The Guide to Blue Basic on JetBlue

Want to get somewhere for cheap? Basic economy fares promise to do just that, unbundling the benefits of regular economy tickets like carry-on baggage, seat selection and standard boarding. Blue Basic is JetBlue Airways’ version of a basic economy fare, and while it promises to get you to your destination, it doesn’t offer much else.

Let’s take a look at Blue Basic on JetBlue, how to book this type of ticket and ways to get good value when flying Blue Basic.

What is Blue Basic on JetBlue?

Those who purchase a Blue Basic ticket can expect a no-frills experience, though they’ll still be seated in standard economy class seats.

Here's what to expect with a Blue Basic ticket:

What is the difference between JetBlue Basic and Blue?

There are several differences between a JetBlue Blue Basic and Blue fare, but the most consequential is likely the flexibility to change or cancel your ticket. JetBlue Blue Basic fares cost $100 to modify for flights within North America, Central America and the Caribbean, or $200 for other routes, whereas Blue fares can be changed for no fee.

Other differences include:

Similarities across both fares include:

How to book a Blue Basic JetBlue ticket

Blue Basic tickets are available on all flights that JetBlue operates. Booking these tickets is simple, whether you’re paying with cash or redeeming your points.

First, you’ll want to navigate to JetBlue’s homepage at Jetblue.com.

From here, you can enter your desired flight route and dates. If using points, you can also tick the box titled “Use TrueBlue points.”

You’ll then be presented with the results of your search, which default to displaying Blue Basic pricing.

If you’re looking for other types of fares, you can toggle the search results on the left side of the page. Here you can compare Blue Basic versus Blue Plus, Blue Extra or Blue to see pricing and what each tier offers.

Once you’ve selected your preferred flight, you’ll be prompted with a notice that reviews all of the restrictions for Blue Basic tickets. You’ll need to acknowledge this before moving on with your booking.

You’ll then be taken through the checkout process, where you’ll verify your flight information and enter your traveler details.

During this step, you’ll also be able to select seats, add a checked bag, opt for priority security screening or add a pet booking.

All of these options incur an additional fee. The amount you’ll pay for a specific seat assignment will depend on where you’re sitting, as the example shows below.

Once you’ve selected or declined these options, you’ll be able to pay for and book your ticket.

Ways to get good value on JetBlue flights

If you’re booking a Blue Basic ticket, you’re likely interested in getting a good price for your flight. Here are several other ways to find value when flying JetBlue, from transferring points to earning elite status, to looking at other fare options.

Find cheap cash flights

JetBlue operates on a dynamic pricing system for its reward flights. This means that the number of points you’ll redeem will be directly tied to the cash price of a flight. Your best bet for good value — whether with cash or TrueBlue points — is to find a cheap cash flight.

To do so, flexibility is key, but so is knowing when to look for inexpensive fares. For example, NerdWallet’s research shows flying midweek is often cheaper than taking a weekend trip, and booking farther in advance can also get you more savings.

Transfer in your points

JetBlue partners with three different flexible point currencies, which means it’s easy to earn plenty of TrueBlue points. Each currency values its points slightly differently when it comes to transferring them to JetBlue:

These three partners feature multiple points-earning cards that come with the following welcome offers:

By signing up for one or more of these travel cards, you can get a good start on earning enough points for an award ticket on a JetBlue flight.

Earn elite status

JetBlue has foure tiers of Mosaic elite status: Mosaic 1 through Mosaic 4. Those with elite status on JetBlue receive a bevy of benefits, including free checked bags, complimentary premium seats and extra bonus points when flying.

Here’s an overview of the perks that the first tier of Mosaic elite members enjoy when flying JetBlue:

Holding elite status with JetBlue almost entirely negates the pain points of flying in basic economy, though you’ll still need to pay for seat selection more than 24 hours in advance.

🤓Nerdy Tip

In addition to Mosaic status holders, active duty military members and unaccompanied minors are always able to bring a carry-on bag, even when flying Blue Basic.

Book an Even More Space seat

If you’re already planning on paying for a seat with your Blue Basic ticket, you may want to consider springing for the Even More Space add-on. In addition to extra legroom, these tickets come with several different benefits that are especially useful for those flying basic economy:

All JetBlue flights feature these Even More Space seats, though the cost will vary depending on your specific flight.

How does JetBlue basic economy compare with other airlines?

In NerdWallet's annual analysis of best airlines, JetBlue ranked in the middle of the pack in terms of best basic economy tickets for travelers. It beat out heavy-hitters like Delta and United, but placed behind American and Alaska.

We compared all of the full-service U.S.-based airlines' basic economy tickets and rated them on a scale of 1 to 5, with 5 being the highest.

JetBlue's ability to cancel or make changes basic economy fares for a fee helped it stand out (in a good way) among other airlines, most of which do not allow changes at all. Otherwise, the restrictions on JetBlue basic economy tickets are pretty standard. The airline's score was negatively impacted by the inability to bring a carry-on bag that goes in the overhead bins. Blue Basic fares only include one carry-on item that fits under the seat.

Blue Basic on JetBlue, recapped

Blue Basic isn’t for everyone. Although it’s cheap, it also features several restrictions. These include the lack of a carry-on bag, boarding the plane last and fees when changing or canceling your ticket.

However, there are ways to extract good value out of these basic economy tickets, especially if you’re a JetBlue elite member. Otherwise, buying an Even More Space seat will entitle you to a few extra perks — just be sure to find a cheap cash flight to maximize your value.

How to maximize your rewards

You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are our picks for the best travel credit cards of 2023, including those best for:

Blue light-blocking glasses may not protect eyes or improve sleep: study

Blue light eyewear enthusiasts might be seeing red after this.

Glasses that claim to shield your eyes from screens’ blue light and supposedly help you get better shut-eye may not provide much benefit at all — other than elevating your accessories.

A new study, published Friday in the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, found that blue light glasses may not provide relief or protection from computer-induced eye strain nor improve sleep.

Experts have long claimed that blue light emitted from tablets, smartphones, televisions and computer screens could be damaging to the skin and eyes, potentially resulting in wrinkles, headaches, dry eyes and poor sleep.

American adults spend hours upon hours staring at screens each day — whether for work or pleasure — and blue light-filtering specs promise protection and relief from the screens’ rays.

But the recent exam of blue light-filtering glasses has questioned their effectiveness.

“Over the past few years, there has been substantial debate about whether blue-light filtering spectacle lenses have merit in ophthalmic practice,” study author and associate professor Laura Downie said in a statement.

“Research has shown that these lenses are frequently prescribed to patients in many parts of the world, and a range of marketing claims exist about their potential benefits, including that they may reduce eye strain associated with digital device use, improve sleep quality and protect the retina from light-induced damage.”

In collaboration with City, University of London and Monash University, researchers from the University of Melbourne reviewed 17 randomized controlled trials of blue light glasses comprised of five to 156 participants in each.

The team analyzed the individual studies of the glasses for visual performance, retina protection and sleep quality improvement compared to non-blue light filtering spectacles.

“We found there may be no short-term advantages with using blue-light filtering spectacle lenses to reduce visual fatigue associated with computer use, compared to non-blue-light filtering lenses,” Downie said.

The effects of sleep and vision quality were “unclear” in the researchers’ exam, she added, and they could not draw conclusions about the long-term “potential effects on retinal health.”

The University of Melbourne report didn’t find any serious side effects from wearing the specs, only mild consequences such as headaches or discomfort similar to wearing non-blue light glasses.

But still, the findings did “not support the prescription of blue-light filtering lenses to the general population,” Downie added.

“People should be aware of these findings when deciding whether to purchase these spectacles.”

Due to the “short follow-up period,” researchers were unable to accurately determine the long-term effects of wearing blue light glasses, prompting calls for further research from study author and postdoctoral research fellow Dr. Sumeer Singh.

“They should examine whether efficacy and safety outcomes vary between different groups of people and using different types of lenses,” said Singh.

Already, lights from screens amount to “a thousandth of what we get from natural daylight,” and blue light glasses only filter out 10% to 25% of it.

“Filtering out higher levels of blue light would require the lenses to have an obvious amber tint, which would have a substantial effect on color perception,” Singh said.