Barclays JetBlue Premier Card Details

Ouch, I haven't seen a clunker this bad since the last time Barclays tried to launch a premium card, the Arrival Premier. That one only lasted 6 months, but I imagine this one lasts longer since it is a co-branded card. I don't see it being popular in its current format, so hopefully they are nimble on their feet and make adjustments. Let's get into the Barclays JetBlue Premier card details so you can see it for yourself.

*These links were collected independently by Travel on Point(s) and are direct links for the cards.

Welcome Offer

Here are the Barclays JetBlue Premier offer details:

• Earn 70,000 points after spending $5,000 withing the first 90 days
• You also earn 5 tiles (used for status) as well after the spend
  • The lowest level of JetBlue status requires 50 tiles, so this isn't much at all
• The $499 annual fee is NOT waived
  • $150 for each authorized user
• Cardmembers who currently have, or have previously had, a JetBlue Plus Card are not eligible for this offer.
• Direct Link

As JetBlue points are not the most valuable miles, worth 1.2 – 1.3 cents per point, this welcome offer is only worth around $900. Once you subtract the $500 annual fee you are left with around $400 in value. The perks must be amazing though, right? Simon says – buzz!

Card Earning Structure

The JetBlue Premier card has the following earning structure:

• 6x points on eligible purchases at
  • JetBlue
  • Paisly (JetBlue's travel portal type thing)
• 2x points on eligible purchases at
  • Restaurants
  • Grocery stores
• 1x on all other purchases

The earning on actual JetBlue purchases is a pretty good earning rate (although it is the same as the JetBlue Plus Card) but the rest is nothing special. I would say to avoid purchasing on Paisly, but that is a major feature of the card perks and credits available unfortunately.

Barclays JetBlue Premier Card Perks

Here are the (less than) notable card perks that come with the $499 a year annual fee:

• Up to $300 credit for Paisly purchases each calendar year
  • Given in $50 credits for every purchase of $250 or more.
  • A maximum of $300 in credits can be earned each year
• JetBlue Lounge Access
  • Access for the cardholder and one guest will get complimentary access.
  • There are no lounges open at the time of this writing. They should be opening one a JFK (terminal 5) later this year and another in Boston (terminal C) around the same time.
• Priority Pass Select Membership
  • Cardholders and authorized users each get their own membership.
  • They are only allowed to bring in one guest.
• Yearly Points Rebate
  • Earn 5,000 bonus points each year after your JetBlue Premier Card account anniversary
• Earn Towards Status
  • Earn 1 tile for every $1,000 in eligible spend
• Get 50% Off In-Flight Purchases On JetBlue Flights
• Points Payback
  • Points Payback allows you to redeem points for a statement credit
• 10% Points Rebate
  • Get 10% of your points back after you redeem for and travel on a JetBlue-operated Award Flight
• Group A Boarding
• First Checked Bag Free

We always joke about American Express as offering overpriced coupon books, but the set up of that Paisly credit is so bad that I bet even they are surprised by it. I love having lounge access for no lounges, which will top out at a massive 2 in a year or so. True value right there.

Barclays JetBlue Premier Card Details: ToP Thoughts

I just don't see how anyone can justify the Barclays JetBlue Premier card after seeing these details. There is no doubt that every US airlines' premium card is a pass for most, but this is still the bottom of the barrel. Most that carry premium airline cards get them for lounge access, or for better upgrade perks, but Delta, United and American all have a vast lounge network. Launching a card before you even have one open is pretty wild. People could pay their full year and never see the inside of one of those two lounges. The JetBlue Plus Card is a superior option in every single way, and I don't even really like that card. This is just so bad. So much so that I didn't even want to put a link to it in this article.

Let me know your thoughts over in the ToP Facebook Group.