Award tickets generally book into standard economy, without basic economy restrictions.
Delta offers a basic economy award ticket, but other airlines have opted not to match them. Until now.
JetBlue now offers a basic economy award ticket as well.
For example, from DCA to JFK on 5/25 you can pay $24.30 for basic or $49.30 for standard economy. Or you can use 700 points+$5.60 for basic (2.67 cents per point) or 2,600 points+$5.60 for standard (1.68 cents per point):
Clicking on the price will show the differences between the fares:
If you are logged in and have a JetBlue card or Mosaic status, the benefits will be personalized for your account when you click on the fare. Here’s what I see as a Mosaic member, free seat selection is no longer a Mosaic benefit on basic fares:
While regular awards can be canceled for free, basic awards will have a $100 per passenger cancellation fee for North America, Central America, Caribbean flights and a $200 per passenger cancellation fee for all other flights. Changes are not allowed.
In fixed value programs like JetBlue and Southwest, point values are always better on lower fares.
A flight from LAX-JFK on 2/27 will cost $183.30 for basic or $228.30 for standard economy. Or you can use 13,100 points+$5.60 for basic (1.36 cents per point) or 15,500 points+$5.60 for standard (1.44 cents per point).
A flight from Fort Lauderdale-Newark today will cost $213.30 for basic or $248.30 for standard economy. Or you can use 15,400 points+$5.60 for basic (1.35 cents per point) or 16,700 points+$5.60 for standard (1.45 cents per point).
On the one hand, more options is a good thing. Especially in a fixed-value program like JetBlue, where this just means more choices without a devaluation (though, of course, the point value can be devalued in the future). But for now, this just adds more redemption options at a similar value per point.
But on the other hand, I really don’t want to see more airlines offering basic award fares. I doubt that American or United would offer cheaper basic awards, they would likely just make their lowest awards into basic awards and charge more miles to get a standard award.
Award tickets should be about rewarding loyalty, not about penalizing it. I think that’s why airlines haven’t matched Delta’s basic economy award approach until now. Sadly, the trend to the lowest common denominator seems inevitable at this point.
Which airline will be next to introduce basic economy awards?
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20 Comments On "JetBlue Now Offering Basic Economy Award Tickets; Is This A Good Thing?"
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It’s very misleading. Because before this the award price on JB for a Blue ticket was based on the basic price. It’s a backdoor award price increase for everyone.
Based on the values in the example in the post, I don’t think that is accurate.
They changed it. Before this, there was no option to pay in points for the Basic fare BUT the Blue fare award points was based on the Basic fare.
And I believe it was based on the blue fare. The values haven’t changed from before, so I’m not sure what your basis for that is.
It was 100% based on the blue fare price. When Blue Basic was introduced, it was a major devaluation for the award prices. There were some routes for a few days where the price was based off the Blue Basic fares, but you got booked into Blue, but that was fixed after a couple of days of introducing the Blue Basic fares.
Wow so even a Mosaic18 like yourself can’t select an EMS seat, much less any seat, with the new Blue Basic awards??
https://www.dansdeals.com/points-travel/elite-status/jetblue-will-finally-add-lounges-mosaic-benefits-hit-major-downgrades/
This is super annoying. AA originally didn’t allow elite benefits on basic fares, but backtracked on that. I hate that B6 is going down this path.
Is this the case (that mosaic can’t get seat) even when your mosaic 2?
Confirmed even mosaic 2 and higher can’t get seat selection when booking basic award.
that’s what you call a “devaluation”
I’m not seeing why this is a devaluation at this point in time.
United have no?
As I wrote in the post, no.
This is about time! Contrary to what commenter Ira writes, the previous awards were based on the *Blue* price not the *Basic* price. For people who would otherwise book Basic and accept the limitations, it was a major frustration to have to be forced on the upsell to Blue if using points. Happy with options in the case of jetBlue, and agree with you that I hope not to see this on mainline carriers.
Right, that’s what my understanding has always been.
Any idea what the cancel for a fee is?
Also, with kids will they assign seats together?
“While regular awards can be canceled for free, basic awards will have a $100 per passenger cancellation fee for North America, Central America, Caribbean flights and a $200 per passenger cancellation fee for all other flights. Changes are not allowed.”
Kids should be assigned seats with parents.
if you book basic will your points be refunded when canceling?
“While regular awards can be canceled for free, basic awards will have a $100 per passenger cancellation fee for North America, Central America, Caribbean flights and a $200 per passenger cancellation fee for all other flights. Changes are not allowed.”