It positive has been fairly the 24 hours on the subject of JetBlue and its potential partnerships. We’ve recognized that JetBlue has been searching for a home airline associate, and yesterday, and it appeared like both American or United can be one of the best match.
Yesterday, American revealed it was not in discussions with JetBlue a couple of potential partnership, main many people to consider {that a} United partnership (or one thing) was incoming. Properly, that’s mainly now confirmed.
What we find out about deliberate JetBlue & United partnership
Throughout JetBlue’s Q1 2025 earnings name right now, President Marty St. George was requested about home airline partnerships, and he recommended that JetBlue was very near saying such a deal, and it could embody frequent flyer reciprocity. Particularly, he stated the next:
“I want to verify I reserve my feedback based mostly on what we’ve got stated publicly. And what we’ve got stated is we’re taking a look at and we’re speaking to a number of airways about home partnerships. I feel we’re getting very shut to creating announcement, count on to make the announcement this quarter. And so far as the advantages that we count on to supply to our prospects, now crucial factor is primary, a considerably greater community alternative for earn and burn of TrueBlue factors, which we expect enormously improves utility of TrueBlue.”
“As we speak, if you’re a buyer within the Northeast and you like JetBlue for leisure, however, you understand, twice a 12 months, you must go to Omaha or Boise, these are locations that you may’t earn via Blue factors on now. And when this partnership goes ahead, it is possible for you to to. And the second factor is I’m actually excited for simply the general broadening of the community alternatives, you understand, not simply connectivity, but additionally simply form of higher alternatives for our prospects to fly extra locations with extra frequency.”
Reuters is now reporting that JetBlue and United are actively negotiating a partnership, in response to a number of business sources. For now, the partnership is predicted to be about offering larger connectivity to prospects, and permitting them to earn and redeem frequent flyer factors throughout the 2 carriers.
For now, the 2 firms apparently aren’t planning on partnering extra intently than that, so there gained’t be coordinating of schedules or pricing. Based mostly on what we all know in regards to the partnership being proposed, this shouldn’t face any form of regulatory challenges. It’s additionally price emphasizing that it’s not finalized but, so issues might nonetheless change.
I’m a bit of confused in regards to the benefit of this association
The best way I view it, a partnership like it will have little or no impression on the underside line of both provider. I’d say that United has extra to realize than JetBlue, although.
it from United’s perspective, I assume this prevents JetBlue from partnering with one other US airline, in order that helps United’s aggressive place.
United is a part of the Star Alliance transatlantic three way partnership, and maybe there’s some alternative for extra connectivity in Boston (BOS) and New York (JFK) between JetBlue and United’s companions (Austrian, Lufthansa, SWISS, and so forth.). I’m undecided how precisely the three way partnership is structured, because it doesn’t seem to be that might result in a lot income for United.
Positive, perhaps with the ability to earn and redeem factors on JetBlue makes United MileagePlus a bit extra interesting, although I don’t suppose that might be any form of a sport changer. Fairly on the contrary, I’d view the loyalty facet of this as a zero sum sport, because it’s not just like the carriers are significantly complementary in any other case.
Moreover, United doesn’t really need its MileagePlus members flying JetBlue as a substitute of United, because it’s not like there can be a income sharing settlement. The carriers’ networks simply don’t cross paths in lots of locations in a manner that’s helpful for vacationers.
Maybe that is much more puzzling from JetBlue’s perspective, as a result of remember the fact that JetBlue seemingly turned down American in favor of United. American’s partnership with JetBlue was nice for shoppers, and made sense commercially, because it allowed JetBlue to supply feed for American’s lengthy haul flights in New York and past, a win-win association.
From a loyalty perspective, I’m additionally not satisfied that this may vastly profit JetBlue. If something, it’s extra probably that somebody who flies JetBlue each now and again can be engaged in United MileagePlus, if they might credit score their JetBlue flights there.
So I’m form of scratching my head. I’m positive there’s an excellent purpose for this partnership being pursued, and I guess we’ll discover out quickly. I simply don’t see the imaginative and prescient but.
The one factor I can give you is that that is supposed to be a primary step towards nearer long run collaboration between the 2 airways, the place we do begin to see an try at coordinating flights, or much more than that. However that might additionally probably face regulatory issues.
Backside line
It’s mainly confirmed that JetBlue and United are at present negotiating a partnership, and that one thing will probably be introduced within the coming weeks. The plan is reportedly to make this largely about frequent flyer reciprocity, in order that members of each packages can earn and redeem factors throughout each airways.
Nonetheless, I’ve to think about that there will probably be extra to this partnership, or that there’s at the very least an even bigger aim in the long term. In spite of everything, based mostly on what we all know up to now, this doesn’t fulfill United CEO Scott Kirby’s dream of the airline returning to JFK. It additionally doesn’t appear higher for JetBlue than a partnership with American.
What do you make of JetBlue and United pursuing a partnership?
Supply hyperlink
