JetBlue Blue Basic: What You Get With JetBlue’s Cheapest Fares

JetBlue was among the last of the U.S. airlines to roll out basic economy tickets – the skimpy fares that withhold “perks” like seat selection or free change and cancellation. But JetBlue does everything a bit differently than other carriers … including the name. 

For starters, it's not even called Basic Economy: The airline dubs these fares “Blue Basic” – a nod to their standard economy tickets, which are simply called “Blue.” And while most airlines have made their basic economy tickets worse over time, JetBlue's have actually gotten better recently. 

Go figure that the airline that's made a name for itself by giving passengers more legroom, gate-to-gate WiFi, and live streaming TV at every seat does things a bit differently with basic economy. But it's not all good news. 

Here's what you need to know if you're booking JetBlue basic economy.

What You Get with Blue Basic Tickets

The biggest pain point of many airlines' basic economy tickets is what you don't get: A carry-on bag. Lucky for JetBlue flyers, those days are over. 

After years of banning travelers with a basic ticket from bringing a carry-on bag onboard, JetBlue relented in 2024: Everyone can stow a bag overhead, even if you buy the cheapest ticket. 

But that doesn't mean there aren't some serious restrictions with these stingy fares. Take a look at what you get (and don't) when you buy a Blue Basic fare. 

• Baggage Allowance: You can bring a free personal item and, as of Sept. 6, 2024, also bring a free carry-on bag. If you need to check a bag, JetBlue charges peak- and off-peak prices: Up to $40 each way within the U.S. or Latin America and as much as $70 each way to Europe.
• Seat Selection: You can pay for advance seat selection, otherwise it should be free within 24 hours of departure.
• Boarding: You'll always board the plane last.
• Earning TrueBlue Points: Yes, but only 1x per $1 spent (compared to at least 3x points per $1 on other fares).
• Ticket Changes and Cancellation: Pay $100 to change or cancel almost any JetBlue basic economy ticket – or $200 for flights to/from South America or Europe. Free cancellation within 24 hours of booking.

As you can see, JetBlue practically begs travelers not to buy a basic economy fare. Like other carriers, they force you to opt-in to basic economy, hoping that the restrictions convince you to pay up for a more-inclusive fare.

JetBlue did budget travelers a serious solid in 2024 by doing away with Blue Basic's ban on bringing a carry-on bag. Now, everyone can stow a carry-on bag onboard no matter what ticket they buy … just keep in mind: Because you board last, there might not be space in the overhead bin by the time you get on the plane. 

On the bright side, the seat selection policy for JetBlue basic economy is among the best in the industry. You can pay an additional fee to pick a seat in advance. Prices vary by route and date, but you can typically pick a seat for as low as $10 or $12 each way for a middle seat – or $14 for a window seat at the back of the plane.

Otherwise, you can pick the best of what's left within 24 hours of departure for free. That's nearly identical to Delta, which offers two ways for basic economy flyers to pick a seat.

It's not all good news, though. 

You also only earn 1x TrueBlue points per $1 – a drastic cut from the norm of 3x points (or more) you $1 spend on other fares.

But worst of all with these Blue Basic fares is the lack of flexibility. Unlike a standard economy ticket which can be changed or canceled for a voucher for free, these cannot be changed, period. And while you can cancel them for a voucher, you'll forfeit a $100 fee on most flights … or $200 for tickets to Europe or South America.

That means with a $78 one-way fare from Las Vegas (LAS) to Boston (BOS), you could cancel … but you'd lose the entire value of your JetBlue ticket anyway. Ouch.

How to Beat JetBlue Basic Economy

Use TrueBlue Points Instead

If you're staring down that age-old question – “Should I pay with cash or use my points?” – there's a compelling reason to turn to your points with JetBlue: It can help you avoid basic economy altogether. 

While the cheapest fare will almost always be a Blue Basic ticket when paying with a credit card, JetBlue doesn't offer basic economy when redeeming TrueBlue points – at least not yet. 

That means using just 7,700 points on this flight from New York City (JFK) to Las Vegas (LAS), you'll get free seat selection. And if your plans change, you can easily cancel your trip and get your points right back without penalty. 

Don't have JetBlue points? You might have an easy way to get them. JetBlue is a transfer partner with Chase, American Express, and Citi – you can instantly turn credit card points from all three banks into JetBlue points.

Pay Up for an Even More Space Seat

Like almost every major airline, JetBlue has an extra legroom economy product it calls “Even More Space.” But unlike many other carriers, JetBlue allows even travelers with its cheapest Blue Basic fares to pay extra to snag one of those roomier seats.

And it's a two-for-one: Not only do you get a seat with more legroom at the front of the plane, but JetBlue also allows travelers who combined a Blue Basic fare with an Even More Space seat assignment to board earlier, too – meaning you shouldn't have a problem finding overhead bin space for your carry-on bag. Just keep in mind you'll have to pay for those spacious seats on every segment: Two times for a round-trip fare and four times for a round-trip fare with one connection.

The price to pick an Even More Space seat varies from route to route, but you can safely expect to pay at least $60 or more each way. Here's a look at what JetBlue is charging for a one-way flight from New York City (JFK) to Miami (MIA), for example. On the same route, buying a standard Blue economy fare makes these same extra legroom seats $20 cheaper apiece.

At that price, it's worth considering whether going the basic economy route is worth it or if you should just get a standard economy fare from the outset. But if saving some money while getting a seat with plenty of space is your top priority, you can come out ahead.

Earn JetBlue Mosaic Status

Mosaic is JetBlue's status program, with four different tiers. And while earning airline status isn't right for everyone, it's clearly the best way to beat the airline's basic tickets.

With any level of Mosaic status, you'll get two free checked bags on any fare, including Blue Basic. You'll also get free early boarding and earn at least 3 extra TrueBlue points per dollar when buying your flight. Those solve many of the pain points of a Blue basic ticket. 

Pay Early for a Checked Bag (Or Get it Free with a JetBlue Card)

If you need to check a bag, it pays to do so early.

JetBlue charges as much as $50 each way for a bag on nearly all its routes – except for Europe, where bags cost as much as $70 a pop. But you can save up to $10 a bag by pre-paying online (or via the JetBlue app) at least 24 hours before departure. Let me repeat: You have to pay at least 24 hours before departure in order to save that extra $10.

Read up on JetBlue baggage fees (and how to avoid them!)

Better yet: You can also get those two bags for free.

JetBlue has two co-branded credit cards: The JetBlue Plus Card and the JetBlue Business Card. Both are operated by Barclays, and both will get you a free bag on every JetBlue flight. Not only that, but you can get a free first checked bag for up to three other passengers booked on your reservation.

But there’s a catch: You have to pay for your flights with your JetBlue card in order to actually get those free bags. And it also won't get you early boarding, either – another common perk with other airline credit cards. 

Still, it’s a nice benefit that can help you beat basic economy and save on luggage, too.

Comparing Blue vs Blue Basic Fares

JetBlue basic economy is truly a mixed bag. You can see that with how these cheap fares stack up against the airline's standard, Blue economy fare. 

First things first: There's the price. While it can vary from route-to-route, Blue basic tickets are typically:

• $50 to $70 cheaper than standard economy for domestic roundtrip tickets
• $50 to $90 less than standard economy flying to Mexico, the Caribbean, or South America
• $180 to $200 cheaper than economy heading to Europe and back

While you can save a fair amount buying JetBlue's cheapest fares, it'll cost you some precious perks.

On the plus side, both a Blue Basic and Blue fare allow you to bring a carry-on bag for free.

And both fares will charge you extra to check a bag … unless you're heading to Europe: A checked bag is free with a standard JetBlue economy fare to Europe. If you need to check a bag for your JetBlue flight to London, Paris, Amsterdam, or beyond, it could be well worth paying a bit more upfront for a better fare.

The ability to pick a seat for free within 24 hours of departure – or pay a (relatively small) fee to pick a seat earlier – is also quite generous. And the onboard experience is exactly the same no matter what fare you buy: Same economy seat, same meals, same service.

But beyond that, the restrictions of Blue Basic fares really start to add up: 

• While you can bring a carry-on bag, boarding last may make it difficult (or impossible) to find a place to stow it overhead
• Flights cannot be changed, period
• You can cancel your ticket for a voucher, but you'll forfeit hefty fees to do so that could leave you with little (or no) leftover value

Bottom Line

JetBlue basic economy tickets have gotten better within just the last few months with the ability to bring carry-on bag. But JetBlue's cheapest tickets can still be a drag.

You can't pick a seat for free. Canceling your ticket for a voucher will incur some hefty fees – and you can't change your flight, period. It's all part of the airline industry's constant pressure to get you to pay up to avoid basic economy altogether.