The US Department of Transportation has approved Blue Sky – the recently announced loyalty programme collaboration between US carriers JetBlue and United Airlines.
The two airlines – both of which have fly to and from Ireland – announced the deal at the end of May.
JetBlue & United Airlines Announce ‘Blue Sky’ Loyalty Programme Partnership – ittn.ie
Blue Sky is a new and unique collaboration designed to give customers of both airlines even more options to find flights that fit their plans as well as new opportunities to earn and use MileagePlus® miles and TrueBlue points across both airlines. Blue Sky will begin introducing new customer benefits starting this fall, rolling out in phases:
- United’s MileagePlus customers will be able to earn and use miles on most JetBlue flights. JetBlue’s TrueBlue members will be able to earn and use points for flights on United’s extensive domestic and international network.
- Through a traditional interline agreement, each airline will offer flights on one another’s website and app to make booking across the two airlines’ complementary networks simple and easy.
- The benefits of each airline’s loyalty program – priority boarding, complimentary access to preferred and extra legroom seats and same-day standby/switch – will be available when customers travel on the other airline’s aircraft.
- 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. And, as part of a net-neutral exchange, JetBlue and United will exchange eight flight timings at Newark.
- 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.
