Today, United Airlines and JetBlue revealed the details of their highly anticipated collaboration. The new partnership, Blue Sky, introduces a range of benefits for passengers with extended travel options and United’s long awaited return to JFK. Here is a breakdown of the key points shared in the announcement earlier today.
Loyalty programme integration and benefits
The Blue Sky initiative will open up new opportunities to earn and use MileagePlus® miles and TrueBlue points across both airlines. The benefits of the corresponding loyalty programmes will also be offered when travelling on the other’s aircraft.
Strategic slot and timing exchanges
JetBlue will provide United access to slots at JFK International Airport for up to seven daily round-trip flights out of JFK Terminal 6 to begin as early as 2027. The pair will also exchange eight flight timings at Newark.
Expanded booking access and interline agreement
Both airlines will simplify bookings by making flights available on one another’s website and app. However, the press release stated “Blue Sky includes an interline agreement, not a codeshare, meaning each airline will continue to publish and market flights independently under its own brand and flight numbers.”
Extended reach through global networks
United’s MileagePlus customers will benefit from access to JetBlue’s leisure-focused East Coast network, while TrueBlue members can redeem points on United’s domestic and international network.
Technology integration
United will move its website and mobile app’s ability to sell hotels, rental cars, cruises and travel insurance, on both a stand-alone and package basis, to new technology and services provided by JetBlue’s Paisly platform.
The release also shared a grid mapping out upcoming reciprocal benefits as part of Blue Sky.
Image credit: United Airlines
Joanna Geraghty, CEO of JetBlue:
“This collaboration with United is a bold step forward for the industry — one that brings together two customer-focused airlines to deliver more choices for travelers and value across our networks. United’s global reach perfectly complements JetBlue’s East Coast leisure network, and significantly expands the options and benefits for TrueBlue members, no matter where in the world they are traveling. This is a clear win for our customers and crewmembers, and supports our JetForward strategy.”
United CEO Scott Kirby:
“Blue Sky reflects our airlines’ shared focus on innovation and the customer experience. The JetBlue brand is tied to a great product and under Joanna’s leadership the airline continues to deliver for customers. We’re always looking for ways to give our MileagePlus members even more value and benefits and this collaboration gives them new, unique ways to use their hard-earned miles and find options that fit their schedule. Plus, our employees are really excited about United’s return to JFK for the longer-term and we’re all looking forward to starting up flights very soon.”
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For more like this see:
- Flying Blue has launched a mobile app: Here’s what we know
- Are JetBlue partnering with United Airlines?
- JetBlue share renders of JFK’s Terminal 5 transformation
