We have known for some time that American and JetBlue are launching a strategic alliance in the Northeast. Well, today there was a big announcement on that front, as American and JetBlue plan to code share from February 25, 2021 (which is a week from today).
In addition to revealing time alignment plans in several markets, American and JetBlue announced a total of 33 new routes, which I would like to address in this post. In no specific order, here’s what we can expect:
American’s international expansion in New York
Since May 6, 2021, American Airlines is adding the following new routes throughout the year to Latin America from New York JFK:
- New York to Santiago, Chile (SCL) – 3 weekly flights using a 777-200
- New York to Bogota, Colombia (BOG) – daily using an A319
- New York to Cali, Colombia (CLO) – daily using an A319
- New York to Medellin, Colombia (MDE) – daily using an A319
In addition, American is adding two new seasonal routes, just on Saturdays, to the Caribbean from New York’s JFK:
- New York to St. Lucia (UVF) – using a 737-800
- New York to Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands (PLS) – using a 737-800
This complements American’s previously announced international expansion outside of New York, including Athens, Rio de Janeiro and Tel Aviv.
American will fly from New York to Santiago
American domestic expansion in the Northeast
American Airlines is adding a dozen new domestic routes from Boston and New York airports, some of which may come as a surprise. These new routes are as follows:
- Boston (BOS) to Asheville, NC (AVL) – seasonal
- Boston (BOS) to Columbus, Ohio (CMH) – all year round
- Boston (BOS) to Jackson Hole, Wyoming (JAC) – seasonal
- Boston (BOS) to Traverse City, Michigan (TVC) – seasonal
- Boston (BOS) to Wilmington, North Carolina (ILM) – seasonal
- New York (JFK) to Orange County, California (SNA) – all year
- New York (LGA) to Kansas City, Missouri (MCI) – all year
- New York (LGA) to Key West, Florida (EYW) – seasonal
- New York (LGA) to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina (MYR)
- York (LGA) to Pensacola, Florida (PNS) – seasonal
- New York City (LGA) to Rapid City, South Dakota (RAP) – seasonal
- York (LGA) to Savannah, Georgia (SAV) – seasonal
American will fly A321Ts from New York to Orange County
JetBlue expansion in the Northeast
JetBlue Airways is adding more than a dozen new routes out of the Northeast, with a particular focus on Newark. These routes include the following:
- New York City (JFK) to Kalispell, Montana (FCA) – seasonal
- New York City (JFK) to Boise, Idaho (BOI) – seasonal
- Newark (EWR) to St. John’s, Antigua (ANU) – all year round
- Newark (EWR) to Aguadilla, Puerto Rico (BQN) – all year round
- Newark (EWR) to Cartagena, Colombia (CTG) – all year round
- Newark (EWR) to Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts (MVY) – seasonal
- Newark (EWR) to Nantucket, Massachusetts (ACK) – seasonal
- Newark (EWR) to Port-au-Prince, Haiti (PAP) – all year round
- Newark (EWR) to Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic (POP) – all year round
- Newark (EWR) to Seattle, Washington (SEA) – seasonal
- Newark (EWR) to Saint Lucia (UVF) – all year
- Newark (EWR) to St. Thomas, USVI (STT) – year-round
- New York (LGA) to Charleston, South Carolina (CHS) – all year
- New York (LGA) to Denver, Colorado (DEN) – all year
- York (LGA) to Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts (MVY) – seasonal
JetBlue is expanding significantly outside of Newark
When should we expect reciprocal loyalty benefits?
Although codeshare flights will launch next week, American AAdvantage and JetBlue TrueBlue have not yet announced the receipt of reciprocal points, point redemption or elite recognition.
What’s new on this front?
- American AAdvantage and JetBlue will allow you to earn reciprocal points starting this spring, although we do not have an exact date
- Over time, there are plans to allow reciprocal redemption of points, as well as reciprocal recognition of the elite
It seems that we can expect a reciprocal mileage gain in weeks, while other things may take a little longer.
American & JetBlue to offer reciprocal point gains
My opinion on the expansion of American and JetBlue
Although I don’t say there is anything very surprising here, there are a few things I find worth noting about this American and JetBlue ad:
- I am impressed by the speed with which American is adding international long-haul routes out of New York’s JFK, with the introduction of the Santiago service
- JetBlue will definitely go after United in Newark, as the airline continues to expand there
- I’m a little surprised to see American adding point-to-point routes out of Boston, since nowadays this is a JetBlue hub and is hardly an American focus city; I suppose that maybe American has more capacity to expand there than JetBlue
- While the new routes being added are great for consumers, it seems to me that we are seeing significant reductions in combined service between airports where schedules are being aligned, such as New York to Los Angeles
- As I wrote in a separate post, I find the New York to Orange County route on American the most interesting addition, as it will be operated by an A321T
American Airlines is adding routes in Boston
Result
American and JetBlue’s new strategic alliance is finally being launched, as the two airlines will start codesharing next week. We are seeing almost three dozen new routes added, as well as schedules aligned in other markets.
American and JetBlue are expected to offer reciprocal mileage earning starting this spring, with reciprocal mileage redemptions and elite benefits at a later time.
What do you think of these new American and JetBlue routes?