyal to this airline who will use perks like free checked bags and priority boarding and want miles toward award flights.

Skip it if you will not use the lounge access and annual credits, or if you would rather not float a high fee and chase reimbursements every year.

Frequently asked questions