Until now, JetBlue Airways’ frequent flyer program, TrueBlue, has differed heavily from other airlines by offering just one or two levels of elite status. That’s all changed, though, now that the airline has completely overhauled its elite status program.

TrueBlue members can now earn four levels of Mosaic elite status, each of which carries enhanced perks and potential value.

2023 JetBlue elite status changes

While we’ll delve deeper into the specifics of the value you’ll find in each of the new Mosaic status tiers below, the gist of the program changes is this: There are now four Mosaic levels: Mosaic 1, Mosaic 2, Mosaic 3 and Mosaic 4.

TrueBlue members earn status by accumulating “tiles,” instead of the previous Mosaic Qualifying Points.

Members earn one tile for every $100 spent on qualifying JetBlue purchases. JetBlue credit cardholders can also earn elite status through their spending. Cardholders earn one tile for every $1,000 of eligible spending on all of the airline's co-branded cards, such as the JetBlue Plus Card and JetBlue Business Card.

Is JetBlue status worth it?

Ultimately, the value of JetBlue elite status depends on how often you fly with the airline, which has a large presence in the northeast.

While JetBlue is not part of any major alliance, it does have a partnership with American Airlines, which allows for reciprocal elite perks when flying with American. However, after a judge struck down this so-called Northeast Alliance, it’s not clear how much longer this partnership might be around.

Whether you’re new to the frequent flyer world or are a seasoned pro already decided on JetBlue as your preferred airline, here’s what you need to know about what JetBlue elite status is worth.

JetBlue Mosaic 1: Estimated value of $1,558

TrueBlue members reach Mosaic 1 upon earning 50 of the new Mosaic tiles. According to our analysis, Mosaic 1 costs about $6,329 to earn.

Regardless of the tier, all Mosaic status members earn points at the same, increased rate over standard TrueBlue members:

3 TrueBlue points per dollar on base fares earned flying JetBlue (1 point per dollar if it’s a Blue Basic, or basic economy, fare).

Plus, an extra 3 TrueBlue points per dollar because of Mosaic status, regardless of fare type.

3 TrueBlue points per dollar for booking flights directly through JetBlue’s website (1 point per dollar if it’s Blue Basic).

High-value perks include:

Two free checked bags.

Free same-day flight changes.

Free Even More Space seats at check-in.

Complimentary alcoholic beverages on board.

Priority boarding.

Avis status match (not included in calculation, coming in late 2024).

Our analysis determined that those who earn Mosaic 1 status can get a raw estimated value of $1,558 from it, down a bit from the $1,987 for the previous single-tier Mosaic status.

However, Mosaic 1 is just the first of, now, four tiers.

JetBlue Mosaic 2: Estimated value of $3,117

To become a Mosaic 2 member, you’ll have to earn 100 Mosaic tiles. By our estimation, you’d probably have to spend about $12,658 to earn this level of elite status.

The most notable perk this status carries is the ability for members to book extra-legroom Even More Space seats at booking (as opposed to at check-in).

JetBlue Mosaic 3: Estimated value of $5,875

TrueBlue members who accrue 150 tiles earn Mosaic 3.

This status earns members a dedicated customer service phone line and four certificates that allow them to upgrade an economy seat to JetBlue’s Mint suites.

Mint is the airlines’s premium cabin featuring lie-flat seats. It’s available on select transcontinental, Caribbean and Latin America routes, and all of JetBlue’s flights to Europe.

Transatlantic flights require two certificates per-person, per flight to upgrade. All other routes require one certificate.

This perk could conceivably allow for one round-trip to Europe entirely in lie-flat Mint accommodations at a time when JetBlue continues to expand its European service, with the launch of Amsterdam and Paris flights this summer on top of its existing flights to London.

JetBlue Mosaic 4: Estimated value of $10,347

JetBlue’s most loyal customers can earn top-tier Mosaic 4 status after accruing 250 tiles. Our analysis prices the cost to earn Mosaic 4 at $31,646.

This status earns two new perks, with a third on the way:

Two additional certificat Mosaic es for upgrades to Mint.

Credits for four one-way Blade Helicopter airport transfers between Manhattan and New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) or Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR).

Gift Mosaic 1 status (not included in calculation, coming in 2024).

Mosaic Perks You Pick

JetBlue flyers can actually start enjoying some quasi-elite status perks before earning Mosaic 1. As part of the changes to its Mosaic program, TrueBlue members can select one perk from a menu of “Perks You Pick” each time they collect 10 tiles on their way to 50.

Mosaic status members also get to pick a new perk from a separate menu of rewards each time they reach a new status tier. So by the time they reach Mosaic 4, they’ll have selected a perk four different times.

Each of the Mosaic Perks You Pick carry value, including:

A FoundersCard Blue membership, which includes a host of luxury travel perks and discounts.

Pet fee waiver.

20-tile bonus you can keep or gift to a family member or friend to help them make faster progress toward a higher elite status tier (becoming two separate perks, gift and get, in 2024).

One-time bonus of 15,000 TrueBlue points.

One-time $99 statement credit on JetBlue credit cards.

Priority access to Mint Suite selection.

IHG One Rewards Platinum elite status (coming in 2024).

The value of JetBlue miles

According to our most recent valuations here at NerdWallet, JetBlue miles are worth 1.5 cents apiece toward travel on JetBlue.

Since JetBlue’s point value is pegged to the dollar, it’s hard to extract more value from the program, making the 1.5 cents a firm but attractive number.

How the value of JetBlue status compares to competitors

According to our calculations, JetBlue’s revamped program provides members with one of the more valuable entry-level statuses among large U.S. carriers (trailing only American Airlines).

This makes sense — despite breaking its elite status into four tiers, JetBlue still offers a large portion of its cost-saving perks to first-tier members, like two free checked bags, extra legroom seating and a free inflight beverage.

However, other airlines like American, Delta and United generally provide more value once members reach the the higher tiers.

That being said, the gap is not as stark as it was before the program’s shift. Among other things, JetBlue previously did not allow elite members to upgrade to business or first class on a complimentary basis.

Though many JetBlue aircraft still aren’t equipped with any such cabins, Mosaic 3 and 4 members do receive Mint upgrade certificates, good for lie-flat seating accomodations — a privilege worth as much as $4,000 or more by the time you reach Mosaic 4.

Here’s how JetBlue status compares to other major airlines in the United States, according to our most recent analysis.

Should I earn elite status with JetBlue this year?

The decision to pursue JetBlue status is a personal one that depends on your home airport and the destinations you frequent, how much you value Mosaic benefits, and how difficult or easy it would be for you to acquire Mosaic status.

Once you earn JetBlue elite status in a particular year, you maintain status for the remainder of the year in which you earned it and the entirety of the following year.

If you start a plan to attain Mosaic status in 2023 and earn it by, say, July 2023, you will have status for the remainder of 2023 and all of 2024.

You’ll also want to consider how often you’d hope to use JetBlue status to enjoy perks when flying American Airlines.

Will you get value out of the status?

The only way to get value out of JetBlue elite status is to fly JetBlue and American Airlines.

JetBlue does have a few other airline partners, including Hawaiian, Icelandair and Qatar Airways and Aer Lingus, but you cannot get elite perks like upgrades, baggage allowance and increased point earnings on them. You can simply earn points on these partners (and also redeem them on Hawaiian Airlines).

Can you credit your flights to JetBlue?

Yes, if you add your TrueBlue number to the booking, you can earn TrueBlue points while flying with its airline partners, but earning Mosaic tiles is different.

TrueBlue members can only earn Mosaic tiles through eligible spending with JetBlue or American Airlines, or through eligible JetBlue credit card spending. Flights with any other airline partner do not count toward Mosaic status.

Can your credit card earning help you out?

JetBlue is one of the few the airlines that will grant elite status solely through spending on a co-branded credit card. So, even with no flights on JetBlue, a cardmember could earn Mosaic 1 status by spending $50,000 in a calendar year on one of the airline’s co-branded cards.

JetBlue status value recapped

There’s now more to work toward when it comes to JetBlue status, with four tiers.

According to NerdWallet’s analysis, the value you’ll get out of Mosaic 1 status outpaces that of many of JetBlue’s competitors. However, the value members will find in the program’s upper tiers still largely trails that of JetBlue’s larger competitors.

Ultimately, though, the actual value you’ll find in JetBlue elite status depends entirely on how often you fly with the carrier or American Airlines, and how often you can take advantage of the status perks.