CIBC Caribbean - JetBlue Card

The Verdict: Best No-Fee Travel Card for NYC Travelers

The CIBC JetBlue Card delivers no-fee travel rewards with a unique bonus: earn both points for flights AND tiles toward perks and elite status. JetBlue's direct BGI-NYC service makes this particularly valuable for New York travelers who want rewards without annual fee pressure.

How You Earn

Points (for booking flights):

• 2x points on JetBlue purchases (flights, vacation packages)
• 1x point on all other purchases
• USD $1 (or BBD $2) = 1 point

Bonuses:

• 10,000 points after first purchase (within 90 days)
• 5,000 points anniversary bonus each year
• Points never expire

Tiles (for perks and elite status):

• 1 tile per USD $1,000 (BBD $2,000) in spending
• Unlock perks at 10/20/30/40 tiles
• Mosaic elite status at 50 tiles (BBD $100,000/year)
• Tiles reset annually

The Tile System

Beyond points, you earn tiles toward perks:

Early milestones (10/20/30/40 tiles):

• At each 10-tile increment, choose one perk: Priority Security, early boarding, or 5,000 bonus points
• BBD $20,000/year = 10 tiles = 1 perk

Mosaic 1 (50 tiles = BBD $100,000/year):

• 2 free checked bags + priority boarding
• 3 bonus points per USD $1 on JetBlue flights

Reality: Most cardholders won't reach Mosaic, but moderate spenders (BBD $2,000+/month) can unlock early milestone perks. Tiles reset annually.

Full details: JetBlue TrueBlue Terms

Real Earning Example

Typical card user (BBD $2,000/month spending):

*Year 1:*

• Welcome bonus: 10,000 points
• Annual spending (BBD $24,000 ÷ 2): 12,000 points
• Total: 22,000 points
• Tiles earned: 12 tiles = 1 perk unlock

*Ongoing years:*

• Annual spending: 12,000 points
• Anniversary bonus: 5,000 points
• Total: 17,000 points annually

Point value: 22,000 points = 1-2 roundtrips BGI-NYC (depending on season) in Year 1.

Point Redemption

JetBlue uses dynamic pricing. BGI-NYC direct roundtrips typically range from 14,000-32,000 points depending on travel dates and demand.

Point value: USD $0.007-0.016 per point (BBD $0.014-0.032) depending on season and route.

Check current pricing at JetBlue TrueBlue.

JetBlue's Direct Routes from Barbados

• New York (JFK) - daily service
• Boston (BOS)
• Fort Lauderdale (FLL)
• Orlando (MCO)
• Washington DC (DCA)
• Atlanta (ATL)
• New Orleans (MSY)

Key advantage: JetBlue offers direct BGI-NYC service, making this card particularly useful for New York travel.

Who Should Get This Card

Yes, if you:

• Fly JetBlue to NYC or US East Coast at least once per year
• Spend BBD $2,000+/month on credit cards naturally
• Value JetBlue's direct BGI-NYC route
• Don't want annual fee pressure
• Can be flexible with travel dates (off-peak booking)

No, if you:

• Fly primarily outside JetBlue's network (Asia, Africa, Australia)
• Prefer cash-back over travel points
• Spend less than BBD $1,500/month (won't accumulate points quickly)
• Only travel during peak season (point costs are higher)

Regular vs. Select JetBlue Card

Get Regular Card (no fee) if:

• You fly JetBlue 1-2 times per year
• You don't check bags regularly
• You don't need lounge access
• You want rewards without annual fee pressure

Get Select Card (BBD $199 fee) if:

• You fly 3+ times per year
• You travel with companions (first bag free for you + 3 people)
• You value airport lounge access
• You spend BBD $2,000+ on JetBlue annually (4x earning vs 2x)

Important Notes

Blue Basic fares (JetBlue's cheapest) don't include:

• Seat selection
• Early boarding
• Same-day changes

Book regular Blue fares or higher for full benefits and milestone perks.

Anniversary bonus: 5,000 points awarded annually if account is active and in good standing. This typically posts in Year 2+, not Year 1.

Foreign Exchange Consideration

In Barbados, there's a BBD $20,000 annual limit on foreign currency purchases. If you reach this limit, you can apply for a replenishment or increase at forex.centralbank.org.bb.

Maximize Your Value

1. Activate welcome bonus immediately (first purchase = 10,000 points)

2. Use for all JetBlue bookings (2x points vs 1x)

3. Track tiles for perk selection (plan ahead at 10/20/30/40 milestones)

4. Book during lower demand periods (can save 50%+ in points vs peak)

5. Combine bonuses (Welcome + first anniversary = 15,000 points = 1 free roundtrip)

The Honest Assessment

This card delivers no-fee travel rewards with an optional elite status path. For typical users (BBD $2,000/month), Year 1 earnings (22,000 points) = 1-2 roundtrips to NYC depending on season. The tile system's early milestone perks—Priority Security, early boarding—add value beyond just points for flights.

No annual fee = no break-even pressure. Every point and perk is pure value.

For current point values and tile tracking, visit JetBlue TrueBlue.