American And JetBlue Mileage Earning Rates Announced, Which Miles Should You Collect?

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American Airlines announced today that you can start earning AAdvantage miles for JetBlue flights and JetBlue announced you can earn TrueBlue points for American flights.

While American’s partnership with Alaska earns American miles and Alaska miles based on the flight distance and fare class, the American partnership with JetBlue will earn miles based on the ticket price.

You’ll earn American miles on JetBlue flights at the same rate that you earn them on American flights, however you won’t earn miles for JetBlue transatlantic flights.

 

You will also earn EQMs towards American elite status:

 

On the JetBlue side, you’ll earn the same for American flights as you would for JetBlue flights and can earn Mosaic status via the base points earned. Note that the “total” includes a bonus for Mosaics only and the actual credit card earnings.

 

That means an AA non-elite member will earn 5 American miles per dollar spent on any JetBlue fare regardless of where it’s booked. A JetBlue non-Mosaic will earn 6 JetBlue points per dollar spent on regular AA fares on Jetblue.com (3 points per dollar booked elsewhere) or 2 points per dollar on AA basic economy fares on JetBlue.com (1 point per dollar booked elsewhere).

I value American miles at about 1.3 cents each and JetBlue points at 1 cent each, so you would be better off with 5 American miles over 6 JetBlue points.

If you’re booking a basic economy fare, then collecting AA miles for it is a no-brainer!

Of course if you have American or JetBlue status, that will change the equation.

It’s pretty great that you can now earn American miles and elite status when flying on Alaska and JetBlue!

The airlines promise that mileage redemption and elite status reciprocity will come next.

Will you accumulate American miles or JetBlue points?

HT: mochjas, via DDF

27 COMMENTS

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  1. Daniel

    What about free checked bags? I have a flight booked for June on AA that I booked via Jetblue. I have the Jetblue Plus credit card so I normally get a free checked bag for Jetblue flights. However, the website isn’t showing me anything about my AA flight in regards to bags. I don’t even have the ability to purchase bags.

    • Dan

      You won’t get free bags with each other’s credit cards.

  2. Planet

    Something to consider: JetBlue miles don’t expire. You can also create a family pool on JetBlue.

    • Dan

      True, though it’s not hard to keep AA miles alive.
      Plus AA no longer expires miles if you’re under 22.5 years old.

      • yy

        Once you turn 22.5, does the clock start ticking on the miles you’ve earned? If so, they have an expiration date, albeit a later one.

        • Dan

          That’s why I said true.
          18 months activity clock starts when you hit 21.

  3. ?

    Just purchased aa flight business class through jetblue jfk-tlv round trip in June for $2229, was only able to get the deal with them,
    Should I put in my aadvantage number? Or what airline is the best?
    Actually bought it with Chase Sapphire reserve Ultimate rewards

      • sara

        I also booked aa jfk-tlv business class on jet blue website. can I get AADvantage miles?

      • It happens to the Best

        OOPS.
        Dan guilty of not reading. The previous comment said, “Actually bought it with Chase Sapphire reserve Ultimate rewards”

  4. vo

    Press release says that, “[w]hen booking flights on aa.com or jetblue.com, customers can choose where to accrue their points” — but I don’t see that capacity on the JetBlue website when trying to book.

  5. Hoe

    Will jetblue charge fuel charge like BA?

  6. Wondering

    Retroactive?
    I prefer flying JetBlue but I have a lot of unused miles on American – can I begin using them now on JetBlue flights?

  7. Chaim

    Im not sure what to do in my case. I have AA Gold from work travel (expires in ’22). I also have the jetBlue credit card (got the 100K bonus). So i would either get 7Miles on AA or 12point on JB (3 base, 3 on jetblue, 6 w/ credit card). it seems that it would be better to get JB. What do you think?

    • Dan

      Those 6 JetBlue card points are from spending on the card. What card would you use for the AA purchase?
      AMEX Plat would earn 5, Chase CSR or Citi Premier would earn 3, etc.

      • Chaim

        I currently use my CSR. But I’ve be debating getting an AA card. How would that impact this?

        I guess I would be getting closer to 10miles for AA

  8. Mendy

    If you book aa basic economy on JetBlue you’ll be able to change it for 100$ Vs no changed allowed with aa

  9. JetJew

    Dan – how come you value the jetblue points at 1 cent each when they can be redeemed for 1.3/1.4 easily?

    • Dan

      Easily? Only if you’re not willing to fly basic and you don’t want Mint.

      • yelped

        Yup. B6 points used to be worth it if you had the JetBlue Plus card. Since they introduced Basic fares, it’s been worthless. Usually a little less than one cent per point.

    • JetJew

      Ya I hear. Ty for that info. I guess flying down to Florida often enough adds personal value for me.

  10. Daniel

    I booked AA flights on the CSR site and entered my AA Advantage #. Can I call AA and ask them to use my true blue # instead?

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