JetBlue is introducing the option to book with Cash + Points!  I received the email yesterday, and like most things JetBlue, the process seems straightforward. While many hotels have caught onto this trend, it isn’t as popular with airlines.

According to JetBlue’s email:

Cash + Points benefits:

• Pay for your flight with almost any combination of dollars and TrueBlue points—starting at just 500 points.
• Use Cash + Points for any JetBlue-operated flight, any time—with no blackout dates—just like when you pay for a flight with only TrueBlue points.
• The cash portion of your Cash + Points flight will earn TrueBlue points, so you can maximize your point-earning potential.

(Check your email for the subject line – Now arriving: Cash + Points.)

Booking with Cash + Points on JetBlue

The feature is already available for use. Head to JetBlue.com, select your flight as you would normally (choose to Book with Points), and then scroll to the bottom of the page. JetBlue has created a new “Your Price” sliding scale, so you can see some Cash + Points options. Simply drag the slider until you find your favorite price.

I played around with some flights from BOS-JFK. A simple hop, and easy to see the price difference. Check out a flight that was pricing out at $105 or 7,100 TrueBlue (plus $5.60 taxes/fees) for the Blue Fare. From full cash to full points:

• $105
• $99.60 + 500 TrueBlue
• $93.30 + 1,200 TrueBlue
• $87.00 + 1,900 TrueBlue
• $80.70 + 2,600 TrueBlue
• $74.40 + 3,300 TrueBlue
• $68.10 + 4,000 TrueBlue
• $61.80 + 4,700 TrueBlue
• $55.50 + 5,400 TrueBlue
• $49.20 + 6,100 TrueBlue
• $5.60 + 7,100 TrueBlue

In this example, TrueBlue points are worth between 1.08 cents per point and 1.4 cpp. That’s about average for TrueBlue points, but on the lower end of the spectrum. I don’t plan on using this feature much, but it’ll come in handy in a pinch. Besides, I’m always a fan of more flexibility.