• by Tanya Gazdik , October 14, 2013

JetBlue Airways is enhancing its TrueBlue loyalty program with a new concept called Family Pooling.

The airline claims to be the only U.S. carrier so far to offer such an option. Families and small groups can now elect to earn and share TrueBlue points, free of charge. Members can allocate all or a portion of their individual TrueBlue points into a group account.

Customers must visit a dedicated Web site to set up their family and select a "Head of Household." A family can consist of up to two adults at least 21 years old and up to five children under the age of 21.

Family members can choose to have 10 to 100 percent of their points pooled into the joint account. The "Head of Household" can then redeem points from the family account for any family member's travel. One way award flights are available starting at just 5,000 points plus $2.50 taxes/fees with no blackout dates and points that don't expire.

A Family Pooling tutorial video is available.

Family Pooling was developed based on customer feedback. A "family" is defined as a group of people united by a common affiliation. With TrueBlue Family Pooling, customers can determine their own "family" based on what is most beneficial to them. Everyone in the family counts. Whether it's immediate family members, same sex partners or a couple of friends, Family Pooling is designed to improve the overall customer experience and allow groups to conveniently earn and redeem points.

TrueBlue is a loyalty program that rewards all of our customers, regardless of their frequency, said Dave Canty, director of loyalty marketing and partnerships at JetBlue Airways.

“Some customers choose JetBlue exclusively for family travel, while others mix business and family travel," Canty says in a release. "Mosaic recognizes those who fly us more frequently. Families may not travel with us as often, but with Family Pooling they still get to enjoy their rewards."

JetBlue celebrated the launch of this new family-based program in its NYHometown terminal -- T5 -- in New York's JFK Airport with a special TrueBlue Family Pooling Carnival on Friday.

More than 1,500 families were expected to travel through T5 during the Columbus Day weekend. As families traveled through the terminal, they could experience activities such as old fashioned carnival games, face painting and customized photo shoots. Families will learned about Family Pooling and earn TrueBlue points and prizes throughout the carnival.

TrueBlue is free to join and includes the ability to use points for any seat on any JetBlue operated flight with no blackout dates. Members can now earn and keep points without the fear of expiration due to account inactivity.

Recent additions to the TrueBlue program include TrueBlue Mosaic. TrueBlue members who fly 30 segments and earn 12,000 base points within a calendar year (or earn 15,000 base points in a calendar year) automatically earn Mosaic benefits. 

TrueBlue Badges is a new gamified way for members to get even more involved with JetBlue and in the TrueBlue program by being recognized and rewarded for more than just flying. Participants will also earn TrueBlue points for most of the badges they collect. There are more than 280 badges that may be earned for things like interacting with TrueBlue partners, using social media, sharing your experience with friends and family and more.