Sweet Spot Sunday: Take advantage of savings on JetBlue Mint awards by using Emirates miles

JetBlue's Mint stands out as one of the finest business-class options available, featuring exceptional service and luxurious seats. Recently, the airline introduced brand-new Mint Studios and Suites on flights to JetBlue's London routes as well as select domestic trips.

However, securing JetBlue Mint can be challenging for those on a budget. Ticket prices are high on many routes, and JetBlue's own TrueBlue loyalty program sets Mint award pricing accordingly, often requiring a significant number of points.

Fortunately, there's a solution: Booking through Emirates Skywards. Let's explore how you can take advantage of JetBlue's partnership with Emirates to find great deals on JetBlue Mint business-class awards.

Reasons to consider it a great value

JetBlue TrueBlue sets award ticket prices based on the cash fare. Since Mint tickets are pricey, award prices can be exceptionally high. For instance, a one-way flight from New York-JFK to Los Angeles (LAX) in mid-January will cost a staggering 82,200 points.

Fortunately, there's an alternative: Utilizing miles from Emirates Skywards. Emirates and JetBlue have a well-established partnership, and Emirates has recently updated its JetBlue award chart to incorporate Mint flights. While Mint flights may not be inexpensive this way, the pricing tends to be more predictable and generally lower than booking with TrueBlue points.

Take a look at Emirates' JetBlue award chart. The JFK to LAX route mentioned earlier covers 2,465 miles, so Emirates would only require 52,000 miles for the same journey. This represents significant savings, particularly if you need to transfer points from a credit card for your booking. By transferring to Emirates Skywards instead of JetBlue TrueBlue, you could save over 30,000 points.

Alternatively, you can book shorter routes such as New York-JFK to Aruba (AUA), which spans 1,951 miles, for just 40,000 points in business class. This is typically much more affordable than using JetBlue TrueBlue points.

However, one of the best values is booking JetBlue's new flights to and from the U.K. Initially, these flights couldn't be booked with Skywards miles when Mint redemptions started, but that changed in early 2022. Now, you can secure transatlantic Mint flights between the Northeast and London for a reasonable 64,000 miles each way. These tickets generally cost around $1,500 for a round trip, giving you excellent value of over two cents per mile.

There is one drawback to booking with Emirates, though. Emirates Skywards has access to a more limited amount of award availability compared to JetBlue TrueBlue, so you may need to be flexible to secure bookable Mint award space.

How to redeem JetBlue awards using Emirates Skywards

Redeeming JetBlue awards through Emirates is quite simple and can be done online—here’s a step-by-step guide to help you through the process.

Step 1: Access your Emirates Skywards account

You’ll need an Emirates Skywards account to search for an award ticket. If you haven't registered yet, you can easily create one.

Step 2: Look for award seat availability.

On Emirates' homepage, use the search box to select "Advanced search: multi-city, promo codes, partner airlines."

Next, click the "Book Classic Rewards Flight" and "Search partner flights only" options, then enter your preferred itinerary. From our experience, it's best not to check the "Flexible dates" option to avoid errors. Also, ensure you select "Business Class" to view Mint seat availability.

Step 3: Select your flight.

You'll be presented with all available flight options for your selected date. If there is "I" fare availability, you should be able to book through Emirates. It's advisable to use ExpertFlyer to check inventory and set alerts for any lack of availability. (ExpertFlyer is part of TPG's parent company, Red Ventures.) If you find a flight you'd like, click on it to begin the booking process.

Step 4: Verify and complete your payment.

Now, proceed by following the on-screen instructions to finalize your ticket purchase. While it's minimal, consider using a card like The Platinum Card® from American Express or Chase Sapphire Reserve to cover taxes and fees, ensuring you're protected in case any issues arise during your trip.

How to accumulate miles for this award.

The advantage of this sweet spot lies in how effortlessly you can earn Emirates Skywards miles. Points can be transferred to the Dubai-based airline from all major transferable points programs. This includes Chase Ultimate Rewards, Amex Membership Rewards, Bilt Rewards, Citi ThankYou Rewards, Capital One Miles, and Marriott Bonvoy. Transfers are typically at a 1:1 ratio, except for Marriott, which transfers at a 3:1 ratio and offers a 5,000-point TrueBlue bonus for every 60,000 Marriott points transferred.

If you’re looking to gather points for your own JetBlue Mint ticket, think about earning Capital One miles. Here are some of our top credit card picks that earn these miles along with their current welcome offers:

• Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card: Earn 75,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening. $395 annual fee.
• Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card: Earn 75,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening. $95 annual fee.
• Capital One Spark Miles for Business: Earn 50,000 bonus miles after spending $4,500 on purchases within the first three months from account opening. $95 annual fee (waived for the first year).

Conclusion

JetBlue Mint stands out as one of the top business-class offerings available, and the collaboration with Emirates allows for more affordable bookings of this premium service. Consider this redemption option the next time you're planning a transcontinental or overseas flight — you'll enjoy a fantastic experience while conserving your points.