Amex Business Gold vs JetBlue Plus: Which Is Better In 2026?

JetBlue Plus Breakdown

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Why We Like It

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Here’s a breakdown of why we like the JetBlue Plus Card.

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• The card provides significant value that can easily outweigh its annual cost through benefits like a free checked bag for you and your companions.
• You'll earn an accelerated rate of points on JetBlue purchases, plus bonus points at restaurants and eligible grocery stores.
• It comes packed with useful travel perks, including an annual statement credit for vacation packages and a yearly anniversary points bonus.

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Pros

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• Offers significant travel benefits, including a free checked bag for you and your companions and savings on in-flight purchases.
• Provides multiple ways to earn and save on points, with accelerated earning on JetBlue purchases, an annual points bonus, and a percentage of your points back after redemption.

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Cons

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• Lacks premium travel benefits like airport lounge access, priority boarding, and credits for expedited security screening programs.
• Its value is closely tied to flying with JetBlue, as its rewards and annual travel credit are specific to the airline and its vacation packages.

JetBlue Plus vs American Express® Business Gold Card

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Categories

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Deciding which is better, Amex Business Gold or JetBlue Plus, depends entirely on your spending habits and travel patterns. Each card is designed for a very different type of user, making the choice a personal one.

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• American Express® Business Gold Card is best for business owners and growing companies with variable expenses across different categories. It's a versatile tool for entrepreneurs who value flexible rewards and premium travel protections.
• JetBlue Plus Card is ideal for frequent travelers who regularly fly with JetBlue. It's designed for individuals or families who want to maximize value from their trips with the airline.

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Redemption

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American Express® Business Gold Card: Points earned with this card offer significant flexibility, allowing you to transfer them to various airline and hotel partners or redeem them for travel and other rewards through the American Express portal.

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JetBlue Plus Card: Rewards are centered around the airline's loyalty program, with points being most valuable when redeemed for JetBlue flights or vacation packages.

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Compare Top Rated Credit Cards with Kudos

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Kudos is a financial companion that helps you compare nearly 3,000 credit cards with its data-driven card explorer tool, ensuring you find the best option for your unique spending patterns.

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• The ability to ‘Test Drive’ credit cards using your real spending data to simulate potential earnings before you apply, with no impact on your credit score.
• A detailed analysis of your approval odds for various cards based on your credit report.
• A welcome offer guarantee, ensuring that if you find a better public offer within three months of approval, Kudos will match it.
• Access to Kudos Boost, which allows you to earn extra rewards on top of your regular credit card rewards when shopping at participating stores.
• Personalized card matching based on your actual spending history to help you maximize rewards.

Who Should Choose the American Express® Business Gold Card?

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The American Express® Business Gold Card is designed for business owners with dynamic spending habits and annual expenses exceeding $50,000. It's particularly beneficial for companies whose top expenditures change month-to-month, as the card automatically awards 4X Membership Rewards® points in the two highest-spend categories each billing cycle from a list of six options. This structure makes it a strong choice for businesses that can leverage these bonus categories—such as advertising, shipping, or U.S. restaurants—to earn significant rewards that outweigh the $375 annual fee (Terms Apply).

Who Should Choose the JetBlue Plus?

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The JetBlue Plus Card is the ideal choice for casual or moderately frequent JetBlue flyers who want to unlock valuable perks without committing to a high annual fee. With a $99 annual fee, the card easily pays for itself for travelers who take just a couple of trips a year, thanks to benefits like a free checked bag for the cardholder and up to three companions. It's not designed for luxury seekers needing premium benefits like lounge access, but rather for the practical traveler looking to maximize value on their regular JetBlue flights.

Alternatives to Consider

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After reviewing our Amex Business Gold vs JetBlue Plus comparison, you might find that your spending habits don't align with either card's strengths. Fortunately, the credit card market is full of strong alternatives for both business and personal travel.

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_{Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.}

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Tips for Application Success

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Before You Apply

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• Check your credit score to ensure you meet the general requirements for a premium card.
• Plan your spending to naturally meet the Welcome Offer requirement without forcing unnecessary purchases.
• Review issuer-specific rules, as some banks may restrict new card bonuses if you have or recently had another card in the same product family.

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Application Strategy

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• Find the best offer - Search for elevated Welcome Offers through different channels before applying.
• Know the issuer's rules - Some issuers may deny a Welcome Offer if you have a similar card from the same product family.
• Time your application - Apply before a large planned purchase to help meet the spending requirement for the Welcome Offer.

Our Methodology

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We evaluate nearly 3,000 credit cards across the U.S. market — far more than the ~150 cards commonly featured on sites that focus only on products tied to affiliate commissions. Our goal is to provide a comprehensive, unbiased view of the credit card landscape so you can make confident, data-driven decisions.

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Our editorial team combines deep industry experience with rigorous verification standards. While our experts surface the most relevant recommendations in our guides, you can also explore the full dataset yourself through our card explorer tool, which includes thousands of cards — more than 95% of which do not provide us with commissions.

Frequently Asked Questions

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Can I transfer points from the American Express® Business Gold Card to JetBlue?

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Yes, you can transfer American Express Membership Rewards points to JetBlue's TrueBlue program, which can be a great way to top off your account for an award flight. Transfer ratios can vary, so it's best to check the current rate on the American Express website. Terms apply.

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Which card is better for non-travel business spending?

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The Amex Business Gold generally offers more value for non-travel business expenses by providing bonus rewards on select categories tailored to business operations. The JetBlue Plus Card's reward structure is more heavily weighted toward travel, especially on JetBlue purchases, and dining.

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Do both cards come with a free checked bag benefit?

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The JetBlue Plus Card offers the first checked bag free for the cardholder and up to three companions on the same reservation for JetBlue-operated flights. The American Express® Business Gold Card does not offer a specific free checked bag benefit.

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