JetBlue and American Express launch card for SMEs

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By: Wise Marketer Staff |

Posted on October 3, 2006

JetBlue and American Express launch card for SMEs

American Express and JetBlue Airways have launched a 'JetBlue Business Card from American Express', offering small business owners an automatic 5% discount on JetBlue flights, as well as a way to earn award travel.

Cardmembers automatically receive an OPEN Savings discount of 5% off the total cost of their JetBlue flight when they make the purchase with the new JetBlue Business Card. Cardmembers who purchase their JetBlue flight with any other American Express Business Card receive a 3% discount on the total purchase. These discounts are permanent benefits for business cardholders, rather than being time-limited offers, and they apply to all flights purchased with the JetBlue Business Card through any JetBlue channel.

Earning rewards The JetBlue Business Card also offers cardholders 1 Award Dollar for each US$1 on qualifying purchases using the card, and double Awards Dollars on selected small business purchases (including JetBlue travel, petrol, office supplies, wireless phone charges, and car rentals).

To welcome cardholders to the programme, new JetBlue Business Cardmembers will receive 5,000 Award Dollars with their first purchase (equals to 25% of a JetBlue award flight, which costs 20,000 Award Dollars).

Redeeming rewards Cardmembers' Award Dollars are automatically transferred to TrueBlue, JetBlue's frequent flyer loyalty programme. TrueBlue awards are automatically sent to members when the account reaches 100 points. Each TrueBlue Award is made up of two TruePasses, each valid for a one-way flight, and can be used together or individually.

Another benefit exclusive to cardmembers holding either a JetBlue Card from American Express, or the new JetBlue Business Card, is the continuous extension of their TrueBlue points. Every time cardmembers earn the equivalent of 1 TrueBlue point, or purchase travel on JetBlue before their points expire, all the points in their account are extended in validity for another 12 months. As a result, continual use of the card has the effect of continually extending the expiry date of the member's entire TrueBlue points balance.

Expanded relationship The JetBlue Business Card is actually an expansion of the existing co-branding relationship between JetBlue and American Express, and follows on from the launch of the consumer JetBlue Card from American Express in July 2005.

Tim Claydon, senior vice president of sales and marketing for JetBlue Airways, said: "This is a meaningful way to show JetBlue's commitment to our business customers, especially in the 14 new cities we have started service in this year."

For additional information: ·  Visit Amex at http://www.americanexpress.com ·  Visit JetBlue at http://www.jetblue.com