JetBlue and United Announce Blue Sky: Unique Consumer Collaboration That Links Loyalty Programs

Rhea-AI Summary

United Airlines (UAL) and JetBlue announced 'Blue Sky', a unique loyalty program collaboration starting fall 2025. The partnership enables MileagePlus customers to earn and use miles on JetBlue flights, while TrueBlue members gain access to United's extensive network. Key features include reciprocal loyalty benefits, cross-platform flight bookings, and slot exchanges at major airports. JetBlue will provide United access to 7 daily round-trip slots at JFK starting 2027, while both airlines will exchange 8 flight timings at Newark. Additionally, United will transition its travel services to JetBlue's Paisly platform, and JetBlue will become the first partner to use United's Kinective Media technology.

Positive

• Expanded network access for both airlines' loyalty program members
• Reciprocal benefits including priority boarding and preferred seating
• United gains valuable JFK airport slots for 7 daily round-trips
• Strategic slot exchange at Newark Liberty International Airport
• Integration of United's travel services with JetBlue's Paisly platform enhances customer experience

Negative

• Implementation subject to regulatory review
• Benefits rollout timeline not specified
• No codeshare agreement, limiting full integration potential

Insights

Airline Industry Analyst

United-JetBlue partnership creates significant network synergies and loyalty program value while strategically resolving airport access challenges.

The Blue Sky collaboration between JetBlue and United represents a strategic market repositioning that addresses key competitive weaknesses for both carriers. For United, this solves their long-standing JFK access problem by securing slots for seven daily round-trip flights starting in 2027, filling a critical gap in their New York strategy. For JetBlue, gaining access to United's vast international network provides a global footprint without the capital expenditure of fleet expansion.

This partnership is structurally different from traditional airline alliances. It's not a codeshare but an interline agreement with reciprocal loyalty benefits—allowing each airline to maintain independent pricing and network control while still creating customer value. The agreement to exchange eight flight timings at Newark in a net-neutral swap optimizes operations for both carriers at congested airports.

The loyalty program integration represents substantial customer acquisition potential. United's MileagePlus (recently rated the world's best airline loyalty program) gains access to JetBlue's strong Northeast and Caribbean network, while TrueBlue members receive new options across United's domestic and international destinations. The loyalty integration includes high-value benefits like priority boarding and complimentary access to preferred seating—strong incentives for frequent flyers.

The technology integration aspect is particularly innovative. United moving its ancillary travel services to JetBlue's Paisly platform represents a significant vote of confidence in JetBlue's technology stack. Meanwhile, JetBlue becoming the first partner for United's Kinective Media advertising platform opens new revenue streams for both carriers through enhanced digital monetization.

This partnership effectively creates a virtual network expansion without the capital costs of new aircraft or routes—allowing both airlines to enhance their competitive positioning against larger rivals like American-Alaska and Delta-LATAM partnerships while maintaining operational independence.

MileagePlus customers can earn and use miles on JetBlue including hundreds of flights in and out of New York City and Boston while TrueBlue members can earn and use points on United flights including to popular international destinations like Cape Town and Tahiti

Benefits of each airline's loyalty program like priority boarding, complimentary access to preferred and extra legroom seats, and same-day standby/switch will be available across both airlines

Airlines will also offer flights on one another's website and app to make booking simple and easy

JetBlue will provide United access to slots at JFK International Airport for up to seven daily round-trip flights beginning in 2027; JetBlue and United will exchange eight flight timings at Newark Liberty International Airport

United will move some of its holiday and travel services to JetBlue's Paisly platform

NEW YORK and CHICAGO, May 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- JetBlue (NASDAQ: JBLU) and United (NASDAQ: UAL) today announced Blue Sky: a new and unique collaboration that gives 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 includes the following components, with some starting as early as this fall, subject to regulatory review:

• United's MileagePlus customers can earn and use miles on most JetBlue flights. JetBlue offers 90 daily flights between the Northeast and the Caribbean this summer – with regular nonstop direct flights to popular islands like Aruba, Barbados, and Jamaica. JetBlue's TrueBlue members can earn and use points for flights on United's extensive domestic and international network, the largest across the Atlantic and Pacific that includes popular destinations like Cape Town and Tahiti.
  
  
• Each airline will offer flights on one another's website and app to make booking across the two airlines' complementary networks simple and easy. 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.
  
  
• 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.
  
  
• As part of the airlines' agreement, 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.

"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," said Joanna Geraghty, CEO of JetBlue. "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."

"Blue Sky reflects our airlines' shared focus on innovation and the customer experience," said United CEO Scott Kirby. "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."

JetBlue and United will continue to manage and price their networks independently, including the launch of new routes, frequencies and promotions.

Two Award-Winning Loyalty Programs

As part of Blue Sky, members of each airline's loyalty program will find similar benefits over time - as well as reciprocal revenue-based miles and points accrual and reciprocal miles and points redemption - when they use and earn miles or points on the partner airline.

Timing for reciprocal benefits for customers will be announced later this year. Whether customers are flying on United or JetBlue in the future, they will receive benefits in line with what they receive today, including:

• Priority treatment for check-in, boarding, security and baggage
• Access to preferred and extra leg room seats
• Free first checked bag
• Same-day changes and switches

This infographic summarizes some of the benefits customers will enjoy over time*. JetBlue and United will share more details about the timing of these features later this year:

TrueBlue, JetBlue's award-winning loyalty program, is one of the most popular airline loyalty programs in the Northeast, with nearly 3 out of 5 people in New York City and Boston holding TrueBlue membership. This generous program includes the following features:

• Free to join, free to earn points and with points that never expire – for all customers;
• JetBlue allows loyalty members to pool their points into a joint account, bringing family and friends closer with this feature;
• No blackout dates for award seats – JetBlue offers last-seat availability with points, even for its Mint premium experience;
• The ability for customers to unlock benefits after just a few flights with Perks You Pick®

MileagePlus was recently rated the world's best airline loyalty program and includes the following features:

• Free to join, for all customers;
• Miles never expire;
• No blackout dates for award seats – if there's a seat open you can buy it with miles;
• Just about anything you can pay for with cash at United, you can buy with miles (seats, wifi, snacks, etc.);
• United allows members to pool their miles with family and friends into a joint account;
• And membership includes free access to United's new Starlink internet service - in 2024, United signed the industry's largest agreement of its kind with SpaceX to bring Starlink to its fleet. The onboard internet service features the same high-speed, low-latency internet service in the air that people enjoy on the ground.

MileagePlus members took more than 42 million reward flights between 2020 and 2024; and over the last year, close to 40,000 United seats per day were filled by MileagePlus customers using their miles – that's the same as filling about 128 Boeing 777 aircraft. During last year's November and December holidays alone, almost two million MileagePlus customers flew on award tickets.

United Customers Benefit From More Options in Boston & New York

JetBlue offers 90 daily flights between the Northeast and the Caribbean this summer – with regular nonstop direct flights to popular islands like Aruba, Barbados, and Jamaica. The airline operates approximately 180 daily flights out of JFK and 130 daily flights out of Boston's Logan International Airport (BOS), including to sought-after Florida markets like Fort Lauderdale and Orlando. JetBlue's focus cities also include Fort Lauderdale, where it operates more international flights than any other airline; San Juan, where it is the largest airline; Orlando, and Los Angeles. Additionally, JetBlue flies to 15 destinations that United does not serve including Martha's Vineyard, Mass.; Cartagena, Colombia; Kingston, Jamaica; and Ponce, Puerto Rico.

JetBlue Loyalty Members Gain Access to a New World of Flying

United is the world's largest airline and its vast network gives TrueBlue members hundreds of additional domestic and international options to use their points - 165 across the U.S., eight in Canada, two in the Caribbean, 31 in Latin America, 27 in Europe, five in Africa, two in the Middle East, 15 in Asia, and 14 in the South Pacific.

Additional Blue Sky Benefits

• In a move that will make planning and booking travel and holiday packages easier for United's customers and MileagePlus members, United and JetBlue also announced today that United will move its website and mobile app's ability to sell hotels, rental cars, cruises and travel insurance to JetBlue's Paisly platform.
  
  Today, United customers are sent to different services known as United Hotels, United Cars, United Cruises and United Packages® to book hotels, rental cars, cruises and holiday packages. This move will streamline these services and put them all on united.com and the airline's mobile app, powered by the Paisly tech stack, and leveraging Paisly's proven, human-first model and advanced technology to its leisure travel customers.
  
  Unlike most airline ancillary travel platforms that rely heavily on automation and third-party services, Paisly has invested in developing every part of its service in-house. From hotel contracting and holiday curation to marketing and customer care, Paisly operates a fully integrated white-glove service model with increasing personalized offers and messaging, including customer care, and loyalty earning and redemption. Its standout feature, the "Helpful Humans" – a dedicated, highly trained customer service team – sets it apart in an industry known for impersonal, transactional experiences.
  
  
• Additionally, business travelers and their employers will see benefits from the collaboration as well. While United and JetBlue will continue to manage their commercial relationship independently, both airlines may extend the terms of parts of their corporate programs to the flights operated by the other airline. This includes the discounts each airline has independently negotiated.
  
  
• Finally, JetBlue is expected to be the first partner airline to deploy and syndicate the technology Kinective Media^SM by United Airlines has built to connect airline customers to personalized, real-time advertising, content, experiences and offers from leading advertising brands. The Kinective Media technology platform, launched in June 2024, is a global first traveler media network that uses insights from travel behaviors to enable marketers to deliver relevant messaging to audiences across various touchpoints in the journey, and beyond. Kinective Media's focus is on premium brand relationships across key verticals such as retail, luxury goods, financial services, automotive, media & entertainment and travel, and the collaboration will bring those capabilities to highly engaged audiences across JetBlue's digital channels.

*Benefits subject to change.

United's Forward-Looking Statements and Other Important Information

This press release contains certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements that are not statements of historical facts are, or may be deemed to be, forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are based on historical performance and current expectations, estimates, forecasts and projections about our future financial results, goals, plans, commitments, strategies and objectives and involve inherent risks, assumptions and uncertainties, known or unknown, including internal or external factors that could delay, divert or change any of them, that are difficult to predict, may be beyond our control and could cause our future financial results, goals, plans and objectives to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, the statements. These risks, assumptions, uncertainties and other factors include, among others, the parties' ability to satisfy certain closing conditions, that the proposed transaction will close on the terms or within the time frame described in this document and any delay or inability of United Airlines to realize the expected benefits of the collaboration. No forward-looking statement can be guaranteed. Forward-looking statements in this press release should be evaluated together with the many risks and uncertainties that affect United's business and market, particularly those identified in the "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" and "Risk Factors" sections in United's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024, as updated by our subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The forward-looking statements included in this document are made only as of the date of this document and except as otherwise required by applicable law or regulation, United undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, changed circumstances or otherwise. The use of words such as "partnered," "partnering," "partner" and variations of such words in this press release is not intended to and shall not be construed to imply that a legal partnership relationship exists between United and any other company.

About JetBlue

JetBlue is New York's Hometown Airline®, and a leading carrier in Boston, Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood, Los Angeles, Orlando, and San Juan. JetBlue carries customers to more than 100 cities throughout the United States, Latin America, Caribbean, Canada, and Europe. For more information and the best fares, visit jetblue.com.

About United

At United, Good Leads The Way. With U.S. hubs in Chicago, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, New York/Newark, San Francisco and Washington, D.C., United operates the most comprehensive global route network among North American carriers and is now the largest airline in the world as measured by available seat miles. For more about how to join the United team, please visit www.united.com/careers and more information about the company is at www.united.com. United Airlines Holdings, Inc., the parent company of United Airlines, Inc., is traded on the Nasdaq under the symbol "UAL".

 

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SOURCE United Airlines

FAQ

What are the main benefits of the United-JetBlue Blue Sky collaboration for UAL shareholders?

The collaboration expands United's presence at JFK with 7 daily round-trip slots, enhances MileagePlus program value, and streamlines travel services through Paisly platform integration.

When will United Airlines (UAL) start operating flights from JFK under the Blue Sky agreement?

United will begin operating up to seven daily round-trip flights from JFK Terminal 6 starting in 2027.

How will the United-JetBlue loyalty program integration work?

Members can earn and use miles/points across both airlines, with reciprocal benefits including priority boarding, preferred seating, and same-day flight changes.

What airports are affected by the United-JetBlue slot exchange agreement?

The agreement involves JFK International Airport (7 daily round-trip slots for United) and Newark Liberty International Airport (8 flight timing exchanges between both airlines).

Will United and JetBlue share flight codes under the Blue Sky collaboration?

No, the agreement includes an interline agreement but not a codeshare. Each airline will maintain independent branding and flight numbers.