Jetblue Vacations Credit
So I've had my eye on the Jetblue Trueblue Vacation package deals lately because I have 3 Jetblue Credit Cards, each of which has an available benefit for Jetblue Plus and Jetblue Business Card holders of an annual $100 Statement credit on Jetblue Vacations Packages of $100 or more. Since these are calendar year credits they basically expire by Friday. I just did an extensive post about expiring credits $2000 worth of expiring Amex Airline Incidental Fee credits here: 2020 Amex Airline Credit: Using $2000 on JB, AA, Delta.
Recently, Jetblue launched a new type of vacation package called Hotel + Points which is just that- a hotel booking with 5,000 Trueblue bonus points. Note this package does not include airfare. I got to thinking that I should just book a cheap hotel and points bundle to rack up some cheap Trueblue points. After a little digging I realized I could split the payment across all three cards by just calling into the Vacations call center. I was playing around with dates and had decided to book Toronto this summer since I'm hoping to see a concert there in July. Well luckily, I waited till the last minute because yesterday Jetblue sent out an email that anyone who booked one of these hotel packages by 1/4/2021 and traveled by 9/7/21 would get 10,000 points instead of the standard 5,000 points for the same price. Plus, you earn 1 point per eligible $1 on your bundle.
Amex Travel: Top 10 Ways to Save Money with American Express Flight Offers
Guide: Best Way to Book JetBlue Mint
Booking Process (Jetblue Credit Card Benefits)
The booking process was relatively painless, I called Call 1-844-528-2229 and gave her the date I wanted to book and the price was exactly the same as it was online. I let her know I was going to be splitting the payment across three cards and the total came out to $310.16. So yea I got the hotel I was hoping to book plus 10,311 Trueblue Points for exactly $10.16. I think I'll wait until January 1st and repeat the process with the other hotel I want to try while I'm in Toronto this summer.
Overall Value
I looked up the regular cash price of the room and it's about $150 less if you book direct. I don't think this is a great value on it's own, even with the extra 5,000 Trueblue Points it's still like paying around 1.5 cents per point and I value Trueblue points from .0- 1.3 cents each. But obviously this is an outrageous value and another reason I will continue to keep these cards open year after year.
Flight Review: Jetblue Mint NYC to Vegas
When you consider the prices we've been seeing for Jetblue Mint Routes at under 30,000 Points each way, I'm thrilled with the value I got in this instance. I paid $10 and I basically have a third of my next Mint flight paid for or at a minimum around $100 off my next award flight.
In Ft Lauderdale/Miami
area all hotels require a 4 night minimum, decreasing the value proposition of this strategy, unfortunately.
I’m not sure where you saw that but I just did a search for 1 night stays in Miami in a few different months and I found hundreds of hotels available for a one night booking. Just make sure you’re selecting Hotel Plus Points and not Hotel Plus Flight
Excellent write up (as always)! Now to find the right way to use my Vacation credit. Also, why does one need THREE JetBlue cards?
Your picture is beautiful BTW. Well, the 10% rebate may or may not have stacked in the past and I like the 5k anniversary bonus enough that I can eat the $95 fee each year to keep good relations with Barclays. And then of course there was the 100k offer.