AMERICAN EXPRESS WELCOMES JETBLUE AIRWAYS INTO ITS MEMBERSHIP REWARDS® PROGRAM
American Express and JetBlue to Give 50 Enrollees a Chance to Win the Ultimate Reward – A Bahamas Flyaway Vacation for Two, with Live Performance By Award-Winning Recording Artist Seal
NEW YORK, October 21, 2004 -- American Express today announced that JetBlue Airways has joined its Membership Rewards program. Beginning December 8, 2004, Cardmembers enrolled in the Membership Rewards program will be able to transfer points directly into TrueBlue, JetBlue's Flight Gratitude program, for travel with the airline. With the announcement, American Express becomes JetBlue's first TrueBlue program partner.
To celebrate the new relationship and thank their customers, the partners will give the ultimate reward to 50 winning enrollees in both the Membership Rewards program and the TrueBlue program: the “Pack for Paradise” Bahamas Flyaway Sweepstakes for two.1 The vacation begins December 8, and features a winners-only JetBlue flight with GRAMMY® Award-winning music artist Seal, who will also perform a live concert for the winners in the Bahamas. Winners will receive accommodations for two nights at Atlantis, Paradise Island resort on Paradise Island.
“We're always looking to add value to the JetBlue experience,” said David Neeleman, CEO of JetBlue Airways. “Our customers will be delighted that we've signed, sealed and delivered the Membership Rewards program and the exciting launch sweepstakes.”
“This new partnership brings together two companies that share a commitment to providing excellent value and superior service to our customers,” said Alfred F. Kelly, Jr., group president, U.S. Consumer and Small Business Services at American Express. “We are pleased to add JetBlue – a top-10 domestic airline and rising star in the airline industry – to the Membership Rewards program and provide our customers with even greater choice and flexibility in their rewards options.”
Since the airline's inception in 2000, JetBlue has become one of the fastest growing domestic carriers. The airline serves 29 destinations in 11 states, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic and now the Bahamas – JetBlue's newest destination. JetBlue joins a prestigious roster of 23 Membership Rewards airline partners – 13 of which allow enrollees to transfer points directly into individual airline loyalty programs for travel.
Transferring Membership Rewards Points into the TrueBlue Program
Beginning December 8, American Express® Cardmembers enrolled in the Membership Rewards program can redeem points for travel on JetBlue by visiting www.americanexpress.com/rewards, or by calling 1-800-AXP-EARN. A flight reward is valued at 100 TrueBlue points – equivalent to 25,000 Membership Rewards points, or 50,000 Membership Rewards Options® points. Enrollees are required to transfer a minimum of 1,250 Membership Rewards points, or 2,500 Membership Rewards Options points into their TrueBlue account.
“Pack for Paradise”: Bahamas Flyaway Sweepstakes
Membership Rewards enrollees who are also part of JetBlue's TrueBlue program can enter to win the “Pack for Paradise” flyaway sweepstakes that includes a free vacation for two to the Bahamas, on December 8-9, 2004, compliments of American Express and JetBlue. Recording artist Seal, along with the winners and their guests, will board a private JetBlue flight from New York's JFK Airport to Nassau. Once in the Bahamas, Seal, whose new album Seal Best 1991-2004 hits stores on November 9, will headline an intimate concert for the winners and their guests in the private theater at Atlantis, Paradise Island resort in the Bahamas.
From October 21 to November 12, 2004, qualifying customers can log on to www.americanexpress.com/jetbluegetaway to enter the flyaway sweepstakes. Winners will be notified on or around November 18, 2004, and will travel from JFK Airport on December 8th, 2004.
In addition to the 50 grand prizes, American Express and JetBlue will reward 100 first-prize winners with a roundtrip ticket from New York City to anywhere JetBlue flies – including the Caribbean; 10 second-prize winners will receive a two-night stay in the Royal Tower Terrace at Atlantis; and 100 third-prize winners will receive 10,000 Membership Rewards points.
About the Membership Rewards Program
The Membership Rewards program from American Express is the largest card-based rewards program in the world, with more than 140 redemption partners. The program allows Cardmembers to earn one point for virtually every dollar charged on eligible, enrolled American Express Cards. Many Cards offer the ability to earn double bonus points for purchases in Everyday Spend categories that include supermarkets, gas stations, drugstores, U.S. Postal Service and wireless phone bill payments.2
Membership Rewards points are redeemable for hundreds of choices in a wide selection of reward categories that include Travel, Retail Shopping, Dining & Entertainment, Experiences and points donations to more than a million Charities. Enrollees may also customize their redemption experiences through the program's Your Reward® option and use points for just about anything they can imagine.3 Points have no expiration date, and there is no limit on the number of points one can earn.
About TrueBlue
TrueBlue, JetBlue's flight gratitude program which launched in June, 2001, today boasts more than 1.7 million members. TrueBlue is completely free to join and customers need just 100 TrueBlue points for an award flight. With TrueBlue, there is never a fee to speak to a “real person” or to expedite award travel to any JetBlue destination, including the low-fare airline's new international destinations. For more information, log on to www.jetblue.com/trueblue.
About American Express
American Express Company is a diversified worldwide travel, network and financial services provider founded in 1850. It is a leader in charge and credit cards, Travelers Cheques, travel, financial planning, investment products, insurance and international banking. For more information, visit www.americanexpress.com.
About JetBlue Airways
JetBlue is a low-fare, low-cost passenger airline, which provides high-quality customer service. JetBlue operates a fleet of 64 new Airbus A320 aircraft and plans to add another five A320s to its fleet in 2004. The airline has 100 Embraer E190 aircraft on order with options for an additional 100 with deliveries scheduled to begin in mid 2005. All JetBlue aircraft feature roomy all-leather seats each equipped with free live satellite television, offering up to 36 channels of DIRECTV® Programming at every seat.4
Based at New York City's John F. Kennedy International Airport, JetBlue currently operates 258 flights a day and serves 29 destinations in 12 states, Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic. JetBlue plans to commence service between New York's JFK and Nassau, The Bahamas on November 1. With JetBlue, all seats are assigned, all travel is ticketless, all fares are one-way, and a Saturday night stay is never required. For more information, schedules and fares, please visit www.jetblue.com or call JetBlue reservations at 1-800-JETBLUE (538-2583), 1-888-538-2583 if calling from Puerto Rico, or 1-888-751-2241 if calling from the Dominican Republic.
1 No purchase necessary. Sweepstakes ends 11/12/04. Void where prohibited. Sweepstakes open to legal residents of the 50 Unites States and the District of Columbia, age 21 years or older. To participate or win prizes, you must be an American Express® Cardmember in good standing, an enrollee of the Membership Rewards program as of October 20, 2004, and a member of JetBlue's TrueBlue program. See official rules at www.americanexpress.com/jetbluegetaway by 11/12/04 for details.
2 Double points for purchases made with the Card at qualifying stand-alone supermarkets, drugstores, gas stations, the U.S. Postal Service, and for payments for wireless phone bills (excluding bulk purchases of wireless time) will be credited to your Membership Rewards [Options] account 12-14 weeks after charges appear on your monthly billing statement. Not valid in the departments of superstores and warehouse clubs. Terms and Conditions of the Membership Rewards [Options] program apply.
3 Your Reward packages are subject to availability. Terms and conditions may apply. Your Reward only fulfills requests using vendors that accept the American Express Card. Unless otherwise noted all gratuities and taxes are included in the point value of the package.
4 DIRECTV® service is not available on flights between New York City and Puerto Rico or the Dominican Republic.
