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JetBlue's new first class, coming soon

Issue #6 · Originally sent July 31, 2026

This issue was originally sent on July 31, 2026. Some promotions, award availability, and transfer bonuses mentioned below may have changed or expired since then.

JetBlue is adding a new first class, BlueFirst, later this year, and to make room it just renamed its fares. For now the change is cosmetic: a renaming plus a cleaner two-step booking flow (pick an experience, then a fare), not a price change.

What that means at checkout:

  • New names for the same fares. "Core" is now "Main," and the old Blue Basic, Blue, and Blue Extra become Base, Standard, and Flex. Mint is unchanged.
  • Watch "Base." Like the old Blue Basic, it is the cheapest but has no seat selection, cancels only to travel credit, and earns just 1x TrueBlue points. Standard adds seat selection and 3x points, usually worth the small step up.
  • BlueFirst is the one to watch. A brand-new domestic first class on non-Mint planes, arriving later this year. Award pricing is not out yet, so bank TrueBlue points now and book once it drops.

Sweet spot: EVA Air Royal Laurel business class to Asia

EVA Air's Infinity MileageLands still runs a published, fixed, region-based award chart, which is rare in 2026. North America to Asia in Royal Laurel business, EVA's top-rated cabin, prices at 75,000 to 80,000 miles one-way on EVA's own flights. The trick is getting miles in: US Amex and Chase are not transfer partners, but Capital One transfers at 4 to 3 (with a 30 percent bonus running through July 31), and Citi ThankYou transfers 1 to 1, though it takes 7 to 10 days. Round-trip Star Alliance itineraries also allow up to 2 free stopovers.

  • New York (JFK) to Taipei in Royal Laurel business, 75,000 to 80,000 miles one-way — One of the top-rated business cabins in the sky, at a fixed published price straight from the East Coast.
  • Round-trip with up to 2 free stopovers — Star Alliance round-trips allow two stopovers, so you can turn one award into a three-city trip.
  • Capital One transfer at 4 to 3, with a 30 percent bonus through July 31 — The most reliable US path into EVA miles, since Amex and Chase are not partners.
  • Citi ThankYou at 1 to 1 — A full-value option if you can wait 7 to 10 days for the transfer to land.

Beyond flights & hotels: unforgettable experiences

Use your points and card perks for access you cannot otherwise book. Some are a fixed price; some are auctions where the winning bid can climb.

  • Marriott Bonvoy cardmembersMarriott Bonvoy Moments · Chase Cardmember ExclusiveA chef's-table night at Honeysuckle with two James Beard stars$400 for two · Philadelphia · Oct 8 · Opens ~Aug 10A multicourse dinner from James Beard semifinalists Omar Tate and Cybille St. Aude-Tate, plus a cocktail hour, a photo meet-and-greet with the chefs, and a curated gift. Two tickets, for Chase Marriott Bonvoy cardmembers only.View this Moment →New to Bonvoy? Get the card here →
  • Marriott Bonvoy MomentsAriana Grande from a luxury suite at The O2, London (with a hotel stay)Points auction, currently 147,500 · London · Aug 15 · Bidding closes Aug 3US arena tickets are brutally priced and scarce. Flip it: bid Bonvoy points for a luxury suite at The O2 plus a hotel stay, and turn one concert into a London getaway. Your flights are not included.Auction: you bid points and can be outbid, so the winning price can climb. Final sale.View this Moment →

Live offers

Transfer bonuses

Earning promos

Also happening

  • Status MatchBilt Rent Day: match to Accor Platinum for 15,000 points on August 1 only.Bilt Platinum members can match to Accor Live Limitless Platinum through December 31, 2027 for 15,000 points; lower Bilt tiers match to Accor Silver or Gold for 5,000. Earned the usual way, Platinum takes 60 nights. It unlocks room upgrades, early check-in and late checkout, and free breakfast on weekends (all week in Asia-Pacific), all subject to availability. The window is August 1 only.
  • Earn RateIHG triple United miles promo earns 6 miles per dollar through September 30.Register once, set your IHG earning preference to United MileagePlus before check-in, and book direct. This replaces IHG points rather than stacking on top, so it's worth choosing only if United miles serve your next redemption better than IHG points would. Ends September 30, 2026.

Elevated welcome bonuses

Jill's take

Confession: I finally pulled off a Best Rate Guarantee, and I'm still riding the high.

I spent a few nights in Memphis this week at the Hyatt Centric Beale Street. Pool, rooftop lounge, right on world-famous Beale Street. Here's the fun part: the rate I booked wasn't the rate I paid.

The Move: After doing some research, I already knew the same stay was cheaper on Expedia. I booked direct with Hyatt, matching the exact room type and cancellation terms from the Expedia listing. Then I filed a Hyatt Best Rate Guarantee claim, along with a screenshot of the Expedia price.

Hyatt matched the lower rate and took another 20% off. My rate dropped from $152 to $114 a night, and because I booked direct, I kept my points, elite-night credit, and late checkout. Pure adrenaline.

The Catch: You have 24 hours after booking to file, and I'd only try it on a refundable rate in case the claim gets denied. Find the lower rate first, book direct, then claim it. Same room, same cancellation terms, one screenshot.

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