JetBlue has announced elite status changes for 2026. Status will run through Jan 31 each year. They’re introducing status-earning for your kids’ travel. There’s lounge access and more upgrades for top tier, and cuts to entry-level status.
- Family Tiles: Starting February 1, kids 12 and under can have the status points from their tickets credited to one linked parent to count towards that parent’s status.
- Changes to points bonuses: Effective February 1, Mosaic 3 bonus increases to 4 points per dollar (so 10 total points per dollar on base fare when booking JetBlue direct) and Mosaic 4 bonus increases to 5 points per dollar (11 total on base fare when booking JetBlue direct). No change to Mosaic 1 and 2.
- More Upgrade Certificates: Mosaic 4 will get two more Move to Mint certificates “for a total of four.”
- Complimentary lounge access for top tier: Mosaic 4 will receive complimentary lounge access first at JFK, still on track to open this year, and Boston to open next year.
- Reduced entry-level checked-bag allowance: Mosaic 1 drops from 2 free checked bags down to 1 per person effective February 1, 2026. This seems to align with JetBlue’s new partner United.
- Reduced companion access to extra legroom seats: Effective February 1, Mosaic 1 & 2 receive access for 2 companions (down from ‘everyone on the reservation’ so up to 8). Mosaic 3 & 4 get 4 companions (down from 8). Access to Preferred Core seating remains available for up to 8 companions.
- Reduced free alcohol: drops from 3 to 1 per flight on February 1 (unless seated in a free alcohol section).
- More changes coming: “Perks You Pick” will se “enhancements” (never a good word) in 2027.
Generally these changes are a devaluation of entry-level status and an improvement for top-tier status. Families with young children win qualifying for status. But boy Mosaic 1 sees a bunch of hits from fewer checked bag, less access to extra legroom, and fewer free drinks when not in extra legroom. Overall these are tweaks not wholesale changes.
You missed pointing out the most impactful change. Elites traveling with families will not be able to sit in even more unless they want to sit separately from their family.
This is a disaster for the program and very bad. No US airline program is that restrictive.
Say you live in a city that B6 doesn’t serve too many destinations. Then how or what’s the point? To get to Mosaic 3 or 4 would be a struggle. Just giving my thoughts to Gary’s final thoughts.
With upgrades few and far between, half the point of having some status these days is the ability to select extra legroom economy at booking. So I don’t like the trend of PE overtaking extra legroom (see AA’s new 787P for instance – only 18 MCE seats). I don’t think it’s much of a downgrade for Mosaic 1 given that it’s only selection at check in anyway, but could be a significant downgrade for Mosaic 2 if you have a family of 4 that ordinarily you would get free extra legroom for at the time of booking. Now you’ve got to pay for one of the seats.
Family status pooling is certainly interesting though. Would have been easier to make EP this year with AA if I could have allocated my kids LPs. Oh well, they’ll enjoy the free 15k LP luggage tags and their gold status bragging rights in school (start them young, right?).
I don’t fly B6 enough to care, but the whole status program labeling is just so weird. Tiles? Who wants to casually say to a friend “I’m a Mosaic 2!” I’ve heard lots of people tell me they are Delta [whatever] though. Just feels odd, pick some precious stones or metals and don’t reinvent the wheel.
Got that “Updates to TrueBlue for 2026.” email earlier today, and the lounge update (still this year) was really the only thing that stood out to me. Like, if they actually open one at JFK (and BOS), that’ll be cool. (Not holding my breath on timing; expect further delay.)
And, it is always nice to see “Minty McMintFace” (N4080J).
@ Common Sense — Want extra, buy extra.
The geniuses at Skymiles are next for devaluations! Watch out Diamonds! That’s what happens when you make status easier to get than it was before. More Diamonds now than the past 3 years combined. Bye bye $700 Amex statement credit. Hello bandaid solutions to GUCs that no one cares about
@Peter most of them go by the precious metals and stones theme but there’s always the odd ones that name levels “Elitist” or something like that.
@JoeandEricsBussyBaby — Uh, sir, this is a Wendy’s… (and a jetBlue post).
@ JoeandEricsBussyBaby — The GUCs are good as is. Not sure what your complaint is. Yeah, you gotta buy PremSelect to use them on most desirable intl routes, but they are still very useful. The $700 statement credit might change, but more likely than raise the annual fee on the Reserve card.
Delta finally got smart and figured out that the number of Diamonds doesn’t matter since there are no free upgrades. They just feed people’s egos with shiny bag tags.
They can promise whatever they want. They’ll probably be out of business by then…
@Gene — Speaking of those bag tags, I don’t even use mine anymore; too clanky. (Already bent one of the Diamond ones, so it kinda just makes my rolly bag look like I’m a hobo or something. Psh.)
I would be perfectly ok with free drinks cut to zero. I never got into the drinking on an airplane. Since I don’t drink anymore, I can see the cost of the free drinks and service being partially borne by those who don’t drink.
@ 1990 — I’ve never used brag tags. They make your bag a juicier target for theft, and they male you look like a jerk.
@jns said differently, since you don’t drink anymore why should anyone else get a free drink. Fair enough. I don’t have kids. Why should families get to pool their flights for mosaic status?
I’m fine with not pooling kids mileage on parents accounts. It never has benefitted me. What else can be decoupled?
@jns I guess one could “uncouple” everything if they wanted to a la Spirit, Frontier and Allegiant. Issue is, you tend to attract low-paying travelers. Travelers looking for a premium experience are not interested in bundles and the like. We want an upscale, consistent product that anticipates needs, not one that requires anticipate everything when I book.
Case in point, LH had as many as seven different seating types in business. They charge different amounts for each type…even if you book into business.
It’s a subtle difference but one that separates standard, premium and luxury. Standard and premium are focused on upselling. Luxury knows it value, prices accordingly and lets those who value it pay for it.
@Parker — Well said, specifically, you analogy about kids, mocking @jns absurd analogy about denying onboard amenities and options to others, simply because he isn’t interested. Apparently, folks like @jns still try to pitch the ‘rugged individualism’ nonsense on here. We still live in a society. And, under our current system, these businesses will happily sell you whatever you want for a profit, and/or attempt to lure you to their business with special benefits and additions (like drinks).
@IsaacM – I mean, literally anything other than 1,2,3,4 would be good. What is this, a Feist song? They like things minty – how about-
Mosaic 1 = Mosaic Mint
Mosaic 2 = Mosaic Doublemint (partnership with Wrigley’s pending)
Mosaic 3 = Mosaic Peppermint
Mosaic 4 = Mosaic Spearmint (Spear crossed with Mint leaf logo to be designed)
And then they invent their 360/CK/GS program and call it the Pennyroyal Club (a type of mint, cool name, and highly toxic if ingested!).
Or, you know, the numbers 1, 2, 3 and 4 really make for a compelling loyalty program.
@Peter the problem with numbers is that is 1 better or 4 better?
When I’m boarding Delta Zone 1 sounds great. (Thankfully they changed the boarding zones to simple numbers vs a myriad of named levels from earlier)
I generally like being #1
@IsaacM – excellent point. Anyway, I’m sure the B6 marketing department is reading this thread and taking notes…
How much does giving free drinks actually cost them? They likely get those mini bottles for 50 cents each. The domestic beers also 50 cents, the fancy beers maybe $1. The wine in a can? Got to be somewhere between $1-2. 3 free drinks costs them $6 max. This is ridiculous penny pinching.