{"id":1300,"date":"2009-09-03T08:51:13","date_gmt":"2009-09-03T13:51:13","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.orbitz.com\/blog\/?p=1300"},"modified":"2016-12-17T01:46:31","modified_gmt":"2016-12-17T07:46:31","slug":"on-the-road-revised-jetblue-frequent-flier-program-international-flight-cuts-and-more","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.orbitz.com\/blog\/2009\/09\/on-the-road-revised-jetblue-frequent-flier-program-international-flight-cuts-and-more\/","title":{"rendered":"On the Road: Revised JetBlue frequent flier program, international flight cuts and more"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"business_travel1\"By Joe Brancatelli<\/em><\/p>\n

MILES & POINTS<\/strong><\/p>\n

JetBlue Launches Revenue-Based, Not Mileage-Based, Program<\/strong>: Since its first flights<\/strong><\/a> in February, 2000, JetBlue Airways has done most things right. But one glaring deficiency was its dreadful TrueBlue program, which is irrelevant even to many of the airline’s most frequent customers. Now everything but the name is being jettisoned when the carrier revamps TrueBlue on September 28.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

The biggest news is that TrueBlue 2.0 will be revenue-based, not a traditional mileage-based program<\/strong>. In other words, like hotel programs, you’ll earn points based on the amount of money you spend. Program basics include three points for every dollar spent on tickets. While there are no elite levels, JetBlue fliers will receive bonuses for each 3,000 points they accrue. There’s also a bonus for booking transcontinental flights. On the award side, there are no blackout dates or capacity controls. If there’s an empty seat, you can claim it for points. But award levels are also based on dollars. The higher the cash cost of the ticket, the higher the number of points required to claim it. One-way awards start at 5,000 points and increase in 100-point increments. JetBlue executives say the vast majority of its seats will be available for 10,000 points or less. Points won’t expire if you fly JetBlue or use your JetBlue American Express card once a year.<\/p>\n

INTERNATIONAL ITINERARY<\/strong><\/p>\n

Watch for Big Flight Cuts This Fall<\/strong>: IATA, the airline trade group, says that June revenues from international flights fell a startling 25-30 percent compared to last year. So you can understand why some of the following route cuts are happening.<\/p>\n