70,000 bonus points
Loyal JetBlue flyers on the East Coast and Caribbean routes who fly often enough to maximize benefits.
The JetBlue Plus Card opens with one of the most generous welcome bonuses you'll find on a $99-annual-fee airline card: 70,000 TrueBlue points after $1,000 in spending (and annual fee payment) within 90 days. At JetBlue's typical redemption rate, that's worth somewhere between $700 and $1,000 in flights depending on the route and fare class — a strong return on a modest spend requirement.
The ongoing perks are built entirely around the JetBlue experience. You get a free first checked bag for yourself and up to three travel companions on the same booking, which alone covers the $99 annual fee if you check one bag on two roundtrips a year. You also earn 6x points on JetBlue purchases, 2x at restaurants and grocery stores, and 1x everywhere else. Each year on your anniversary, you receive 5,000 bonus points — worth roughly $50 toward a JetBlue flight — and when you book and fly on a JetBlue award, you get 10% of your points back to use again.
This card makes the most sense if JetBlue is your primary airline and you're based on the East Coast, in the Caribbean corridor, or in key markets like Boston, New York, Fort Lauderdale, or Long Beach. The route network is the biggest constraint: JetBlue doesn't fly everywhere, and if you're routing through Atlanta, Chicago O'Hare, or the Pacific Northwest, you'll find Delta and United cards more practical.
Skip it if you fly multiple airlines or primarily use hubs that JetBlue doesn't serve well. A flexible card like the Chase Sapphire Preferred or Capital One Venture earns transferable points usable across dozens of airlines and is a better fit for non-loyal travelers.
The pitfall to watch: TrueBlue points are straightforward but not always the highest-value redemption in the points world. You can't transfer them to hotel programs or other airlines (only to JetBlue's limited airline partners). If you're hoping to leverage them for premium cabin international awards, you'll hit a ceiling fast.
The 70,000-point welcome bonus requires BOTH the $1,000 spend AND payment of the $99 annual fee within the first 90 days. TrueBlue points do not expire as long as your account is open and in good standing. Points are most valuable when redeemed for JetBlue-operated flights; partner airline redemptions have variable value. This card is only worthwhile if you fly JetBlue regularly — JetBlue operates primarily on East Coast and Caribbean routes. The 5,000 anniversary points effectively offset about $50 of the $99 annual fee if redeemed for JetBlue flights.
Cashback Match — all cash back doubled at end of year 1
Annual Fee: $0
175,000 Membership Rewards points
Annual Fee: $895
150,000 bonus points (limited time)
Annual Fee: $795
Cashback Match end of first year
Annual Fee: $0
$150 cash back (15,000 points)
Annual Fee: $0
No welcome bonus
Annual Fee: $0 first year, then $99
Miles Match — all miles doubled at end of year 1
Annual Fee: $0
100,000 Membership Rewards points
Annual Fee: $325
80,000 bonus miles
Annual Fee: $0 intro first year, then $150
70,000 bonus miles
Annual Fee: $0 intro first year, then $150
75,000 American Airlines miles
Annual Fee: $0 intro first year, then $99
80,000 Hilton Honors points
Annual Fee: $0
130,000 Hilton Honors points
Annual Fee: $150
175,000 IHG One Rewards points
Annual Fee: $99
200,000 Membership Rewards points
Annual Fee: $375
Cashback Match at end of first year
Annual Fee: $0
300,000 Membership Rewards points
Annual Fee: $895