JetBlue Has a New Points Partner: Icelandair

Members of JetBlue’s TrueBlue program now have another points-earning option: Icelandair flights.

Effective immediately, TrueBlue members can earn one point for every two miles flown in Icelandair economy class, one point for every mile flown in Economy Comfort, and 1.25 points per mile in Icelandair’s business class.

As is customary for such marketing relationships, this one is reciprocal: Members of Icelandair’s Saga program can also earn miles for JetBlue flights. But while JetBlue miles count toward elite status in Saga, Icelandair flights do not count toward elite status in TrueBlue.

Through July 7, members of both programs can earn double points for flights on the other airline.

The frequent-flyer tie-up builds on the two carriers’ existing code-share relationship. Although neither carrier has said so publicly, the next logical step would to introduce reciprocal award flights. Icelandair is only JetBlue’s second international airline partner, after Emirates, and neither currently offers award flights in the TrueBlue program. Expanding the TrueBlue award-travel map to include either of these carriers’ route networks would be a major value-add for JetBlue’s customers.

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After 20 years working in the travel industry, and 15 years writing about it, Tim Winship knows a thing or two about travel. Follow him on Twitter @twinship.