Do you fly JetBlue Airways on a frequent basis? Do you have excellent credit? If either of these questions is answered with a resounding yes, the JetBlue Card from American Express might just be the credit card opportunity of a lifetime. However, if the answer to either of these questions is no –please read on for details – but there might be more practical and better suited options available in this scenario.



What Rewards are Offered by the JetBlue Card from American Express?

For practically every dollar spent with the JetBlue Card from American Express, one Award Dollar is earned. Some purchases, such as entertainment, travel, leisure, and dining even earn Double Award Dollars.

Once 200 reward dollars are accumulated, 1 TrueBlue point is then awarded. 100 TrueBlue points are redeemable for one round trip flight with JetBlue Airways. As a bonus, the very first purchase the credit card is used for will award 50 TrueBlue points to get the ball rolling.

So, doing the simple math ($200 = 1 TrueBlue point x 100 TrueBlue points), it takes up to $20,000 worth of purchases to earn one round trip flight reward. This seems like a lot, but it is actually a decent reward rate for the industry. Just use the card for every purchase possible, pay the balance every month, and the rewards will be earned in no time at all. Plus, the TrueBlue rewards points don't expire if the credit card is used at least once a year.

What Does the Interest Rate Look Like for This Credit Card?

The interest rates and fees for this credit card don't actually rate among the very best. First of all, an annual fee $40 is charged just to hold and use the card. During a time when many credit cards are doing away with the notion of annual fees, this is indeed a bit high.

Next, looking at the regular day to day purchase APR interest rate, it also proves rather high when taking into consideration that this card is only offered to customers with excellent credit scores. If paying off the balance in full upon the arrival of every bill, then the high rate probably won't pose a problem. But if that's just not possible every billing cycle, the finance charges will quickly outweigh the reward benefits.

This credit card isn't really the most ideal balance transfer card either. The introductory balance transfer APR offered is low, but not zero. Regardless, that introductory period is only extended to the cardholder for the first six months anyway – not much time to really attack a high balance and get it paid off during without accumulating interest in the meantime.

How Does This Credit Card Stand Up Against the Others in the Rewards Category?

Based strictly on the potential for earning rewards only, the JetBlue Card from American Express is inline with other rewards credit cards. However, when it comes to high interest rates, the requirement of excellent credit, the charging of an annual fee, and the short balance transfer offer, it doesn't stack up so great against the competition.

Is the JetBlue Card from American Express a Recommended Choice?

Again, if you have excellent credit and fly JetBlue Airways on a frequent basis, this card might not be a bad choice. But otherwise, it's probably best to move on to an option that fits your needs better.