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The American Airlines/JetBlue alliance was first announced back in July 2020 but it wasn’t until May of last year that reciprocal mileage and elite status credits were introduced and it wasn’t until October 2021 that we started to see reciprocal elite benefits being offered.
Today, American Airlines and JetBlue have taken another step towards cementing their alliance (despite the fact that the DoJ is actively trying to break the alliance up) by announcing further reciprocal status benefits for their elite flyers and by confirming that customers flying with JetBlue will finally be allowed to use their Admirals Club memberships to access American’s lounges.
Extra legroom seats are now an option
Starting today, all American Airlines elites (Gold through Executive Platinum) can choose complimentary Even More Space seats when they check in for a JetBlue flight, and JetBlue’s TrueBlue Mosaic members can choose complimentary Main Cabin Extra seats when they check in for an American Airlines flight (subject to availability).
Main Cabin Extra and Even More Space seats offer extra legroom and give passengers early boarding privileges as well as dedicated overhead bin space.
Same-day confirmed flight changes for select elites
Also from today, AAdvantage Executive Platinum and Platinum Pro elites and all TrueBlue Mosaic members are now eligible for same-day confirmed flight changes when traveling on either carrier.
Admirals Club access on the way
Up until now, customers flying with JetBlue have not been allowed to use their Admirals Club memberships to access American’s lounges because JetBlue wasn’t a partner airline in the same way as airlines like British Airways or Alaska Airlines. JetBlue was a non-alliance partner (like, for example, Air Tahiti Nui) and Admirals Club memberships cannot be used when flying with a non-alliance partner.
From April, this is changing.
We haven’t been given an exact date but American Airlines has confirmed that at some point in April 2022, “Admirals Club members traveling on JetBlue will be able to access Admirals Club lounges, including the newly opened lounge space at LaGuardia Airport“.
At last!
JetBlue flyers can now use American Airlines kiosks
American Airlines and JetBlue have both been offering each other’s elite flyers an enhanced baggage allowance (up to two complimentary checked bags) since October of last year but it’s only now that JetBlue flyers can use the American Airlines airport kiosks (instead of the check-in desks) to tag up their baggage before dropping it off at one of the designated drop-off counters.
Bottom line
American Airlines and JetBlue have confirmed that as of today, they’re expanding the reciprocal elite status benefits that they offer to include extra legroom seating and same-day confirmed flight changes (for select elites). In addition, JetBlue flyers can now avoid the check-in desks and use American’s airport kiosks to tag their baggage and from April, Admirals Club members traveling on JetBlue will be able to use their memberships to access Admirals Club lounges around the country.
