by Donald Wood
Last updated: 7:55 AM ET, Tue July 29, 2025
United Airlines and JetBlue Airways announced that the
United States Department of Transportation had cleared their planned
partnership on Tuesday.
According to Reuters.com, the partnership between JetBlue
and United, dubbed Blue Sky, will allow travelers to book flights on both
airlines’ websites, earn and use their frequent flyer programs, and share slots
at New York City’s JFK Airport.
“JetBlue and United appreciate Secretary Duffy, Assistant
Secretary Edwards, and the entire team at the DOT for their review of Blue Sky,”
a JetBlue spokesperson said. “JetBlue and United will share more details in the
coming weeks as implementation of the Blue Sky collaboration begins.”
JetBlue originally announced the recently approved deal with
United in May. The two carriers revealed that the new customer benefits will
begin in fall 2025, with the changes coming in phases, which were unveiled
following the approval.
- United’s MileagePlus customers will be able to earn and use
miles on most JetBlue flights. JetBlue’s TrueBlue members will be able to earn
and use points for flights on United’s extensive domestic and international
network.
- Through a traditional interline agreement, each airline will
offer flights on the other’s website and app to make booking across the two
airlines’ complementary networks simple and easy.
- The benefits of each airline’s loyalty program - priority
boarding, complimentary access to preferred and extra legroom seats and
same-day standby/switch - will be available when customers travel on the other
airline’s aircraft.
- JetBlue will provide United access to slots at JFK
International Airport for up to seven daily round-trip flights out of JFK
Terminal 6 to begin as early as 2027. And, as part of a net-neutral exchange,
JetBlue and United will exchange eight flight timings at Newark.
- United will move its website and mobile app’s ability to
sell hotels, rental cars, cruises, and travel insurance, on both a stand-alone
and package basis, to new technology and services provided by JetBlue’s Paisly
platform.
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