JetBlue Adds Award Travel On JAL And Icelandair To Their Growing List Of Partner Redemptions; Should You Redeem JetBlue Points For Partner Awards?

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Traditionally, JetBlue’s points haven’t been very exciting. They are tethered to the cost of a ticket, which removes the ability to redeem points for an outsized value.

If you want to fly JetBlue Mint class, you will want to use Etihad or Qatar points, as their fixed award charts will generally be more favorable than JetBlue’s dynamic pricing.

But JetBlue has been adding partner airline redemption options. Those have included Cape Air, Etihad, Qatar, and TAP.

And now they have added Icelandair and JAL.

Should you book those with JetBlue points?

A JAL flight from Paris to Tokyo on 4/28 would set you back 52.5K AA miles+$110 in premium economy, 75K AA miles+$202 in business class, or 90K AA miles+$202 in first class:

JetBlue says they can redeem for travel in economy, premium economy, business, or first class on JAL, but I wasn’t able to get JAL first class to pull up on JetBlue.com, even when AA was able to book it.

The flight from Paris to Tokyo was 59K JetBlue points in premium economy or 79.9K JetBlue points in business:

However, when you click on those results, you can see that JetBlue is adding on fuel surcharges as well, which American doesn’t do.

Those add an additional $188 in charges to the one-way flight, on top of the taxes that AA charges:

Another better redemption option on this route is with Alaska miles, which costs 50K+$124 in premium economy or 75K miles+$216 in business class:

A JAL flight from San Francisco to Tokyo on 4/28 would set you back 50K AA miles+$5 in premium economy or 60K AA miles+$5 in business class:

Bizarrely, JetBlue charges the same 59K miles in premium economy or in business class.

Unfortunately, they tack on $200 in fuel surcharges:

A JAL flight from Singapore to Tokyo on 1/27 would set you back 20K AA miles+$50 in coach, 25K AA miles+$50 in premium economy, 30K AA miles+$50 in business class, or 40K AA miles+$50 in first class:

Prices are significantly higher with Jetblue, at 24.4K in coach, 45K in premium economy, and 85K in business class:

JetBlue also tacks on $94 in fuel surcharges:

Icelandair, on the other hand, has no great partner redemption options.

Alaska charges 22.5K miles+$138 to fly Icelandair from JFK to Reykjavík:

JetBlue charges 17K points+$102, so that’s better than Alaska.

Interestingly, JetBlue also offers a business class option for 69.9K points+$102, which Alaska doesn’t seem to have access to. Then again, Icelandair business class is domestic recliner style in a 2-2 configuration and isn’t likely to be worth the premium for most people.

What about other partner options?

A flight from Boston to Doha on Qatar is 40K AA miles+$7 in coach or 70K AA miles+$7 in QSuites:

With Alaska miles, it’s 35K miles+$20 in coach or 70K miles+$20 in Qsuites:

With JetBlue points, it’s 39K points+$7 in coach or 98K points+$20 in Qsuites:

A flight from Toronto to Abu Dhabi on Etihad is 40K AA miles+$56 in coach or 70K AA miles+$56 in business class:

With JetBlue points, it’s 59.9K points+$7 in coach or 135.9K points+$56 in business class:

JetBlue doesn’t have access to Etihad First/Shower Class as American does:

TAP is more interesting. JetBlue has award space with TAP that other TAP partners don’t have access to:

If you have JetBlue points, these are all welcome additions that add value to the program.

If you are transferring points from banks, some of these partner options may not add much value compared to other options. However, they may come in handy, especially with Icelandair and TAP, which appear to have expanded award availability.

You can transfer Chase or Citi points to JetBlue instantly at a 1:1 ratio. Transfers from AMEX are 1:0.8 and transfers from Capital One are 1:0.6 instantly.

• Citi Strata Premier℠ Card is offering a 60,000 point bonus for spending $4K in 3 months, 3 points per dollar on airfare, hotels, supermarkets, gas, EV charging, and dining. 10 points per dollar on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked on CitiTravel.com. $95 annual fee. View Rates & Fees here. Citi is a DansDeals partner. Read more about this offer here.

• The Citi Double Cash® Card is offering a rare 20K bonus for spending $1,500 in 6 months, and offers 2% cash back or 2 ThankYou points per dollar spent everywhere. If you also have a Citi Strata Premier Card you can transfer points into miles. No annual fee. View Rates & Fees here. Citi is a DansDeals partner. Read more about this offer here.

• Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card has a 100K signup bonus for spending $5K in 3 months, earns 2.1 points per dollar on travel after the card's 10% anniversary bonus, 3.1 points per dollar on dining, streaming, and online groceries after the card's 10% anniversary bonus, has a $50 hotel credit, can transfer all Chase points into miles, and points are worth at least 1.25 cents each for paid travel ($95 annual fee). Read more here.
• Chase Sapphire Reserve® has a 60K signup bonus for spending $5K in 3 months, earns 3 points per dollar on dining/travel, has a $300 travel credit, can transfer all Chase points into miles, and points are worth at least 1.5 cents each for paid travel ($550 annual fee with $300 travel credit). Read more here.
• Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card has a 90K signup bonus for spending $8K in 3 months, and earns 3 points per dollar on up to $150K of annual spending on shipping, advertising, and travel, can transfer all Chase points into miles, and points are worth at least 1.25 cents each for paid travel ($95 annual fee). Read more here.

• Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card has a $750 signup bonus in the form of 75K points for spending $6K in 3 months, and earns 1.5 points per dollar on business purchases ($0 annual fee). Read more here.
• Ink Business Cash® Credit Card has a $350 signup bonus in the form of 35K points for spending $3K in 3 months and another $400 signup bonus in the form of 40K bonus points for spending another $3K in 6 months for a total of 75,000 Chase Ultimate points. This card earns 5 points per dollar on the first $25,000 in combined purchases on cable, TV, telecom, cellular, and office supply stores, plus 2 points per dollar on dining and gas on up to $25,000 in purchases ($0 annual fee). Read more here.
• Chase Freedom Flex has a 20K signup bonus for spending $500 in 3 months, plus 5 points on rotating categories, 5 points per dollar on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, and 3 points per dollar on dining and drugstores ($0 annual fee). Read more here. All information about the Chase Freedom Flex Card has been collected independently by DansDeals.
• Chase Freedom Unlimited® has a $200 signup bonus in the form of 20K points for spending $500 in 3 months, 1.5 points per dollar everywhere, 5 points per dollar (marketed as 5% cash back) on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, and 3 points per dollar on dining and drugstores ($0 annual fee). Read more here.

• The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express is offering a rare bonus to earn 15,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on the Card within your first 3 months of Card Membership and offers 2 points per dollar spent on up to $50K spending annually 1 point per dollar thereafter, plus transfer points to airlines and hotels and keep AMEX points alive. Terms apply. Read more here.
• Limited Time Travel Offer through 6/30: The Business Platinum Card® from American Express is offering a 150K bonus for spending $20,000 in the first 3 months, plus, earn a $500 statement credit after you spend $2,500 on qualifying flights booked directly with airlines or through American Express Travel, as well as monthly credits, lounge access, and much more. Terms apply. Read more here.
• American Express® Business Gold Card is offering a 100K bonus for spending $15,000 in 3 months, monthly business credits, Walmart+ membership, up to 4 points per dollar spent with a $150K annual spend cap, and more benefits. Terms apply. Read more here.
• Business Green Rewards Card from American Express is offering a 15K bonus for spending $3,000 in 3 months. Terms apply.
• The Platinum Card® from American Express is offering an 80K bonus for spending $8,000 in the first 6 months and offers monthly credits, lounge access, and much more. Terms apply. Read more here.
• American Express® Gold Card is offering a 60K bonus for spending $6,000 in the first 6 months, monthly credits for Uber and Grubhub, and more. Terms apply. Read more here. 
• AMEX Green Consumer Card is offering a 40K bonus for spending $3,000 in the first 6 months and offers up to $199 in annual CLEAR Plus® credits, $100 LoungeBuddy credit, plus transfer points to airlines and hotels and keep AMEX points alive. All information about the AMEX Green Card has been collected independently by DansDeals.

• Limited time offer: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is offering 75,000 bonus miles for spending $4K in 3 months and a $250 travel credit, plus 2 miles per dollar spent on every purchase, transfer points to airlines and hotels, 5K MLB redemptions, and more. No foreign transaction fees. $95 annual fee. Read more here. 
• Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is offering 75,000 bonus miles for spending $4K in 3 months, plus earn 2 miles per dollar spent on every purchase, $300 annual travel credit for bookings through Capital One Travel, 10K anniversary bonus miles, Global Entry/Pre-Check, Capital One lounge access, Priority Pass Lounge membership, Hertz President's Circle status, free lounge access and status for free additional cardholders, transfer miles to airlines and hotels, 5K MLB redemptions, and more. No foreign transaction fees. $395 annual fee. Read more here.
• Limited time offer: Capital One Venture X Business is offering 150,000 bonus miles for spending $30K in 3 months. You will earn another 200,000 bonus miles after spending another $170,000 in 6 months. As you earn at least 2 miles per dollar spent, that’s a total of 750,000 miles after spending $200,000. Also receive a $300 annual travel credit for bookings through Capital One Travel, 10K anniversary bonus miles, Global Entry/Pre-Check, Capital One lounge access, Enhanced Priority Pass Lounge membership, transfer miles to airlines and hotels, 5K MLB redemptions, and more. $395 annual fee. No foreign transaction fees. Read more here.
• Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card is offering 20,000 bonus miles for spending $500 in 3 months, transfer miles to airlines and hotels, 5K MLB redemptions, and more. No foreign transaction fees. No annual fee.
• Capital One Spark Miles for Business is offering 50,000 bonus miles for spending $4,500 in 3 months, 2 miles per dollar spent on every purchase, Global Entry/PreCheck, transfer miles to airlines and hotels, 5K MLB redemptions, and more. No foreign transaction fees. $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95.
• Capital One Spark Cash is offering $750 cash back (convertible to 75,000 miles) for spending $7,500 in 3 months, 2% back everywhere, $40 MLB redemptions, and more. No foreign transaction fees. $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95.
• New offer: Capital One Spark Cash Plus is offering $2,000 cash back (convertible to 200,000 miles) for spending $30,000 in 3 months, plus get another $2,000 cash back for every $500K spent in your first year, 2% back everywhere, $40 MLB redemptions, annual fee refund when you spend $150K/year, and more. No foreign transaction fees. $150 annual fee. Read more here.

Will you book any partner awards with JetBlue points?