**United Airlines and JetBlue Announce Groundbreaking "Blue Sky" Partnership**

Two prominent U.S. airlines, United Airlines and JetBlue, have revealed their collaboration in a new alliance named "Blue Sky." The partnership, announced on Thursday, aims to offer enhanced loyalty benefits and expanded travel options for their frequent flyers.

Under this alliance, members of United's MileagePlus and JetBlue's TrueBlue programs will be able to earn and redeem miles on both airlines. Specifically, United's Premier elite members will enjoy their elite perks when flying JetBlue, while JetBlue's Mosaic members will receive the same treatment on United flights. The reciprocal elite benefits include access to extra legroom seats during check-in, priority check-in and boarding, a complimentary first checked bag, and same-day flight changes.

A significant feature of this partnership is that United and JetBlue will start selling each other's flights on their respective websites. This integration will include seamless connections, offering customers the convenience of booking a United flight on JetBlue’s platform and vice versa. Details about the launch date for these integrated services are expected to be announced later this year.

In a noteworthy development, this partnership marks United's return to New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) after a hiatus of several years. United will operate up to seven daily round-trip flights from JFK’s new Terminal 6 as early as 2027. Conversely, JetBlue will adapt eight flight timings with United at Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR), United's major hub.

JetBlue's CEO, Joanna Geraghty, highlighted the complementary nature of United's global reach with JetBlue’s strong East Coast presence. Scott Kirby, United's CEO, indicated that the collaboration aims to provide MileagePlus members with more value and options to use their miles.

Additionally, United will adopt JetBlue's in-house booking platform, Paisly, for services related to hotels, car rentals, cruises, and vacation packages. This move underscores the expanding partnership's goal to enhance overall customer experience through integrated travel solutions.

After previous attempts to form lasting alliances, such as the dissolved Northeast Alliance with American Airlines and a thwarted merger with Spirit Airlines, JetBlue has found a promising partner in United. Some aspects of the Blue Sky partnership will require regulatory approval, but the airlines have expressed optimism about this new collaborative venture, noting they won't coordinate on pricing or scheduling, addressing previous regulatory concerns.

The Blue Sky alliance represents a significant shift in the U.S. aviation landscape, promising increased flexibility, connectivity, and benefits for loyal travelers of both United and JetBlue.