As many airlines have done recently, JetBlue has long ditched the concept of a set award chart in favor of a dynamic one. With JetBlue, award pricing is tied to the cash cost of a ticket — the cheaper a flight is in cash, the fewer points you’ll need to redeem. That can end up being a good or bad thing, depending on how you typically travel.

How JetBlue TrueBlue points work

Let’s start with the good news: You can redeem TrueBlue points on any JetBlue flight with no blackout dates. You can also use them for nearly any seat, from Blue Basic (JetBlue’s version of economy) to Mint (JetBlue’s version of first class). That’s great if you want flexibility and convenience out of a frequent flyer program. You cannot redeem TrueBlue points for a Blue Basic fare, which is JetBlue’s version of basic economy.

On the downside, because redemption rates are based on airfare prices, the points you’ll need can fluctuate significantly depending on the route and during peak travel times. Take a flight from New York to Orlando, for example. The cash price for a flight might be $326 or 21,700 points, making points worth about 1.5 cents. But the exact point value fluctuates when comparing several different travel dates.

Think of it this way: The popularity of a flight from New York to Orlando varies throughout the year. A flight would likely be more popular in the summer versus the fall, so the price would likewise be higher. And since redemption rates are directly tied to the cash price of current fares, more expensive flights will require more points. That means that flying a popular route on off-peak dates can be incredibly useful for saving points.

JetBlue’s fare types

JetBlue has five different fare types: Blue Basic, Blue, Blue Plus, Blue Extra and Mint. All fare classes include JetBlue’s beloved benefits like brand-name snacks, free high-speed Wi-Fi and DirecTV.

Blue Basic

Blue Basic is JetBlue’s version of basic economy. By booking in the lowest fare class, you’ll forgo somewhat basic benefits like the ability to select your seats prior to check-in (unless you pay an additional fee). You’ll board with one of the last boarding groups, and you won’t be able to use your points to pay for this type of fare. Plus, Blue Basic is the only one of JetBlue’s fare classes that charges a fee to change or cancel your flight. And, you won’t be able to bring a carry-on bag.