Finding cheap airfare can be a frustrating process. With so many factors affecting ticket prices, it can be hard to know when to book or which airline to fly with to get the best deal. For JetBlue in particular, there are several tricks and tips to finding lower fares.
Book early
One of the most important things you can do to get a cheap fare on JetBlue is to book early. JetBlue releases their fares about 330 days in advance, and prices are generally lowest when those seats first become available. The earlier you book, the better chance you’ll have at snagging one of those cheap seats before they sell out.
Aim to book at least 2-3 months in advance if possible. Domestic flights will average around $100-150 each way during off-peak times when booked early. The closer you get to departure, the more likely prices are to increase.
Be flexible on dates
Being flexible on your travel dates opens up a lot more options for finding lower fares. Prices can fluctuate a lot depending on the day of the week, season, and holidays or events. Use JetBlue’s online booking calendar tool to compare fares across various dates:
- Depart on a Tuesday, Wednesday, or Saturday for lower rates
- Return on a weekday instead of Sunday
- Avoid flying around major holidays and school breaks
Shifting your dates by even 1-3 days can sometimes save a huge amount on airfare. Setting your dates to +/- 3 days in the search gives you more possibilities.
Use the ‘Explore Fares’ calendar
JetBlue offers an “Explore Fares” calendar tool on their website and app that displays the lowest fares available for various destinations. This gives you an easy visualization of when the cheapest rates are offered so you can be more strategic in picking travel dates.
Rather than putting in set dates first, start your booking on JetBlue by selecting your departure city and destination. You’ll then see the interactive calendar showing fare ranges for a full month. Look for the green dates with lowest fare ranges and avoid the red high-priced dates.
Book on Tuesdays
Studies have shown that airlines tend to offer cheaper fares on certain days of the week. For JetBlue, booking on Tuesdays tends to provide the lowest average fares.
JetBlue may lower prices for 24 hours or more on Tuesdays to incentivize bookings midweek. Setting a reminder to search for your desired flights on Tuesday and pounce when you see a good rate.
Use JetBlue’s fare alerts
Another great free tool offered by JetBlue are customizable fare alerts. This allows you to set up price tracking for specific routes and be notified by email when fares drop.
On the JetBlue booking page, enter your departure/arrival airports and target travel dates. Before confirming, click “Get Fare Alerts” below the total. Enter your email and target price drop amount.
JetBlue will then email you whenever the price for those flights decreases by your selected amount or more. This takes the guesswork out of when to book.
Book one-way tickets separately
Most airlines charge higher fares when booking roundtrip flights versus purchasing two one-ways. With JetBlue, you may find cheaper rates by mixing and matching one-way tickets instead.
Search for your departure and return dates as individual bookings. Add them to your cart separately to see if the overall price is lower than a roundtrip. Just be aware of varying checked bag allowances if going this route.
Fly midweek
Flying midweek is one of the easiest ways to save on JetBlue airfare. Tickets are typically more expensive for peak travel days like Fridays and Sundays.
For short trips, try departing and returning Tuesday-Thursday. For longer vacations, depart early in the week and return midweek.
Avoiding weekends can lead to hundreds in savings, especially during popular seasons.
Bundle a hotel + flight package
JetBlue offers bundled vacation packages including hotel stays and flights. This allows you to save up to $150 off your total fare when booking air travel and hotels together.
After entering your airport and dates, select the “Vacation” tab to add hotel or car rental options. Packages are available for destinations across the US, Mexico, and Caribbean.
Join TrueBlue
Signing up for JetBlue’s free TrueBlue loyalty program allows you to earn points on flights that can add up to free travel. As a member, you’ll also have access to exclusive discounts and fare sales.
New members even get special member fares up to $100 off. Simply join online before booking your next JetBlue flight.
Use your TrueBlue points
As a TrueBlue member, you can redeem your accumulated loyalty points for flights on JetBlue. Points can cover the entire base fare, allowing you to fly for free.
When booking, check the “Redeem Points” box on the payment page. 100 points = $1 in fare value. This is an awesome perk, especially if you travel JetBlue frequently for work or vacation.
Book Blue Basic or Blue flights
JetBlue offers four fare options – Blue Basic, Blue, Blue Extra, and Mint. The lowest priced is Blue Basic, followed by regular Blue class.
Basic includes a personal item only while Blue allows a full checked bag. But both offer the lowest fare rates and have change/cancel fees waived when modified more than 24 hours before departure.
Take red-eyes or connecting flights
Less desirable flight times and connections often come with lower fares. JetBlue operates red-eye overnight flights between various cities, usually at discounted rates.
Be sure to compare prices for flights with a layover as well. The tradeoff of an extra stop can compensate for the cheaper ticket.
Book at the right time of year
JetBlue offers winter seasonal sales from January through March with deep discounts during low season. Late summer/early fall are also good times to find fare sales.
Holiday weeks like Memorial Day, July 4th, and Labor Day are peak summer travel. Avoid booking last minute for these at high rates. Look for shoulder season deals in the cooler spring and fall months.
Take advantage of sales
JetBlue runs various promotional fare sales throughout the year. These offer percentage discounts on base fares for specific routes and travel windows.
Sign up for JetBlue emails and follow their social media to hear about upcoming sales. Act quickly once they announce a sale, as discounted fares go fast.
Current Sales
- Winter Weekend Sale (Book by 10/17 for winter travel)
- Veterans Day Sale (11/10-11/14 travel)
Book a Getaways vacation package
For longer vacations, JetBlue Getaways bundles discounted flights, hotels, and cars all in one booking. Packages include perks like free breakfast and excursions.
Sample all-inclusive packages:
- 4 nights Punta Cana – $399
- 4 nights Cancun – $549
- 4 nights Puerto Rico – $585
Minimum night stays apply. Combining roundtrip flights and hotels can represent huge savings over individual bookings.
Take advantage of fare discounts
Certain travelers can qualify for special discounted fares on JetBlue including:
- Military/Veterans: 5% off with valid ID
- Seniors (65+): Up to 10% off with TrueBlue Mosaic status
- Students: Join UNiDAYS to get special student fares
- Teachers: Educator benefits include promo codes for 10% off
Be sure to inquire about applicable discounts you may qualify for before booking.
Use credits from schedule changes
JetBlue will issue flight credits to your TrueBlue account when they cancel or significantly delay your flight. Use these credits towards future bookings for a free flight.
Credits are valid one year from issue date. Apply them on the payment screen when booking a new flight.
Earn referral bonuses
Share your unique referral link or code as a TrueBlue member to earn bonus points.
For every person who joins TrueBlue and flies, you’ll get 1,000 bonus points. You can refer up to 8 friends per year. These bonuses help you redeem rewards faster.
Pay with JetBlue points
As a TrueBlue member, you can use your points to pay for services like Even More Space seats, bags, and change fees. 100 points = $1. This saves cash by avoiding those added fees.
Log into TrueBlue and visit the Travel Bank section. Directly transfer points over to use for fees.
Book EatUp snack packages
JetBlue offers EatUp snack bundles for purchase on flights. These provide savings up to 25% versus buying individually.
EatUp Options:
| Bundle | Includes | Price |
|---|---|---|
| EatUp Basic | Provisions snacks + drink | $7 |
| EatUp Plus | Meal + snacks + drink | $12 |
Pre-order EatUp at booking or via the JetBlue app up to 12 hours pre-flight.
Bring your own food
Food purchases onboard JetBlue flights are expensive. Save money by packing your own snacks, sandwich, or meal if traveling during a main meal time.
You can bring food items through security. Just be sure your food is not liquid or gel over 3.4oz. Bring an empty bottle to fill at water stations past security.
Book your car rental separately
Bundled flight and car rental packages seem convenient but are usually inflated. Book your rental car separately to find better rates.
Use comparison sites like Expedia, Kayak and Priceline to find rental codes and coupons at major brands. Prepay when possible to avoid hidden fees.
Check alternate airports
If traveling to or from a city with multiple airports, check fares across all the airports to find lowest rates.
For example, flying into Oakland instead or San Francisco and bussing/shuttle over can save $100 or more.
Bid for upgrades
JetBlue allows TrueBlue members to bid for upgrades to Even More Space and Mint starting 5 days before departure.
Visit My Trips and select Make Bid under your reservation. Name your price for an upgrade and if accepted, pay the bid amount.
Conclusion
Finding cheap JetBlue flights involves being flexible, planning in advance, and taking advantage of sales and promotions. Consider flying on off-peak days, using points, and checking alternate airports.
Signing up for fare alerts and booking on Tuesdays also improves your chances of scoring an inexpensive fare. Avoid booking last minute or departing on busy travel days.
With minimal effort, you can discover some great deals on JetBlue flights using these tips and tricks.
