Man Spends $7K for 25 Years of JetBlue Status

Steve Carroll and his 10-year-old son, Jackson, have successfully completed the JetBlue '25 for 25' challenge. The pair spent roughly $7,000 to visit 25 unique cities served by the airline, securing Mosaic status for the next 25 years.

The challenge required flying to 25 distinct destinations between June 25 and December 31. Carroll, a nurse practitioner based in New York, finished the itinerary on December 8 in Fort Myers. In addition to the long-term status, the completion of the challenge earned the father-son duo 350,000 points each.

The promotion was created for JetBlue's 25th anniversary. To earn Mosaic 1 status for 25 years and a lump sum of 350,000 points, participants must fly to 25 unique cities in the airline's network between June 25 and December 31.

Carroll noted several specific rules for the challenge:

• Flights must be operated by JetBlue, not partners like Cape Air
• Basic fares do not qualify
• Only arrival airports count toward the 25 unique cities
• The loyalty number must be connected to each flight

Carroll explained that the math checked out for the investment. "Combining the cash I paid plus the 100,000 JetBlue points I already had, the whole challenge cost around $7,000, but I was essentially reimbursed in points," he said.

To maximize efficiency, Carroll and his son mostly flew on weekends, sometimes taking up to five flights across a Saturday or Sunday. They took closer to 35 flights overall due to overlap at departure and connecting airports. One particularly ambitious day involved flying to Nantucket for breakfast, Washington DC for lunch, and Orlando for dinner.

Living in the New York area made the challenge significantly easier. Carroll identified that airports like White Plains, LaGuardia, Newark, New York-JFK, and Islip are all considered separate, unique cities. "That's seven of the 25 we just drove to," he noted.

Carroll utilized several strategies to manage the tight schedule:

• Booking one-way tickets
• Sitting near the front of the plane
• Choosing the first and last flights of the day
• Using an unofficial tool called '25for25.ai' to map routes

Despite the complexity, Carroll compared piecing together itineraries to a "game of Tetris." He occasionally booked "illegal" itineraries with very tight connections, such as a 12-minute layover at New York-JFK, but checked historical arrival times to mitigate risks.

The long-term benefits were a primary motivator. For Jackson, Mosaic status until age 35 means he and his friends can enjoy perks like free bags, complimentary drinks, dedicated security and check-in, early boarding, and seat upgrades on future trips. Additionally, JetBlue's new partnership with United Airlines allows for reciprocal benefits.

Carroll also highlighted the social aspect of the challenge. He found a "flourishing community" of participants, largely through a dedicated Mosaic Facebook group. "We crossed paths with about 15 other challengers on our legs to DC," Carroll said. "It was nice getting help along the way, and I appreciate being able to help others, too."

Completing the challenge required navigating government shutdowns that canceled flights and managing weather disruptions, but Carroll described the experience as "remarkably smooth" overall. They finished with about three weeks to spare.

For Steve Carroll, the investment provided not only travel rewards but also an unforgettable experience with his son. "It was thrilling to plan and execute these trips," he said, noting that Jackson's 100th and 200th flights ever were on JetBlue.