JetBlue will extend its access to the Qatar Airways network via an expanded codeshare agreement. The expanded flight options open new markets for booking directly on the JetBlue site, but that’s not the most compelling part of the deal for customers.
JetBlue and Qatar Airways lead the industry with our award-winning service and exceptional inflight experiences, which is why our partnership has been such a great success for the past decade. Now, with an expanded codeshare covering nearly a dozen major U.S. gateways or connecting points, even more travelers can enjoy a seamless global travel experience between our airlines.
– Scott Laurence, head of revenue and planning, JetBlue
A loyalty boost
Members of JetBlue’s TrueBlue loyalty program will benefit from the ability to accrue TrueBlue points or Privilege Club miles later this year. At some indeterminate point in the future the relationship will expand with the ability to redeem points on either carrier’s flights.
Expanding the earn-and-burn options is a significant step forward for the TrueBlue program, addressing an aspect of member benefits where it frequently falls short. Earning in the TrueBlue program is available for flights on an handful of partner carriers, including Singapore Airlines, Emirates, Hawaiian Airlines, Icelandair, South Africa Airways, and JSX.
But of those partners, redemption is only available on Hawaiian Airlines. Adding Qatar Airways on the redemption side opens up a massively broader selection of destinations where program members can redeem points.
Of course, the devil is in the details. The companies did not publish any specifics on the rates for earning or redemption. Nor are specific timelines on offer. So it is great in theory but the reality could vary wildly when it finally comes to fruition.
Expanded codeshare routes
As part of the new bilateral codeshare, the JetBlue “B6” code will be placed on nine routes Qatar Airways operates between Doha’s Hamad International Airport (DOH) and:
- Boston Logan International Airport (BOS)
- Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport (ORD)
- Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW)
- Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL)
- Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH)
- Miami International Airport (MIA)
- New York’s John F. Kennedy international Airport (JFK)
- Philadelphia International Airport (PHL)
- Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD)
Additionally, the JetBlue code will be placed on seven routes beyond Doha, allowing for convenient connections on Qatar Airways to:
- Amman, Jordan’s Queen Alia International Airport (AMM)
- Malaysia’s Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KUL)
- Maldives’ Male International Airport (MLE)
- Oman’s Muscat International Airport (MCT) & Salalah International Airport (SLL)
- Seychelles International Airport (SEZ)
- Singapore Changi Airport (SIN)
- Uganda’s Entebbe International Airport (EBB)
In addition to making it easier to sell these markets to passengers via the JetBlue website, the addition of the codeshare routes opens these destinations up to JetBlue as part of the US Government’s GSA city pair contract program. JetBlue previously secured the contract on several international city pairs with its Emirates partnership. Adding Qatar Airways into the mix will further increase those opportunities.
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Hmmm. Very interesting – especially when considering the vitriol expressed by the US Big 3 (American, Delta & United) in years’ past towards the Middle East Big 3 (Emirates, Etihad & Qatar) alleging the latter group being unfairly subsidized by their respective national governments.
So, does Qatar’s fairly substantial ownership of International Airlines Group (IAG; parent company of British Airways [BA], Aer Lingus & Iberia, among others), now ~20% but as high as ~25% early last year just before the Covid19 pandemic decimated the industry, along with American Airlines’ anti-trust immunized transatlantic joint venture with longtime partner, BA, factor into JetBlue’s “expanded code-share” with Qatar Airways?!?
Just wondering…
I doubt those partnerships matter much. JetBlue has had the QR and EK partnerships for years and defended those partners even during the subsidy battles. And this deal opens up more GSA contract ops, that AA/BA would oppose.