Two major U.S. airlines are joining a blockbuster partnership. The airline announced Thursday that United will work with JetBlue to call it the “blue sky.”
The alliance will include a full-fledged loyalty partnership that will allow United Mileageplus and JetBlue TrueBlue members to earn money and exchange miles on either carrier. Additionally, United Premier Elite members will be able to enjoy their status benefits when flying on JetBlue. JetBlue’s mosaic members will receive the same treatment at the Federation.
As part of the new arrangement, Manchester United and JetBlue will also be able to sell each other’s flights on their own websites, including connections between the two carriers.
The partnership will also welcome Manchester United’s return to New York for the first time in several years John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK).
The reveal of this new Blue Sky partnership comes after speculation that Manchester United and JetBlue will unite to form a new partnership.
It will bridge two airlines that have considerable presence in the New York City area but are in the relative aspects of the Hudson River. The Wing operates a major hub at Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR), New Jersey, while JetBlue calls Terminal 5 at Kennedy International Airport (JFK).
For JetBlue, the new partnership comes nearly two years after a federal judge effectively ended the so-called Northeast Alliance with American Airlines, which in 2023 had a protracted legal battle with the Biden administration.
“United’s global presence perfectly complements JetBlue’s East Coast leisure network and greatly expands the choice and interests of TrueBlue members,” JetBlue CEO Joanna Geraghty said in a statement Thursday.
Co-CEO Scott Kirby added: “We are always looking for ways to make our miles Pulis members more valuable and profitable, and this collaboration provides them with new and unique ways to leverage their hard-earned miles and find options that fit their schedule.”
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Here’s a knowledge of the new United-Jetblue partnership, what this means for Mireageplus and TrueBlue loyalty members, and why the two airlines eventually combined.
Manchester United and JetBlue’s “Blue Sky” partnership
For travelers who used JetBlue with the Northeast Alliance earlier this decade, the Blue Sky will offer something familiar, but there are some key differences.
Interleaving Agreement
Once the partnership begins, Manchester United and JetBlue will launch a delivery agreement to sell each other’s flights through their own websites and mobile apps. This means you will be able to book joint flights on Jetblue.com (and vice versa) and connect seamlessly on one itinerary between the two airlines.
The airline did not immediately announce a release date for the partnership in this regard, but a joint spokesperson told TPG some elements will begin this fall.
Make money and exchange
Through the Blue Sky, JetBlue’s TrueBlue members will be able to earn and redeeate points on Manchester United’s global network.
United on most JetBlue flights will be able to earn and redeem miles, the airline said. The airline said. TPG learned that some people will be excluded — but in particular, JetBlue flights to Europe are expected to be part of the arrangement. This is not the case with the now-discontinued NEA between JetBlue and the Americans.
Related: JetBlue launches TrueBlue redemption on Japanese Airlines flights to Tokyo and beyond
Mutual loyalty advantage
Manchester United and JetBlue will provide elite prime ministers and mosaic members with many reciprocal elite status benefits.
This won’t be a full Elite Identity Experience (no mention of lounge access or top-notch upgrades yet), and in all Elite Status layers some of the benefits are fairly static.
For example, all elite members with either program (regardless of their status level) will be able to access additional leg seats at another airline when checking in. This means that the Prime Minister members (regardless of the rank) will be able to choose a Geely seat when checking in, while the mosaic members will receive the same privileges for both economic and seating.
All elite members will also receive priority check-in and boarding benefits, their first sign-in bag is free and get the same-day changes.
This is a complete, preliminary summary of the identity of the Reciprocal Elite, which allows the carrier to share on Thursday.
Carriers are expected to announce more details on the loyalty partnership time this year.
Manchester United returns to Kennedy
As part of the arrangement with JetBlue, Manchester United will be able to launch up to seven round trip flights from Kennedy International Airport (JFK) by taking over JetBlue’s slot machines (strictly regulated takeoff and landing rights). It has been several years since Manchester United’s presence at Kennedy International Airport (JFK), and it hopes to launch services in Terminal 6 of the airport as early as 2027.
Meanwhile, JetBlue will exchange eight flight times with Manchester United at the latter airline’s EWR centre.
Manchester United transfers to JetBlue’s Paisly
Finally, in the face of the smaller title of the Blue Sky, Manchester United plans to transfer its hotel, car rental, cruising and vacation package booking services to JetBlue’s internal platform Paisly.
Major industry partnerships
This connection of power between United and JetBlue is a common flyer for both airlines, who will now gain new connectivity and new connections and redemption miles to earn and redemption miles in cities where their preferred airlines do not have a strong presence.
Especially for months, JetBlue executives said they hope to create a new partnership with another American airline to expand its route network with a focus on the East Coast, which can offer revenue and redemption options (and connectivity).
It explores a reintegration with the Americans, but after last month’s conversation collapsed, JetBlue landed United as a new dance partner.
United expanded the frequent JetBlue Flyers options and were underpowered in the mid-country of the country, while JetBlue didn’t fly much. These include Manchester United’s home hub at Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD), as well as major hubs at Houston George Bush InterContinental Airport (IAH) and Denver International Airport (DEN).
Manchester United may also be the most powerful international network among any airline in the United States.
For its part, JetBlue does have a budding transatlantic network and has uninterrupted destinations in London, Paris, Amsterdam, Dublin and Edinburgh and Madrid as well as Madrid, which launched last week.
So far, the partnership has not included a loyalty allowance related to premium carbines upgrades. Some of this may stem from high-end inventory imbalances from at least the beginning. Manchester United’s regional and narrow aircraft sporting top-notch cabins, with its long-haul aircraft featuring Polaris commercial grade and advanced economy.
Related: Manchester United just flew to a place where American Airlines didn’t go: on historic inaugural flight to Mongolia
JetBlue has premium mint pods, although only in a limited fleet. But it is improving the competition, with domestic first-class expected to join the fleet in the coming years and plans to hold new lounges in New York and Boston.
JetBlue finds long-term partners
JetBlue spent much of this decade looking for a lasting American airline partner, with little success.
Another standoff with the Biden administration doomed its proposed merger with Spirit Airlines after its failure with the Northeastern Alliance in federal court.
Airline notes that certain aspects of the blue sky will be subject to regulatory approval.
But the carriers soon noticed that they would not coordinate pricing or arrangements – a federal judge who blocked the former Northeastern Union said that would make JetBlue’s previous deal with the Americans more acceptable.
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